DaveR
03-22-2008, 01:50 PM
Table Tennis Talk…………..A Few Weeks On
As Table Tennis Talk nears its 16th week the news is quite positive showing that many players, coaches, parents, helpers and many more are keen to promote the sport to its fullest.
Table Tennis has like other “fringe” sports had quite a rough and stormy ride in the past few years with little or no media coverage, which in turn saw player numbers falling across the United Kingdom. Not a great statement I hear you say from someone who professes to love the sport and is telling others to promote it with all their hard sweat and sometimes tears. Well the past is the sad past and thinking retrospectively never got us any further forward in this competitive world of cut throat media frenzy, where only the most well prepared and best plans will be glanced at by the powers that be when Television coverage is considered.
With so many important areas needing to be addressed by the ETTA it is worth pointing out they can only do so much to promote the sport Globally and Nationally, the local leagues and Associations also have a major role to play with grass roots introduction within schools leading to displays and young aspiring players being invited to clubs to take part in introduction courses in Table Tennis. All well and good I here many whisper but what do we do from that point onwards, with coaches sometimes so thin on the ground in certain areas. This is where the ETTA has to look deeply into the funding issues that are needed to take this initiative forward, with the money that is available being utilised and filtered down to the correct areas, with every league and Association being asked and assessed as to how their particular region or area can be improved, in relation to player numbers and the necessary funding to make these things turn to reality. The pot of money as we all appreciate is not endless but the way it is used is sometimes drawn into question from certain parties within the sport. Grass roots Table Tennis is often talked about in many circles with most people involved in the sport agreeing this is probably the most constructive and positive way to move the sport forward, with a long term future plan leading to the increase in player numbers. I along with many other players who have been in and around the sport for more years than our rose tinted spectacles sometimes allow our ever slowing minds to remember, will no doubt be thinking why should I be bothered, my years of playing and competing in those everlasting matches of years gone by are over. The sad reality is that many of us reflect when the years of enjoyment have ended and the structure of the league we actually played in is crumbling quickly beneath ourselves.
Enough of the years gone by. Let us look with binoculars into a rosy future where we can no doubt achieve a glittering limelight with the sport of Table Tennis in decades to come. Events such as the Dunlop Masters at the Royal Albert Hall prove that with the right people at the helm Table Tennis can stand proud alongside the big hitters such as Football and Tennis. Although these events are still not as frequent as we would like we all should praise those who put endless hours into the tiring occupation of organising and presenting these prestigious events. I am a great believer showcasing Table Tennis as every time this is done we see immense interest from the viewing public. Can anyone remember the world Table Tennis Championships in 1977 when the City of Birmingham held this magnificent event, with the introduction of the new 3 star Halex ball being used for this and Mitsuru Kohno from Japan winning in emphatic style. This as many of the elder statesmen on our forum may recall brought about a massive influx of players to the sport, all wanting to play because of the great coverage received on Television at the time, when commentary from Tony Gubba on spinning a ball was like listening to Torville and Dean giving advise on heavyweight boxing! Joking aside Table Tennis took a major leap forwards, but sadly as with the World Cup Rugby win in 2003 momentum was lost with the niche in the market place lost. These past events can all be made present once again with hard work and innovative ideas.
Finally the Table Tennis Talk site / Forum is growing nicely all the time and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their positive contribution. We also would like to encourage all Guests viewing the site to become a member to debate and discuss the sport. The whole emphasis is on fun and participation with Table Tennis being the ultimate winner.
Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated with feedback a necessary form of communication, so please post any thoughts, ideas and any innovative views at anytime.
Dave Robson
As Table Tennis Talk nears its 16th week the news is quite positive showing that many players, coaches, parents, helpers and many more are keen to promote the sport to its fullest.
Table Tennis has like other “fringe” sports had quite a rough and stormy ride in the past few years with little or no media coverage, which in turn saw player numbers falling across the United Kingdom. Not a great statement I hear you say from someone who professes to love the sport and is telling others to promote it with all their hard sweat and sometimes tears. Well the past is the sad past and thinking retrospectively never got us any further forward in this competitive world of cut throat media frenzy, where only the most well prepared and best plans will be glanced at by the powers that be when Television coverage is considered.
With so many important areas needing to be addressed by the ETTA it is worth pointing out they can only do so much to promote the sport Globally and Nationally, the local leagues and Associations also have a major role to play with grass roots introduction within schools leading to displays and young aspiring players being invited to clubs to take part in introduction courses in Table Tennis. All well and good I here many whisper but what do we do from that point onwards, with coaches sometimes so thin on the ground in certain areas. This is where the ETTA has to look deeply into the funding issues that are needed to take this initiative forward, with the money that is available being utilised and filtered down to the correct areas, with every league and Association being asked and assessed as to how their particular region or area can be improved, in relation to player numbers and the necessary funding to make these things turn to reality. The pot of money as we all appreciate is not endless but the way it is used is sometimes drawn into question from certain parties within the sport. Grass roots Table Tennis is often talked about in many circles with most people involved in the sport agreeing this is probably the most constructive and positive way to move the sport forward, with a long term future plan leading to the increase in player numbers. I along with many other players who have been in and around the sport for more years than our rose tinted spectacles sometimes allow our ever slowing minds to remember, will no doubt be thinking why should I be bothered, my years of playing and competing in those everlasting matches of years gone by are over. The sad reality is that many of us reflect when the years of enjoyment have ended and the structure of the league we actually played in is crumbling quickly beneath ourselves.
Enough of the years gone by. Let us look with binoculars into a rosy future where we can no doubt achieve a glittering limelight with the sport of Table Tennis in decades to come. Events such as the Dunlop Masters at the Royal Albert Hall prove that with the right people at the helm Table Tennis can stand proud alongside the big hitters such as Football and Tennis. Although these events are still not as frequent as we would like we all should praise those who put endless hours into the tiring occupation of organising and presenting these prestigious events. I am a great believer showcasing Table Tennis as every time this is done we see immense interest from the viewing public. Can anyone remember the world Table Tennis Championships in 1977 when the City of Birmingham held this magnificent event, with the introduction of the new 3 star Halex ball being used for this and Mitsuru Kohno from Japan winning in emphatic style. This as many of the elder statesmen on our forum may recall brought about a massive influx of players to the sport, all wanting to play because of the great coverage received on Television at the time, when commentary from Tony Gubba on spinning a ball was like listening to Torville and Dean giving advise on heavyweight boxing! Joking aside Table Tennis took a major leap forwards, but sadly as with the World Cup Rugby win in 2003 momentum was lost with the niche in the market place lost. These past events can all be made present once again with hard work and innovative ideas.
Finally the Table Tennis Talk site / Forum is growing nicely all the time and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their positive contribution. We also would like to encourage all Guests viewing the site to become a member to debate and discuss the sport. The whole emphasis is on fun and participation with Table Tennis being the ultimate winner.
Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated with feedback a necessary form of communication, so please post any thoughts, ideas and any innovative views at anytime.
Dave Robson