This is our second-ever special edition, and it’s rooted in a simple idea: pickleball should be for everyone.

From modified rules and adaptive programs to community-built access points, this guide highlights what it looks like when we make space for more players, and why it matters. Whether you’re new to adaptive play or already leading the charge, there’s something in here for you.

Let’s open the court to everyone, and have some fun while we’re at it.

How Adaptive Pickleball is Rewriting the Rules

From prosthetics to partnerships, adaptive athletes and inclusive programs are showing what’s possible when the court makes room for everyone. Here are just a few of the players and pioneers helping pickleball grow in the right directions.

Buddy Hall: Confidence Through Connection

After losing his leg in an accident, Buddy wasn’t sure what came next. Then he found pickleball. Now, he plays competitively with a prosthetic limb and credits the sport with helping him find courage, hope, and a sense of belonging.

Bob McHarness: Defying Age and Expectations

After a late-in-life amputation, Bob picked up a paddle in his 80s, and never looked back. He’s a local favorite in Greater Philly, proving that resilience, joy, and competition don’t come with an expiration date.

Unified Pickleball Programs

Unified Sports teams up players with and without disabilities — no labels, just shared goals. At the 2019 Special Olympics North America Tennis & Pickleball Championship, inclusive doubles teams proved that collaboration wins, every time.

National Wheelchair Pickleball Championship

2024 marked the first year USA Pickleball officially included wheelchair divisions at Nationals. Regional tournaments and groups like the USWPA and Paralyzed Veterans of America continue to pave the way for top-tier competition, and unforgettable stories.

Adaptive Clinics & Community Programs

From cerebral palsy to MS, inclusive clinics are making the game accessible to more players. Nonprofits like Move United and SoCal Adaptive Sports are leading the charge, offering coaching, gear, and community support for athletes at every level.

👉 Read the full article to learn more and get involved.

Smiles, Swings, & Superstar Things

In Cedarburg, WI, Pickleball Superstars is creating real change for players with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Founded by Jordan Pintar and Rachel Rizzo, the program builds confidence, friendships, and joy through adaptive play — one paddle tap at a time.

Weekly group sessions, private lessons, and simple drills make the game fun and accessible — but the real magic is the connection.

👉 Read the full spotlight on Pickleball Superstars

Tools That Make the Game More Accessible

Making pickleball more accessible doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel — sometimes it just takes the right gear. From grip aids to quieter paddles, here are a few adaptations and accessories helping more players show up and play their game, comfortably and confidently.

Sports Wheelchairs for the Court 🦽

Designed for agility, safety, and fast movement.

• Angled wheels and anti-tip casters improve turning and balance

• Straps keep players secure and centered

• Lightweight frames allow quick propulsion and stability during play

Ball Retrievers 🔁

Helps players pick up balls without bending down.

• Attaches to the end of a paddle

• Reduces strain on knees, hips, and lower back

• Especially helpful for wheelchair users or those with joint issues

Grip Aids and Handle Straps 🖐️

Makes holding and swinging a paddle easier for players with hand or limb challenges.

• Secures paddle without needing strong finger grip

• Ideal for players with reduced hand strength, tremors, or amputations

• Allows full swing range without fear of dropping the paddle

Audible Balls or Visuals Cues 🔔

Supports blind or low-vision players with alternative tracking methods

• Audible ball rattles or jingle when in motion

• Tactile court lines provide orientation through feel

• High-contrast colors improve visibility for low-vision players

Inclusive Courts & Events

Places that are doing it right — from ramps and signage to safe, welcoming rec play.

Tournaments & Competitions 🏆

• USA Pickleball National Championships (San Diego, CA) — Now includes official wheelchair divisions and hybrid doubles, with ADA-compliant venues and top-level visibility

• Pickleball for All (Baltimore, MD) — A charity event blending adaptive clinics, mixed-ability teams, and competition in an ADA-designed space.

Inclusive Leagues & Clinics 🏓

• Henderson Veterans Adaptive Pickleball (Henderson, NV) — Weekly sessions for veterans with disabilities, with loaner chairs and companion-friendly play.

• Cincinnati Adaptive Pickleball (Cincinnati, OH) — Monthly clinics hosted by the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation with full support for wheelchair players.

• Military Adaptive Court Sports (Nationwide) — Traveling clinics for wounded veterans held at VA centers, rec gyms, and community courts.

Community Programs & Nonprofits 💬

• Adaptive Pickleball (Greenville, SC) — Nonprofit hosting community play days, clinics, and simulated disability tournaments for inclusivity and access.

• Love Serving Autism (Multi-State) — Clinics designed for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities, using visual supports and adaptive instruction.

Accessible Venues & Facilities 🏟️

• Morgan’s Wonderland Sports (San Antonio, TX) — A fully accessible sports complex with 20 ADA-compliant courts and adaptive programming.

