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American Table Tennis

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Our database contains over 300 table tennis clubs in the U.S.A, and we are constantly expanding and updating with the latest club information. We offer the most complete and accurate list of table tennis clubs searchable through the iPhone.

Your search options include…
“Find Clubs Near Me”
“Find Clubs by City/State”
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Each search result gives the club’s name, address, phone number, and website. We verify all our information with club owners and members, ensuring that when you search for a club, you’ll be given the most up-to-date contact information. We’ve combined all of our club data with an easy-to-use integrative map that shows your current location, uses descriptive pin points to help you browse through all the clubs in your area, and allows you to plot directions from any location to the club of your choice.

Click here to get this app.  Or simply visit the App Store on your iPhone or through iTunes, and search for “Table Tennis Club Search”. Then you can view and purchase this great app for a special introductory price of only $1.99!

When you’re looking for information on table tennis clubs in your area, or any area for that matter, use Table Tennis Club Search to find all the info you need!

Thank you for visiting TableTennis.com! We encourage you to continue browsing through our site for more articles about table tennis games and table tennis clubs and for lots of great table tennis videos. For more information on how to improve your table tennis game (whether you’re playing indoor table tennis or outdoor table tennis), visit our eBay Table Tennis Store where you can learn about the Newgy Robo-Pong table tennis robot. Visit Newgy.com for more information straight from the manufacturer on how to play table tennis with this robot.

Popularity: 47%

USATT Sanctioned Clubs – Northern California

Posted by Lauren Traveau On May - 14 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

USA Table Tennis (USATT) is the national governing body for table tennis in the United States. Table tennis clubs that are affiliated with USATT have met certain criteria and adhere to the rules and regulations as set forth by USATT. These sanctioned clubs are able to hold USATT sanctioned tournaments with prior approval of USATT. Results from these tournaments can be reflected in your National Rating. National Ratings of USATT members are published in the official Table Tennis Magazine and on the USATT website. Additionally, members have access to up-to-date listings of all approved equipment, official rules for game play, and invitations to USATT sanctioned tournaments. Some of the best players in the USA and around the world play in USATT sanctioned clubs. There are many opportunities to watch the best of the best in table tennis. For the USATT affiliated club nearest you, check out the club listings at WWW.USATT.ORG

Table tennis fans have their choice of several table tennis clubs in Northern California. Ping Pong Dojo in Milpitas is a facility dedicated to advancing the sport of table tennis. The club is designed specifically for the table tennis player and features 3,000 square feet of dedicated table tennis space. Ceilings are 16 feet high, the shock absorbing custom floor is IITF approved, and optimal lighting is provided by twelve T5 fluorescent high bay stadium lights. The club features eight Butterfly Centerfold 25 Sky Rollaway tables and one Joola SC 3000 tournament table. For players who want to train with a table tennis robot, Ping Pong Dojo offers two Newgy Robopong 2040 training robots and one Paddle Palace E 2 Pro training robot. The club offers various levels of membership from an Open Play only option to an Elite Membership for more serious players. For more information visit www.pingpongdojo.com

Another popular club in Northern California is the Concord Table Tennis Club (CTTC). Located in Pleasant Hill, the club has been operating for thirty-seven years. Players of all abilities are welcome and first time visitors play for free. CTTC features eighteen Butterfly Centerfold tables and hardwood floors. The club is open four days per week for general practice and round-robin tournaments. They also hold beginner and intermediate training clinics and host one of the premier Juniors’ programs in the country. The club is open to the public but offers membership opportunities for those who desire to train on a regular basis. For rates and schedule information visit www.concordtabletennis.com

The Palo Alto Table Tennis Club (PATTC) is one of the largest clubs in the United States.  Located at the Cubberley Center in Palo Alto, the club offers fifteen tournament level tables in a well lit playing environment. The center is open for members and non-members four days per week. Training programs are offered for Juniors and adult players. Private coaching is also available. PATTC is a non-profit organization run by its members. All members are required to volunteer in some capacity whether by helping to close up the center at the end of the evening or by helping to set up for tournaments. For additional information visit www.tabletennisgold.com

