As part of the new Table Tennis England Be TT programme a new Junior League has started at Dewsbury League Table Tennis Centre at Heckmondwike. Heckmondwike Table Tennis Club currently runs junior coaching on a Monday evening and Saturday morning but a need for competition for those players not ready to play in the local adult league was identified as a way to develop and retain junior members. The new Junior League which features a new pairs format will take place on the last Saturday of every month instead of the usual coaching session. Sally Shutt-Table Tennis England Development and Volunteering Officer for the North commented;
The club already has a good relationship with local schools but the new competition format will hopefully attract more young players to the centre and provide a stepping stone for some of the juniors to play in the local adult league. LocalĀ coaches Chris Reece and Usman Umar are being very proactive in their approach to Junior development at the club.