Table Tennis Official Magazine of the English Table Tennis Association Edited by W. HARRISON EDWARDS Published by Walthamstow Press, Ltd., Guardian House, 644 Forest Road. London, E.17 Vol. 18 May, 1960 No.8 ~ARRINGTON I·S NATIONAL 4JOA~D THE news thait the English Table Tennis Associa­ tion of those who can supply the local leadership~ tion is to have, for the first time, a fOIl-time For the Ministry makes it clear that the Direc­ Director of Coaching, will be welcomed by all tor's main task is to teach and encourage coaches who understand the wider responsibilities of the and leader-s of young players, with a view to national association. promoting ever more centres of participating T'he allocation of a sa'lary grant by t:he Ministry sportsmen. of Education has at last made possible this de­ If that is what the Ministry wants, it is certainly velopment, which many members have felt desir­ what eveiry hard-working league secretary and club able for sOime time past. organiser wants-a large family of people who All who contribute in various ways to,the Table like sport and do something albout it. Te'nnis edifice m;~y take a certain pride in this Valuable Asset official move. It is a recognition both that our sport has something of value to offer to In this task a Director, who not on~y can in­ the community life, and that our organisation is struct but also understands organisational prob­ worlthy enough and representative enough to use lems, can be a valuable asset. If, in the process, the services of a ful'I-time expert efficiently. there are opportunities for assisting the specialists, the really talented youngs·ters, these will naturally As always, public support carries with it public be taken. responsibility and no doubt the National Execu­ ~his tive Conlmittee bad this in mind whep. they We may hope for something in direction, appointed Jack Carrington, to be the first pro:­ since much of Carrington's renown springs from fessional Director as from 1st July. He has been his flair for applying "mass" coac'hing in such a Honorary Director for several years. way as to- benefit even the top performers. Nevertheless, it would be a fallacy to assume We are fortunate in having in England a num­ that the appointment of a Director of Coaching ber of players with first-class technical knowledge, automatically presages a revolutionary improve­ experience and enthusiasm; of these, few could ment in the results of our international teams. claim such specialised experience as Carrington That is one facet ooly of a complicated subject; has had in the teaching and enthusing of players we may however fairly hope that such results will and coac'hes, and the organising of official training come in due course, possibly as a by-product of a schemes from the international level right down we,ll-founded basic scheme. to schoolchildrens' groups. The E.T.T.A. also could receive advantages by Inspired Thousands allowing their professional coach to, help non­ As a stylist international player, as a member of members in exceptional cases. It may well be that the famous exhibition "circuits", as a coach in the offer of help and the a'ppearance of the many countries and several languages, as a com­ official ambassador of E.T.T.A. at ,centres off the mentator and author, Jack Carrington has inspired beaten track, could just tip the sca:le and bring in thousands to better table tennis. Now the E.T.T.A. new friends to, the organised game. have given 'him the ohance to help still more The state of develo,pment of coaching, in its thousands of young people-----given the co-opera- widest sense, varies considerably in different areas Page Thr•• TABLE TENNIS MAY - 1960 of England. Some are weB served and hardly need "If there were ever to be such officially decided any help from the "·Association man"; others preference, I in1agine 'this would be best imple­ could do wit'h all the help they can get. Experience mented by the Selection Committees actions. For shows, too, that an active area today can revent to example it is quite clear that neglect of attacking somnolence only too quickly. openings is a weakness with some of our to,p 'Moreover even the best of local coaches usually players. All reasonable coaches strive to teach like to refresh themse~ves with first-hand discus­ all departments of the game. The official coach, in sion of the latest play and tactics on the inter­ particular must always foster talent and tactics of national front. 