Thank you for visiting TableTennis.com!  We encourage you to continue browsing through our site for more articles about table tennis games and table tennis clubs and for lots of great table tennis videos.  For more information on how to improve your table tennis game (whether you’re playing indoor table tennis or outdoor table tennis), visit our eBay Table Tennis Store where you can learn about the Newgy Robo-Pong table tennis robot.  Visit Newgy.com for more information straight from the manufacturer on how to play table tennis with this robot.

Popularity: 70%

Table Tennis: A Tool for Family Bonding

Posted by Lauren Traveau On May - 1 - 20101 COMMENT

Finding activities that all members of your family will enjoy can be a challenge. Teenagers typically have little patience for the types of games that younger children enjoy. Small children often have difficulty understanding rules and objectives of games that would entertain older siblings. Table tennis is an excellent option for family game night! It can be enjoyed by everyone.

The concept of table tennis is simple enough to be explained to even very young children. There are not a lot of rules to remember, just a lot of fun to be had. Teenagers are frequently accused of being reclusive and unwilling to communicate. A family game of table tennis can help to keep everyone connected. The game fosters communication and interaction without the need for uncomfortable prompting. Siblings who, at times may appear to have nothing in common, can laugh together while watching mom and dad battle over the table and then join the fun in a doubles game.

Playing a table tennis game can become a time to reconnect. There are no cards to read or tokens to move. It is simply you and your partner with your rackets and a ball. You can catch up on recent events and find out what is going on in your child’s life. Without all of the everyday distractions, this could turn into a time when your teen feels open to sharing something that has been weighing on them.

A benefit of having a table tennis table at home is that you can play year round. Foldable tables require very little storage space and can be pulled out and set up with ease. Beginning a family tradition of pulling out the table when someone needs to get something off their chest is a great way to create a safe place for difficult discussions. Having a table tennis robot in the house can provide family members with the option of playing a game of solitary table tennis when no one else is available. It is also a good way to practice in between family game nights!

Table tennis has been called the best sport for the brain. It is excellent for developing hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and muscle building; all of which are important for young children and aging adults. These benefits alone are argument enough to make table tennis part of family fun night. President Obama purchased a table tennis table for his family to use at the White House shortly after taking office. His passion for table tennis is well-known and has been passed on to his wife and children. He understands its value as a stress reliever, brain booster, and family builder.

There are many distractions and complications in our world. Spending time with the people we love should be an escape from the stresses of everyday life. Finding time to reconnect and share with one another is an important and necessary part of building strong, healthy relationships. Table tennis is a tool that can be used to help our families stay connected and intact.

Thank you for visiting TableTennis.com!  We encourage you to continue browsing through our site for more articles about table tennis games and table tennis clubs and for lots of great table tennis videos.  For more information on how to improve your table tennis game (whether you’re playing indoor table tennis or outdoor table tennis), visit our eBay Table Tennis Store where you can learn about the Newgy Robo-Pong table tennis robot.  Visit Newgy.com for more information straight from the manufacturer on how to play table tennis with this robot.

Popularity: 71%

Sean Patrick O’Neill is a table tennis athlete, two- time Olympian, and world class coach. His father was a nationally ranked junior player as a youth and passed his love for the game on to his son. Sean began playing table tennis at the age of seven and took up training at the age of eight. The O’Neill family’s life was centered around the sport of table tennis. They played together, trained together, and hosted athletes from other countries when called upon to do so. When it became evident that Sean was a table tennis prodigy, he began to travel outside of the United States for more intensive training. He went to Sweden to train for six weeks at Nisse Sandburg’s famed Angby Club when he was just eleven years old. Later, he traveled to China on multiple occasions for rigorous training with top coaches. Sean took his training time seriously. He spent hours conditioning and training each day and then several more reviewing video of his competition. His effort and dedication was rewarded with wins in every age category of the U.S. National Championships, including the Under 17 category five times!

