Coach education visit – Shetland 12th-14th May 2023

TTS Coach Education Director Senga Thomson and Regional Pathway manager (north) Callum Riddoch set off to visit Scotlands most northerly island for a busy three days comprising of a teachers and leaders course, a  level 1 table tennis session coach course finishing with a 3 hour coaching session with some of the Islands games members and other rising star players of all ages.

On arrival we were met by Shetland table tennis development officer Joan Smith and on the first evening set of to Sandwick to deliver a teachers and leaders 3 hour course to 12 participants including one person from the island of Unst who made two boat trips (Unst to Yell then Yell to Shetland  to attend the course). The course introduced the basic strokes and fun activities when delivering to groups of school children and beginners of all types. The group were enthusiastic and enjoyed the course leaving them with many new ideas to take back to their classes.

On Saturday the day began at 9am in Scalloway games hall with a group of 8 learners ready to  take on the new challenge of becoming fully qualified session coach’s. This again was met with enthusiasm by all and over the course of the day they learned to break down the shots and how to teach them and introduce purposeful practices into coaching sessions. They will now prepare to be assessed practically and also take a knowledge test in 3 weeks time after which on successful  completion of the course will begin their journey developing their coaching skills.

Day 3 was a 3-hour coaching session with some of the Islands games team members and other rising enthusiasts again in Sandwick. The group rose to the challenges given and worked hard over a productive 3-hour session practicing new and old drills and competitive play. The feedback from the groups over the 3 days was terrific and per head of population Shetland is a bustling metropolis of table tennis which I am sure will produce future stars as it has in the past with the very well-known Linda Flaws.