Juniors Information
Want to play table tennis? Great! Here's how you can move up the ranks in the world of table tennis, in four simple steps:
Step 1: Play!
The first step is easy. Just play! Play at school, or join a club. If there's a group of you that want to play, but can't find a place to, you can get your teachers to contact us, and we'll be happy to help set up a table tennis program at your school.
Step 2: Get serious!
Beating all your friends? Having fun and want to do it like they do on TV? Then you have to get serious! The junior development program runs from 4-6pm every Monday during school terms, at the Edgar Sports Centre. It has one of the best coaches in the country, and you'll get to train with the best players from the schools around Dunedin. It's the first step to becoming a champion player.
Bob is designated as a level one coach by the ITTF, the International Table Tennis Federation.
Step 3: High Performance
Players with a solid basic technique, showing potential and most importantly, enthusiasm and determination, will be selected to train in the Otago junior squad. These are the best of the best juniors in Otago and they represent our province in national tournaments. Some of them even reach the top of the Open (no age limit) grades as well. You'll be the pride of your parents and your school if you make it into this team!
Wang Qi is an experienced coach/player from China.
Step 4: The Elite
The junior training squads of each province are gathered in various parts of the country twice a year in regional training camps. Selectors present in these training camps select the most promising juniors to be the top 12 juniors in the country.
This is the ultimate goal for most juniors serious in the game. These top 12 juniors train and compete with each other in order to represent New Zealand in international tournaments. They are considered some of the best players in the country and many win provincial and national championships each year.
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