Sean continued to train extensively into adulthood. He won the U.S. National Men’s Singles title five times, the U.S. National Men’s Doubles title five times, and the Mixed Doubles Championship six times.  He earned a spot on the U.S. National Team each year from 1983 to 1995 and won numerous medals and World Cups at the National level. From 1982 to 1995 Sean dominated the table tennis field at the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, formerly known as the National Sports Festival. He won an unprecedented eighteen gold medals, including seven consecutive Olympic Festival Singles Championships. His effort and dedication continued to pay off when he earned a spot on both the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic teams. While he did not medal at the Olympics, he made an impression and was called upon years later by NBC to assist with commentary at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. With this impressive listing of medals and accomplishments, it is not a surprise that he was named the USATT Male Athlete of the Year five times!

Once Sean decided it was time to retire from competing on a full time basis, he began to coach. The dedication he showed as a player carried over to his new career. He became the head coach of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Table Tennis Paralympic teams. He also coached the team at the 2002 and 2006 World Championships and the Para Pan Am Games in 2003, 2005, and 2007. He was the head coach at the University of Virginia and was named the National Collegiate Coach of the year in 2005. His commitment to the sport of table tennis continued to remain evident and in 2006 he was named USA Table Tennis National Coach of the Year. He was recognized by the USATT in 2007 when he was inducted into the USATT Hall of Fame. Sean was once quoted as saying he wanted fans of table tennis to know his name. It is clear that this is one more goal he has set and achieved.

Thank you for visiting TableTennis.com!  We encourage you to continue browsing through our site for more articles about table tennis games and table tennis clubs and for lots of great table tennis videos.  For more information on how to improve your table tennis game (whether you’re playing indoor table tennis or outdoor table tennis), visit our eBay Table Tennis Store where you can learn about the Newgy Robo-Pong table tennis robot.  Visit Newgy.com for more information straight from the manufacturer on how to play table tennis with this robot.

Popularity: 72%

Seattle Table Tennis Clubs

Posted by Lauren Traveau On January - 27 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

The Washington Table Tennis Center located at 1454 127th Place NE in Bellevue is the only full-time table training facility in Washington State. The club is open to the public and offers players of all levels opportunities to improve their table tennis skills. President, Yiyong Fan was a member of the elite Chinese National team and brings a lifetime of table tennis experience to the club. The WTTC is open seven days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00pm to 9:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00pm to 9:30pm, Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm to 6:00pm. Members have unlimited access to the club’s eight tournament class tables during open play and also receive discounts on classes, camps, robot training sessions, and equipment purchases. Monthly membership fees are $55 per individual. Annual memberships offer greater savings with individual membership rates of $399 and family membership fees of $550. Non-members may use the facilities for a $6 per visit fee. The Washington Table Tennis Center offers group and individual lessons, camps, and tournaments. Youth lessons are offered at a rate of $110 for four lessons, $80 for members. Group lessons for all ages and skill levels are $100 for four lessons, $70 for members. Individual private lessons vary in price.

Bellevue Table Tennis Club is a not-for-profit community organization that meets on weekends at the Crossroads Community Center located at 16000 NE 10th Street in Bellevue. Club President, Jerry Li focuses on ensuring the club is welcoming to the local community and adequately prepared to provide table tennis equipment for players at low fees.  Club membership is just $45 per year. Additional fees are charged for drop-in sessions and league play. Drop-in sessions are held Fridays from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:15am to 11:15am. The fee to play is $2.00 for Bellevue residents and $2.50 for non-residents. League play is scheduled on Sundays from 11:00am to 3:00pm and costs $2.00 for youth players under 16 and $4.00 for BTTC members. The club offers group lessons, with a maximum of three people, on Sundays from 11:30 to 1:00pm at a rate of $22.50 per person. Judy Qi, the former Hubei provincial team coach is the group instructor. Qi also offers individual lessons on Sundays from 1:00 – 3:00pm at a rate of $45 per hour. Additional coaches are available for individual lessons on Sundays from 11:00am – 3:00pm at a rate of $15 per hour for adults and $10 for youth players under the age of sixteen.

