As part of new projects within the Table Tennis England’s Be TT programme, Stockport Table Tennis Academy recently launched their new Social Gewo Pairs League. The league has been set up and organised by Stockport Table Tennis Academy, which is spearheaded by Ian Fletcher and David Hulme.

The aim of the new social league is to provide a pathway for people entering the sport at the social/beginner level, to experience playing competitive table tennis, within a welcoming, friendly environment.

Ian Fletcher, the league organiser commented:

The new Gewo Pairs League is a brilliant way of attracting new players into our great sport of Table Tennis in a format that is more suitable to people’s lifestyles today. The players are able to come along on a Thursday night, compete in a 2- a- side league, in a nice sports hall with multi-tables and are finished before 9pm. New social leagues like this are what need to be developed to help sustain the traditional 3 Person Team local leagues.

 

The new Gewo Pairs League has 16 players competing within a league and there will also be 2 singles knockout competitions organised on 2 of the weekly dates.

David Hulme, Stockport Table Tennis Academy’s Head Coach commented:

The new Gewo Pairs League has only been going for a month and it is a fantastic way of making the sport more inclusive for people entering the sport at a lower level. We have School Teams, Families, Adults competing in the league and it is great to see a 13 year old competing against a 60 year old on an equal footing. There are not many sports out there where it fits for inter-generational competitions. You can see the smiles on the players faces, they are so excited and keen to come along on a Thursday night to compete in the league and we can see this growing year on year with more divisions.

 

Table Tennis England, as part of the new Be TT (Better Experience) programme are working with clubs and leagues to look at providing new ways for people to enjoy playing table tennis and to make it a Better Experience. Stockport TT Academy have chosen to focus on a new Pairs Leagues and other clubs/leagues within the Be TT programme are offering a variety of new offers, such as – A new Junior League, Adult Coaching Sessions, Women and Girls Sessions, Social Round Robin League, Social Roll up and Play League. Support for upskilling new volunteers/coaches is also part of the Action Plans to help sustain the activity.