Pathway Development Centres
The Pathway Development Centres are a critical step at the start of a player’s journey to develop world class potential in a creative and engaging environment, bridging the gap from entry into pathway to England national programmes. They will be the environments that support crucial area-based Table Tennis England pathway activity.
PDCs deliver England pathway activity and are entirely separate from club activity.
For the 2025-26-year, key goals of the PDC’s are to:
- Be a key talent environment that delivers weekly work with the most promising U13 players in the area
- Focus exclusively on supporting 8–13-year-olds that have the capability to one day win a medal at the Euro Minis and European U13 Championships
- Transition players into the England Futures Programme
- Increase retention and level of girls in the PDC
- Become learning hubs for talent coach development activity (once the new strategy has launched and new roles are in place)
What’s new for the 2025-26 year?
- Age bracket reduced to U13s – with many sites focusing more exclusively on the 8-11 age band to ensure PDCs become a key feeder into the England Futures Programme which supports the best U13 athletes in the country
- New PDC camp programme – 3 x camps (each with a different focus, best players, U11s and girls only), will be delivered at the ETC in Sheffield + PDC internal competition in March (format of the event is TBC)
- Educational programme for players and parents starting in July (focusing on the competition pathway, pathway behaviours, sport psychology and more)
- PDCs now delivering a flexible model – some on a full hours model; delivering 10 hours of additional England pathway activity, and some on a reduced hours model with slightly different focuses
The PDC Network for 2025-26
Ormesby North East Pathway Development centre (Ormesby Table Tennis Club) – delivering 10 hours per week to the best U13s in the area
South East Pathway Development Centre (Kingfisher Table Tennis Club) – delivering 10 hours per week to the best U13s in the area
North West Pathway Development Centre (Halton Table Tennis Club) – delivering 10 hours per week to the best U13s in the area
East Midlands Pathway Development Centre (Draycott & Long Eaton Table Tennis Club) – delivering on a reduced model, currently 1 x U13 high performance session for the East midlands per week (focusing this year on the 8-11 age bracket)
South West Pathway Development Centre (Plymouth Table Tennis Club) – delivering a programme to a small group of U15 players + working to establish an 8-11 squad
London Pathway Development Centre (London Academy) – supported by the England Talent Coach (London), who will deliver sessions, work on a 1-1 basis with the most high potential players and support wider London-based players who are part of the England Futures Programme.
If you feel you meet the guide criteria (linked below) and are within 1 hour of a PDC, please get in contact with us: [email protected]