Green Lake Table Tennis Club meets at the Green Lake Community Center & Evans Pool Recreation Complex located at 7201 E. Green Lake Drive North in Seattle. The club meets on Wednesdays from 6pm to 8:30pm, Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, and Sunday evenings from 4pm to 9pm. The club welcomes players of all ages and prides itself on being relaxed and easy going. The large space and multiple tables allow for longer table time than other area clubs typically offer. Daily passes are $6 for adults and $4 for players under the age of 21. Group lessons and private coaching is also offered. Rates vary from $20 to $45 per hour. Inquiries should be made directly with the coaching staff.

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Popularity: 55%

Bay Area Table Tennis Clubs

Posted by Lauren Traveau On January - 19 - 20101 COMMENT

The Bay Area in California is a hotbed for highly skilled table tennis players. The sport has grown exponentially in the past years. In 2004 there were only two table tennis clubs in the entire Bay Area; in 2009 there are at least twelve. Clubs such as the Concord Club, Alameda Table Tennis Club, and the India Community Center Table Tennis Club are homes to some of the up and coming athletes and best professional coaches in the sport. Experienced players are welcoming youngsters into the fold and watching in amazement at the level of natural talent these junior players possess.

The Concord Club is an USATT affiliated organization that meets at the Pleasant Hill Adventist School located at 796 Grayson Road in Pleasant Hill. The club was founded by Phil Schafer in 1972 and recently celebrated its 37th year. While the club is open to the general public, membership continues to steadily increase each year. Members receive a $2 discount off of the daily play rate as well as discounts off registration fees for the Golden State Open and other tournaments. Members are able to borrow Newgy Table Tennis Robots for home training and also have access to a video library of World Table Tennis Champion videos and dvds. Annual membership fees for adults are $40. Family rates are $30 and full-time student rates are $15. Daily play rates are $5 per day for adults and $2 per day for youth and student players. First time visitors play for free. The Club operates four days per week: Sundays are open play days and also set aside for youth instruction and private lessons from 10:30am to 5:00pm, Mondays are open play days and youth instruction classes from 6:15pm to 10:30pm, Tuesdays are open play days as well as youth and adult instruction classes from 7:00pm to 10:30pm, and Thursdays are Round-robin competition days from 6:30 to 10:30pm.

Alameda Table Tennis Club is an USATT affiliated organization. The club is located at 2050 Lincoln Avenue in Alameda and offers a well lit, spacious gymnasium with high ceilings and tournament barriers, creating a desirable playing environment. The club is equipped with professional Butterfly Centerfold tables and dual head programmable table tennis robots. ATTC is open from noon to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Operating hours are 6pm to 10pm Monday through Wednesday. Open play is scheduled daily from Saturday through Wednesday. The club is closed on Thursday and Friday. Round Robin competitions take place on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm and Tuesdays from 7pm to 10pm. Adult classes are offered on Monday and Wednesdays. Youth training classes are scheduled on Saturdays. Private, semi-private, and group lessons can also be arranged by contacting the club. Rates vary depending on the type of session requested. Monthly membership fees for adults are $30, seniors and juniors under the age of 18 pay $20 per month. ATTC members receive the benefit of a half price discount on the use of table tennis training robots. The regular rate is $10 per hour or $6 per half hour.

