Wheelchair Pickleball

from West Reading Avenues Summer 2022

16th Annual Celebration of Peace

In the Community

Wheelchair Pickleball Comes to West Reading

By Eli Schade A conversation with Bill, a wheelchair pickleball player from West Reading. Fromuth Racquet Sports worked with the IM ABLE Foundation to provide two adaptable wheelchairs specific to pickleball for use at the courts.

I had the pleasure of meeting two individuals with a unique story to tell in the Pickleball community. Bill Wellock, an adaptive athlete that has an enthusiastic spirit for the sport, and Brian Sutherland, a representative of the IM ABLE Foundation. Although Bill was my focus for the interview, Brian provided helpful insight of his own to facilitate the conversation.

Q: When did you start playing pickleball? How did you discover it? Bill: About a year ago, there were limitations to being in a wheelchair. I played with my wife and friends, and with Pat Shields— he’d get a group together and serve balls to get me used to moving around.

Q: How has pickleball been instrumental in your life? Bill: It’s the opportunity to get out there and socialize. Pickleball is an extremely social sport. It’s a lot of fun. My wife likes to play, she’s a big tennis player and plays pickleball. We get to go out and exercise together. It’s got a learning curve and I got to get used to moving around the court in a chair. Pat did that with West Reading Pickleball, he got some chairs to use and collaborate with IM ABLE. It helped get more adaptive athletes familiar with the sport.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the sport? Bill: The opportunity to socialize and interact with peers and new people. As I said, pickleball is an extremely social sport. It’s been great. So is the cross-section of people, different age groups, different people I’ve been exposed to.

Q: What people in your life have been supportive in continuing to play pickleball? Bill: Joe Garapola, I’ve hit around with him a couple of times, Pat a couple of times. Still learning how to move around the court in a wheelchair.

Q: If there was one thing you could tell someone else who has a handicap and wants to be involved in a sport, what would it be? Bill: Specific to pickleball, just to have fun. Every individual, bar none, has been extremely patient as I’ve tried to learn the game and play. So be ready to have some fun. Brian: As it relates to the community, we have organizations and what Pat has done in providing two chairs. His interest in collaborating with other entities like IM ABLE to realize that collectively they can promote the sport, and promote the interaction in the adaptive athlete’s area, and show how great our community is.

Inclusion is an awesome thing. Pickleball is a sport that’s accessible to people of a wide range of abilities. Really great to be inclusive and welcome the adaptive community into the sport, inclusion is everything. Access is important, it’s great for people to make that all willing to happen.

At the newly opened West Reading Pickleball Courts in Pennsylvania, Chris Kaag, the founder of the IM ABLE Foundation, tries out pickleball with his son Carter.

Q: If you were to give any new pickleball player a piece of important advice, what would it be? Bill: Be ready to have fun. It’s a ton of fun, there’s a short learning curve and it’s wonderful.

Although our interview was brief, the conversation with Bill and Brian has illuminated the importance of the comradery and spirit that is out there on those courts. It continues to amaze me how welcoming the community and its affiliates are, and the responsiveness to adapt and modify the experience for the needs of its players. Doing our best to reach outside the community and entice players from all walks of life and situations to join is what really makes Pickleball special. It’s why in a brief follow-up with Brian from IM ABLE Foundation, I asked him some questions on what could help other adaptive athletes get involved in a sport like pickleball.

Q: What other things does the IM ABLE Foundation do to help adaptive athletes? Brian: People can come to the foundation for equipment. There’s a financial requirement, so we help determine what kind of equipment they might need, how to raise funds, and determine what they need after their application.

Q: Do you know what kind of wheelchair Bill uses for Pickleball? Brian: Bill’s daily chair isn’t suitable for Pickleball, but thanks to Fromuth and the Shields Family Foundation, we’re able to buy two Pickleball-specific ones. They come with Camber wheels, which allow for more stability and are more responsive. Some of the equipment we have is expensive, which is why equipment is available for loan by contacting the IM ABLE Foundation. We have a wide range of equipment, including intro to sports equipment so adaptive athletes can get a feel to see if they want to play before investing.

Q: Any final thoughts that you would like to include? Brian: The IM Able Foundation wants to celebrate people of all abilities, push themselves to reach their goals. We want them to feel grateful for whatever ability they do have and help the community.