Special Olympics Texas To Stage Competition Showcasing Members' Tennis Skills

AUSTIN, TX — Ahead of Saturday's area-wide tennis competition, Special Olympics of Texas officials on Friday will stage an individual skills competition during which participants will show off their tennis skills.

Children and adults with intellectual disabilities, from 10 years old to 57, will illustrate their mastery of the full range of tennis techniques: forehand volley, backhand volley, forehand groundstroke, backhand ground stroke, alternating ground stroke, serve-deuce and serve.

Awards will be presented to athletes based on the result of the skills competition, officials said. To qualify for this meet, athletes must have spent at least eight weeks training in their sport and be at least eight years old, officials added.

The competition is scheduled Friday, April 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Balcones Country Club, located at 11210 Spicewood Club Dr.

Special Olympics Texas is a privately funded nonprofit organization changing the lives of its members through sports in promoting individual empowerment. "SOTX provides continuing opportunities for more than 58,300 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the Lone Star State to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship," officials said.

To learn more, visit www.specialolympicstexas.org or call 800.876.5646. The group also operates a Twitter account @SOTexas;fb.com/SpecialOlympicsTX; youtube.com/specialolympicstexas. Those interested in learning more also can visit the SOTX- Central Texas Area page at fb.com/SOTX13.

>>> Photo provided by Special Olympics Texas