Table Tennis Scotland Pop-in-and-Play Programme

The first Pop-in-and-Play opened in January 2019 as a pilot project to engage with people who might not be very active but, given the right relaxed and comfortable social setting, could be encouraged to take up the sport.

Table Tennis Scotland’s Pop-in-and-Play concept is straightforward: take over an empty unit in a shopping centre, set it up with table tennis equipment, and open it for the public to play while visiting or in between shopping.

 

Collaboration through sport

Table Tennis Scotland currently have four Pop-in-and-Play shops. Two in Edinburgh, Gyle Centre and Ocean Terminal, one in Livingston at Almondvale, and one in East Kilbride at EK Shopping Centre. We’re excited to be opening one at Stirling at The Thistles Shopping Centre later this year.

Pop-in-and-Play venues were established to see if collaborating with shopping centres could help attract more players of all ages into the sport through onward referrals to clubs. In particular, we want to target harder to reach groups.

These venues put table tennis at the forefront of the public eye and, when supported by a local club and league, the Pop-in-and-Play initiative is also a promotional vehicle to attract more people to play socially, signpost them onto local clubs and create opportunities for volunteering.

 

Built on Volunteering

Pop-in-and-Play relies on a team of volunteers to supervise sessions. Initially volunteers come from different local table tennis clubs. Many of these helpers have been playing league table tennis for years or even decades and are enjoying having the opportunity to share their enthusiasm with the wider public and getting youngsters involved. The number of volunteers has grown as a result of those who have visited Pop-in-and-Play, who have then offered to help out on a regular basis.

 

Forward planning

In partnership with Table Tennis Scotland, Stirlingshire Table Tennis will shortly be opening a new Social Spin Pop-in-and-Play facility in the Thistle Centre, Stirling.

The venue will hold up to six tables and be run by volunteers from clubs in the association. The Pop-in-and-Play section which will be open 3 hours a day, will give visitors and their families the chance for some free play.

Volunteers and coaches will be on hand to offer some coaching and advice and signpost the visitors to other table tennis clubs in the area.

Outside of normal ‘Pop in’ times, Stirlingshire League are planning to run junior and senior coaching sessions to identify new talent to the sport and develop the current talented squad.

The aim is also to introduce specialist sessions including Parkinson’s and Dementia once the venue is established.

Our partners at Active Stirling are also keen to utilise the facility, to link in with their sports projects and with Stirling having both a large student base via Stirling University and being a large tourist attraction area, this is a great opportunity to promote and grow our sport.

Partner organisations see the huge potential from working with table tennis to engage with people who may not do much exercise but are happy to get involved in a social setting where they feel relaxed and comfortable.

Opening a Pop-in-and-Play in the heart of Stirling will benefit both the centre and the communities around Stirling. It will encourage people into the centre in a climate when retail outlets continue to decline in the high street. Having a Pop-in-and-Play facility that people can easily get to via public transport will encourage families and individuals back into the City Centre, benefitting both businesses and residents of Stirlingshire.

 

Find out more
• Pop in and Play – Livingston
• Pop in & Play – Ocean Terminal – Edinburgh
• Pop In and Play – Gyle Shopping Centre – Edinburgh
• Pop in Play – EK, East Kilbride
• The Thistles Centre Pop In and Play Opening Soon
• Pop In & Play: a table tennis revolution