More Than Awareness – Coaching with Acceptance

In 2016, Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix was working as a speech-language therapist at a charter school for autism in South Florida when an idea took hold. “I looked out the window and I thought, ‘Wow, I see these children running around… but wouldn’t it be great if they were learning tennis?’”

 

Tennis had defined much of her life. She started playing at age five, grew up playing junior tennis in Florida and was the top collegiate recruit before playing at Duke and the University of Florida. “Tennis was my whole world,” says Pugliese-LaCroix. After injuries redirected her path, she became a speech therapist and “quickly fell in love” with working with children on the autism spectrum.

 

Standing in that schoolyard, she saw a way to connect both callings. “I said, ‘Why not? Let me try to connect these two and really share my gift of tennis with those who don’t have a voice. Hopefully tennis can give them a voice.’”

 

In January 2017, Love Serving Autism launched its first program. Nine years later, it operates in 15 states and has certified hundreds of coaches.

Acceptance on Court, A Higher Standard for Coaches

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. Pugliese-LaCroix is careful about that word. “Back when I started,” she says, “awareness was the word we always used. Now we say acceptance,” she explains. “Awareness is, ‘Okay, they have autism.’ Acceptance is identifying the strengths of a child or adult on the spectrum and celebrating their unique strengths.”

 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism now affects one in 31 children in the U.S., and one in six children have a developmental delay. Most coaches are already working with athletes who have developmental differences, diagnosed or not.

“If you’ve taught six children on a court,” Pugliese-LaCroix says, “one of them potentially has a delay. This is very pertinent to a coaching career.”

 

Her message to coaches is direct: “Adaptive training is no longer optional. It’s something we all must do together.”

The Biggest Misconception about Adaptive Tennis

For coaches new to adaptive tennis, the most common mistake is underestimating athletes. “A lot of coaches assume that a child with autism has a cognitive impairment. That’s not always the case,” says Pugliese-LaCroix. “Just because a child is non-speaking doesn’t mean they have a lower IQ.” Her first rule: “Always assume competency.”

 

That mindset shift changes everything. Love Serving Autism trains coaches to:

 

  • Simplify language without simplifying expectations.
  • Use visual schedules, picture symbols and clear court markers.
  • Allow additional processing time.
  • Break drills into sequential steps.
  • Provide physical prompting when needed, and fade it toward independence.

 

“If you’re on the spectrum, you process visually a lot faster than auditorily,” Pugliese-LaCroix explains. “If they’re looking at a picture of hitting a forehand, that equates a lot faster than a coach using a lot of verbal language.”

 

When coaches adopt these tools, confidence grows. Pugliese-LaCroix explains, “They realize, ‘Wow, I am capable of teaching a group of children with autism.’”

Red Ball to Yellow Ball, with Intention

Adaptive programming doesn’t remove progression. It refines it. In Red Ball classes, visual schedules outline the session. Plastic spots and cones define space. Coaches may use rhythmic cues, “bounce” and “hit”, to pair movement with language.

 

Some athletes require hand-over-hand prompting at first. “The goal is fading those physical prompts so they feel what it is to be independent,” says Pugliese-LaCroix. “Some eventually don’t need it anymore. Some always need support. And that’s okay.”

 

As players progress to orange, green and yellow ball, emphasis shifts to rallying, direction and social confidence. “A percentage graduate to green and yellow ball,” says Pugliese-LaCroix. “That’s exciting to see – serving, returning, keeping score.”

Throughout, therapists often share the court. Certified speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapists support communication and regulation. “We envision the tennis court space as a therapeutic opportunity,” says Pugliese-LaCroix. “There are so many communication opportunities on a tennis court. There’s almost not an option – you have to engage.”

 

She’s seen non-speaking athletes say words for the first time. She’s seen literacy improve from reading visual banners courtside. She’s watched families become tennis families.

Why Adaptive Training Makes You a Better Coach

For coaches who primarily teach neurotypical athletes, adaptive education sharpens core skills.

 

“Teaching adaptive helps you learn to differentiate instruction,” Pugliese-LaCroix says. “Every child learns a different way. What separates a good coach from a great coach is recognizing that.” Problem-solving improves. Observation sharpens. Patience deepens.

 

“It’s definitely stepping outside your comfort zone,” she acknowledges. “But out of all the coaches we’ve worked with, they love it. They absolutely love it.” Many look forward to their adaptive classes the most.

From Certification to Community Impact

Love Serving Autism offers three certification levels, from introductory foundations to nonprofit program management. More than 350 coaches have completed training so far. Some come to better serve their communities. Others have personal reasons.

 

“We’ve had coaches who have children on the spectrum say, ‘Thank you for allowing me to get educated on this because I want to teach my son,’” says Pugliese-LaCroix.

 

Her long-term vision is clear: sustainable programs in every state, with both coaches and therapists on court. She also hopes to build a dedicated inclusive therapeutic racquet sports center. At its core, the mission is simple: “A world where people of all abilities thrive through racquet sports.”

 

And sometimes that vision comes into focus on the sport’s biggest stages.

 

“Going to the US Open and seeing 24 children with autism run on a stadium court… their eyes are looking up like, ‘Wow, where am I?’” says Pugliese-LaCroix. “To them, this is the championship match. They feel included like everyone else.”

 

For Pugliese-LaCroix, that moment captures what acceptance looks like in action.