To Berlin for the big serve

"Can we start now?" Luca Nienkirchen calls out to his coach Georg Hodik. "At least play a bit so I can warm up." The 13-year-old can hardly wait to finally play a few balls. It's Monday afternoon on a tennis court in Bielefeld. Together with five other pupils from the Mamre Patmos special school, Luca takes to the court every week at the tennis club. "It's good that I can finally play again," says the teenager. Training was not possible for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After the warm-up, it's finally time to start practising serves. "That's the hardest part," says Luca, who has been attending the tennis club for three and a half years. He likes the sport so much that he has also signed up to the club at the same time - so he can play regularly not just once, but twice a week. "Tennis is a fast sport," explains Luca. "It's important to concentrate and always watch the ball." Depending on how hard the opponent's shot is, you have to vary the pace. "Afterwards, I'm exhausted but happy," Luca emphasises. "I like being outside, moving around and playing together with others."

The tennis club at Bethel's Mamre Patmos School has a more than 20-year tradition. Teacher Monika Schröder has been involved from the very beginning and knows why the sport is particularly suitable for pupils with disabilities: "Playing tennis involves many different skills at the same time," she says. "You have to run, look and react quickly - it's a good exercise for hand-eye coordination." Pupils who would otherwise have difficulty concentrating are transformed on the court and completely focussed on the game.

Although the focus of the tennis club is on having fun, the pupils with disabilities have a fixed goal in mind that awakens their ambition: the boys and girls are training to take part in the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Berlin. Whether backhand or forehand, longline or cross - the various techniques have to be right for the big tournament. "Travelling to Berlin would mean a lot to me," says Luca. He has been to the capital before, but competing against others in such a big tournament is a first for him.

Text: Marten Siegmann | Photos: Thomas Richter