In late October, the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program developed an innovative table tennis resource in conjunction with Table Tennis Australia, designed to introduce children to the sport.

The Playing for Life – Table Tennis manual features a seven week program that focuses on the Playing for Life philosophy which encourages a ‘game sense’ approach to skills acquisition.  Adapted from the Tops Table Tennis in Schools Program (2002), the manual includes valuable input from Sport and Recreation Victoria, Table Tennis Australia and Table Tennis Victoria.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Sports Participation Adviser, Chris Dobson, recently noted the value of such partnerships between community organisations and national sports organisations.

‘Existing programs such as the AASC are a great way for sports organisations to access new members and participants throughout schools in Australia,’ said Dobson at the NSO Workshop in Sydney.

The manual, is a valuable resource for AASC community coaches delivering table tennis programs. 

Accessible via smart phone or tablet computer, the Playing for Life – Table Tennis resource includes links to a program overview and each lesson. It can also be viewed and printed from a desktop or laptop computer via the PDF version.

Other support materials include an equipment pack developed by Table Tennis Australia which is partially supported by the AASC program grants and Special Initiatives Grant.

The AASC program has acknowledged the following people for their support and dedication in helping to develop the Playing for Life — Table Tennis resource:

• Caron Williams (AASC Regional Coordinator Victoria) Sue Stevenson (Table Tennis Australia) Kellie McPherson (AASC Regional Coordinator Victoria) Teena Jackson and Kym McMahon (AASC) Kathryn Wright Design

• G. Robey Design

• Swell Design Group