The recent surge of interest in the game has led to the launching of two new initiatives by the Isle of Man Table Tennis Association.
Following the success of a 'Come and Try it ' session at the National Sports Centre earlier this year the Association has booked the NSC from 7-9pm on Wednesdays throughout the summer.
Regular players can practice on a weekly basis and once a month - beginning on April 16th - there will be open sessions for members of the public to come along to see if table tennis appeals to them. There will be a small charge of ?3 per person. In addition, the Wednesday facility will be used by the Island junior teams as they prepare for the British secondary schools championships in June.
The second initiative has seen the Table Tennis Association arranging for a table to be made available at the SureStrike ten pin bowling complex in Ramsey where adults and children can play for a fee of ?2 per table for half an hour. Bats and balls will be provided.
League Fixtures Secretary Tim Baker said they had been encouraged to make these moves as a result of the response to the earlier 'Come and Try it' session. This had attracted new players, and others returning to the sport, offering the potential for extra league teams next season.'
He added: 'As an Association we are seeking to expand the sport - which is already growing rapidly - even further and widen access and participation. The Ramsey project will make table tennis more accessible to all sections of the community in the North of the Island and feed new players into the Ramsey club and the overall league structure.'
The SureStrike involvement mirrors a scheme funded by Sport England in the UK which has seen tables provided at landmark venues where large numbers of people enjoy playing. Named 'Ping!' the UK initiative has seen tables provided at venues such as museums, motorway cafes, shopping centres and even railway stations.
The latest ventures by the Isle of Man Table Tennis Association have been backed by award-winning UK coach Jason Sugrue, who makes regular trips to the Island to coach the Manx squads, and by SureStrike itself. The complex's Operations Manager Will Corteen said: 'We are delighted to support the local association in what they are trying to do.
'It will undoubtedly get more people to try table tennis. From our point of view it will be a great enhancement to the range of leisure activities available to the public alongside our ten pin bowling alley and the soft play and games zone.'
* Further information can be obtained from Table Tennis Association chair Maggie Mulhern who can be contacted on 801795 or 411045
