English Table Tennis Association Facilities Guidance Note 2010-2013

English Table Tennis Association 

Facilities Guidance Note 2010-2013 

Anyone can and does play 

table tennis - everywhere 

Supported by

Contents 

1 Background 2 

1.1 Vision statement 3 

1.2 Introduction 

• Facility development 

• Innovation (outdoor Table Tennis, social 

media, workplace and youth clubs) 

1.3 Sport England strategic outcomes 3 

1.4 Strategy aims 3 

1.5 Current provision of facilities 4 

3 

2 What facilities are needed 6 

2.1 ETTA club development model 7 

2.2 Facility development options 8 

2.3 Model design briefs 9 

3 Why are these facilities needed 9 

3.1 Rationale 10 

3.2 Community Club Development Programme 

11 

research 

3.3 Sport England satisfaction survey research 11 

3.4 Achieving the Grow, Sustain & Excel outcomes 

– Table Tennis facility case studies 

12 

4 Where should facilities be located 17 

Acknowledgements 

This publication was commissioned by the 

ETTA Facilities Panel. Following consultation 

with the Table Tennis community in February 

2010 it was endorsed by the panel in April and 

published in August 2010. 


Queensbury House, Havelock Road, Hastings, 

East Sussex TN34 1HF 

T: 01424 722525 

www.etta.co.uk 

admin@etta.co.uk 

5 How could facilities be provided 17 

5.1 Funding for Table Tennis facilities 17 

5.2 Application process 18 

5.3 Application criteria 18 

5.4 Eligibility criteria 18 

5.5 Impact against Grow, Sustain and Excel 19 

5.6 Sustainability 19 

5.7 Ability to deliver 19 

5.8 Additionality 20 

5.9 ETTA decision making process 21 

6 When will facilities be provided 21 

7 National Table Tennis Centre 21 

8 Further information 21 

9 Appendices 21 

9.1 PremierClub summary 21 

9.2 Outdoor Table Tennis case study 22 

1

1 Background 

Table Tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports 

with over 300 million participants in more than 200 

countries affiliated to the International Table Tennis 

Federation. The sport is played across the whole 

of England in a wide range of venues and with an 

improvement in facility provision it has the potential to 

grow and strengthen. 

The English Table Tennis Association’s Whole Sport Plan 

(2009-13) aims to increase the popularity of the sport, 

and improve how the sport is delivered in England. 

Table Tennis 

Fun & enjoyable 

Whether recreational or competitive it appeals to and 

engages across all age groups, races, genders, classes 

and abilities. 

Olympic & Paralympic sport 

Fast, dynamic and highly competitive; table tennis is 

a special blend of mental agility, subtle tactics and 

explosive power. 

A sport for life 

Ages 5-80+, health and fitness benefits for body and 

mind leading to prolonged participation. 

Space efficient & versatile 

Four tables (up to 16 players) on a space equivalent 

to a badminton court. Can be played anywhere and 

everywhere (schools, workplace, community halls, sports 

clubs, etc). 

Easy to start 

Table Tennis is quick to learn and see tangible 

improvement. 

Helps to deliver government agendas 

National Indicator 8 (adult participation in sport and 

active recreation), National Indicator 6 (participation 

in regular volunteering), National Indicator 57 (children 

and young people’s participation in high quality PE and 

sport). 

2

1.1 Vision statement 

To develop opportunities for people to play Table 

Tennis at all levels in accessible and high quality 

places, and to secure the long term future of the 

sport through facility ownership or long lease. 

ETTA will pilot four innovative projects: 

• Outdoor Table Tennis – participation opportunities 

in London parks and open spaces 

Outdoor Table Tennis helping deliver NI8 (increasing 

adult participation in sport and active recreation) 

Cippenham Table Tennis Club (Slough) social/refreshment 

area with visible connection to playing hall 

1.2 Introduction 

The ETTA facilities strategy makes the case for a 

comprehensive and cohesive framework for the 

development of sustainable facilities for the sport 

at national, regional, and local levels to support 

the delivery of Table Tennis across England. It has 

been developed through research and consultation 

throughout the ETTA by the Facilities Panel from a 

mandate by National Council, and it relates directly 

to the ETTA Whole Sport Plan 2009-13 facilities 

intervention. 

The strategy has the following two distinct strands: 

Facility development 

The strategy will build on previous capital investment 

to increase the quality and quantity of Table Tennis 

facilities. 

Innovation 

To meet our strategic outcomes – Grow, Sustain and 

Excel - agreed with Sport England and the government 

we must innovate. Different facilities are needed in 

different areas to widen access and visibility of the 

sport. 

• Social media – e.g. creating participation 

opportunities in higher education. 

• Workplace – providing participation opportunities in 

the workplace. 

• Youth club – re-establishing lapsed traditional entry 

routes into the sport. 

1.3 Sport England strategic 

outcomes 

With limited capital funding available, the ETTA aims to 

work with clubs, leagues and external partners to make 

best use of the available resources, and ensure that 

ETTA funding is directed into projects that will have 

the largest impact on the three Sport England strategic 

outcomes of Grow, Sustain and Excel. 

1.4 Strategy aims 

The strategy aims to enable individuals and 

organisations to: 

1. Understand what facilities are required to enable the 

ETTA to deliver government objectives. 

2. Understand and support the prioritisation of 

investment to meet the needs of the sport through 

eligibility, deliverability (timing and ability to deliver 

strategic outcomes), sustainability (ability to operate 

effectively for years to come) and affordability 

(based on the levels of funding available from the 

ETTA and partnership funding sources). 

3. Prioritise future investments to ensure that the right 

facilities are developed in the right place at the right 

time to deliver the right outcomes for the ETTA. 

4. Obtain information on minimum standards of facility 

provision at all levels of the sport. 

3

The type of facilities required has a direct relationship 

to existing and future activities. 

