A busy end to the calendar year for clubs, players and coaches alike; Steve and Aad were also as busy as ever with a variety of club visits, CPD sessions and planning for the new year.

The future of coaching has arrived

Table Tennis England has launched its new Coaching Development Framework and coaching pathway, reflecting the ways in which coaches learn and the contexts in which they deliver.

The new pathway will see the previous structure of Levels 1-4 replaced by three clear role-based qualifications: Coaching Assistant, Coach and Head Coach. Find out more by following the link here and head to the full news article.

Club Visits

Steve Brunskill and Aad Kwaakelstein continued to work their way around the country, visiting clubs, coaches and players alike and even delivering CPD sessions at Halton TTC, located in the North West of England. The club visits ranged from children’s sessions at Shakespeare Primary School in Leeds, a more elite junior session at Woodford Wells in London, all the way to an over-50s session held at Redcar and Cleveland Community College. You can stay up to date with the latest club visits below.

Coaches Spotlight

If you’ve spent any time around Mossford TTC or BATTS in the last decade, chances are that you will have come across a coach named Josh Dye. Though still young, Josh has always coached with a wisdom far beyond his years and now after some time away, he’s stepping back into the world of table tennis coaching.

Josh is the first to admit that coaching isn’t always a smooth ride. But what he gets back from coaching is priceless: “Family. It sounds cheesy, but the kids I taught will always be my kids. Meeting them again in their 20s and they still call me Coach — that’s special,” says Josh.

Find out more about Josh and find the coaches tip of the month from within the coaches spotlight feature which you can find here.

Celebrating a True Table Tennis Volunteer

Giulio Pontone is the driving force and backbone of Darlington Table Tennis Academy at Hummersknott. His commitment, energy, and passion for the club go far beyond what could ever be expected of a volunteer, and his impact is felt at every level of the organisation.

Giulio has worked tirelessly to build a welcoming, friendly, and family-orientated environment where players, parents and volunteers all feel valued and involved. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to engage parents and create a strong, supportive network of volunteers and emerging coaches. Through his leadership, the club has developed a genuine sense of community, with people eager to give their time and contribute to the club’s continued success.

Under Giulio’s guidance, the club has grown significantly, now fielding teams in both the local leagues and the National League. This growth has not only increased participation but has also created clear development pathways for players, with a strong group of young players now showing real potential for the future.

Giulio is always looking ahead, asking “what’s next?” for the club and how it can continue to improve. He is willing to invest both his own time and personal resources into developing volunteers and coaches, ensuring the club is sustainable and well-equipped for long-term success. His forward-thinking approach, combined with his tireless work ethic, has transformed the club into a thriving, inclusive, and ambitious environment.

CPD Opportunities on the Horizon

The new approach to coaching courses will enable coaches to tailor their development within their qualification through CPD, as well as progress along the pathway. 

The CPD courses delivered throughout the year will be targeted to specific settings, enabling community coaches and performance coaches alike to identify the opportunities that are most relevant to them and the players they coach. 

The new suite of CPD opportunities are now live for booking, and you can view the 12-month plan for CPD courses (subject to change) below and book on to courses by clicking on the button below.