The India Community Center is well known for its talented members and the awards and championships they have won. ICC builds camaraderie in the table tennis community by offering extensive recreational and formal table tennis opportunities. The facility is host to many USATT sanctioned tournaments each year. Located at 1453 Milpitas Boulevard in Milpitas, California, ICC claims the title of largest table tennis facility in North America with 10,500 square feet of air conditioned playing space, high ceilings, international tournament grade floor, and eighteen ITTF approved tables. The club boasts more than fifteen trained instructors, including the USATT 2008 Developmental Coach of the Year award winner, Rajul Sheth. Club attendance reaches 100 to 200 people at any given time each day. Membership fees are $299 per year or $29 per month for individuals and $499 per year or $49 per month for families.

ICC is serious about training table tennis athletes. The club offers special camps for kids, with enrollment numbers reaching 500 each year. Camp fees are $250 for non-members and $225 for members. Camp coaches include some of the finest table tennis professionals in the world, such as Gao Lin Tang, former head coach of the Szechuan province in China. Training programs are available for junior players at a rate of $150 per quarter for one hour of group instruction each week for beginner players, $250 per quarter for three hours of group instruction each week for advanced junior players. A recent addition to the club offerings is a training package for talented players. The package costs $500 and offers the player free group lessons, free access to all special camps, two private lessons per week with world class coaching, enrollment in and training for two USATT sanctioned tournaments each year, and access to all necessary equipment, including table tennis robots, rackets, shoes, balls, t-shirts, etc. The package also includes computer based scoring, player database and profiling.

For more information on how to improve your table tennis game, visit our eBay Table Tennis Store where you can learn about the Newgy Robo-Pong table tennis robot.  Visit Newgy.com for more information straight from the manufacturer.

Popularity: 54%

Miami Table Tennis Clubs

Posted by Lauren Traveau On January - 14 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

The sensation known as table tennis is heating up all across Florida. The area immediately surrounding Miami is home to several table tennis clubs. Broward Table Tennis Club is one of the largest clubs in the state. Located at 4200 NW 29 Avenue in Hollywood, Florida the 14,700 square foot facility offers sixteen tables on  barrier separated, wood floor courts. Two tables feature Newgy training robots to challenge players of all skill levels. Robot use is $10 per hour for non-members and $4 per hour for members. BTTC also offers a weight room and cafeteria.

BTTC operates Monday through Friday from 5pm to 9:30pm and weekends from noon until 6:30pm. The fee to play is $8 per session for non-members. Memberships for adults are available for $500 annually or $50 per month. Junior and Senior players may purchase a membership for $375 per year or $38 per month. A family membership for two people costs $750 or $75 per month with each additional family member paying $125 annually or $13 per month. Carlos Zeller is the operations manager and is available to answer questions for potential members. He can be reached at (954) 849-5436.

Training opportunities abound at BTTC. The club offers week-long camps each month, open clinics every Saturday, leagues that meet one night per week, and lesson for groups or individuals. Clinics are $15 per class and class size is limited to ten people. League fees are $25 per night, per team. Private lessons are $30 per person, per lesson. Coaching by Marty Prager and Terese Terranova is available as well and may be arranged by contacting the coaches directly. BTTC also hosts sanctioned tournaments and Round Robin events. The next tournament is the RoboPong 2010 Broward Table Tennis Tournament scheduled for January 9th and 10th, 2010.

As the popularity of table tennis continues to spread across the state, table tennis clubs are opening in many schools and community centers to help meet the need of table tennis athletes with a desire to play and improve their game. Logger’s Run Community Middle School at 11584 W. Palmetto Road in Boca Raton, Florida is home to The Palm Beach Table Tennis Club. The club schedule varies so it is recommended to call the club contact for the most up to date schedule. Club contact Jose Gonzalez-Posada can be reached at (561) 488-4330. The club currently offers lessons for advanced adult players on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:30 until 9:00pm. The program runs for 22 weeks and costs $75. Additional program offerings include training for youth players and open play sessions.