This strategy details some examples of good practice 

and considers the following issues: 

• What facilities are needed 

• Why are these facilities needed 

• Where should facilities be located 

• How the facilities might be provided 

• When facilities are to be provided 

1.5 Current provision of facilities 

Table Tennis is, and can be, played in a wide variety of 

environments which is an advantage because it is easily 

set up but also a disadvantage as it is easily packed away 

therefore becoming invisible. Often the sport is made to 

put up with sub-standard facilities such as poor lighting, 

unsuitable floor covering or inappropriate wall colouring. 

Table Tennis facilities categorised by 

long lease or ownership. 

Current provision (2010) of Table Tennis facilities characterised by long lease or ownership 

Legend 

Legend 

ETTA Clubs 2010 

Facility type 

Type 

Long Lease 

Ownership 

Regions 

Northumberland 

Cumbria 

Durham 

Northfield 

TTC 

Ormesby 

TTC 

Barrow & 

District TT 

Centre 

North 

Yorkshire 

Scarborough TT 

PremierClub 

Halton 

TTC 

Shropshire 

Lancashire 

Preston 

TTC 

Cheshire 

Hilton 

TTC 

Woodfield 

TTC 

Abbeydale 

Park TTC 

Derbyshire 

Nottinghamshire 

Sycamore 

Draycott TTC 

& Long 

Eaton TTC 

Staffordshire 

Burton Uxbridge 

Leicestershire 

TTC 

Knighton 

Park 

TTC 

Wood Green HS TTC 

Colebridge 

TTC 

Worcestershire 

Keighley TT 

& Recreational Centre 

Hyndburn 

TTC 

Halifax 

Dewsbury 

TT Centre 

League TT 

Centre 

Great 

Wyrley TTC 

Warwickshire 

Northamptonshire 

Scunthorpe 

Sports Club 

Westfield 

TTC 

Milton Keynes 

TTC Bedfordshire 

Hull 

YPI TTC 

Lincolnshire 

Clee Fields 

sports hall 

Cambridgeshire 

St Neots 

TTC 

King’s 

Lynn TT 

Centre Norfolk 

Suffolk 

Ilfracombe 

TTC 

Gloucestershire 

Wiltshire 

Kidlington 

Forum TTC 

Buckinghamshire 

Oxfordshire 

Cippenham 

TTC 

Kingfisher 

TTC 

Ashford 

TTC 

Surrey 

Hitchen TT Centre 

Hertfordshire 

Barnet BATTS Essex 

TT Centre 

Ltd. Ellenborough 

TTC 

Greater London Authority 

Graham 

Spicer 

TTC 

Howard 

TTC 

Kent 

Somerset 

Hampshire 

Okehampton 

TTC 

Devon 

Dorset 

Bournemouth Sports Club 

Waterside 

TTC 

Generation 

2 TTC 

West 

Sussex 

Portsmouth 

TTC 

East 

Sussex 

Carl Prean 

Centre, Isle 

of Wight 

Cornwall 

St Austell 

TTC 

Isles of Scilly 

4 

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 

Sport England 100033111 2010. 

Sport England, Victoria House, 

Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1B 4SE 

Tel: 020 7273 1514 

Email: mark.critchley@sportengland.org 

Drawn by: Mark Critchley 

Reference: 0080MC 

Date: 30th April 2010 

Version: 2 (Final)

Keighley Table Tennis Club open evening demonstration 

The table below illustrates the variety of environments where Table Tennis is played. 

Local authority 

(sports/leisure centres, 

community centres) 

Schools 

Workplace venues 

Higher and further 

education 

Outdoors 

Home 

Holiday parks and 

camp sites 

Some clubs share facilities with other sports (such as other sports hall based sports), 

rarely as part of the same organisation, but as a stand-alone club with a separate 

committee. A lack of security of tenure or a robust community use agreement places 

uncertainty and pressure on clubs. Investment into these sites can ensure longer 

terms of tenure and better security for the club. 

Often short term (three years) school-club agreements with limited long term 

security of tenure. Club based and/or school delivered after school activity is 

common throughout the country. Provision within this sector may be significantly 

enhanced through the Building Schools for the Future programme where outdoor 

table tennis tables are encouraged as part of a core outdoor/playground 

specification. 

Formerly one of the most popular locations for league team Table Tennis though 

restrictive for other activities. Workplace venues have declined in parallel to the 

decline of the manufacturing industry, increased building security and loss of social 

areas. An ETTA ‘workplace’ whole sport plan intervention will aim to address this. 

Either as part of a formal student run club or in a social capacity, Table Tennis is 

played within HE and FE venues. 

An ideal entry level to Table Tennis within the local community, there is an increasing 

number of outdoor tables in use in England particularly on school sites. Provision in 

parks and open spaces is under way with a pilot project in London. Outdoor Table 

Tennis is very popular and visible on the continent. 

The sport is an ideal activity for domestic homes particularly with the availability of 

mini and midi size tables. Garages, play rooms, basements and gardens are commonly 

used recreationally. 

Widely played and enjoyed as a casual/recreational activity although in the past it 

has been a well known, organised activity (competition and coaching) at Butlins and 

Pontins holiday parks. 

The Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) survey of sports clubs 2009 indicates that 67% of Table Tennis 

clubs hire a facility, only 9% own a facility and 21% lease a facility. It could be concluded from this that two thirds of 

Table Tennis clubs hire facilities, have limited control and therefore uncertainty about their future. 

5

2 What facilities are needed 

Facility requirements are driven by clubs and the people 

that operate within them. Table Tennis needs improved 

access to improved facilities with a corresponding 

increase in the number and quality of people to deliver 

the sport. 

and talent development spanning all three Grow, Sustain 

and Excel outcomes. Typically PremierClubs should 

have a varied playing programme with good multi-table 

facility access and a volunteer base that allows for 

development, growth and sustainability. 

