Other Adaptive Sports Opportunities Continued

Competitive athletics available throught Sun Wheeler Sports can fulfill a personal need for strenuous activity, provide an outlet for competitive drive, enhance independence, and contribute to the athlete's overall health and well being.  The program offers a myriad of opportunities to build strength, confidence, and physical skills valuable in everyday life.  With all of these benefits come life-long friendships, shared victories, and exciting opportunities for national and international competition.  Here are some additional sports opportunities that are currently available or may be reactivated when the need is recognized and/or present within the community.

Bowling: Local bowlers compete within leagues at Indian River Lanes and an annual tournament . Players are governed by the American Wheelchair Bowling Association.

Golfing: There are two different divisions: wheelchair and amputee. Efforts are being made to acquire suitable carts for public use at a municipal course within Hampton Roads. The sport is governed by the Association of Disabled American Golfers.

Handcycling: Handcyclists compete nationally in races of various distances.  The Sun Wheeler Handcycling Program provides short-distance training programs to develop the fundamental skills necessary to operate the handcycle.  Riders graduate to long-distance training programs which prepare the rider for competition.

Tennis:  Clinics and camps for the novice and advances wheelchair tennis player are taught within our program. The wheelchair tennis team trains and competes for national ranking under the United States Tennis Association ranking system. Sun Wheelers is the home of the Virginia Beach Wheelchair Tennis Classic. Held in May of each year, the Classic features the top male and female wheelchair tennis players in the region.

Downhill Snow Skiing: Is available at most neighboring ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic. Annual trips to Snow Shoe, WV are coordinated for both mono-ski, bi-ski, and three-track.  The sport is administered by the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team.

Football:  Wheelchair Football is played in accordance with NCAA rules with a two-handed tag substituted for a tackle. Teams are organized under the aspices of the Universal Wheelchair Football Association.

Softball:  Governed by the National Wheelchair Softball Association, the sport is played on a paved surface, a over-sized softball, and only the first baseman has a fielding glove.  Bases are also over-sized to account for the added space of the wheelchair.

Air Rifle Shooting: Shooters compete in pistol and rifle divisions according to level of disability.  The program began in 1998, to provide individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to take the shooting experience to a competitive level. Competitors use an intenational match air rifle or pistol on a 10 meter indoor range. Rifle shooter shoot 120 total shots in the prone, standing, and kneeling posittion, while pistol shooters take 60 shots in a one-handed shooting position.  The sport is governed by Wheelchair Sports USA, and the National Wheelchair Shooting Federation.