Pickleball is one of the most accessible sports out there, and for adaptive athletes, it’s becoming something bigger: a place to compete, connect, and belong. Adaptive pickleball is growing fast, and players with physical and cognitive disabilities are proving every day that the court is for everyone.

From wheelchair pickleball tournaments to inclusive programs that pair adaptive and able-bodied players, the sport is evolving in powerful ways. Here’s how adaptive athletes are making their mark, and how the community is rising with them.

What Is Adaptive Pickleball

Adaptive pickleball refers to modifications made to the sport so people with disabilities can play safely and competitively. That might mean adjusting the rules, changing equipment, or building in more flexible tournament structures.

The smaller court, slower ball, and lightweight paddles already make pickleball more accessible than many sports. But the real-game changer? The welcoming culture. Players, coaches, and organizers are working to make sure that anyone who wants to play – can.

Real Athletes, Real Stories

The adaptive pickleball community is filled with remarkable athletes who have overcome tremendous obstacles to play the sport they love. Here are just a few real-life examples of athletes making a difference in the adaptive pickleball world.

Buddy Hall: Competing with a Prosthetic Leg

Buddy Hall playing on indoor courts.
Photo from Tampa Bay Times

After losing his leg in an accident, Buddy Hall wasn’t sure what came next. Then he found pickleball. Now in his sixties, he plays competitively with a prosthetic limb and credits the sport with helping him regain confidence and purpose.

“Pickleball took me under its wing,” he shared. “It gave me some courage and hope — and the community is real friendly. That’s the biggest part.”

Bob McHarness: Rewriting Expectations at 82

After a life-changing injury led to amputation, Bob McHarness took up pickleball in his eighties. Since then, he’s become a local legend on the courts in Greater Philadelphia and a testament to the fact that ability has no age limit.

Building Bridges: Unified Pickleball Programs

Unified Sports programs pair athletes with and without disabilities on the same team. In pickleball, this format has taken off through initiatives like Special Olymics Unified Pickleball. These programs promote inclusion through shared goals, teamwork, and mutual respect.

At the 2019 Special Olympics North America Tennis & Pickleball Championship in Hilton Head, unified doubles teams showed exactly how the sport can bring people together, no matter their abilities.

Wheelchair Pickleball & Adaptive Tournaments

One of the most exciting growth areas in adaptive pickleball is tournament play. Events across the country are creating opportunities for athletes to compete on their terms.

National Wheelchair Pickleball Championship

In 2024, USA Pickleball added official wheelchair divisions to its National Championships for the first time, marking a major milestone for adaptive athletes. Meanwhile, groups like the United States Wheelchair Pickleball Association (USWPA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America are leading regional and national efforts to grow the sport. Players like Chip Parmelly, a former Paralympic wheelchair tennis athlete, say pickleball is less taxing on the body and more accessible, making it a perfect fit.

Inclusive Clinics and Formats

From local community centers to adaptive sports nonprofits, inclusive clinics and tournament divisions are popping up for players with conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries. Organizations like Move United and SoCal Adaptive Sports are actively building spaces where athletes can play with confidence.

Why Adaptive Pickleball Matters

For many, adaptive pickleball isn’t just about the sport – it’s about identity, recovery, and finding connection.

“Before I found this sport, I wasn’t sure what was next for me,” says one stroke survivor. “Now, I have a community that supports me, and I have a sport I love.”

Pickleball can support rehabilitation after injury, build strength and coordination, and help combat that social isolation many people face. It’s proof that movement and connection go hand in hand.

What’s Next for Adaptive Pickleball?

More programs. More visibility. More stories like these.

Organizations like USA Pickleball and Move United are working to expand access and awareness. Clinics are popping up across the country. And rec center and tournament organizers are adapting their spaces and rules to make room for more players.

The future of adaptive pickleball is bright, and the impact goes far beyond the game.

Want to Learn More or Get Involved?

USA Pickleball: www.usapickleball.org
United States Wheelchair Pickleball Association: www.uswpa.org
Special Olympics Pickleball: www.specialolympics.org
Move United: www.moveunitedsport.org
SoCal Adaptive Sports: www.socaladaptivesports.org

Adaptive Pickleball: How Athletes with Disabilities Are Shaping the Game