08/12/2012       

The aim is to distribute no less than 1500 table tennis tables to schools in the next three to four months; that is the quite staggering target that has been set by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka.

However, the goal itself creates a problem.

Currently there exists a lack of coaches and teachers, who have the capabilities to instruct school children in the sport of table tennis.

Therefore, the Honorable Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the President of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka, has decided to instigate a programme to increase the number of coaches and to embody teachers with the necessary skills in order to assist children learn the basic skills.

Course Staged in Bandarawela
A basic Coach Education Course was held recently in Bandarawela.

Home for the course was the Uva National College of Education; no less than 88 Physical Education students attended.

Appropriate Venue
Furthermore, the venue was most appropriate.

It is where the Honorable Lasantha Alagiyawanna studied; eventually becoming a Physical Education teacher before ascending to government office.

Organiser
The coaching camp was led by Chandana Perera, the Chief Co-ordinating Officer of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka.

He was assisted by Chathura Dushan, Prabath Priyantha and Thushara Sampath as well as by two notable personnel.

A Navy captain, N G Peiris, President of the Uva National College of Education and Neel S Athukorala, a University Lecturer both contributed.

Umpires Course
Meanwhile, parallel to the coaching camp an Umpiring Seminar too was held under the direction of Prabath Priyantha, an International Umpire.

“Our aim with this coaching camp was to give basic training skills to new school children through these coaches”, said Chandana Perara. “The students from the Uva National College of Education who attend the Physical Education course will no doubt be teachers in rural areas; hence we should achieve success in near future.”


Further Camp
A second coaching camp will be held in November 2012 and this will be followed by a presentation of coaching certificates to the students by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka.

The programme will be based on the ITTF Level One Coaches Course; also there will be an Umpires Course.

Course members at the Uva National College of Education with Chandana Perera (front row – centre)
Photo courtesy of Chandana Perera