PremierClub ‘Ability’ is part of PremierClub and is 

designed to provide opportunities for disabled players 

and to provide disability awareness training within clubs. 

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club (Enfield) bar/servery 

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club - social area with a 

visible connection to playing hall 

Within its Whole Sport Plan 2009-13, the ETTA has 

identified a desire to develop specialist facilities for 

local, regional and national level use principally guided 

by PremierClub - the ETTA national programme for 

club development. PremierClub is directly aligned to 

CLUBMARK – the Sport England national cross sport 

accreditation scheme. 

PremierClub provides a framework for club development 

leading to participation/membership growth, volunteer 

Club development is significantly enhanced where 

a social/meeting/refreshment area has a visible 

connection to the playing hall. 

The development of a variety of types of facilities 

can make a difference and contribute to achieving the 

strategic outcomes (2009-13 Table Tennis grow target 

= 16,000 adults (16+) playing more Table Tennis). To 

assist the achievement of this target the development 

of appropriate facilities is critical. The PremierClub 

Information & Criteria leaflet details requirements for 

people, places and programmes at each PremierClub 

level, see Appendix 9.1. 

English Open, Sheffield 2009, early morning set-up 

6

2.1 English Table Tennis Association Club Development Model 

The diagram below illustrates the ETTA club development model and demonstrates the connection between the 

two strategy strands - facility development and innovation. 

ETTA 

National 

Centre 

Excel 

10 

Regional 

Performance Clubs 

based in 

PremierClub (Excellence) 

PremierClub (Excellence) 

PremierClub (Advanced) 

PremierClub (Participation) 

Premier Clubmark Clubs 

Table Tennis Clubs (non PremierClubs) 

Grow, Sustain & Excel 

Grow & Sustain 

ETTA Whole Sport Plan 2009-13 outcomes 

Entry routes into ‘organised’ table tennis 

(schools, youth clubs, community centres, holiday centres) 

Grow 

‘Grow’ innovation pilot projects 

(outdoor table tennis, social media, workplace, youth clubs) 

7

Disabled squad training in Northern General Hospital, Sheffield 

2.2 Facility development options 

Experience and research from previous projects 

demonstrates that there are four main options Table 

Tennis facility development can take - each one can have 

an impact on participation, satisfaction of members and 

talent development. Historically, Table Tennis has been a 

‘parasitic’ sport utilising other (often under used) sports 

facilities. Provided that technical specifications are 

adhered to, this can be a very cost effective method of 

provision. 

Halton Table Tennis Club (Runcorn, Cheshire) 

table configuration for British League matches 

The four main types of facility development options are: 

1) Upgrade – equipment, lighting, flooring, heating/ 

ventilation, social/refreshment/storage areas, 

changing, and security of tenure 

(small – moderate ETTA investment up to £30,000 

– minimum five year security of tenure) 

3) Bolt on – new playing hall ‘bolted on’ to an 

existing facility and sharing existing ancillary 

facilities with long lease 

(moderate – large ETTA investment £30,000 – 

£150,000) 

2) Conversion – change of use of an existing building 

to meet table tennis playing hall and ancillary 

facilities specifications, and to achieve long lease 

(21+ years) or preferably freehold 

(moderate – large ETTA investment £30,000 – 

£150,000) 

4) Stand alone/new build – purpose built to Table 

Tennis specifications with long lease (21+ years) 

or preferably freehold 

(large ETTA investment £150,000+) 

NB. Investment figures are an approximate guide only 

8

2.3 Model design briefs 

Model table tennis facility design – illustrating critical factor of visible connection between social/meeting area and 

playing hall. 

These briefs are indicative only. Figures given are not intended to be either the minimum or maximum required but rather 

a starting point for each scheme to identify its priorities and define its needs in detail. All schemes will have to meet 

statutory requirements, which will vary from scheme to scheme and may differ from figures shown above, as well as design 

standards for playing court sizes, flooring, lighting, etc 

4 table centre 6 table centre 9 table centre Notes 

Playing area: 4 tables at Grade 3 (or 6 

for practice at Grade 4 

or 2 at grade 2) 

Minimum area 22m x 

12m 

Toilets: Male: 1 wc + 2 urinals + 

1 basin 

Female: 2 wcs + 1 basin 

Disabled: 1 standard 

cubicle* 

Changing**: Male: 15 changing + 3 

showers 

Female: 15 changing + 3 

showers 

Disabled: 1 changing and 

shower cubicle* 

6 tables at Grade 3 (or 

9 for practice or 3 at 

grade 2) 

Minimum area 22m x 

18m or 32m x 12m 

Male: 2 wcs + 3 urinals + 

2 basins 

Female: 3 wcs + 2 basins 


cubicle* 

Male: 20 changing + 5 

showers 


showers 


shower cubicle* 

9 tables at Grade 3 

(or 16 for practice or 5 

at Grade 2) 

Based on 33m x 18m 

(standard ‘4 court’ 

sports hall) 

Male: 2 wcs + 4 urinals + 

3 basins 

Female: 3 wcs + 2 basins 


cubicles* 

Male: 32 changing + 8 

showers 


showers 


shower cubicles* 

Entrance area: 10m² 15m² 30m² 

Reception: 5m² 5m² 10m², access to office 

Office/event 

management room 

5m² 5m² 10m² 

* Subject to local 

authority requirements. 

Disabled toilet and 

changing provision 

could be combined 

** The number of 

changing spaces shown 

are likely to be the 

maximum required 

for table tennis use 

alone and analysis of 

anticipated demand may 

support a reduction. 

