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 Nov 11, 2024

71 Play Days
957  Participants
850 Adaptive Players
107 Military Players
177 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. 

SPECIAL NEEDS

Thur. Jan 2 | 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 Park –  MAP
Thursday, Jan 2  | 2:30 to 4:00 pm

MILITARY VETERANS

Thur. Jan. 2 | 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 & Senior Center —  MAP
Thursday, Jan 2
 | 2:30 to 4:00 pm

PHYSICAL & SPECIAL NEEDS

Mon. Jan 13 | 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) –  MAP
Monday, Jan 13  | 5:30 to 7:00 pm

SPARTANBURG

Mon. Jan 13 | 6:00 pm

Adaptive Pickleball is hosting an indoor Pickleball Play Day for   players with special needs in Spartanburg. We’ll have paddles for players to use. Registration is required to participate.

St. James Church (213 N. Lanford Rd., Spartanburg) –  MAP
Monday, Jan 13 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm

PHYSICAL & SPECIAL NEEDS

Wed. Jan 15 | 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.

Gower Park (24 Evelyn Ave., Greenville) –  MAP
Wednesday, Dec 4
  | 5:30 to 7:00 pm

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!!!