Malaysia entered the sports chart again - hosting the first ever Para Table Tennis PTT Coaching Course here in Kuala Lumpur. The PTT Level I Course, organised by the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) with support from the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC), was held at the Kuala Lumpur City Council Sports Complex in Brickfields on 27-28 December. Sixteen enthusiastic participants attended the two day course conducted by Ms Christina Chee from TTAM who is also the Deputy Chair for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women's Working Group.
Participants comprised 3 wheelchair players, 6 standing players with disability and 7 able bodied players. The course was divided into theory and practical sessions which also involved presentations by the trainee coaches. At the end of the 2 days participants received their Certificate of Attendance.
Trainees will have to undergo a further 30 hour practical coaching session, including five hours' of supervised coaching to become a full fledged Para TT Level I Coach.
Attentive participants listening to lecture
Wheelchair athletes explaining how to transfer
Able bodied coaches also sitting for the practical session
(Article Courtesy ITTF)
Para Table Tennis Course Breaks New Ground in Malaysia
By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
An explanation from Christine Chee (right) Photo By: Courtesy of Christine Chee
12/28/2010
Staged in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Complex in the Malaysian capital, the host nation�s Christine Chee, the Deputy Chair of the ITTF Women�s Working Group, was the course conductor for an ITTF Para Table Tennis Level One Coaches Course on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December 2010.
The course was self-funded and organized by the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia in conjunction with the Malaysian Paralympic Committee.
Together, the two bodies combined to produce first class conditions for the itinerary. Materials
ITTF/PTT Coaches Manuals were available alongside a white board, notebooks and LCD projector for theory work; whilst for the practical aspect of the course, six table tennis tables and three hundred training balls in addition to a suitable number of baskets for the balls were provided.
Diverse Group
Good preparation and that was essential for the quite diverse group that followed the course.
A total of 16 students attended, comprising seven with a disability; two male and two female Wheelchair Class players plus three Standing Class players. All were experienced players either having competed at state or national level with one having an ITTF Level One Coaches certificate.
The remaining members of the group involved seven men and two women who were able bodied with Ms Ng and Mr Fan both possessing ITTF Level Two certificates.
First Time
�It was the first time that an ITTF Para Table Tennis course had been organized in Malaysia�, explained Christine Chee. �The expectations were high with a mixed group of 16 participants, who came from various states in the country; in fact two of the participants drove around four hours and another three drove two and half hours while the rest drove daily to attend the course.�
Certainly the course created immense interest.
Christine Chee (left) advises a Standing Class player.
The Course
�The two days ITTF Para Table Tennis Level One Coaching Course covered the syllabus of Para Table Tennis Programme in the ITTF/IPTTC Level One Coaching Manual�, explained Christine Chee. �During the course a short ten minutes coaching presentation was made by each coach; in the last session of the second day, two groups of coaches were divided to direct and organize a tournament among themselves, according with the format of play of the rules and regulations of Para Table Tennis International Championships.�
A demanding test but there was a positive response.
Team Spirit
�All participants combined to make a good team spirit�, continued Christine Chee. �They enjoyed the course throughout even during the practical evaluation.�
Furthermore, there was a high level of success.
�All the participants passed the coaching practical session but to receive PTT Level One Certificate, 13 coaches have to complete 30 hours practical coaching with five hours supervised and a confidential coaching report being made�, explained Christine Chee. �The three who had qualified as ITTF Level One coaches have to complete 30 hours coaching practice with five hours supervised coaching; following a confidential coaching report they will be awarded an ITTF/IPTTC Level One Certificate.�
(left) Christine Chee conducts a multi-ball session and (right) a wheelchair athlete is assisted.
Familiar
A good spirit amongst those in attendance and to some extent that was understandable; they were not strangers.
�Most of the participants had known each other in the sport of table tennis since 2004 when the Table Tennis Association Malaysia first organized a biannual table tennis event in the National Paralympic Games biannually�, continued Christine Chee. �The course was a great opportunity for them to know more about coaching techniques for wheelchair.�
A Learning Experience
Once person, in particular, gained benefit.
�Besides sharing experiences in the individual disciplines of Para Table Tennis; a female wheelchair state player, Azila, very nervous on the first day and who never knew how to return with a tetra loop; now successfully knew how to give a service return for her second or third ball attack�, said a delighted Christine Chee. �I reminded her to transfer the skills to coaching and not as an athlete; she smiled confidently.�
(left) Students test their skills and (right) Chan Foong Keong presents a certificate, Christine Chee looks on.
Classification
Transferring playing knowledge to coaching was an important aspect of the course and there was a further vital element; the participants were able to learn about Classification.
�One of the participant, who is a medical doctor and a qualified medical classifier, Dr. Shamsul Azhar Shah, shared his experiences and knowledge during the course�, said Christine Chee. �Dr. Shamsul is also a Class Five national player; he found the technical aspects of the syllabus very useful and was delighted with the course.�
Husband and Wife Team
Dr Shamsul was one of the more experienced members of the course as were Mr. and Mrs Fan Kow Jan, the husband and wife participants.
�Both passed the Kuala Lumpur 2009 ITTF Level |Two Coaching Course under expert Mr. Philippe Molodzoff, they are active state able-bodied coaches and they benefited greatly from this Para course; especially on how to advise wheelchair athletes�, explained Christine Chee. �They would like a similar course to be organised next year especially for coaches who could not attend this time; Mrs Fan often spoke to the wheelchair athletes on the course, she showed great enthusiasm and has an interest in coaching disabled players in the future.�
Undoubtedly Christine Chee had motivated her students.
Proud course members display their certificates with Christine Chee (centre back row).
Pleased
�I am certainly very happy with the outcome as it followed a successful ITTF Level Two Course that was held from Saturday 12th to Friday 17th December�, added Christine Chhe. �On this course I could see plenty of enthusiasm from a group of participants with a wide and varied background in Para table tennis.�
A successful outcome and although Christine Chee was very much at the helm, the support of all concerned was invaluable.
Thanks
�My sincere thanks to the International Table Tennis Federation, the officials from the Malaysian Paralympic Council and in particular to John Ng, the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia Para Table Tennis Committee Chairman�, concluded Christine Chee. �Also, my thanks to Mr. Chan Foong Keong, the Honorary Secretary of the Table Tennis Association Malaysia for supporting the programme fully and making the course possible.
Finally, thanks to Christine Chee for her enthusiasm, effort and endeavour; an intense two days but most worthwhile, the overwhelming view of all concerned.
Delighted students with Christine Chee and Chan Foong Keong (centre front row).