Equipment store: 10m² 20m² 30m² 

Social area: 30m² 40m² 60m² 

Meeting room: 10m² - could be divisible 15m² - could be divisible 20m² 

part of social area part of social area 

Kitchen: 

5m² with servery to 

social area 


social area 


social area 

First aid: First aid box in office First aid box in office First aid box in office 

Cleaner’s store: With bucket sink With bucket sink With bucket sink 

Car parking: 15 spaces, including 2 

disabled bays 

Design 

considerations: 

35 spaces, including 4 

disabled bays and 20 

overflow spaces 

Bar serving into social area (could be combined with kitchen). 

Additional storage to kitchen/bar and general areas. 

Additional capacity: toilets, changing, social area, parking, etc 

40 spaces, including 5 

disabled bays and 30 

overflow spaces 

Subject to local 

authority requirements 

3 Why are these facilities needed 

There is a current lack of suitable Table Tennis venues. 

Over a 30 year period the table tennis venue 

infrastructure has drastically reduced in capacity and 

the majority of venues had and still have lack of space 

(only one table), lack of ancillary areas (meeting/social, 

refreshments, office, changing rooms, showers, toilets, 

etc), limited availability and limited or lack of security 

of tenure. 

67% of clubs hire their facility and therefore do not 

have control over it; this can restrict the potential to 

grow participation and increase levels of satisfaction 

for players and volunteers. 

9

3.1 Rationale - facilities and playing 

environments 

Clearly to enable a wider range of Table Tennis activity 

and to improve levels of participant satisfaction in 

an increasingly competitive leisure market place, high 

quality venues are needed offering multi-table playing 

areas, social and ancillary facilities, good access and 

crucially longer term security of tenure. 

Ormesby Table Tennis Club (Middlesbrough) 

3.2 Community Club Development 

Programme (CCDP) objectives 

• To assist in creating a sustainable and financially 

viable sports club infrastructure in England that 

links with schools, provides appropriate support and 

pathways for identifying and developing talented 

individuals, and meets the needs of communities 

• To increase club membership levels and to support 

the development of quality assured ‘junior’ sections 

• To increase club membership among women, black 

and other ethnic groups and people with disabilities 

Paul Drinkhall, England international 

from Ormesby Table Tennis Club 

CCDP research 

Analysis of project evaluation returns (2009) of Table 

Tennis facilities funded through the Community Club 

Development Programme clearly demonstrates that 

facility investment delivers significant growth of 

participants, members and volunteers. These increases 

are due to improvements to playing areas, ancillary 

facilities such as refreshment and social areas, offices 

and changing. 

Ormesby Table Tennis Club club night & elite training 

Ormesby Table Tennis Club school session 

Ormesby Table Tennis Club fitness room 

10

Community Club Development Programme 2003-08 Research 

Before CCDP After CCDP Increase % increase 

Total active members 640 906 266 42% 

Female active members 123 160 37 30% 

Male active members 552 746 194 35% 

Active members 0-15 202 311 109 54% 

Active members 16+ 436 664 228 52% 

Disabled active members 27 41 14 52% 

Black & Minority Ethnic groups (BME) active members 104 131 27 26% 

Socially disadvantaged members 56 128 72 129% 

Total participants 2,730 5,815 3,085 113% 

Female participants 643 1,502 859 134% 

Male participants 2,087 4,313 2,226 107% 

Participants 0-15 1,080 2,541 1,461 135% 

Participants 16+ 1,660 3,270 1,610 97% 

Disabled participants 119 290 171 144% 

BME participants 574 973 399 70% 

Socially disadvantaged members 155 870 715 461% 

Total volunteers 121 167 46 38% 

Female volunteers 22 39 17 77% 

Male volunteers 99 128 29 29% 

Volunteers 0-15 4 5 1 25% 

CCDP partnership funding 

Of the total project costs (£4,876,000) 40% partnership 

funding was achieved. 

Burton/Uxbridge Table Tennis Club (Staffordshire) - 

14 table school tournament set up 

3.3 Sport England satisfaction 

survey reseach 

Sport England strategy 2008-11 stated that a key 

outcome will be increasing participation in NGBaccredited 

clubs to a third of all 5-16 year olds by 2010 

– the development of specialist Table Tennis facilities 

will assist this. 

The Sport England satisfaction with the quality of 

the sporting experience survey (SQSE) suggests that 

sustaining levels of participation is directly related to 

levels of enjoyment which in turn is impacted by the 

quality of sporting experience. Survey results published 

in July 2009 provide specific Table Tennis data on what 

is important to people when they play Table Tennis 

and opinions of their current quality of Table Tennis 

experience. 

11

To measure ‘satisfaction’, survey respondents 

(participant/club member/talent pool) scored a series 

of questions within ten domains. Facilities and playing 

environment is one such domain. 

Relative importance of and satisfaction 

with table tennis facilities and playing 

environment (SQSE July 2009) 

Scoring 1-10 (1 = low) Importance Satisfaction 

General participants 7.8 7.6 

Affiliated club members 8.2 7.4 

Talent pool 8 7.1 

The SQSE survey showed the attributes that have the 

highest impact on overall satisfaction for Table Tennis 

players are: 

• The quality of equipment = tables, nets, surrounds 

• The quality of the surfaces = floor 

• The quality of lighting = lights 

• The heating and ventilation = don’t like cold venues! 

• The quality of the non-sport facilities = social, 

changing, catering, parking 

The availability of high quality child care facilities has a 

medium impact on overall satisfaction. 

Ease of participation 

The SQSE survey showed the attributes that have the 

highest impact on overall satisfaction for Table Tennis 

players are: 

• Being able to take part without being interrupted or 

disturbed by members of the public 

• Being able to take part at places that were not 

overcrowded 

• Time it took me to get to the places where I play 

• Being able to participate/compete at a time that 

was convenient to me 

• The ease with which I could balance my sporting, 

work, family or education commitments 

• The ease of making a booking when I participated 

• The commitment and punctuality of other people 

within Table Tennis 

These findings indicate that investment in facilities 

for table tennis can make a big difference to overall 

satisfaction of Table Tennis players. 

