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Men playing wheelchair rugby

At the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, our Adapted Sports Program helps you get back to living after a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation or other chronic condition that creates physical limitation.

Whether you play for fun or you want a competitive outlet, our wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby and adapted golf programs will give you that chance. See our classes and events for a program that works for you.

Benefits of Adapted Sports

Adapted sports give individuals with physical disabilities an outlet to engage in community activities, forge new friendships and have fun. Other benefits of participation include:

  • Improved physical strength, range of motion, flexibility and endurance
  • Improved emotional well-being
  • Social interaction with others with similar interests, who face similar challenges
  • Opportunities to engage in competition

Wheelchair Rugby

This high-energy, high-impact sport is designed specifically for individuals with at least three impaired limbs, typically as a result of a spinal cord injury or amputations.

Open to men and women over the age of 18, this program welcomes players of all skill levels to learn the game through structured practices and scrimmages. Chairs suited for this sport are provided and there is no cost to participate.

We are also home to the Maryland Mayhem wheelchair rugby team. Our team has competed in tournaments in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, where we host the annual Maryland Crab Pot Tournament.

Team practices are held Sunday mornings, 9 am –12 pm at Farring Baybrook Recreation Center, 4501 Farring Court, Baltimore, MD. 21225. Our season is over, but practices will resume Summer 2024.

For more information, please call Lori Patria at 410-448-6275 or email lpatria@umm.edu.

Adapted Golf

Our comprehensive adapted golf program enables participants with disabilities to get out on the green and enjoy the game. Adaptive golf carts with swivel seats allow players to hit from the seated position, using golf clubs with flexible shafts and gripping aids.

In partnership with Forest Park Golf Course in Baltimore, we offer two spring golf clinics, followed by weekly golf outings on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer.

The season culminates in the fall with our Mix and Mingle Golf Tournament, which pairs golfers with and without disabilities for a day of friendly competition.

The golf program is open to players aged 15 and older. There is no charge for the clinic, and discounted tee times are offered through Forest Park Golf Course for practice play.

For more information or to register for the next clinic, call Emily Sykes at 410-448-6275 or email Emily.Sykes@umm.edu.

Wheelchair Basketball

In partnership with Baltimore City Recreation & Parks Therapeutic Recreation Program, we host "open gym" wheelchair basketball games for male and female players aged 15 and older. Players who do not own a sports wheelchair can borrow one from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks. Able-bodied family members and friends are encouraged to play. 

Our open gym format allows new players to learn, veteran players to get practice and a chance for everyone play in weekly pick-up games. The annual six-week clinic kicks off in May and continues through the summer months. There is no cost to participate.

Drills, skill-building exercises, scrimmages and games are held on the basketball courts on the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute campus.

For more information, call Mike Henley at 410-448-6307 or email mhenley@umm.edu.

Wheelchair Tennis

Our wheelchair tennis clinic, in a partnership program with the Junior Tennis Championship Center and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, offers a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals of all abilities to learn and play wheelchair tennis. Wheelchair tennis is played on the same size court as regular tennis, with the same net height and ball. The main difference is that players are allowed two bounces instead of one before returning the ball.

The clinics are coached by a veteran wheelchair tennis athlete and a certified wheelchair tennis coach and are offered during three separate five-week sessions throughout the year.  

Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the sport, this is an excellent opportunity for adapted athletes to learn the sport of tennis, stay active and have fun.

For more information, call Mike Henley at 410-448-6307 or email mhenley@umm.edu.

Adapted Sports Volunteers

Volunteer support is critical to our success. While many members of the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute's staff devote time and energy to make this program possible, we are always looking for volunteers from the community to help with our programs and special events. Learn more about volunteering at UM Rehab.