Spinneroos Case Study: Table Tennis ACT

Table Tennis ACT delivered three Spinneroos programs in Term 4, 2020 including one program specifically for girls. Program manager & President of TTACT, Heather Tomlinson, gives an insight into how Spinneroos has helped to increase participation numbers as well as significantly increase the number of coaches at the club. With all three programs selling out, Heather shares her tips for how clubs can successfully run a Spinneroos program of their own. 

What motivated you to become a Spinneroos provider? 

TTACT club had few members under 12 (3 girls and 6 boys) in mid-2020 and low female participation with females only 25% of total club membership. Spinneroos provided an opportunity to encourage younger children to try table tennis and Girls Spinneroos specifically targeted female participation.

What were the most effective marketing activities to sign up kids? 

Information Flyers at the Club and emailed to members encouraged children and grandchildren of existing members to register, in particular for Kingston. The banner at Kingston and requests for Spinneroos coaches also raised awareness amongst members. Facebook ads attracted new families, in particular to Gungahlin. 

What were some of the challenges that you had to overcome during the program? 

Confidence. Would we be able to get enough coaches in time? Would anyone register? If it failed what would that mean for the reputation of the club and board?  Confidence of volunteers was also a challenge. TTACT did not want to over use existing higher level coaches and has been able to increase coaching capacity through Spinneroos. 

What were the three most effective things that TTA did for your Spinneroos program? 

1) Spinneroos provided a professional, structured entry level program to attract new juniors and families, similar to other entry level programs offered by other sports eg Hoops 

in Basketball and AusKick in AFL.
2) Level of support to deliver program, including on-line coaching, equipment, 

communications, experience of other and staff support (willingness to answer numerous questions).
3) The high value and easy approach for parents, including simple registration process and bundling of kit bag, 8 weeks coaching and club membership.

What advice would you give to other providers who want to join Spinneroos? 

Don’t worry, just have a go!

The support from TTA was more than equipment and IT, it actually felt like you were part of a team trying to make a difference for the sport of table tennis. There was also an air of ‘have a go’ and ‘even if you only have a couple of takers that is OK’. Learning was central to the program including learning from others experience.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Schools Sporting Program has been an extra opportunity to introduce table tennis to young people. TTACT now has much higher capacity to deliver Spinneroos in schools and in a much more structured way that leads to Club involvement. The Spinneroos badging links school clinics with Club-based table tennis.

TTACT is also currently working with TTA to introduce the first Hopes Camp into the ACT - this would not be a possibility without the boost from the Spinneroos Program.

Table Tennis Australia would like to use this opportunity to thank TTACT and in particular, Heather Tomlinson, for their on-going support of the Spinneroos program.