Southern Table Tennis shine light on the importance of Club Connect

Southern Table Tennis (STT) has stepped up and delivered three Club Connect programs over Term 4. 

The South Australia-based club has been able to introduce Table Tennis Australia’s Spinneroos program to over 60 students at Flaxmill P-6 School, Woodcroft College and Prescott College Southern, furthering a direct pathway for these participants when STT delivers the full Spinneroos program in Term 1, 2022. 

“The Club Connect program has created an immediate impact and connection between the participating schools with our Spinneroos club providers this term,” TTA’s National Participation and Development Manager, Egon Loh said.
 
“We were extremely fortunate that three schools, within proximity to Southern Table Tennis, chose Table Tennis and STT jumped onto the opportunity to deliver their Club Connect programs,” he added.

The Club Connect initiative is piloted by 18 National Sporting Organisations, including Table Tennis Australia (TTA), and is an extension to the current Sporting Schools offer aimed at linking up primary schools with local clubs. 

Maurice Quinn, who is the Junior Development Officer at STT, welcomed the opportunity to introduce Spinneroos into the school environment.

“The Club Connect initiative from Sporting Schools has now made it possible to establish a relationship with three more schools in the Southern area, now totaling a connection with 28 primary schools,” Quinn explained.

“Many of the Southern Tuesday Night Junior Program players have come from schools where a Sporting Schools program has been delivered.”

In addition, the Sporting Schools funding has provided the capacity to purchase table tennis tables and additional equipment, enabling students to gain greater exposure to the sport in a school environment. 
 
On the last day of the program at Flaxmill P-6 School earlier this month, an exhibition between two-time Paralympic Games silver medallist Sam von Einem and Mitchell Rogers was played in front of over 60 students.
 
The students in attendance embraced the opportunity to meet von Einem, who brought along his Paralympic silver medal, by taking photos and getting autographs.

“The way it was played could not be scripted any better,” said Quinn. 
 
“The students being coached loved the opportunity to have a hit with Sam later in the coaching session. This was a clear demonstration of how our National players can inspire school students and make a difference in the promotion and development of table tennis.”

Over Term 3 and 4, TTA delivered a total of 11 Club Connect programs across the Northern Territory, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.

“The Sporting Schools (Club Connect) program complements our participation pathway and I look forward to further supporting the transition from school sport programs to regular club participation at our table tennis clubs in the next Club Connect funding cycle,” Loh said.
 
“I would like to thank Sport Australia (Sporting Schools) for their support in the implementation of the Club Connect pilot program,” he concluded.