TTA and SOA prepare to deliver Inclusive Spinneroos in Schools

Table Tennis Australia (TTA) recently held a coach education webinar in conjunction with Special Olympics Australia (SOA) to provide coaches with the support in delivering Sporting Schools programs to students in special education environments. 
 
In November last year, TTA announced the newest component of its Sporting Schools program - Inclusive Spinneroos in Schools, which will be delivered in special education environments.
 
Designed in partnership with SOA, the program has been adapted from TTA’s successful Spinneroos program to cater for students with intellectual impairments and autism. 
 
As the program prepares to launch in Term 2 of Sporting Schools, 24 coaches from across Australia attended the webinar, presented by SOA Education and Training Manager Leisl Stimpson, to upskill the coaches to help them deliver table tennis in the special education space.

National Participation and Development Coordinator Anshul Thakran said it was great to see a high level of interest in the program from the table tennis coaching community.
 
“SOA put together a great webinar to start the ball rolling and introduce our coaches to the sporting experiences of students with special needs,” Thakran said. 
 
“The benefits of the session are evident with 15 out of the 24 coaches having already signed up to deliver Inclusive Spinneroos in Schools, and we’re excited to see the results of this from Term 2 onwards, including the ability for coaches to implement this at a club level,” she added.
 
Coaches were provided with tips and strategies on how to deliver inclusive sessions to students with an intellectual disability or autism. The importance of using simple and clear instructions as well as visual aids such as communication cards and picture stories were highlighted with respect to skill demonstration. 
 
Additionally, coaches have also been given access to SOA’s online learning platform with guides and resources to help them deliver these programs effectively. 
 
Once again the partnership reinforces the all-welcoming nature of the sport and the commitment of the table tennis community towards embracing people of all ages and abilities. 
 
To have this program available at your school in Term 2, apply for a Sporting Schools grant through Sport Australia.
 
Applications close Friday 18 March.