Table Tennis England, the trading name of the English Table Tennis Association, is the governing body of table tennis in England, responsible for representing, coordinating, administering, regulating, promoting, marketing and developing the sport in close cooperation with related bodies such as Sport England, the English Schools Table Tennis Association (ESTTA) and the British Table Tennis Association for People with Disabilities (BTTAD). Most of Table Tennis England’s income comes from exchequer (government) grants and the Lottery Sports Fund (for the World Class Performance Programme), administered by Sport England.
The Board
The Board of Table Tennis England comprises the three elected officers of Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Treasurer, the CEO and a number of other officers a number of whom are independent (come from outside table tennis). This ensures a fresh perspective and keeps the sport fresh. The Chief Executive has day to day management authority for the executive staff.
The Board is the policy making body of Table Tennis England and defines the strategic direction of the organisation. The Board’s growth strategies focus on making the sport accessible to as many people as possible and ensuring that pathways are built to allow people to progress as far as they wish to, within our sport. The Board’s performance strategies focus on improving performance at international level and increasing the talent pool.
National Council
The National Council is an advisory body to the Board and link to county and league associations. It comprises elected representatives from each County Association (National Councillors). It meets quarterly.
Regional Committees
The Regional Committees comprise a Chairman and members such as the Regional Development Officer, Regional Coaching Chairman, Schools Representative, Competition Secretary, County Representatives, Sport England Representative, etc. The Committee are responsible for development programmes, conferences, and regional competitions. They come under the ETTA Development Department.
Regional Coaching Committees
The Regional Coaching Committees usually comprise county and school representatives and other senior coaches. They come under the Teaching and Training Department and liaise closely with Regional Development Committees. Among their functions are running regional squads, trials and a team to represent the region at the national inter-region (cadet) competition.
County Associations
The County Associations are autonomous voluntary bodies, which represent the interests of member league associations in their area. They organise closed individual championships and inter-league competitions for their members, and sometimes inter-club county leagues. They also select representative teams to play in the Table Tennis England County Championships, which has categories for cadets (under 15), juniors (under 18), seniors and veterans (40+). In 2011/2012 there were 41 affiliated county associations.
Local Leagues
Local leagues are also autonomous voluntary bodies, which organise table tennis competition at a local level. In the 2014/2015 season there were 229 affiliated local leagues in England.
Club Structure
Clubs affiliate to Table Tennis England through a local league, although they can also affiliate either directly (e.g. as a Premier Club) or through their County Association. Clubs offer a range of coaching, practice, competitive and social activities, which vary considerably according to the club organisation and facilities available. Table Tennis England is working to reinforce a move towards linked clubs offering a range of activities and development programmes in multi-table facilities, creating pathways from school to international level, through its Premier Club Programme. Table Tennis England recognises several organisations (such as the English Schools Table Tennis Association – ESTTA) as being in good standing.
Affiliation and Membership
There are three types of Individual Membership (IM):
1. The vast majority (some 26,000 in season 2014/2015) play in an affiliated local league.
2. Some 2,800 (2014/2015) are “licensed” to play in specific Table Tennis England tournaments (as well as local league competition)
3. Some 1,700 (2014/2015) are non playing members who do not play competitive league or tournament play.
July 3, 2015