In addition, the provision of more facilities for Table 

Tennis will create additional sustainable, playing 

opportunities that will contribute to the Grow, Sustain 

and Excel outcomes. 

These findings indicate that investment in 

refurbishment/improvement grants for lighting, 

flooring, heating and ancillary facilities will make a big 

difference to overall satisfaction of Table Tennis players. 

Joanna Parker, England international 

3.4 Achieving the Grow, Sustain & 

Excel outcomes - Table Tennis 

facility case studies 

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club - 

view from social area into playing hall 

The following case studies are provided as model 

examples of how clubs have successfully developed their 

facilities and the impact that this has had on provision. 

They aim to help potential schemes make the case for 

projects by demonstrating the impact projects of all 

scales have had on delivering increased participation. 

12

Table Tennis facility case study 

Facility Type: Upgrade/conversion 

Club Name: Haworth Hawks TTC 

Website: www.keighleytabletennis.co.uk 

Location: Keighley, Yorkshire 

What did the club do 

• Formed in a community centre in 2007 with support 

from a £6,460 lottery grant from Awards for All. 

• Reached saturation in spring 2009 with 60 members. 

• Identified Keighley Business Centre (formerly a 

textile mill) as a possible new home. 

• Set up a community interest company (Keighley 

TTC) and achieved Key Fund Yorkshire grant/ 

loan support package to take out 15 year lease of 

second floor totalling 9,000ft. 

• Achieved CLUBMARK. 

• Refurbished derelict mill in 2009 – clearing out, 

plastering, painting, re-wiring, etc. into an 8 table 

competition (15 table coaching) venue with social 

area, toilets and changing. 

• Although Keighley TTC is a separate entity to 

Haworth Hawks TTC it is the club home. 

How much did it cost (2009) 

• £20,000 (labour costs kept to a minimum through 

volunteer effort and dedication). 

What difference did it make to the club 

• Put the club on a sound financial footing by 

developing income streams from catering, 

refreshments and sub-letting of space to other 

community groups. 

• Made the club more accessible being located close 

to the town centre and transport links. 

• Allowed the club to massively expand. 

• Unrestricted 24/7 access allows members access 

to comfortable lounge area, bar and toilets. 

How did the investment contribute to the ETTA and 

Sport England strategic outcomes 

• Grow – instant membership growth from 60–75 

(including 7 teams in Keighley & District League). 

• Sustain – refurbished playing hall and social/ 

refreshment area has had a positive effect on 

player and spectator visits. 

• Excel – though not an initial priority, player 

pathways and talent development will be a natural 

progression of having access to facilities 24/7. 

‘Take a look at what the centre really looks like by 

going on YouTube under Keighley Table Tennis Centre’. 

13


Facility Type: Conversion 

Club Name: BATTS 

Website: www.batts.org.uk 

Location: Harlow, Essex 


• Bid for and secured 25 year lease for a 

redundant, loss making local authority recreation 

building (Norman Booth Centre) in 2006. 

• Achieved Community Club Development funding 

(CCDP) from Sport England via ETTA. 

• Converted and refurbished the centre to Table 

Tennis specifications (12 court playing hall with 

new semi-sprung floor, social area with viewing 

gallery into the playing hall, disability access 

including a lift, fully fitted kitchen, changing, 

office and storage). 

• Appointed a full-time Regional Disability, Club 

Support & Coaching Officer in conjunction with 

ETTA and Mark Hall School Sports Partnership. 

• Advertised the premises and secured bookings to 

hire out the facility to local community groups. 


• £212,000 (Sport England Community Club 

Development Fund £110k; Essex Community. 

Initiative Fund 40k, and Harlow Recreation Trust 

62k). 


• Secured the long term future of the club by 

putting it on a sound financial footing through 

sub-letting policy to include Table Tennis and 

other sporting activities. 

• New and additional facilities have made the 

club feel like a true ‘club’ in the sense that 

members and participants have a high quality 

and welcoming environment (evidenced through 

retention of existing and increase of new 

members and new participants, popularity/sales 

of refreshments). 

“This has been one of the most significant 

impacts. Feedback has been amazingly positive 

especially when you consider the club’s lack of 

experience in contributing to a major building 

project. Some fine partners (notably Paul Baker 

at the ETTA) ensured that the final outcome 

was just about spot on in terms of customer 

satisfaction! To understand this fully, one has 

to contrast the bright new changing rooms, 

gleaming kitchen and open plan social area with 

the dank, dirty, claustrophobic facilities that 

had seen no investment for 25 years. On the 

playing area a new floor, lighting and tables has 

made BATTS the venue of choice for hosting a 

huge array of local, county, regional and national 

events.” Neil Brierley, BATTS Secretary. 

14

• Expanded the club playing programme to include 

beginner/schools coaching, regional performance 

training, grass roots and high level competitions. 

• Attracted more helpers/volunteers (50% increase 

from 8 to 12) and put in place a strategy to 

strengthen the club volunteer infrastructure. 

• Increased the club profile in the local community 

and beyond through club success (club of the 

year, Harlow, Essex, East region) and up to 35 

lettings to local groups per week. 



• Grow – 15% increase of Table Tennis participants 

to date from 228 to 255. Although primarily 

designed for Table Tennis, the club facilities 

provide a venue for six other sports including 

martial arts, football, badminton, short mat 

bowls, volleyball, dance, sailing clubs and even 

children’s birthday parties, driving around 450 

people through the centre in a typical week. 

• Sustain – improved facilities that have led 

to increased levels of player and volunteer 

satisfaction. 

