“Thorsten Gohl is becoming one of the busiest sporting personalities in the NWT.”
What a great way to start the article, written by James McCarthy from News North. And very true, Table Tennis has been very busy over the last 16 month and getting more and more attention in the Northwest Territories. With only 13 month to go to the Arctic Winter Games, it is definitely a good sign!
Get your copy of News North or check it out right HERE.
After playing Table Tennis with over 2,500 kids, you can definitely see a pattern. Not that it is a lot of fun, but also an it’s an amazing learning experience for students, teachers and myself.
It all starts off with the introduction. “Good Morning everyone!” and right there is the first indication on what the next 30min to 1.5 hours will look like. Most of the time you will hear a very loud “GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING” and we are ready to go. If not, it will definitely come after the full introduction. “So, my name is Thorsten, but you guys can call me THOR” and you can see the smiles on the kids faces. Of course some random comments of “Where is your hammer?” or “How is your dad Odin doing?”, but that is good, that enables them connect right away. And they bring their attention!
If you ask the questions “Who can play Table Tennis?”, 95% of the kids of all ages will say “Me!” and they raise their hand. If you ask, “Who can beat me in a match to 11 points?”, guess what? 95% of the kids will still say, “Me!”
Having experienced and played many international competitions, I can tell the kids that I will play them with one eye closed, hoping on one leg, my dominate arm behind my back, playing with my non-dominate hand and singing the German National Anthem, all at the same time. It is always fun to see the kids getting excited about it. Guess what? 95% of the kids still say that they can beat me!
Day 1 | eye-hand coordination
We begin to get the kids used to the table, the balls and the environment that Table Tennis can provide them. There is no need for any rackets at this point, as they need to work with eye-hand coordination first.
Some fun activities include, try to bounce the ball from one side to another, hitting targets or keeping control of throwing and catching the ball. There are hundreds of possibilities to set this up. Keeping the kids engaged, excited and competitive. Learning while playing, playing and learning!
Day 2 | Racket Skills
First off, how to hold a racket. There is 2 different kind of grips, can you guess them? If you said Shakehand and Penholder, you are right.
We are building a little “parkour” for the kids that will get them moving. Again, the competitive part plays a big role. Going through the ladder, side stepping around the cones, jumping over the hurdles and back into line up.
If that sounds too easy, let’s try that with balancing the ball on your racket. Then bouncing. Still easy? Let’s try forehand, backhand, alternating from one side to another. Still too easy? You might be a professional free style Table Tennis Athlete! So, you can see where this is actually going and how many varieties you can add to this. A great way to learn some eye-hand coordination, this time with the racket.
For the younger ones we use balloons instead of Table Tennis balls, always a lot of fun to see the kids get excited about it and even better, a wonderful photo opportunity!!!
We can also work on more skills like rolling the ball on the floor, first against the wall by yourself, then adding a partner, …
Playing games, competing together, is always a great way to get the kids interactive. Relays are the best way, if you include a few teams and make some obstacles!
Day 3 | Target Practice
We are going back to the set up from Day 1, but this time we add the racket. To begin, one person will throw the ball, like a serve, to the other side and then, we hit it back. Working as a team to practice together.
Let’s make it easier in self bounce the ball before hitting it back to the other side. When the ball comes to you, try and hit it to yourself, let it bounce one time on your side, and then over. So again, there are ways to make it easier and harder, depending on the experience the kids already have.
Day 4 | Play Time
Everyone worked very hard and now it is play time. We have good basic of skills. Yes, we hear, “When can we finally play at the table?”, but most of the time, the kids are not ready. The skills training may seem like a waste of time, but if you include a challenge, combined with a competition, you will be the winner! So, it’s time to play now!
“Around the world” with an obstacle! You have to run through the table. Everyone has a few lives and you loose them if you are unable to play the ball on the the table. BUT, you always loose a life when you actually get hit while running through the table. That definitely adds a fun “kick” to the game.
Champions Table is well known among many sports and a favourite for most. The winner moves up a table, the other person moves down a table. At the end, we can see who will achieve the top table. To make it a bit harder, we can add obstacles on the tables, where you can only play on one side or maybe over a higher net, and so on.
If you do this for 19 days long, 4 to 9 classes a day, then yes, it is getting repetitive. On the other hand, you are building the foundation blocks for those kids in fundamental basic skills. Table Tennis will score 8 out of 9, because it includes agility, balance, co-ordination, catching, throwing, hitting, running and jumping (Paul Noel, Saskatchewan Table Tennis Technical Director). The only one that is not included is kicking. So, not only are we teaching the skills of Table Tennis, we are also supporting skills for overall athletic skills, with a fun sport to play.
It always amazes me on how fast everyone can learn. Seeing them being excited about something new is great, actually being able to control the ball for a few bounces for and back, is absolutly amazing. The most important thing of all is to keep them accoupied with competitions and challenges, create obsticles and you are golden. As an experienced coached, you already have 100 different scenerios in your head, but if you start of, be prepared to adjust your plan.
