Conference shows TT leads the way

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The ETTA National Volunteer Conference, held at the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall, over the weekend 11/12 March showed that table tennis is alive and well and growing in England. More than 50 delegates, including Club Chairman Graham Turner, gathered for the weekend conference in the beautiful setting of the National Sports Centre. And not even the blanket of snow that covered the centre on Sunday morning could dampen their enthusiasm.

The blanket of snow only made the magnificent surrounds of the main house at the National Sports Centre all the more beautiful in the early morning light.

 

The conference contained many topical updates including progress on the new Butterfly Skills training programme; the very latest coaching update including introduction of the UK Coaching Certificate that will replace the current ETTA Level 2 and 3 Coach certificates for all those involved in table tennis coaching; and a key note address from Olympic rower Alison Mowbray on just what is possible for those who dare to try and turn dreams into reality. And there was much more beside. Always a highlight of these events is listening to accounts of just what is being achieved up and down the country and the really exciting news is that table tennis appears to be flourishing in many areas, with new clubs, strong links being built with schools, former players returning and growth in the numbers of active volunteers in the sport.

Delegates at the conference were put through their paces, trying out the new  Butterfly Skills programme which is being introduced  by the ETTA to replace the Dunlop Skills awards. The programme is designed to give an introduction to bat skills and encourage hand, eye coordination. It will come as a whole training package particularly suitable to  take into schools and to beginner classes. One of its main aims is to show table tennis  as a fun but serious competitive sport .

It was great to see some of the potential also. At the same time as the conference the National junior squad at U13 level were meeting at Lilleshall for one of their training weekends. And for them the Olympics 2012 is very much in the air already, and this showed from their dedication and commitment to the training programme. It was great to see stars such as Alex Perry, the newly crowned English National Champion, and former star Desmond Douglas, himself now a prominent coach, putting the youngsters through their paces, and what talent was on display!

The impressive Forde Hall at Lilleshall stands empty, but during the weekend it throbbed with activity as the National U13 squad were put through their paces.

And it's not every day that you get to meet a table tennis legend! Desmond Douglas was just one of the coaches inspiring the National U13 squad, but he was still prepared to take time out for a photo shoot for the ETTA Volunteers conference.

All in all a first class event, showing the very best that table tennis has to offer to all and displaying just why the ETTA vision is "making table tennis the most popular and the most successful indoor sport in England". With the kind of enthusiasm and commitment on display this weekend it might just be possible.... so why not catch the vision too?

All the delegates at the conference were winners. But these delegates had particular reasons for pride. Their clubs had all been recognised by ETTA  PremierClub of the year awards at either Regional or National level. Although we were not among them this time, Baddow Village has in the past gained a  PremierClub of the Year award on two occasions.