Boca Prep International School at 10333 Diego Drive South in Boca Raton, Florida is home to the Boca Prep Table Tennis Club. The club offers nine tables. Coaches are available for group and private training. The club hosts tournaments, clinics, and equipment sale dates. BPTTC operates on Fridays from 7pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm, and the last Sunday of each month from 3pm to 7pm. For more information, contact Ping Zhang at (561) 801-6430.

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Popularity: 50%

New York Table Tennis Clubs

Posted by Lauren Traveau On January - 11 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Table tennis clubs are the perfect place to meet new friends, socialize with table tennis comrades, and spend time honing your table tennis skills. New York City has several table tennis clubs available for you to experience. The newest club is SPiN New York. The club, which opened in September 2009, was the brain child of three filmmakers, Jonathan Bricklin, Bill Mack, and Franck Raharinosy. Actress Susan Sarandon is an investor and many celebrities are regulars at the club.

SPiN is located at 48 East 23rd Street in New York City, right in the middle of the Flatiron district in Manhattan. Like most places in New York City, SPiN stays open into the wee hours of the night.  The club opens each day at 11am and stays open until 2am Sunday through Wednesday. The doors remain open until 4am Thursday through Saturday. Several times each week, the club closes to the general public for members’ only events. Membership is not required, but does provide the benefit of access to members’ only functions and discounts on table rentals. Membership rates are currently discounted to $500 annually per individual and $750 annually per family. These prices reflect a discount of half off regular rates.

SPiN New York offers more than a dozen tables for member and guest enjoyment. One table is an exclusive work of art crafted from steel and glass by Rirkrit Tiravanija. It is housed in a private room named for the great Fred Perry. The room is available for private bookings. SPiN offers individual and group table tennis instruction from professional coaches and players. They also provide Newgy Robo-Pong training robots for individual practice. The 13,000 square foot facility includes a pro shop, lounge, full bar, locker room with showers, and a specially designed vault for paddle storage.

The New York Table Tennis Federation (NYTTF) is another large table tennis club in New York City. Located at 384 Broadway, 1.5 blocks south of Canal Street, the club is close to Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, and the Financial District. Operating since June 2004, the club offers professional Stiga tables and is the arena of choice for many players at all levels. NYTTF visitors will notice beginners of all ages as well as Olympians and world ranked champions using the world class facilities. The NYTTF facilities can be rented for group events, parties, or tournaments, in fact the NYTTF has staff members available to help plan and host your tournament. Many USATT sanctioned tournaments are already on the schedule for 2010.

Director Robert Chen and the NYTFF staff of professional coaches offer private individual lessons at reasonable rates: a package of ten, one hour lessons is $400 for non-members. The price is reduced to $350 for members. In addition to private lessons, the club also offers state of the art training robots for independent training sessions at a rate of $20 per hour. Arrangements can also be made for coaches to travel to your home, school, or other location for lessons at an additional fee. The NYTFF offers many pay-as-you-play options. You may elect to pay the hourly rate of $10 per person or purchase a prepaid savings card that allows players all day access for $12. Monthly membership fees are $80 for an individual or $150 for a family of four. Senior and Junior monthly fees are $65. Contact the NYTTF staff for all of their special savings opportunities.

Wang Chen’s Table Tennis Club, formerly known as the Manhattan Table Tennis Club, is located at 250 W. 100th St.  The club is owned by Jerry Wartski, a real estate developer and table tennis fan. The club is named for Wang Chen, an Olympic table tennis athlete who trained Wartski and others when she moved to the United States after retiring from table tennis in her Native China. Even though she was the fourth ranked player in the world from 1994 to 1998, she was passed over for the 1996 and 2000 Chinese Olympic teams, indicating to her that it was time to retire. After spending time training with Chen, Wartski decided to rename his club when he relocated to the current address. He changed the name to Wang Chen’s Table Tennis Club and made Chen his co-manager. She became a US Citizen in 2006 and earned a spot on the US Nationals Team and a return to the Olympics.

