Table Tennis England The Winning Edge Issue 5 | Page 9

9

PING! 2016 FACTS
1.5 million table visits this summer
750,000 players
750 tables
21 different towns and cities
The biggest Ping! project ever!

has
even gone out and promoted their club, there
in
ess
succ
ter
been much stronger interest and grea
bringing new players into the club.’
Communicate and coach
g as a
Thompson was clear that, if you’re intervenin
e
com
that
skills
on
coach, it’s simple communicati
s
rdles
rega
ne,
anyo
to
through first: ‘Be happy to talk
nical
tech
ort,
rapp
a
built
of appearances.’ Once you’ve
advice can follow.
especially
‘Check they’re holding the bat properly first,
ball
the
with young people. Make sure they can get
y.
wind
over the table as well, particularly when it’s
off
them
Then take a look at their stance and start
g.
goin
push
hand
back
a
ng
with just getti
h they seem
‘Ultimately, you’ve got to gauge how muc
friends
have
they
do
e:
advic
ready for more detailed
d? If so,
bore
ng
getti
kids
g
pulling them away, or youn
clubs
local
t
abou
et
leafl
a
you’re best off giving them
on.
sessi
or the next free coaching
the casual
‘But you’ll have a great impact even just on
turned
who
lady
passers-by. Take for example an older
n
drive
g
up to one of our Active Parks events, havin
d
nose
diag
ntly
40 miles. It turned out she’d been rece
n
whe
is
tenn
with cancer and, as she used to play table
t
spor
the
into
she was younger, wanted to get back
while she could.
g to do,”
‘“Coming here has really given me somethin
s
week
few
a
for
e
cam
She
g.
I remember her sayin
the
all
et
Forg
n.
bega
o
chem
her
n
before stopping whe
was
it
mer,
sum
this
!
Ping
g
doin
100s of people I met
worth all the work just for that.’

WE