Pickleball as Therapy

Adaptive Pickleball teaches people with physical, cognitive, and developmental challenges how to play pickleball.

Sandy Halkett, and her team of volunteer coaches, use the game of pickleball as therapy. Players improve their physical fitness, make new friends and experience the thrill of competition.

Adaptive Pickleball is an accredited 501c3 nonprofit organization (Tax ID 87-4286411) serving the greater Upstate South Carolina area. 

PURPOSE & VISION

Adaptive Pickleball aspires to change lives.

We are dedicated to bringing the physical and social benefits of pickleball to people with diverse-abilities throughout the Upstate South Carolina area.

We regularly host free Pickleball Play Days for adaptive players of all ages. For many, these playing sessions provide recreational therapy. For more athletic players, these sessions feed one’s competitive spirit.

We see the smiles, hear the laughter and feel the love every time we host a Pickleball Play Day. That’s our motivation to growing the impact of Adaptive Pickleball. More smiles. More laughs. More love.

FOX Carolina Profiles APB

“Our participants are telling us about how literally we’ve saved their life,” Sandy Halkett said. “How pickleball has gotten them out of the house for socialization. They’ve lost weight. Before, they never thought they’d play a sport the rest of their lives because of their disability. It’s therapy and we call it pickleball therapy.”

PICKLEBALL?

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. It’s a mix of tennis and ping-pong. The rules are simple, and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for athletic players.

Adaptive Pickleball modifies the rules slightly to make the game more playable for people with diverseabilities.

2024 IMPACT

as of June 30, 2024

37 Play Days
499  Participants
419 Adaptive Players
 80 Military Players
103 Sport Chairs Used
 1,250,000+ Smiles

 For all of 2023, APB held 53 Play Days with 692 participants (567 Adaptive and 110 Military) and 154 sport chairs used.

APB Helping Adaptive Sports Organizations Worldwide

APB is becoming a leader within the Adaptive Sports community. Organizations are contacting APB to learn our processes and best practices to help launch Adaptive Pickleball programs in Ontario (Canada), Kenya, Ukraine, Australia, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Chicago and more cities/states. 

Upcoming Play Days

Veterans Play Pickleball sessions are also listed below for the Military community. 

Tue. Oct 22 | 10:00 am

Adaptive Pickleball is partnering with RECESS to host a Pickleball Play Day. RECESS is a signature program of The YMCA of Greenville for post-high school adults with diverseabilities to continue to learn new skills, connect with friends, and gain a sense of belonging. This is a private event.

Eastside YMCA (1250 Taylors Rd, Taylors ) –  MAP
 Tuesday, Oct 22  | 10:00 to 11:30 am

PRIVATE EVENT
Blue Ridge APB Play Day

Wed. Oct 30 | 3:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting a Pickleball Play Day for players with diverse-abilities outdoors at Southern Wesleyan University. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

SWU (907 Wesleyan Drive, Central, SC 29630) –  MAP
Wednesday, Oct 30 | 3:30 to 5:00 pm

register to attend
Blue Ridge APB Play Day

Wed. Nov 6 | 3:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting a Pickleball Play Day for players with diverse-abilities outdoors at Southern Wesleyan University. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

SWU (907 Wesleyan Drive, Central, SC 29630) –  MAP
Wednesday, Nov 6 | 3:30 to 5:00 pm

register to attend
Physical Needs Pickleball Play Day

Wed. Nov 6 | 5:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting an outdoor Pickleball Play Day for players with physical needs . Trained coaches and volunteers will on-site. A limited number of sport chairs will be available. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

Gower Park (24 Evelyn Ave., Greenville, SC 29607) – MAP
Wednesday, Nov 6 | 5:30 to 7:30 pm

register to attend
Special Needs Pickleball Play Day

Thur. Nov 7 | 2:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball and The Little White House are hosting an indoor Pickleball Play Day for players with special needs . Trained coaches and volunteers will be on court to assist players. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

Simpsonville Activity Center –  MAP
Thursday, Nov 7 | 2:30 to 4:00 pm

register to attend

Veterans Play Pickleball

Thur. Nov 7 | 2:30 pm

Retired, reserve and active military community, including families are invited to play. FREE. Beginners welcome. We’ll teach you how to play Pickleball.

Simpsonville Activity Center — MAP
Thursday, Nov 7 | 2:30 to 4:00 pm

Register to Attend
Adaptive Pickleball Play Day

Mon. Nov 11 | 5:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting an outdoor Pickleball Play Day for players with diverse-abilities . A limited number of sport chairs will be available. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

Tryon Park (226 Oakland Ave., Greer, SC) –  MAP
Monday, Nov 11 | 5:30 to 7:30 pm

register to attend

Veterans Play Pickleball

Mon. Nov 11 | 5:30 pm

Retired, reserve and active military community, including families are invited to play. FREE. Beginners welcome. We’ll teach you how to play Pickleball.

Tryon Park (226 Oakland Ave., Greer, SC) –  MAP
Monday, Nov 11  | 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Register to Attend
Special Needs Pickleball Play Day

Wed. Nov 20 | 5:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting an outdoor Pickleball Play Day for players with special needs . Trained coaches and volunteers will be on court to assist players. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

Gower Park (24 Evelyn Ave., Greenville, SC 29607) –  MAP
Wednesday, Nov 20 | 5:30 to 7:00 pm

register to attend
Blue Ridge APB Play Day

Wed. Nov 20 | 3:30 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting a Pickleball Play Day for players with diverse-abilities outdoors at Southern Wesleyan University. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

SWU (907 Wesleyan Drive, Central, SC 29630) –  MAP
Wednesday, Nov 20 | 3:30 to 5:00 pm

register to attend
Adaptive Pickleball Play Day

Thur. Nov 21 | 9:00 am

Adaptive Pickleball is partnering with Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital to host an indoor Pickleball Play Day for players with physical needs . A limited number of sport chairs will be available. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

First Presbyterian Church (Downtown Greenville) –  MAP
Thursday, Nov 21 | 9:00 to 11:00 am

register to attend

Veterans Play Pickleball

Thur. Nov 21 | 11:00 am

Adaptive Pickleball is partnering with Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital to host an indoor Pickleball Play for retired, reserve and active military community, including families are invited to play. FREE. Beginners welcome. We’ll teach you how to play Pickleball.

First Presbyterian Church (Downtown Greenville) –  MAP
Thursday, Nov 21  | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Register to Attend

Join the APB Facebook Group

Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with Adaptive Pickleball. We share news about upcoming events and fun photos from recent events on Facebook. Plus, you can participate in interesting group conversations.

Click below to join us!!!