'There will thus be plenty for a eve1ry kind, so that the game as a wh01e richer, travelling Directo'r to do. is We may conclude with a quote fro,m Jack and our top players have to' reach their positions Carrington himself:­ by o,vercoming the best of all types of co,mpetition. "The appointment of an E.T.T.A. Director of It is foT' individual players to push the various Coaching does not imply that there is to be an theories to extremes if they wish; in fact our ideal "official" style of play or that any particular f01rm top team might be one of 3 different specialists, of tactics is to be encouraged at the expense of all deriving at some point in their developn1ent other forms. from good basic theory". III~IF «) IIIIIIF 1111111 ( III1II1 It\ 1111Il t\J lilliE \\/tV i English Table Annual General Meeting. The tion committe'es, and during this sea­ Tennis Association Annual General Meeting of the son as Hon. Secretary of the junior Patron.: Her Majesty The B.T.T.A. will take place on Saturday, committee only. The N.E.'C. wish to Queen. June 25, 1960, commencing at 3.30 place on record their appreciation for p.m. at the Bonnington Hotel, South­ the able and conscierttious way in President: Hon. I. G. S. ampton Row, London, W.C.!. An which Peter Northcott has carried Montagu. important item on the agenda will be out these duties, and their regret at Chairm'an: A. K. Vint, O.D.E. the proposal to introduce a levy of his decision to retire from the Deputy Cbainnan: I. C. Eyles. 6d. per player. national administration of the game. Honorary Treasurer: T. Blonn. Results of the elections for the N.E.C. Meeting. A meeting of the National Executive Committee for National Executive Committee took Secretary: D. P. Lowen. season 1960/61 will be announced at place at the Bonnington Hotel, Lon­ Office of the Association: 652, the A.G.M., and voting papers for don, on Saturday, April 30. The Grand Buildings, Trafalgar the elections are being despatched on chairman reported on the European Square, London, W.C.2. Monday, May 16, and have to be Union Meeting in Zagreb which he (T e I e p h 0 n e: TRAfalgar returned by Monday, June 13, 1960. attended as the delegate of the 2165). A meeting of the new N.E.,C. will E.T.T.,A., and on the European take place on Sunday, June 26, 1960.. Championships. The meeting re­ Peter Northcott. Peter Northcott, corded their congratulations on the Swedish players in the 1961 English who has represented the South­ performances of our teams, and this " Open" Championships, under a re­ Western Region on the N.E.C. for has been conveyed to the non-playing ciprocal arrangement. the past three seasons with great dis­ captain. The chairman reported that U.S.S.R. Tour. It has now been tinction, has advised the E.T.T.A. an option had been granted to the officially confirmed that the U.S.S.R. that he will not be seeki.ng re-el'ection E.T.T.A. to stage the 1964 European team to tour England in October, 10 the N .B.'C. For two seasons Peter Championships, and it was decided 1960, will consist of three men players NOJithcott served as Hon. Secretary that the new committee should and three officials. The first match of both the senior and junior selec- examine the possibilities of staging of the tour will be at Bristol on this event. October 17, to be followed by three Looking ahead towards the 1961 more matches at provincial centres, Published 'on the 10th of each month World Championships in Peking, it and the last match of the tour will October to May inclusive. Postal Sub­ was decided that all profits from the be in London on October 22, and scription lOs. for eight issues, post tel~vised free. E.T.T.A. Supporters Club next season this last match will be by Circulation & Advertisements: The should be allocated to the World the B.B.C. Walthamstow Press Ltd., Guardian Championships Fund. The matches will be full inter­ House, 644, Forest Road, London, The N.E.C. also examined an invi­ national matches. E.17 (COPpermill 4301). tation extended to the B.T.T.A. to Arrangements for a reciprocal tour Circulation Manager: G. R. Harrower, send a team to the Scandinavian of Russia are now being made. 68, Gloucester Road, New Barnet, Herts. (BARnet 7470). Championship at the end of Novem­ Calendar for 1960/61. It is pro­ posed to hold the English "Closed" Editorial: W. Harrison Ed'wards, c/o ber, 1960. It was already known that Sports Press, 142, Fleet Street, London, some 12 countries, including a team Championships during September, E.C.4 (FLE 5352).