Tom Matthews is one of the top para table tennis players in the world, though he wouldn’t have ever picked up a paddle without the persistence of Jim Munckley, a five-time Paralympian. Up to the age of 16, Tom’s passion was riding his BMX – that was until an accident in 2009 left the Welshman […]
As an ex-England international, Tom Maynard is well-placed to pass on his wisdom to the next generation of table tennis stars, though coaching was never something he considered. Both of Tom’s parents were keen table tennis players, so it was only a matter of time before he would pick up a paddle. Aged 11, Tom […]
A good coach has a clear objective and plan in place before every training session, understanding what it is they want their players to come away with. Whatever sport it is that you coach, it is important that your training sessions are planned. That means understanding the abilities of your players, where they are in […]
The country is set to see record temperatures this week with forecasts over 40°C in some parts, which means that clubs and coaches must consider cancelling scheduled training and matches. The government has issued a first-ever red heat warning for Monday and Tuesday (18 and 19 July), meaning that the weather poses a risk to […]
Grassroots coaches have what can feel like an impossible and thankless job at times – dedicating hours of unpaid work and sacrificing time away from friends and family. Local clubs across the country rely on willing volunteers to step up to give their time. Initially advertised as a couple of hours a week, seasoned coaches […]
Originally, ping pong and table tennis were two names for the same sport. A trademark since 1901, ‘ping pong’ was registered by John Jaques & Son for their version of table tennis. American sports equipment company, Escalade Sports, acquired the trademark in the 1970s. That means that, officially, referring to table tennis as ping pong […]