“The clean, modern and welcoming atmosphere 

of the new venue with its large voluntary run 

cafeteria and open plan social area means we 

retain and attract groups through word of mouth 

and through a large local publicity effort.” Neil 

Brierley, BATTS Secretary 

• Excel – the club is able to deliver a progressive 

coaching programme and player pathway from 

beginners through to regional training. With a fulltime 

Regional Disability, Club Support & Coaching 

Officer in post at the time of writing the club 

expects 1) a stream of young people to come 

through from the local schools, 2) new adult 

and junior disability sessions, 3) to draw in adult 

players from the county and also parts of east 

London. 

Anyone can and does play table tennis - everywhere 

15



Facility Type: Bolt on/new build 

Club Name: Cippenham TTC 

Website: www.cippenhamttc.co.uk 

Location: Slough, Buckinghamshire 


• Achieved funding for a purpose built, nine court 

competition (15 for coaching) Table Tennis centre 

with a 60 year lease on Westgate School site 

(grant maintained). 

• Moved in 1996 from a two night a week + Sunday 

coaching at Haymill Community Centre to a five 

night a week + weekend large scale club with 231 

members (2009). 

• Set up Cippenham Table Tennis Centre Ltd to run 

the building and safeguard Cippenham TTC which 

runs the activities. 


• £520,000 (Lottery sports fund £277,000, 

Funding Agency for Schools £105,000, Sports 

Council £30,000, Slough Borough Council £8,000, 

Westgate School £20,000, ETTA (Foundation 

for Sports & the Arts) £70,000, Cippenham TTC 

£10,000). 

• Enabled the club to fulfil its ambitions to grow 

its members and activities achieved through 

improved access to a large, good quality playing 

hall and ancillary facilities allowing expansion of 

coaching and competition programmes. 

• Allowed the club to generate income from 

membership and playing fees, tournament entry 

fees, external hiring and catering. The club is on 

an exceptionally sound financial footing. 

• Provides 35 volunteers with a more worthwhile 

experience and satisfaction of running the club. 

• The club lounge (social area) and servery provides 

a comfortable and welcoming environment with 

refreshments and some child care provision that 

has improved the satisfaction of the Table Tennis 

experience for all club visitors (players, officials, 

spectators, parents). 

• The club has a high profile and excellent 

reputation for running local, county, regional and 

national competitive opportunities and volunteer 

training. 



• Grow – participant throughput has grown from 

approximately 2,000 in 1996 to approximately 

7,500 in 2009. Upon relocation to the new centre, 

club membership immediately increased from 

60 to 153 and currently (2010) stands at 231 

(throughput of 100 player visits per week). 

• Sustain – the design of the facilities has been 

crucial to improving the quality of the Cippenham 

Table Tennis experience and player satisfaction 

- the visible connection between the lounge and 

playing hall being fundamental here in creating a 

‘club atmosphere’ where sport and social meet. 

• Excel – the club provides the facilities, 

competition, coaching and support that enables 

talent development, evidenced through the 

current playing programme and production of 14 

‘home grown’ national champions since moving to 

the table tennis centre. Additionly two players have 

won Commonwealth, European and World titles. 

16

sport and active recreation), show evidence of a need - 

latent demand or market segmentation (Active People 

data) AND significantly demonstrate that the volunteer 

infrastructure is in place to sustain the proposed facility. 

The ETTA regional club & facility project registers 

devised in 2008 by Regional Development Officers have 

identified up to 100 potential facility projects. Registers 

can be regularly updated and for projects to be 

considered the project team must work with the ETTA 

Regional Development Managers to develop their project 

in line with the application process. 

ETTA has a long term aspiration to create at least 

one Table Tennis facility capable of operating at 

PremierClub – Excellence level (minimum 24 hours 

per week, 40 weeks of the year) in each local 

authority area. 

Shop-ping Pong! 

4 Where should facilities be located 

Table Tennis is played nationwide and facility 

development can be justified across the country. 

However the ETTA Whole Sport Plan identified a London 

focus for Sport England investment to develop projects 

that will capitalise on London 2012 legacy and interest 

generated in schools through Greenhouse* that fill a gap 

of facility provision in the capital city. 

*Greenhouse helps young people living in deprived 

communities develop positive life skills through sport 

and performing arts. They target those who may 

not otherwise have access to these opportunities, 

working in state secondary schools, special schools and 

community clubs. More than 5,000 young people every 

week develop life skills through Table Tennis in schools 

and community clubs across London and Wales. 

In addition to London, ETTA will consider applications 

from other areas that can help deliver local area 

agreements (in particular NI 8 adult participation in 

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club 

ETTA is particularly keen to develop Table Tennis 

facilities on school sites and utilise under used/ 

redundant buildings. 

5 How could facilities be provided 

5.1 Funding for Table Tennis facilities 

The ETTA has a capital facilities allocation available 

of £2m to cover the period 2009-13. There is a 

commitment with Sport England that ETTA capital 

investment must deliver partnership funding at least 

pound for pound which could come from a number 

of different national and local sources including the 

following: Building Schools for the Future, county 

councils, local authorities, schools, local sources of 

funding and club funds. 

17

Park ping pong on permanent table in Charlton Park, Greenwich, London 

(notice outdoor gym with wifi in background) 

5.2 Application process 

Applications for funding will open in late 2010 and each 

project should be able to satisfy the following prior to 

applying to ETTA for funding: 

• Can the project demonstrate a local/regional/ 

national strategic need 

• Is the project working with the ETTA Regional 

Development Manager 

• Is the local authority aware of and involved in the 

project 

• Is the project working with any other youth and 

community groups or sports 

• Is the project an accredited PremierClub 

• Can the project provide an adequate level of 

partnership funding 

• Can the project demonstrate the ability to deliver 

within a limited timescale 

Projects must demonstrate a robust ‘needs and 

evidence’ base which underpins the project, 

demonstrate strong partnerships which will last beyond 

the initial development of the project, and thereby 

contributing to the long term sustainability of the 

project. 

