Introduce your kids to table tennis

“TWO years ago, I faced a dilemma. My then 10 year old needed to join a sport. I mean, there was no rule that said he had to. It was just this unspoken expectation that he should be doing a competitive sport.

“Yes, he was taking parkour lessons – getting cooler and cooler with each flip, sault and jump he learnt – but there was no winning or losing, no competitive nature within it.

“But you see, my boy at that age just wasn’t the kind of kid who had the drive to tackle random kids or steal balls off them to shoot a goal.

“And I wasn’t the kind of parent who wanted to stand in the rain every weekend as he played ball whilst trying to entertain my other kids and then go home to soak mud out of his uniform (kudos to all the parents who do do that!)

“So, what sport would suit him? Turns out there IS a sport that develops amazing hand-eye coordination, that builds up a competitive drive to play better and better each week, a game that’s not only skillful but also social and fun.

“A sport that is arguably one of the most underrated of all time – table tennis. So I signed him up.

“Suffice to say, in only two years at Mount Gambier Table Tennis Club, my son has gone from a complete beginner to playing in A Grade against State Championship players.

“ou see, the great thing about table tennis is that it’s a sport for everyone. Whatever level of fitness, confidence, age or ability, there’s a place to start and develop skills in a supportive, social environment.

“The team at Mt Gambier Table Tennis Club have taken it upon themselves to inspire and teach the younger generation this underrated sport, offering fun free tournaments during the school holidays and also running programs to teach kids the skills to play.

“The latest program they’re running is called ‘Ping. Pong. Play.’ – an eight week course starting July 26 every Saturday, 9-10am at Mount Gambier Showgrounds.

“The new participant fee is $140, which covers not only the eight weeks of training by an accredited coach, but also provides a table tennis starter kit which includes a bat and balls as well as a personalised drawstring bag and Ping. Pong. Play t-shirt.

“You can also use the SASports vouchers to cover the cost! ($115 for returning participants.) Your kids will be coached by the same team that turned my son’s sports dilemma into a successful sporting superstar who now not only has incredible hand-eye coordination, reflexes and sporting prowess but who now dreams of entering table tennis at the Olympic Games.

“That’s the power of this underrated sport and the amazing team at Mt Gambier Table Tennis Association. Sign your kids up to Ping. Pong. Play and see their confidence and skills skyrocket. And who knows? Maybe our kids will be playing table tennis together at the Olympics some day.”Mel Schaeffer

For more information, please contact [email protected], call 0400 239 231 or look us up on Facebook.