Table Tennis
As the name suggests, it's tennis... on a table. You can play singles or doubles and use bats to hit a light ball over the net and onto their opponents side of the table.
An Overview of Table Tennis
Players must allow a ball played towards them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opponent's side. It demands lightening fast reactions! The sport is played for fund and competitively across the world. There are opportunities to play in clubs, sports venues and youth centres across the country.
Table tennis is suitable for every age and fitness level, and it's easy to find a place to play - with tables everywhere from parks to leisure centres, bars and shopping centres. You can even play at home - all you need is a ball, bats and a table.
Benefits
One of the main benefits of playing table tennis is that it is non-contact. It is also one of the few competitive sports that requires players to move at speed without straining the muscles or joints through stretching or using heavy equipment. For people returning from injury or the elderly, table tennis tennis can be the perfect sport to sustain fitness levels. The action of having to hit a fast-moving ball with a bat several times a second means table tennis also improves reflexes, eye-to-hand coordination, mental alertness and speed of movement.
Costs
Table tennis is a cheap and accessible sport played. Table tennis equipment, such as bats and ping-pong balls, can be relatively inexpensive to buy, with some leisure centres and clubs also offering a rental service. Hourly rates for hiring a court often begin at approximately £5 per session, although membership deals can create a lower cost per game.
Adaptations and Equipment
Table tennis bats and ping-pong balls
Facts
- Egyptian table tennis fanatic Ibrahim Hamato lost both arms in an accident when he was 10, but he carried on playing by improvising with his mouth.
- The first World Championships were held in London in 1926, but it did not become an Olympic sport until 1988 in Seoul.
Find Table Tennis Clubs/Groups Near You
Use the search below to find local organisations near you.
National Governing Bodies
Table Tennis England
- Contact Name
- General Information
- Contact Email
- help@tabletennisengland.co.uk
- Contact Telephone
- 01908 208860
Special Olympics South Yorkshire Network
The Special Olympics South Yorkshire Network is a collection of clubs, community groups, venues and individuals with an interest in developing opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity and access
BSTC
Based near Birstall Retail park, and a ten minute drive from Leeds. Batley Sports and Tennis centre in reach for Leeds and most of Kirklees.
We offer programmes for Netball, Tennis, Football, Gymnastics, Swimming and many more.
Stanley's Sports Club
A multi-sports club in Dewsbury aimed at adults with learning disabilities and dementia.
Leeds LGBT+ Sport Fringe Festival
A collection of LGBT+ fitness instructors, teams, clubs and allies. We have organised a fully inclusive 18 day festival each year that introduces individuals to various activities that promote health and wellbeing. We combat Homophobia in sport and Sportp
Bradford Trident
Parkside Sports offers great spaces to pursue sports and physical activities. Our 4 court hall has a 3G floor and viewing gallery, making it great for local or regional tournament events. With a wide range or clubs/teams and groups meeting there is every
Disability Sport Yorkshire
From our base in Wakefield we work with a broad range of partners to provide community recreational and sporting activities for disabled people across Yorkshire, including events, training and access to a range of sporting opportunities.
The City Of Leeds Ymca
The city of Leeds YMCA has been established since 1854 and work with 1200 young people each week. we have gymnastics, football, netball, tennis and multi sports camps
Leeds Trinity University
Leeds Trinity University offers a comprehensive Coach Education Programme and also offers it's students a fantastic Volunteer programme; which works alongside local community based organisations, companies and schools in line with offering their students
Deighton Bright Stars Table Tennis Club
Table Tennis for children and adults aged 14+ who have a disability
SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum
A online meeting for Sports Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officers based in Somerset.
You're invited to attend our club welfare forum for anyone involved in sport and physical activity in Somerset, but in particular those in your clubs who hold the role of 'club welfare officer' or 'safeguarding lead'.
If you're the Safeguarding or Welfare Officer at your Sports Club, please join Tracey Sweetland, Somerset Sport Welfare Officer at SASP to learn about local support and opportunities to assist you in your volunteer role.
SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum
A online meeting for Sports Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officers based in Somerset.
You're invited to attend our club welfare forum for anyone involved in sport and physical activity in Somerset, but in particular those in your clubs who hold the role of 'club welfare officer' or 'safeguarding lead'.
If you're the Safeguarding or Welfare Officer at your Sports Club, please join Tracey Sweetland, Somerset Sport Welfare Officer at SASP to learn about local support and opportunities to assist you in your volunteer role.
Charlie Childs Coaching Grant – Table Tennis
Coaching grant to increase and/or retain the number of young people (age range up to U25) participating in table tennis and/or increase equality in the sport – by increasing the number of women and girls, disabled people or those from ethnically diverse communities participating.
Martin Ireland
Development Lead
07971 186 405
martin.ireland@etta.co.uk
Sally Shutt
Coaching Development Officer
07792 785 738
sally.shutt@etta.co.uk