5.3 Application criteria for ETTA 

financial support 

ETTA anticipates receiving more applications for 

projects that it is able to fund. Bids will be competitive 

and will be assessed using two sets of criteria: 1) 

eligibility 2) impact against outcomes, sustainability, 

deliverability and additionality. 

5.4 Eligibility criteria 

Applicants will need to demonstrate they meet the 

following criteria to be eligible for ETTA Whole Sport 

Plan capital funding: 

• Applicant organisation must be entitled to receive 

public funding, e.g. sports club, voluntary or 

community organisation, local authority and 

education establishment such as school, college and 

university. 

• Project benefits all sections of the local community. 

• Request funding for the development of capital 

infrastructure, which can be taken to contribute 

to the costs of new build, conversion, bolt on, 

upgrades (where not previously in receipt of 

government funding) and major fixed equipment 

where it is an integral part of a project. 

• Not include costs of non-fixed equipment for 

personal use. 

18

• Request funding for elements of a capital project 

which has not yet started on site. 

• Be based on a site where the applicant holds 

ownership or long term leasehold, or is in a position 

to negotiate this within the terms of this award. 

• Confirmed partnership funding from at least one 

third party including possibly the private sector. 

• Be able to evidence/provide revenue funding 

which is confirmed to demonstrate the long term 

sustainability of the project (revenue funding 

cannot be applied for as part of this ETTA funding). 

5.5 Impact against Grow, Sustain 

and Excel 

Applications must show how the proposed investment 

will contribute to at least one of Sport England’s 

strategic outcomes of Grow, Sustain and Excel. 

Good applications will provide clear evidence of: 

• Specific benefits of the project and quantify the 

impact on Grow, Sustain and/or Excel. 

• A clearly articulated vision of not only what the 

project wants to achieve but also how and why. 

• Links to local, regional and national priorities that 

the project will help to address for the area such 

as National Indicator 8 (NI 8), local area agreements 

and/or local community issues. 

• A clear contribution to the priorities identified 

within the ETTA’s strategic plans in consultation with 

a Regional Development Manager. 

• Synergy with any existing provision to ensure there 

is no duplication, particularly through rationalisation 

and working with other capital investment 

programmes taking place within the local area (e.g. 

Building Schools for the Future). 

sector activities. This could be done through a 

supply and demand needs analysis, community 

surveys, Active People and Active Places data 

or highlighting a fit with wider capital planning 

strategies. 

• Using the need and demand analysis to scope, plan 

and shape the project. 

• A sustainable business plan which combines capital, 

revenue, public and private resources to support the 

facility’s sustainability including sports development 

initiatives and lifecycle costs. 

• Agreements with key partners that show the 

necessary revenue to support sports development 

work and facility life-cycle costs is ring fenced in the 

long term. 

• How value for money considerations such as multiuse 

of facilities by sports, co-location with other 

agencies or building on established facilities and or 

expertise has shaped the project. 

• Established partnership working between the 

organisations involved which will last beyond the 

lifetime of this application. 

• Priority may be given to applications that work with 

commercial or other partner organisations to create 

a dowry to fund and sustain future operation of the 

facility. 

5.6 Sustainability 

Applications must evidence the need and demand 

for the facility to ensure Sport England’s strategic 

outcomes are achieved and the facility is maintained to 

a high standard. 


• A real need and demand in the community for 

sports facilities and ideally sharing a site or colocating 

with other community services and private 

Table Tennis is all embracing and fully inclusive 

5.7 Ability to deliver 

Applications should clearly show that they are in a 

position to undertake the capital build and draw down 

funding in a specified period between 2009 and 2013. 

Due to the nature of the funding, it must be spent 

within the year awarded. 

19


• A detailed project plan for delivery of the facilities 

from inception to completion with realistic 

milestones. 

• Project and risk management structures in place 

that will mitigate risks to ensure successful delivery. 

• Consideration of viability and risk factors associated 

with other sources of funding and, if awarded 

exchequer funding through this process, ability to 

draw down the grant in a specified financial year. 

• Approvals where relevant, including planning 

permission, if already obtained. 

• Architectural drawings already developed, ideally to 

RIBA Stage D or equivalent, if already obtained. 

• Procurement strategy and delivery mechanism 

which use established routes where available – or 

have good reasons for not doing so. 

Grow 

Park ping pong in Dulwich park - the 

smile indicates pure enjoyment! 

Sustain 

5.8 Additionality 

Applications must state the level of funding that has 

been attracted from other sources to maximise the 

impact of this limited investment fund. Applications 

will also state how resources from ETTA’s fund will 

make a difference to the project, facilitating genuinely 

sustainable community sports facilities, rather than a 

simple declaration of the need for more money. 

The ETTA will take into account the cost of the project 

as a whole, the size of grant being requested and the 

number of people who will benefit from the project. 


• Funding from other sources already obtained or 

confirmed in writing. 

• How the project is setting best practice standards 

that can be replicated elsewhere. 

• How the ETTA’s funding will facilitate a genuinely 

sustainable community sports facility, rather than a 

simple declaration of the need for more money. 

• Priority will be given to applications that deliver 

NI 8 (increasing the percentage of people who take 

part in sport and active recreation) as part of their 

local area agreement in partnership with their local 

authority. 

Outdoors at Wood Green High School, West Midlands 

(canopy extends playing time in all weathers, 

day and night using floodlights!) 

Excel 

UK School Games (Individual Disability 

Championships - wheelchair) 

20

The ETTA will work closely with applicants to support 

them through the application process. The application 

process is incredibly robust as the funding is public 

money, and the ETTA has to follow strict guidelines for 

its distribution, and for management of all awards made. 

The ETTA has to demonstrate that funding decisions 

were made for the right reasons, and this investment 

criteria addresses that. 

