New UKCC courses

[Fullginner]

Evening. I have taken part in the first day of the new UKCC L1 course and am slightly disconcerted to note that there is virtually no technical training at all on the course. No information on how to correct a fault and lots of contradictory information in the hand book. In addition to that there are even errrors in the TT training photos, training notes and other details also. I hate to be a downer on my first post but...... would it not be better to teach people about the game to start with and concentrate on the coaching aspect in levels 2, 3 & 4 should it ever arrive. Any ideas

[Wiggy63]

Well, what can I add................................... The whole thing is about statistics and Political correctness. Not table tennis. The costs involved are really prohibitive for the higher levels, I can really honestly foresee a downturn in the standards of coaching in the foreseable future. The most important thing is that we are not molesting kids though, so its all worth it. The fact that no-one in the future is gonna bother to give up their free time for the worry of being labled a child molester is a problem though. The whole thing could be more user friendly if there was a uniform CRB certificate, and lower costs for the coaching grades. Ultimately, the high costs are passed on to the pupils, another deterrent for kids progressing in TT, If you have no money, your Kid can't succeed, we should be learning from Tennis, that creating a game that is only reachable to the middle/upper classes, results in low performance nationally.

[Belisar]

Bear in mind this is all a bit new to the ETTA.

They have run their own courses for years and now are trying to comply with UKCC requirements. Thus I suspect much of the content is not directly attributable to the ETTA. They have had to tick the boxes set out by UKCC.

Best thing for anyone on the courses is to give their feedback to the ETTA. I write, organise and run courses in my working career and often things do not really materialise until you try them out.

Give some feedback and then the ETTA can look to change them around.

[Trottski]

Umm Fullginner from Bedford eh! Hello Simon! I have completed the Level 1 and 2 and apart from managing a session and planning a session I can't say I have learnt anything technically. My technical acumen is a little to do with playing for 33 years and a lot do with tips from Lampwick/Mr Pastry. I have gotten a bit disillusioned, following my Level 2 I was asked to get involved in the "system" and pursue a level 3 place. Mr Childs mailed my regional coach on my behalf to achieve that aim. I have since mailed my regional coach a furhter 3 times volunteering to help out and so far (in 3 months) have had no reply. Preparing for a nice week away on the Welsh coast and still smiling at the thought of Billy Boy falling into a Canal (sorry Mark)! Also agree with Wiggy's points

[Fullginner]

Well I did think that it was all in my head but apparently not.
It is a shame that the courses are not more TT centric as I feel that I could give something back to the TT world but I just do not feel that the content is suitable at the moment so probably will not go on with further courses. I will review this later should anything alter.
Trottski, I have no idea who this "Simon" may be but thank you for your comments.

[Barry White]

Well, what can I add................................... The whole thing is about statistics and Political correctness. Not table tennis. The costs involved are really prohibitive for the higher levels, I can really honestly foresee a downturn in the standards of coaching in the foreseable future. The most important thing is that we are not molesting kids though, so its all worth it. The fact that no-one in the future is gonna bother to give up their free time for the worry of being labled a child molester is a problem though. The whole thing could be more user friendly if there was a uniform CRB certificate, and lower costs for the coaching grades. Ultimately, the high costs are passed on to the pupils, another deterrent for kids progressing in TT, If you have no money, your Kid can't succeed, we should be learning from Tennis, that creating a game that is only reachable to the middle/upper classes, results in low performance nationally.

I second that Andy.

[Belisar]

Interesting that in football Spain has more coaches than any other country (a BBC1 Stat).