Wang Chen’s is open Monday through Friday from 3pm to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 10am to 10pm. The facility offers seven professional tables. Membership fees are $75 per month for adults and $65 for juniors. Non-members may use the facility for a rate of $8 per hour. The club holds weekly competitions and offers lessons from visiting professional coaches. When Chen is in town she offers lessons to Junior players at a rate of $40 per hour. Wang Chen’s Table Tennis Club is considered a hidden gem in the big city.

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Popularity: 40%

The AYTTO: American Youth Table Tennis Organization

Posted by Lauren Traveau On January - 6 - 20101 COMMENT

In 2001, a group of table tennis enthusiasts formed an organization geared towards helping disadvantaged youth gain confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility. The American Youth Table Tennis Organization (AYTTO) develops, organizes and implements table tennis programs in urban schools and other community based organizations. The AYTTO began with one program at the Hoe Avenue Boys and Girls Club in New York City and quickly grew to a city-wide initiative with over 20 participating schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Public School Athletic Leagues.  The success of these programs inspired a group in Boston, Massachusetts to form two similar programs of its own using the AYTTO’s guidelines and coaching techniques.

The AYTTO programs are created and led by knowledgeable coaches with comprehensive backgrounds in table tennis. Every child who enters the program participates; no one sits on the sidelines. The programs follow national physical education teaching standards which help to ensure the children are learning how to be physically fit while having a great time learning the sport and making new friends. The program participants learn the difference between table tennis and ping pong. Table tennis is an Olympic sport and as such demands practice, concentration, and dedication. Youth involved with the AYTTO build their logic and strategic thinking skills through playing table tennis. They learn about fair play and good sportsmanship. Existing members may mentor new members, building friendships and establishing self-confidence.

The AYTTO provides free table tennis lessons to youth from the ages of eight to seventeen. Various programs exist to help the organization reach the maximum amount of youths possible. The Residency Program takes place after school and consists of a trained coach visiting the school or community location once or twice a week to work on table tennis skills with the children. Table tennis clinics are held in conjunction with Fat Cat Table Tennis Club and provide an opportunity for youth between the ages of eight and eighteen to train with world class coaches in a group setting.  Clinics are scheduled several times each year. The Saturday Academy is for children who desire to learn more about table tennis than what can be fit in during the after school sessions. The three hour Saturday sessions are available to program participants at no fee. Youth who are not AYTTO participants may register for the program by paying a small fee. There is also a summer program for AYTTO participants and any Junior who would like to learn new table tennis skills during the summer.

The AYTTO also has programs in place that enable them to reach out to adults who want to enhance the lives of youth through table tennis. The organization offers training and certification to teachers who want to teach table tennis to their students. The Mentoring Program is designed to teach the AYTTO principles and techniques to table tennis coaches who are not affiliated with the program but who are interested in learning more engaging ways to coach young players.

The AYTTO Board consists of men and women who understand the impact table tennis can have on a young life.  Ben Nesbit serves as the Board Director. He was the Executive Director of the governing body of table tennis, USA Table Tennis, for two years. Member Mel Eisner was an elected Board Member of the USATT for five years. He also served as the USATT President for two years and President of The Greater New York Table Tennis League for fifteen years. Member Santos Shi is a top table tennis player and avid supporter of both National and Local level Junior table tennis activities. Member Virginia Sung was a world ranked table tennis athlete and represented the USA Women’s Team in international competitions.  Each of these people, along with others who have invested time and energy into the AYTTO, share a strong belief that table tennis is more than a game. They know that the skills learned build confidence and self-esteem; that the interaction with other players fosters lifelong friendships. Self-confidence and respect for others lead to success in life. The AYTTO is helping to put today’s youth on a path to success.