• Chicken N Pickle (Nationwide) — Venues offering accessible design, adaptive play days, and hybrid tournaments across multiple cities.

• East Naples Community Park (Naples, FL) — Home of the US Open with wide pathways, court-level access, and generous space for spectators and athletes.

Know a standout court or program? Reply to this email or DM us @empowerpickleball so we can feature them!

Adaptive Rules You Should Know

Powered by Ruley the e-Referee

Pickleball has a few official rule adaptions for wheelchair play. Here’s what they are, and why they make a big difference.

Rule: Wheelchair players are allowed two bounces

• What it means: The ball can bounce twice before returning it. The first bounce must be inbounds, the second bounce may be anywhere on the playing surface.

• Why it matters: This gives seated players more time and space to react, making rallies more competitive and accessible.

Rule: Hybrid doubles teams are legal

• What it means: One wheelchair player can partner with one standing player. Only the wheelchair player gets two bounces.

• Why it matters: It opens the door for mixed-ability teams while keeping the game fair and balanced.

Rule: The wheelchair is considered part of the player

• What it means: If the ball hits any part of the chair during play, it's treated the same as hitting the body.

• Why it matters: This provides clarity and consistency in calls, respecting how players move and reach in a chair.

Rule: A rear-wheel fault occurs if a chair crosses the NVZ during a volley

• What it means: Instead of a foot fault, it’s a fault if the rear wheels cross the kitchen line during a volley.

• Why it matters: It adjusts the no-volley zone rule to match how wheelchair players move and reach without giving an unfair advantage.

Rule: Wheelchair players may serve while seated

• What it means: As long as the serve follows standard rules (like contacting the ball below the waist), serving from a chair is permitted.

• Why it matters: It keeps serving accessible while maintaining consistent mechanics.

Bonus: Visual, tactile, and auditory aids may be used

• What it means: Players with sensory impairments may use balls with bells, bright tape, or other aids, depending on format or tournament rules.

• Why it matters: These tools make play possible for more people — and that’s the whole point.

Get rule answers on your wrist, including adaptive ones. Download Ruley on Apple or Android devices and get 3 months free with code EMPOWER.

Movement for Every Body

Movement looks different for everyone — and that’s the point. Whether you’re stretching from a chair, rolling your shoulders, or just vibing to music, it all counts.

• Seated mobility — Gentle neck rolls, shoulder circles, or spinal twists to wake things up.

• No-grip movement — Flow through space using arms, elbows, or upper body. No paddle needed.

• Balance builders — From heel raises to supported single-leg holds, practice what feels steady.

• Breath in motion — Inhale, exhale, repeat. Add facial movement or hand gestures for a full reset.

• Rhythmic play — Tap your foot, sway in your seat, or follow the beat with your fingers.

Movement is personal. 🧠 You don’t need to match anyone else — just find what feels good.

ICYMI: Court-Changing Stories

🎯 This Nonprofit Is Making Pickleball Truly for Everyone
📣 Deaf Youth Took Over the Court at Gallaudet’s First-Ever Junior Tourney
🏆 This Adaptive Athlete Just Won a Triple Crown, and He’s Just Getting Started
✈️ This Deaf Coach Is Hosting Pickleball Retreats Around the World

Bonus: Inclusive Etiquette on the Court

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being thoughtful.

Inclusive play doesn’t mean overthinking every shot or walking on eggshells. It just means being aware, adaptable, and making space for everyone to show up as they are. These are the players setting the standard:

The Visual Communicator 👀 You don’t need to say much. Your paddle taps and hand signals speak volumes. You’re always checking in with your partner, and your eye contact game is elite. You make every player feel seen (literally).

The Space Maker 🛞 You’re the first to scoot your chair, clear a bench, or widen your stance to give someone more room. You think about gear, angles, and movement beyond your own. Low-key the MVP of the sideline.

The Clarifier 🙋 You ask the simple stuff: “How do you like to communicate?” or “Want to run through signs before we start?” You make the court feel like a safe place to speak up—and that’s everything.

The Chill Reset Captain 🧘 You’re never rushing between points. You pause, breathe, and give your partner a beat to reset, especially if they need extra time. Your energy calms the whole game down (in the best way).

The Encourager Without the Weird Voice 🫶 You cheer for the dinks and the misses. You hype up great shots without overdoing it or sounding like a preschool teacher. You're the kind of partner everyone hopes to get paired with.

That’s a wrap on this month’s special edition. Whether you’re a longtime advocate or just learning, we hope it gave you new ways to think, play, and show up on the court.

Something we missed? Hit reply — we’re all about listening, learning, and getting better.

With you on the courts,

The Empower Pickleball Team