On April 25th, blind and low-vision players gathered for Southern California’s first-ever BLV tennis competition, featuring athletes across multiple vision classifications, from fully blind players to those with partial sight. The matches looked different from traditional tennis—smaller courts, audible balls, raised boundary lines—but the competitiveness felt exactly the same.
Players in B1 through B4 categories are allowed varying numbers of bounces depending on their level of visual impairment. Instead of tracking the ball visually, players locate it by sound.
"What's different is the language that you have to use," coach Dan Aubuchon said when asked about how he's had to adapt his coaching style to fit the needs of those with eyesight impairments. "You can't demonstrate and tell people to watch what you do. You have to teach players how to track the ball through hearing."