The best part of Table Tennis clinics for me is always afterwards. You go shopping, into the restaurant, or just walking on the sidewalk and there is always one kid that says “Hi Thor!” and you just cannot help it, but SMILE … makes my day!
Story & Images by Thor
As the new year approaches, it is appropriate for us to take a look back at the year that has just wrapped up. Table Tennis North has been busy growing and promoting our sport throughout the Territory this year. We began the year with trials for the Arctic Winter Games team in Fort Providence. Between the trials and the AWGs in March, several warm-up tournaments and clinics were held in Hay River, Yellowknife and Fort Providence. The team that was chosen had a great time in Nuuk, Greenland in March and one of our girls doubles teams brought home a silver medal!
After returning from the games, we invited Steve Rowe to come to the NWT to introduce Aerobic Table Tennis to our youth and coaches. We coupled his training with another tournament in April.
In November and December we were able to run clinics in several schools in Yellowknife, Lutsel’ke and Gam’eti. We also hosted a Middle and High School tournament and an Open tournament in Yellowknife in November.
Our initiative to get a mini-table into every community in the North is on-going but going well. In the upcoming year we plan to continue to visit communities in the NWT to administer clinics and have mini-tournaments. We are also looking ahead to the 2018 AWGs which are being hosted in Hay River and Fort Smith.
I’d like to thank outgoing Board member Mike Johnston and outgoing President of the Board, Jim Snider for their dedication and direction over the past year. Jim, in particular, has been instrumental in building the sport over the past few years. Thank you also to Thorsten Gohl. He is the brains and the brawn behind Table Tennis North. If not for his hard work organizing, securing funding, training athletes and coaching, none of the work I mentioned above could have been done.
Jeremy Kielstra, President
Table Tennis North
The 2017 Territorial Championships will be hosted from January 27-29th 2017 at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence.
Timeline
Friday, January 27th 2017
J18 Doubles
C15 Doubles
Junior Mixed Doubles
Saturday, January 28th 2017
J18 Singles
C15 Singles
Senior Open Singles
H13 Singles
Senior Open Doubles
Sunday, January 29th 2017
J18, C15, H13 Single/Doubles Play Offs and Finals
Categories
Junior 18 Boys, Girls Singles/Doubles (J18 – born 1999 or later)
Cadet 15 Girls, Boys Singles/Doubles (C15 – born 2002 or later)
Hopes 13 Boys, Girls Singles (H13 – born 2004 or later)
Senior Open Singles Women/Men
Senior Open Doubles
Each athlete can participate in 2 single and 2 double events.
Fee
There is a $15 per category fee to participate in the tournament. That does not include accommodation and food for the weekend.
Accommodation & Food
If you like to stay at the school, please contact us. There will be no additional fee. We can arrange food at the school, what will be an additional $75 per person for the full weekend (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday breakfast, lunch).
Table Tennis Rules
Depending on participants, we will play best out of 3 or best out of 5. We will follow the rules of the International Table Tennis Federation. If you have any questions, please contact info@tabletennisnorth.ca and we will be happy to help you.
ITTF Rules: http://www.ittf.com/ittf_handbook/hb.asp?s_number=2
Deadline for registration is January 20th 2017. For registration, please send and e-mail to info@tabletennisnorth.ca with the following information: First Name, Last Name, Community, Birth Date and mention what 2 single categories and 1 double category you want to participate in. Also, please let us know if you want to stay at the school and/or want to eat at the school.
If you have any more questions, please contact info@tabletennisnorth.ca. Thank you! We are looking forward to seeing you in Fort Providence on January 27th 2017!!!
Table Tennis North visited Łutsel K’e and Whati for a Table Tennis Youth Tour in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories. Colinda Blondin, North Slave Youth Coordinator for MACA took Table Tennis North and Thor into the communities.
Thor, Executive Director Table Tennis North, has definitely been excited about this and says “Table Tennis is a great sport for smaller communities, so easy to set up, young kids can play it, elders can, beginners and professionals. I love to see the kids smiles, especially the younger ones when they try to balance the balloon or challenge each others in teams doing relays. AND, there are already so many kids with some amazing Table Tennis skills already!!! A huge thank you to MACA and Colinda for having us.”
Lutsel K’e will try and bring some kids to the Territorial Championships hosted January 27-29th 2017 in Fort Providence.
Colinda Blondin, MACA Regional Youth Programs & Volunteer Officer for the North Slave Region, “I enjoy seeing an interest build in the kids. A big curiosity factor with anything and I love how Table Tennis can play a part of that. So great to have another way of reaching the kids.”
We want to say a big “Thank You!” for having us on this tour to the NWT Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and their North Slave Regional Youth Coordinator Colinda Blondin.
Łutsel K’e
Whatì
First of all a big thank you to Elaine and “Up Here” magazine in featuring us in their December issue. A wonderful article to support our vision to promote and develop an active, healthy and fun environment with the sport of Table Tennis in the Northwest Territories.
