ASL Pickleball Tournament at HCC: Holyoke Community College will hold its first American Sign Language (ASL) immersion pickleball tournament on Saturday, April 19. The event is free and open to all skill levels. It will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation.
The tournament is sponsored by the HCC Deaf Studies Department, the HCC ASL Club, and the Office of Student Engagement. It will include lessons in ASL and pickleball rules. Spectators are welcome to attend.
A Fun, Learning Experience
The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with introductions and instructions in ASL. Practice games will start at 9:30 a.m., followed by the tournament at 10 a.m. Afterward, an awards presentation and social time will be held.
HCC ASL instructors Minh Vo and Mick Posner will lead the lessons and games. The event mixes language learning and sports in a fun setting.
Voices from the Event
Carol Ann Smalley, an HCC learning specialist and ASL interpreter, explained the event plan. “First, there will be some lessons in ASL signs and then lessons on playing pickleball,” she said.
Smalley added, “Then, for the tournament, it will just be a random draw to make teams. It’ll be a couple of hours of playing pickleball, then the ASL Club is going to have a raffle and also sell food.”
She said the event is for people fluent in ASL and for students learning the language. “The idea is to immerse yourself in both the language and playing the sport. There aren’t any cash prizes; it’s just for fun.”
A Community-Building Event
The tournament brings together students, staff, and community members. It creates a chance to practice ASL and enjoy a friendly game of pickleball. By combining learning and play, the event hopes to strengthen both language and social skills.
It also encourages students to engage with others outside of class. Events like these help build confidence and community connections. If this event goes well, more activities like it may follow.
News in Brief: ASL Pickleball Tournament at HCC
Holyoke Community College will hold its first ASL immersion pickleball tournament on April 19. The event is free, open to all skill levels, and combines American Sign Language lessons with fun pickleball games. It promotes language practice, social connection, and community spirit through sports and friendly competition.
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