Pushing the boundaries: Adaptive, behavioral health tennis are Kansas City game-changers

Three years ago, Michael-Ray Pallares was in Kansas City, Mo. hosting a play-day tennis event through his foundation One Love Tennis Inc., a non-profit organization designed to reach under-resourced and low-income youth through affordable tennis, education and fitness. Certified therapeutic recreation specialist Ron Tankel learned about his initiative and extended an invitation to visit with members of the then-Truman Medical Center (now University Health hospital) Behavioral Health’s New Frontiers tennis program, and the rest is history.

The two have since put together a team of experts to create a curriculum that will be geared towards educating coaches and therapists on how to implement a program designed to help individuals improve their overall health and wellness through tennis. Physical activity has been shown to have a strong and positive influence on mental and emotional well-being, as well as a number of mental disorders. Participation in regular physical activity can increase self-esteem and improve social skills, in addition to decreasing stress and anxiety.

Pallares is a former professional tennis player who was a two-time USTA national champion as a junior, received a full scholarship to play at the University of Alabama, ranked in the nation’s Top 10 in NCAA Division I tennis, and held an ATP ranking for more than 10 years while representing the Dominican Republic in Davis Cup and at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

In 2021, a USTA Adaptive Tennis pilot program called One Love Tennis was implemented in conjunction with Synergy Services, a program for at-risk Kansas City youth. With the help of Northland Racquet Club and the North Kansas City Parks & Recreation Department, students can experience both indoor and outdoor play. The main focus of the program, which is currently in its second year, is to improve the students’ overall self-esteem, socialization and team-building skills.

The data gathered from the combined programs will be used to demonstrate that tennis is a viable tool to improve individuals’ overall health and wellness. This research will provide the foundation for further curriculum development.