Table tennis stars from across Europe offered coaching advice at Greenhouse’s first elite training camp.
International players from France and Spain joined Greenhouse coaches to work with 28 young participants chosen for their skills and/or potential.
Held at Greenhouse’s London Academy, they trained from 9am – 5pm over five days and learnt what it takes to become a top player.
Jason Sugrue, Greenhouse Coach Development Officer for table tennis, said: “Our mission at Greenhouse is to offer top quality sports coaching to any young person regardless of their ability.
“We place high expectations on their behaviour, academic studies and attitude rather than their ability but a ‘by-product’ of our long-term, intensive coaching is that we develop some really skilled players, including national champions.
“This camp recognises the elite talent we have within Greenhouse and adds an extra dimension to the training we offer our most talented players.”
The week of full time training brought together coaches and players from across Greenhouse’s 12 school programmes.
Jason, a former UK and Irish national champion, added: “To have three ex-international players in our midst was fantastic and not only benefited the participants but also allowed our coaches to discuss training techniques.”
“It was a full, hard week of training so the participants got a taste of the amount of work and dedication they need to put in to become the best in their field.”
In his new role, created to develop table tennis across Greenhouse, Jason hopes to offer more diverse training opportunities for players and used the camp to create a new Greenhouse playing philosophy;
- Close the table (top of the bounce)
- Have a good forehand and backhand
- Have a good service and receive of serve
- Have a good level of physical condition (warm up and drills) being the best in the country
- Have a great on the table attitude where ‘every ball matters’
This will now be adopted and promoted across all Greenhouse table tennis programmes in both schools and community clubs.