8 Further information 

• www.etta.co.uk 

• Regional club and facility project registers – held by 

Regional Development Managers 

• Table Tennis facility guidance note (technical 

specifications) 

ETTA will solicit bids via its regional development 

workforce with priority given to schemes that are 

featured in ETTA regional club and facilities registers. 

Each applicant organisation will be required to submit 

a thorough application form and associated paperwork 

(such as business plan, constitution, community usage 

agreements, evidence of lease, etc). 

5.9 Decision making process 

ETTA Facilities Panel will make recommendations for 

investment on projects to Management Committee. 

Decisions will be made in line with the investment 

criteria as detailed above. 

Facilities Panel is scheduled to meet up to four times a 

year. 

6 When will facilities be provided 

The ETTA received a funding allocation from Sport 

England, and they provided the following breakdown. 

This provides restrictions around levels of funding the 

ETTA has available in any given year. 

Breakdown of 

Sport England 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 

capital award 

£ 300,000 250,000 750,000 700,000 

7 National Table Tennis Centre 

The ETTA has an aspiration to own the freehold or 

long lease of its own headquarters which may include a 

training hall and administration base for the Association. 

Additional options may include meeting space, 

accommodation, a museum and retail outlet(s) – design 

brief to be developed, interested parties please contact 

the ETTA Chief Executive. 

Popularity of outdoor tables in schools has soared 

9 Appendices 

9.1 PremierClub summary 

What is PremierClub 

PremierClub is the English Table Tennis Association’s 

national programme for club development, designed 

to help new and existing Table Tennis clubs. It has been 

developed to: 

• create an integrated network of clubs - working in 

groups supporting each other 

• provide a nationwide support structure for talent 

identification and development 

• be central to the implementation of the ETTA 

Development Plan 

• align with Sport England’s CLUBMARK programme. 

PremierClub helps to strengthen the club structure and 

leads to: 

• larger, better organised clubs, with increased 

membership 

• clubs that are welcoming and accessible to all 

• increased playing opportunities 

• better competitive opportunities 

• better playing and social facilities 

• stronger and more successful England teams 

• more and better trained coaches, administrators 

and officials. 

For the latest information and criteria refer to 

www.etta.co.uk 

21

9.2 Outdoor Table Tennis case studies 

Park Ping Pong - “free n’easy”, healthy & active! 

Dulwich Park has a high visitor count of locals and 

people who travel to enjoy the park. Here are some 

reactions of the public: 

“It’s brilliant, as soon as we saw the 

tables, we went off to buy some cheap 

bats. We’re regular players now” 

Father of family of four 

Four outdoor, permanent, concrete table tennis tables 

have been installed in Dulwich Park, London SE21, near 

to the children’s playgrounds and the outdoor gym. 

The tables are free to play on as part of Sport England 

and the English Table Tennis Association’s strategy to 

introduce the sport and raise its public profile to more 

people as a fun, easy to play, healthy activity. 

The first few weeks saw literally hundreds of users 

ranging from toddlers to grandmothers, young 

professional tykes and even a pregnant lady – proving 

that this sport is appealing to all and compelling to most 

who come back time and again for more! 

“It’s a great idea because everyone can 

play, but not everyone has a garden or 

a garage to put up a table” 

Man with young daughter 

“We’ve been down every night since 

they were installed and sometimes you 

have to queue to get on. One night 

it was so busy we didn’t even get to 

play!” Man with son 

The tables have arrived... let the people play! 

“We are quickly proving that where 

there is access to tables, bats and 

balls, there are no barriers and people 

play; it’s really as simple as that!” 

Diccon Gray - Development Manager at ETTA 

During the May 2010 community fair, 1 park + 4 table 

tennis tables + 8 bats = 130 players over a 4 hour period. 

“the outdoor Table Tennis is fantastic 

and has exceeded our expectations; 

it is part of our new offer of park 

activities contributing to NI8 – raising 

levels of adult participation in sport 

and physical recreation”. 

Paul Highman - Dulwich Area Park Manager 

Further details: www.etta.co.uk/outdoortabletennis 

22

Park Ping Pong - 

getting people active, breaking down barriers and reducing conflict 

Well located, next to the tennis courts, adjacent to high 

rise housing and a primary school, the tables are proving 

popular with locals. 

“It’s early days, but so far the outdoor 

Table Tennis has been a great success. 

It’s easy to provide and unusually 

offers an activity for all ages that isn’t 

normally available” Noel Headon - Leisure 

Manager, London Borough of Islington 

The tables have arrived.....let the people play! 

Four permanent concrete outdoor Table Tennis tables 

have been installed in Rosemary Gardens, Islington, 

London N1, to complement the park provision of 

football, tennis and children’s play. 

The tables are free to play on as part of Sport England 

and the English Table Tennis Association’s strategy to 

introduce the sport and raise it’s public profile to more 

people as a fun, easy to play, and healthy activity. 

“We are quickly proving that where 

there is access to tables, bats and 

balls, there are no barriers and people 

play; it’s really as simple as that!” 

Diccon Gray - Development Manager at ETTA 

In Rosemary Gardens not only are the tables being 

actively used by different types of people, having a bat 

loan system provided by the park keepers has started to 

achieve social as well as sporting outcomes. 

“Loaning out the Table Tennis bats 

helps to break down barriers between 

park staff and park users particularly 

with some of the youth gangs who 

can be intimidating at times. When 

they come to the park office we get to 

talk to them and this can help to build 

respect and reduce conflict” 

Richard - park keeper 

Further details: www.etta.co.uk/outdoortabletennis 

23

Notes 

24


Queensbury House, Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1HF 

T: 01424 722525 E: admin@etta.co.uk W: etta.co.uk

English Table Tennis Association Facilities Guidance Note 2010-2013

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