- December 4, 2024
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Michael Ouvarov is the founder and CEO of Tennis and Pickleball 4 All, a local nonprofit dedicated to making racquet sports accessible to athletes of all abilities.
In a remarkable display of perseverance and growth, 15-year-old Iskra Ouvarova from Bunnell claimed victory in Level 2 Pickleball Singles at the Special Olympics Florida State Championships, held Nov. 8-9 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee.
Her journey from a 9-0 loss in her opening game to winning the championship showcases the transformative power of adaptive sports programs in our community.
The transformation was amazing to witness. While serving as a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics pickleball program from August through November, I recognized that athletes need year-round training and competitive opportunities to truly develop their skills. The Special Olympics program is wonderful, but athletes benefit from consistent, year-round engagement.
Through Tennis and Pickleball 4 All, we aim to provide ongoing training and create additional competitive opportunities throughout the year. These regular tournaments and events are crucial for athlete development, confidence building, and continued progress.
My experience coaching the dedicated group of four athletes — Kennet Lefkovic, Jamie Morrow, Kimberley Jenkins and Iskra Ouvarova — at Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast during the Special Olympics season reinforced this need. The athletes maintained perfect attendance at their weekly practices, made possible through the generous support of Southern Recreation Center, which provided their pickleball courts for the program.
Despite the athletes’ commitment, quota restrictions meant only one could advance to the state championships.
Looking ahead, Tennis and Pickleball 4 All aims to expand its year-round programming at my facility, which currently houses three tennis courts. While we’ve adapted these tennis courts for pickleball practice, our adaptive athletes would benefit greatly from dedicated pickleball courts.
The organization is currently raising funds to build three dedicated pickleball courts, estimated at $64,200. These courts would provide a clearer, more focused environment for athletes and allow the program to host regular tournaments and events starting in January, 2025.
The nonprofit’s mission extends beyond sports training. We’re committed to creating an inclusive and empowering environment where athletes of all abilities can thrive.
Through our adaptive tennis and pickleball programs, we’re building confidence, fostering independence and creating lasting connections in our community.
The organization is actively seeking new athletes with intellectual disabilities to join our programs. We want to extend this opportunity to as many athletes as possible. Pickleball is an incredibly accessible sport that can be adapted to various ability levels, and we’re eager to welcome new athletes into our supportive community.
To fulfill this mission, Tennis and Pickleball 4 All seeks community support on multiple levels:
• Financial Support: The annual cost to support one athlete is $1,500, covering weekly professional coaching ($25 per session for 48 weeks); quality pickleball equipment; tournament entry fees; travel expenses; capital campaign with a $64,200 goal for dedicated courts to provide optimal training conditions, host inclusive tournaments, expand program capacity and create a hub for adaptive sports in Flagler County.
• Volunteer Opportunities for fundraising coordination, social media management, facility maintenance, playing partners for athletes and event organization.
While the organization has received initial support from USTA and Walmart, we’re actively seeking additional community partnerships to expand our impact. The goal is to ensure that no athlete misses out on competitive opportunities due to resource limitations.
Every athlete deserves the chance to experience the joy of competition and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. With community support, we can make this a reality for more athletes in our area.
Interested volunteers, potential athletes or donors can visit tennisandpickleball4all.com/donate to support the program or contact Tennis and Pickleball 4 All at [email protected] or call 386-227-7157 to learn more about joining as an athlete or volunteer.