One huge supporter of Table Tennis in the Northwest Territories is Principal of Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Lois Phillip. “It’s about creating opportunities and creating a safe space,” says Lois. “A safe space where kids can be kids.” And that is what we are trying to do with Fort Providence, and also bring our multi seasonal sport into other communities, creating those same opportunities and fun, safe spaces.
Once we reach the communities, it is about keeping involved. One hopes by being constant, being the role models that we can be, it will make a difference in their lives. “I must say, I’m a dreamer and crazy sometimes,” Gohl says. “I said when I came here, in a year’s time, I want to do 20 communities.” He made his move to Fort Providence in September 2015, and while 20 may have been a lofty goal, he’s already hit 11.
We will definitely hit 20 communities by the end of our 2 year anniversary as a Territorial Sport Organization, but more important, we want to go back to those communities as much as we can, support them how ever possible, and see the sport grow in participation, with increased health and focus with time for all ages.
HERE is the full article. If you want, pick up a hard copy and/or order the magazine on UP HERE’s website.
Story by Elaine Anselmi
Photography by Thorsten Gohl
Table Tennis North visited the Yellowknife Table Tennis Club this Sunday, November 20th 2016. It was great to see so many players come out and having fun playing Table Tennis.
Contact: (867) 444-8531 (Vincent – text for further information)
There is limited spaces, so please contact us for more information and we can get you in touch with the right person.
Arctic Winter Games Silver Medalist Tamara Jovic stopped by 101.1 The Moose FM, to give ‘The Wheel’ a few pointers.
Have a look at the fun video inside Moose FM’s board room.
Tamara Jovic was very excited about this, “That was fun! My first ever time in a radio station and I was even able to choose a song afterwards. Plus, it will be a great weekend of Table Tennis ahead of me!”
Tamara playing with Jesse on the Board Meeting table. FUN TIMES!!!
Tamara inside the studio, getting ready for her interview.
Weledeh Catholic School and Table Tennis North hosted the 2016 NWT School Table Tennis Championships in Yellowknife on Sat. November 26th.
The idea was very simple, play as many matches as possible. Therefore, organizers decided to create 2 big Round Robins, mixed boys and girls, grades 6 and 7, one group, and grades 8 to 12, the other. The winners of each grade were decided by the overall ranking of their group.
Undefeated, in not just their own grade, but the entire tournament, were Cole Clinton (6, 7) and Brian Liang (8-12) The youngest athlete, Zakary Mathieson (Grade 2) was undefeated, even among the Grade 6 players. That made him the gold medalist!
Here are the results by Grades.
Grade 6 Boys
Zachary Mathison – Weledeh
Lennox Mutford – William Mac Donald
Adam Clinton – Allain St-Cyr
Grade 6 Girls
Natasha Zoe – Weledeh
Grade 7 Boys
Cole Clinton – Allain St-Cyr
Darius Moosenose – Weledeh
Grade 7 Girls
Amy Bestina – Weledeh
Therese Coyen – Weledeh
Jaylin Hamilton – Weledeh
Grade 8 Girls
India Edwards-Lowen – St. Patrick
Grade 9 Boys
Louis Phillipe Cloutier – Allain St-Cyr
Grade 9 Girls
Aurora Frasor – St. Patrick
Grade 10 Boys
Brian Liang – Sir John Franklin
Anthony Wood – Allain St-Cyr
Grade 10 Girls
Tamara Jovic – Sir John Franklin
Grade 12 Boys
Adrian Litao – St. Patrick
Sebastian Toner – St. Patrick
Justin Uson – St. Patrick
Grade 12 Girls
Katrina Deneron – Thomas Simpson
Ava was named the “Fair Play Award Winner” for her positive attitude and encouragement for her team mates and others, as well as, finding the time to umpire matches. Katrina and Ava also received the “Most Improved Players award, showing up early for practice, enthusiastically giving their best.
Most improved player award
Katrina Deneron – Thomas Simpson
Natasha Zoe – Weledeh
Fair Play Award
Ava Erasmus – Thomas Simpson
Jeremy Kielstra, President of Table Tennis North, was excited about the tournament. “Table Tennis North has had a successful few weeks running programming for youth here over the last couple of weeks. Things culminated with a tournament on Saturday. I think this was a great event for the sport and will encourage involvement in Table Tennis moving forward. Thank you to Thor for organizing and executing the events over the past weeks in Yellowknife. Thanks also to Ulli Nolting for helping out wherever needed.”
“It has been an amazing event, everything worked out perfectly” says Executive Director, Thor about the workshops and tournament this past weekend. He adds, “The kids got to play a lot of matches, even the parents used the opportunity to play on the tables that were available. The kids actually improved a lot in just that one day. Table Tennis rocks!!!”
We are looking forward to the 2017 Territorial Championships hosted in Fort Providence from January 27th to 29th 2017. See you there!?
