Table Tennis

Table Tennis is a racket sport played on a rectangular table with a net in the middle, played as singles, doubles, or team formats. The game starts with a player serving to their opponent. Shots are returned by either forehand or backhand strokes. As players get more advanced, they can add spin to control the ball, making it more challenging for their opponent/s.

Table Tennis builds skills such as hand-eye coordination, problem solving, agility, and teamwork. Games are traditionally played on Table Tennis tables or tables with roll-out nets on. Skills can be developed and practised 'off the table'. This makes the delivery flexible and suitable for a wide range of abilities and environments.

Primary formats

Primary-aged children should have a fun, engaging, and inspiring first experience in Table Tennis that leads to long-term participation. This helps children achieve their personal bests, learn to problem solve, work as a team, and build resilience. Skills are introduced through games and activities, refining and advancing them through progression.

At each level, ability-appropriate competitions test a player's skills and show their achievement over time. The skills needed for Table Tennis are transferable off the Table. A lot of the formats offer this alternative delivery method to best utilise a wide range of spaces.

There are three levels to our primary format:

Skills festival: An introduction to the sport with up to eight stations for children to work through as individuals or teams. The activities will build a good foundation of skills needed for Table Tennis. The festival is suitable for all children and great for young leaders to deliver. There are two circuits to choose from; one for Bat and Ball skills, and the other to develop wider Table Tennis foundation skills.

Table Tennis skill games provide fun, easy-to-deliver activities that develop transferable skills such as teamwork and resilience.

Competition: Singles, doubles or teams’ formats with suggested conditions that can adapt the game to be more inclusive.

Secondary formats

The Table Tennis Secondary formats are:

Games-based activities: Easy-to-deliver game-based activities that develop key Table Tennis skills. Transferable skills such as teamwork and resilience are also developed. Great for young leaders to deliver and suitable for all levels of ability.

Competition: Singles, doubles or teams’ formats with suggested conditions to adapt the game to be more inclusive.

Equipment needed

• Table Tennis bat
• Ball
• A Table Tennis table or a roll net on a table / objects that can act as the net on the table
• Cones
• Cups

Visit Table Tennis England's web shop for additional equipment.