PROGRAMS
Game On Accessible Tennis offers multiple pathways of adaptive tennis involvement and instruction for athletes in three locations: Cookeville, Fairfield Glade, and Sparta, Tennessee.
At each location, our tennis pathways lead to personal growth, improved fitness, socialization with peers, teamwork, and fun!
2026 Site Coordinators:
Cookeville - Melinda Leftwich, RSPA Instructor & PTR Level One Coach
Fairfield Glade - William Taylor, RSPA Elite Professional
As we expand, Game On's Cookeville-based programs will include grassroots wheelchair tennis, para-standing tennis, and programs for other populations. Additional learning pathways will be developed to meet the needs of specific athlete groups.
PATHWAY I - SKILLS
Skills programs are offered for individuals who are new or returning to tennis. As part of the Skills pathway, we practice tossing, rolling, trapping, catching, and hitting. Equipment used includes catching mitts, baskets, foam tennis balls, balloons, beach balls, Koosh balls, and more! Skills programs bring together athletes of ALL LEVELS for developmentally-appropriate games on court. The focus is on having fun, exploring new skills, achieving your personal best, and tracking progress.
Tennis Skills Court - Spring / Summer 2026 - TTU COURTS
(COOKEVILLE LOCATION - offered as part of our weekly clinic):
Tuesday, April 7 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, April 14 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, April 21 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 5 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 12 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 19 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 26 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 2 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 16 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 23 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 30 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, July 7 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, July 28 4:30-5:45 pm
Upcoming Skills Opportunity: Join us on Saturday, June 6 from 10 - 11 am for Tennis 4 All, as part of our new Golden Parrot Summer Slam Tournament. Participation is free and open to all persons with disabilities, individuals with limb differences, people who have prosthetics, and people who use wheelchairs! Email Coach Mel at gameontennis4all@gmail to register by May 31.
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Fall 2026 Skills Clinics (for all abilities):
Tuesday, September 29 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 6 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 13 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 20 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, November 3 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, November 10 Time TBA
SUNSET SHOWDOWN & RACQUET RODEO
More details coming soon!
PATHWAY II - TRAINING
The Training pathway is designed for athletes who are ready to progress from skills development and willing to commit to regular practices. Our training focus shifts to hitting the ball, improving strokes, and developing footwork. Athletes play at one of four skills levels on the Special Olympics model, and that level can change as individuals progress. Check out the “Levels of Play” tutorial in our Playbook section for more info!
Seasonal training opportunities for 2026 (COOKEVILLE LOCATION):
Spring / Summer Competition-Level Clinics:
Tuesday, April 7 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, April 14 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, April 21 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 5 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 12 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 19 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, May 26 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 2 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 16 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 23 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, June 30 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, July 7 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, July 28 4:30-5:45 pm
Late Summer / Fall....ALL NEW OFFERING!!
GOAT Mega-Doubles League: (Sign up coming soon!)
This new and innovative doubles league is designed especially for athletes who have previously competed in an adaptive tennis tournament at Level 2, 3, 4, or 5. Athletes who have NOT competed in a tournament, but who plan to compete in the 2026 Special Pops Fall Classic in Atlanta, may join this league with Coach Mel's approval.
This league is also open to wheelchair athletes who have sport chairs and who play full-court tennis, as well as to new or current para-standing tennis players.
Formats will include:
Unified Doubles - pairing an athlete with an intellectual or developmental disability with a partner who does not have a disability / partners help athletes with scoring, court positioning, strategy, and rules of the game
Roll + Run Doubles - partnering a wheelchair tennis athlete with a standing player for doubles fun and great competition
Para-standing Doubles - partnering a para-standing athlete with a standing player for on-court competition and fun
Please reach out to Coach Mel with any questions!
Tuesday, August 4 4:30-5:45 pm (draft party)
Tuesday, August 11 4:30-5:45 pm Match I
Tuesday, August 18 4:30-5:45 pm Match II
Tuesday, August 25 4:30-5:45 pm Match III
Tuesday, Sept 1 No Clinic - ACE THE RUNWAY!
Tuesday, Sept. 8 4:30-5:45 pm (rain date)
Tuesday, Sept. 15 4:30-5:45 pm (rain date)
Fall 2026 Competition Clinics:
Tuesday, September 29 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 6 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 13 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, October 20 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, November 3 4:30-5:45 pm
Tuesday, November 10 Time TBA
SUNSET SHOWDOWN & RACQUET RODEO
Details about our NEW satellite program:
Fairfield Glade Racquet Center:
NEW CLINICS!! Coordinator: William Taylor, Director of Racquet Sports
To sign up , email William at wtaylor@fairfieldglade.cc
SUMMER 2026 DATES COMING SOON!!!
PATHWAY III - COMPETITION
Our Competition pathway shifts the focus to controlling tennis shots, improving strokes and footwork, learning to serve, and incorporating strategy. Athletes play at one of four levels (Level 2 - Level 5) based on the Special Olympics model. Athletes wishing to play grassroots wheelchair tennis will follow slightly different tennis rules but will be included in our group events. Competitive Play necessitates a commitment by each athlete to attend practices regularly. Also, for optional out of town events, this pathway requires parents or caregivers to transport athletes and cover travel-related or tournament expenses. Travel grants may be available - reach out with questions.
Check out our Playbook section for more info related to competitive play.
Competitions on our calendar for 2026 (VARIOUS LOCATIONS) -
Golden Parrot Super Slam, Cookeville TN - June 6-7
SPUD Tournament – Belton, SC – July 10-11
Special Pops Fall Classic, Atlanta, GA - September 18-20
USTA Southern Sectional Adaptive Tournament, TBA
Winter 2027 - Possible Indoor Adaptive Tournament -
the Game On Snowball Smash...Details TBA!
Our 2nd annual adaptive tennis tournament will be held June 6-7, 2026 at Tennessee Tech University Courts in Cookeville. The event will include singles and unified doubles as well as a "Pizza & Pins" player party at Bowling World on Saturday night. Participation is free, but you must sign up by May 31 to play singles or unified doubles.
There will also be an event for all levels called Tennis 4 All on Saturday, June 6 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, followed by a free picnic lunch for athletes from 11:00 am - 11:45 am. To sign up, email Coach Mel at gameontennis4all@gmail.com.
We apologize, but our online registration link is not working!