The players may be sitting down, but there is nothing relaxing about chair volleyball. For Choctaw elders across the reservation, the sport has become a lively combination of exercise, competition, laughter and community.
On July 23, elders from all 12 districts gathered at the Choctaw Nation Wellness Center in Durant for the 2026 chair volleyball regionals. Thirty teams competed for a spot in the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival finals.
Thirty teams from across the reservation competed for a spot in the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival finals on Friday, Sept. 3.
Sitting shoulder to shoulder, players stretch, twist, and tap the ball high above the net while smiles are exchanged among focused faces. Like many sports, this requires agility, focus, teamwork, and a lot of fun.
For Choctaw elders, chair volleyball has become far more than a game. It is a celebration of wellness, friendship and district pride.
Candice O’Daniel, the Senior Wellness Coordinator for the Choctaw Nation, said that chair volleyball began in the original Wellness Center in Durant, within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, around 2008.
At that time, chair volleyball was one of several activities included in senior fitness programs. Elders took part in walking groups and chair aerobics before finishing their exercise sessions with fun games such as Frisbee golf or chair volleyball.
As the Choctaw Nation established more Wellness and Community Centers in southeastern Oklahoma, chair volleyball followed. The game has thrived alongside the Senior Wellness Program and is now available in all districts. Elders meet once a week at their local centers to practice and prepare for competitive play.
As participation increased, friendly games evolved into more organized competition. According to O’Daniel, more than 250 elders participate in the program each year, making chair volleyball one of the largest senior recreational activities in the Choctaw Nation.
The rise in chair volleyball’s popularity is largely due to its accessibility. Unlike traditional volleyball, players remain seated throughout the match, making it possible for elders of all mobility levels to participate.
The sport builds upper-body strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and cardiovascular health, all while remaining gentle on the joints. Swapping a traditional volleyball for a beach ball softens the impact on fingers and hands and lets the ball stay in the air longer.
The benefits extend far beyond physical health. This sport offers elders a chance to forge friendships and stay spirited within their communities.
Linda Walthall played with her District 2 team in the July tournament.
Walthall enjoys chair volleyball because she can fellowship with other seniors, and it is great exercise.
“Believe it or not, you use everything on your body, and it’s always fun to hit that ball when you think about something that’s getting you down,” said Walthall. “You slam that ball, and it will make you feel good!”
O’Daniel pointed out that the sport has grown so much that four tournaments are now held throughout the year, each hosting around 30 teams.
The biggest annual tournament is the Elder Chair Volleyball Regional Qualifier, which takes place each summer at the Durant Wellness Center with teams competing under a double-elimination format.
The top four teams earn the right to compete at the championship during the annual Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival at Tvshka Homma, where they play for medals, a championship trophy, and bragging rights.
O’Daniel said that even though chair volleyball has been included in the Wellness Program for more than ten years, it only recently became an official championship event at the Labor Day Festival.
The addition shows the sport’s growing popularity and the important role it now plays in community and wellness centers. It now takes place with long-standing competitions such as stickball, softball, horseshoes and cornhole.
Chair volleyball has earned its place as one of the Labor Day Festival’s most anticipated events, drawing family members and supporters who gather to cheer on their elders.
This year, the teams competing for the championship are Wilburton, Broken Bow, Smithville and Wright City.
Chair volleyball proves that competition has no age limit and that true wellness is holistic. Health is not found only in movement but also in laughter, encouragement and the relationships built across the net.
To learn more about programs specifically for elders, visit your local community or wellness center or visit the Choctaw Nation Services page.