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JUNIORS EXCEL ON AND OFF TABLE
It's
great to see that the Melbourne coaching programme is about so much more
than just ability to play table tennis. The programme encourages juniors
to gain an understanding of every aspect of the game and at all levels
seeks to recognise achievement and effort.
One
part of the programme is teaching juniors basic rules of the game and how
to umpire a match, and a number of those attending have recently passed
the test to qualify for their ETTA Junior Umpire Award. The pictures below
show a number of the successful candidates receiving their ETTA
certificates of recognition from lead Coach Neil Gooday and Assistant
Coach Ryan Pitt. Both Neil and Ryan, along with other coaching staff at the
Melbourne centre are doing a fantastic job promoting table tennis and
enthusing youngsters to take up and continue at the sport. And you'll
notice - it is both boys and girls who have been successful! After all,
table tennis is a sport for ALL!
Pictures
courtesy of ETTA photographer Arthur C Clark.
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Coach Ryan
Pitt presents
Bethany Hudgell with her
Junior Umpire Award.
Although Bethany might say
that Netball is her first sport
she has nevertheless stuck to
table tennis also and is making good progress - obviously both on
the table and with administration. |
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Brandon
Crouchman
has, as you might see ,a winning smile! He is also developing
some very good winning shots. Taking part in the CLICK League this
year for the first time he has also had to learn a thing or two
about umpiring a match. It was therefore great to see him
receive his Junior Umpire Award from Ryan. |
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If I didn't
know better I would guess that Frances Walters
had just finished playing when her
Junior Umpire Award presentation was made! I think it is the colour
of
the cheeks that gives the game away. Frances along with her
friend Freya - see below - played their first competitive
matches this year when they
represented their school , Hylands, in the CLICK League KO Cup
competition. And both girls did very well, showing that they could
umpire as well as play. |
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"Uncle
Neil" presents Scott Dowsett
with his Junior Umpire Award.
Scott comes from a great table tennis family tradition. He is now in
his first year of competitive play and is already making excellent
progress. |
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Freya
Hertzburg is one of a
number of 'left handers' attending coaching. And she has shown
herself very capable of using that advantage well.
Now that she can umpire
as well as play we hope
she will move onto the CLICK league scene very soon. |
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Toby Amoss
together with his
brother Jack also come from a keen table tennis family
background.
They represented the Excalibur Club in the CLICK League KO Cup this
season, their first competitive matches.
They may have had a hard time in that, but at least they could
umpire well! |
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