WATTA

David Brown
WATTA Coaching Director

This years AWD National Championships was hosted by the Gold Coast Table Tennis Association over the Easter week and I was fortunate to attend as both State team manager and part of the classification team.

Our team comprised of 2 players in different classes, Connor Johnstone in Class 8 and the newly recruited Daniel Chineegadoo-Devion in Class 6. Unfortunately, players that had previously represented at these games were either unavailable due health reasons or lack of practice so early in the season.

Above: David Brown, Connor Johnstone, Daniel Chineegadoo-Devion

David Brown - WA Development Coach

An enthusiastic number of teams assembled at WATTA on 31^st March to do battle in the Smarter than Smoking Primary Schools Tournament and was conducted in a highly competitive and sportsmanlike manner by all competitors.

This event attracted 10 teams from 4 schools comprising of 2 players each playing 2 singles and a doubles rubber. Due to the number of competitors we couldn’t use the normal format of groups so we compromised with an American style format of a winners and losers knockout to ensure that all teams got a minimum of 2 matches.

The Western Australian Table Tennis Association invites your school to enter a team or team(s) in this year’s competition.

1. TIME AND VENUE
WATTA CENTRE, 12 Gerard Street, East Victoria Park 6101
Saturday March 31st 12.30pm (teams to report in by 12.15pm.).

2. AGE GROUP
Years 4 – 7 Primary School students.

3. FORMAT
(a) Separate Boys and Girls teams competition, where entries allow or a mixed combination.
(b) Teams of two players.
(c) Each player plays on singles match and one doubles match in each teams match. Singles and doubles matches are best of 3 games to 11
(d) Group system and play offs (each team should have at least 3 matches).

4. PLAYING GEAR ETC.
School colours provided they are not white or bright. Only white soled shoes permitted. Players to provide own bats.

Entry Form (PDF Format)

The Western Australian Table Tennis Association in conjunction with The Australian Paralympic Committee and InclusionWA held the first of what will be a series of tournaments for Special Education Support Schools in attempt to bring to together disabled students into the sport of table tennis.

This initial tournament was hosted by the Kingsway Table Tennis Club and attracted 60 students from various metropolitan schools, the format of which pitted school against school for a medal round followed by a final, the winner of which receives the Tournament Trophy.

All games were hotly contested and it was plain to see that all the students were having a great deal of fun whilst learning new skills.

The local paper took some time to cover the event resulting in an excellent photo shoot and article which I have attached with this report. The eventual winners came from the Duncraig School with the Roseworth Primary School a worthy runner up.

My thanks go out to Matt Shaw of InclusionWA for his contribution, the APC and the school staff accompanying the students.