2008 USTA Adaptive Tennis Award - Handi-Racket Tennis

702 views · Published 11 May 2009 · 2:35 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: United States Tennis Association (USTA) · 2009 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Congratulations to the 2008 USTA Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award, Handi-Racket Tennis.

Based at the Longfellow Club in Wayland, Massachusetts, Handi-Racket Tennis is the longest running instructional program in New England for people with physical and mental challenges, offering the opportunity to learn the game of tennis to a population that might not otherwise have the chance. Handi-Racketeers comprise the largest group of tennis athletes at the Special Olympics Massachusetts.

Handi-Racket Tennis was founded in 1977 by Laury Hammel (owner of The Longfellow Clubs) and Vicki Hammel (of Parents & Friends of Handicapped Children and the New England Professional Tennis Association). The program meets on Saturdays and for more than 20 years has been under the astute leadership of Sylvia Swartz, a member of the USPTA and the PTR and a long-time Longfellow teaching pro.

The Handi-Racket program held the 1st National New England Special Populations Tennis Tournament in August 2005 with participants from Florida, Texas and Massachusetts. In June 2007, during its 30th anniversary, Handi-Racket held the tournament with participants from Georgia, Texas, Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

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