About
PWII Tennis stands for “Players With Intellectual Impairments” Tennis. It’s a category of tennis programs designed specifically for people with an intellectual disability or autism, ensuring they can participate safely, fairly, and enjoyably.
PWII Classification
| Classification | Eligibility Criteria | PWII Tennis Tournaments |
| II-1 Intellectual disability |
– full-scale IQ score of 75 or lower; – significant limitations in adaptive behaviour; – onset before age 18 |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Virtus World Tennis Championships – Global Games – Special Olympics Events |
| II-2 Significant intellectual disability (this group is currently restricted to athletes with Down syndrome – excluding Mosaic DS) |
– a formal diagnosis of Trisomy 21 or Translocation Down syndrome; – for safety, athletes must not have symptomatic Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI) – athletes with Mosaic Down syndrome may compete in II-1 above |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Virtus World Tennis Championships – Global Games – Special Olympics Events |
| II-3 High Functioning Autism |
– a full-scale IQ score of above 75, OR a diagnosis of no intellectual disability, and; – a formal diagnosis of Autism or ASD Note: athletes with Autism who meet the criteria for II-1 Intellectual Disability will be classified in that class |
– PWII Silver Series – PWII State Tournaments – Australian Tennis Championships – Special Olympics Events |
| Special Olympics We acknowledge that some athletes with an intellectual disability may not fall into one of the above classifications. For these athletes, there are a number of Special Olympic events they may be eligible to compete in. More information: http://specialolympics.com.au/index.php/join/ |
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| Want more information on how to get classified, or what’s required? Sport inclusion Australia: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/eligibility/ Special Olympics Australia: http://specialolympics.com.au/index.php/join/eligibility |
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Rules & Equipment
PWII tennis follows the same basic rules as regular tennis, but with adaptations to suit each player’s needs. Courts, nets, and balls can be modified, and coaching may allow multiple bounces, simplified scoring, or underhand serves. Equipment like lighter racquets and low-compression balls help make the game fun, safe, and accessible for everyone.
Get In Touch
For more information, contact [email protected].
NSW