Team USA Deaflympics: Communication as a Competitive Edge

At the Deaflympics, competitors thrive in an environment designed for them, where shared language and visual communication transform inclusion into a competitive edge. The journeys of golfer Kevin Hall and volleyball player Ryan Manoogian show how communication, whether through quiet focus or team rhythm, shapes how Deaf athletes perform and build confidence. Both have spent years adapting in spaces not built for them, and now they’re stepping into one that finally is.

‍

Precision on the Green

For more than twenty years, Kevin Hall has excelled at the highest levels of golf. He’s an NCAA champion, a former PGA Tour player, and now a proud member of Team USA at the Deaflympics. For most of his career, he’s been the only Deaf golfer in the field, a reality that requires constant clarity, adaptability, and preparation.

Before every round, Hall meets with his coaches and caddies to make sure everyone is on the same page. They agree on hand signals, determine when to rely on lip-reading, and decide when to switch to written notes during a match. That kind of communication planning, he says, allows him to focus completely once play begins.

This year’s Deaflympics carries special meaning for him. It will be the first time he’s traveled this far from home and the first time he’ll compete alongside Deaf golfers from around the world, rather than against hearing players. “In my 20-year career, I’ve only participated in three Deaf golf events,” he says. “An experience like this is rare for me, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Golf is often called a mental game, and for Hall, communication is part of that discipline. It bridges the gap between isolation and confidence, helping him stay composed under pressure. His approach to communication off the course is equally deliberate. He views it as a way to model self-trust and perseverance for other Deaf athletes.

He offers this advice to the next generation: don’t be afraid to go after your dreams. “Being Deaf doesn’t mean you can’t do anything,” he says. “It’s possible if you believe in yourself and are willing to work hard. There will be bumps in the road and days you question yourself, but hang in there. Take it one day at a time and keep learning from every experience.”

While Hall’s strength comes from individual focus, Ryan Manoogian finds his in the rhythm of an entire team.

‍

Rhythm on the Court

Volleyball never stops moving. Every point demands fast reactions and absolute coordination. Early in his career, Ryan Manoogian played professionally in eight different countries, often surrounded by hearing teammates who spoke little or no English. To stay in sync, he learned to rely on what he could see: the split-second glance that means “go,” the angle of an arm signaling a set, and a teammate’s shoulders tightening before a spike.

Those visual cues became his language. “Every country has its own culture, language, and way of seeing the game,” he says. “You experience new environments, different coaching styles, and teammates from all over the world. It really opens your mind and makes you appreciate how much there is to learn in this sport.”

As the only Deaf player on many of those teams, Manoogian often led by example through energy and body language. When words fell short, communication became movement—a shared rhythm that kept the game flowing. “I’ve had teammates who didn’t even speak English,” he recalls. “But we still found ways to connect, play together, and laugh together. That’s the beauty of volleyball—it brings people together no matter where you are.”

Now, with Team USA Deaf Men’s Volleyball, that skill has evolved into a shared advantage. Everyone on the court signs. Everyone moves with the same visual awareness. No one has to wait for sound to react. The result is a team that operates almost like a single unit: intuitive, fast, and completely connected.

That brotherhood has already made history. Team USA became the first Deaf team ever to medal in the elite hearing division at the USA Volleyball Open Nationals, winning silver in Denver, Colorado. A few months later, they placed fourth at the 2024 Deaf World Championship, their best finish ever, with a roster that was 90 percent new.

“We’ve been improving so much since then,” Manoogian says. “We’re building confidence and playing stronger as a team. We’re heading to Tokyo with belief and motivation because we want to make even more history for USA Deaf Volleyball and for our country.”

For Manoogian, communication isn’t sound—it’s synchronization. What might look like simple signals to outsiders is, for Team USA, seamless strategy and proof that shared understanding can move a team faster and further together.

‍

The Winning Edge

The paths of these two athletes highlight a shared truth: communication is performance.

For Kevin Hall, clear exchanges with coaches and caddies keep him centered and precise. For Ryan Manoogian, fast visual connection turns hand signals and eye contact into instinct. Together, they show how the way Deaf athletes communicate shapes how they compete.

These aren’t just tools for inclusion; they’re how athletes like Hall and Manoogian compete at their best.

As Team USA steps onto the courses and courts in Tokyo, both bring decades of experience from hearing-centered arenas, where adaptation was a daily demand. Now, in an environment designed for them, communication doesn’t have to bridge a gap. It can finally set them free. When communication is the foundation, athletes don’t just participate—they thrive.