Adaptive Pickleball in Coleraine is a first for Northern Ireland

Adaptive Pickleball is being run on the first and second Monday of the month at the sports hall of the Coleraine campus of Ulster University from 6-7.30pm.

Pickleball is a rapidly growing, easy-to-learn paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played as singles or doubles on a badminton-sized court with a lowered tennis-style net, participants use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball. It is known for being accessible, social, and, often, low-impact.

The innovative sessions in Coleraine are showing that adaptive Pickleball is a sport for everyone and can be played in a sports wheelchair or standing.

Helen Logan explained: “The sport is only starting in Northern Ireland thanks to the foresight of one of the referees David Gault.

"He has gone around the world playing, teaching and refereeing the standing version of this sport and now researched the seated wheelchair version to bring to Northern Ireland.”

Members of Causeway Giants wheelchair basketball club gave their time to try out the adaptive version of the sport. Some of the members have now taken up the sport as another recreational event along with basketball in order to increase their activity during the month.

"Adaptive sports people should have the opportunity of a variety of sports also - especially a different racket sport,” said Helen.

"This is an excellent addition to sport and exciting times as an Adaptive Group has now been formed meeting twice a month to learn the sport.”