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Popularity: 45%

USATT Hall of Fame – History and Special Inductee, Joe Newgarden

Posted by Lauren Traveau On December - 21 - 20093 COMMENTS

A museum that is established to honor individuals who have made noteworthy achievements in a given field is called a Hall of Fame. The museum may be in an actual building or could be more figurative and simply exist as a listing of individuals who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the organizing community. The USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Steve Isaacson.  In 1966, while Isaacson was the table tennis editor of “Tennis” magazine he came up with the idea of a hall of fame to honor table tennis players in the same manner that baseball greats Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb or basketball stars Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Cousy were honored in the Hall of Fames of their respective sports. Isaacson mentioned his idea to the magazine publisher, Asher Birnbaum who thought it was a viable idea. Birnbaum offered to devote a full page in the magazine to the induction ceremony, including photographs, if Isaacson could make it a reality.

Isaacson met with Richard Fuertstein, President of the USTTA, to present his idea. Along with his proposal, he presented his list of the seven greatest players of all time; Dick Miles, Leah Thall Neuberger, Sol Schiff, Jimmy McClure, Ruth Hughes Aarons, Lou Pagliaro, and Sally Green Prouty. Fuerstein was impressed with the idea and presented the idea and proposed list of inductees to the USTTA Executive Committee. The Committee enthusiastically approved to support the idea of a table tennis hall of fame but shortened the list of seven potential inductees down to five. Pagliaro and Prouty were cut from the inaugural ceremony.

Even with the support of the magazine publisher and the USTTA, the Hall of Fame almost dissolved before the first group of inductees was publicly announced. Isaacson made arrangements to have a short Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to the 1966 U.S. Open Men’s Singles Final. Isaacson contacted the inductees, notified the press, obtained plane tickets and hotel rooms for himself and a photographer from the magazine. Unfortunately, when it came time for the ceremony, Graham Steenhoven, the Executive Committee member who was running the Open, decided they did not have time to pause the tournament to hold an induction ceremony. He referred to it as “nonsense”. It took another thirteen years for the Hall of Fame to be revived by USTTA Executive Director Hill Haid and Steve Isaacson. This second effort was more thorough with by-laws and a constitution being written, officers being elected, and a charter being recorded in the state of Illinois. The original induction ceremony finally took place in 1979 with the original seven being honored along with ten others.

As of January 1, 2009 the museum roster includes 79 players (many of whom were on the USATT national team) and 43 officials / contributors. The 2009 induction banquet and ceremonies will be held on December 17th at the Las Vegas Hilton in conjunction with the U.S. National Championships. Olympians Gao Jun and Diana Gee have been selected as the 2009 inductees. Olympic Team Manager Bob Fox has been selected as a Contributor and Houshang Bozorgzedah will be honored with the Mark Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2007, Joe Newgarden was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joe discovered table tennis as a young teenager and developed a lifetime love for the game. He formed a permanent table tennis club in Miami, Florida. It was known as one of the finest commercial table tennis clubs in the states with its special flooring, lighting, and training robots. Joe became known as a man who helped others without seeking recognition, as someone who was passionate about table tennis, and a guy who did all he could to help those who shared his dedication to the sport. For more than a decade, Newgy’s was a home away from home for many table tennis athletes. During this time Joe began to explore ways of making training robots more efficient and affordable. In the late 1980’s, Joe introduced his Newgy Robo-Pong model 1929.This robot was considered by many to be better than existing robots on the market. It did not take long for Newgy to become the largest manufacturer of table tennis robots in the world.

Joe Newgarden and his company, Newgy Industries, continue to help table tennis athletes around the world by contributing to the National Schools Program, High School Leagues, ACUI and NCTTA competitions, and training centers. Newgy donated thousands of paddles to the ITTF for use in developing countries and a number of robots to national TT associations in Southeast Asia that were hit hardest by the tragic tsunami in 2005. If Joe Newgarden has his way, everyone in the world will have access to the game of table tennis. It has been said that Joe Newgarden does not simply sell robots, he sells table tennis.

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