Special Pops

Summary: The Rotary Club of Alpharetta not only funded a grant to help cover the cost of the Special Pops spring training academy and t-shirts for the March Round Robin. Our members also participate as partners in the matches with the Special Pops tennis players. The Special Pops program introduces people with intellectual disabilities (“athletes”) to the lifetime sport of tennis; promotes fitness and nutrition education; fosters positive social relationships between peers and athletes and volunteers; to have fun with new friends; old! Special Pops Tennis was founded in 2005 by a small group of avid like-minded tennis players who recognized the potential the game of tennis offers to enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities both on and off the tennis court. In a grassroots organization, all services are provided by volunteers who serve as instructors, coaches, partners, chaperones, umpires, and mentors. We are committed to our vision of inclusion by providing every person with an intellectual disability the opportunity to reap the many benefits of participating in a lifetime sport. “The game they teach is tennis, but the lessons learned are real life.” Special Pops strives to build life skills through instruction, competitive play, social interaction, and nutrition and fitness education. They provide tennis instruction, free of charge, from beginning skills to advanced competitive play at 14 locations in 8 metro Atlanta counties, league play, and tournament competition.