I wouldn’t consider myself to be a “competitive dad” in the complete Fast Show sense, but there is a bit of “dad-ing” that involves showing off.

You need only visit your local park on a sunny day to be assured of the sight of a father holding off the tackles of his kids before blasting the ball into the goal and setting off with T-shirt over head and arms aloft.

If you are lucky, you may see him limping off after being upended by a tenacious nipper — but, on the whole, it is a father’s job to kick the ball higher or farther, to throw and catch, to outrun and, above all, to be able to teach these skills in a patient and encouraging way.

Unfortunately, my paraplegia makes kicking a ball a tad difficult and, while I can still throw a pretty mean forehand Frisbee after years of playing Ultimate (a trip to the internet will explain, for those of you who haven’t heard of it), the opportunities to impress Rosalie, my daughter, in the local park are limited, especially as I have to spend most of my time checking the ground for holes and dog poo.

I have played a bit of wheelchair basketball but the travelling involved was too much for our family life and, as it was something that I went elsewhere to do, Rosalie has never seen me play. I could feel the opportunities slipping away. She is nearly 4 and will soon be unimpressed by anything that I do.

Luckily, about a year ago, I discovered wheelchair tennis. The rules are the same as in tennis except that a wheelchair player is allowed a second bounce of the ball. This simple but ingenious change means that wheelchair players can compete against able-bodied players. At a high level the biped will always have an advantage, but for playing in the park it is ideal. I can hit a ball back and forth with friends on the local courts the same as anyone else. I can even show off in front of Rosalie — and one day I hope to be able to teach her.

So now, when I go to play tennis in the evenings, Rosalie always sends me away with the same refrain. “Bye, Daddy. Enjoy the tennis.” Then, unprompted, she adds: “Don’t forget to win.”

Now who’s being competitive?

www.timrushby-smith.com

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