Beyond tennis: How Buddy Up is shaping the health and wellness of people with Down syndrome

While life skills programming is currently only offered to athletes ages 14 and up at the Buddy Up flagship location in Columbus (though Gibson says the organization is studying the best practices to implement it succesfully elsewhere), one thing is true across the board: Buddy Up's roots in tennis have never been too far removed from the program's expansion.

Its growth, in fact, has been shaped directly by them.

"Everything that we've learned on the tennis courts, we've applied those learning to all of our programming," she says. "Even though we're talking volleys or something, it's [about] the whole strategy, the whole environment. ... and our families really love the environment within Buddy Up for Life. That environment is where the athletes and students are evolving and growing. They're really excited to see their children grow not only on the courts.

"We always knew there was a connection. When they're succeeding in tennis, we know that they're gaining in confidence, we know that they're gaining socially and emotionally, and it's always fun to connect that."

The numerous physical, mental and social benefits of tennis are also just as, if not more so, impactful for individuals with Down syndrome, Gibson also says. Thanks to Buddy Up's customized tennis program, which offers multiple levels of play, athletes "can never really age out," and can reap those benefits for their whole lives—from improved core strength physically, which is a "hub" for speech, fine motor skills and gross motor skills, according to Gibson, to a broader social circle with their typically-developing peers, and a committed structure and repeatable routine.

"In our tennis program ... we believe in developing coordination, strength, agility ... ball control and tracking, which are so huge for our athletes," she says. "We have the fitness component, but we also have a character development component. We're talking about sportsmanship, listening, being respectful. It is through the sport in itself where our athletes are truly learning. These skills, of course, will help them develop into great tennis players, but develop them off the courts as well.

"I think that what we're seeing is we're really creating an environment for our athletes and students ... to become more independent, and be included, legitimately, in activities. They're not standing next to their peers, but they're standing with them."