A Competive Grassroots Manifesto for Table Tennis in the United Kingdom

This manifesto is a short document which sets out recognise and protect grassroots table tennis in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Background

This manifesto recognises the following facts as being true and uncontroversial.

1. Table tennis is one of the most affordable and accessible sports in the world.

2. Table tennis in the UK is primarily a participation sport.

3. The vast majority of table tennis participation in the UK takes place at the grass roots level (Local & County leagues, school’s competitions, NCL, NJL, development tournaments, 1 & 2 Star competitions and Grand Prix).

4. Grassroots table tennis is the foundation of the sport throughout the United Kingdom.

5. Advanced and elite players and competitions benefit from a healthy and thriving grassroots landscape.

What is Competitive Grassroots Table Tennis?

The competitive grassroots of table tennis in the United kingdom are those 99% of sportsmen and women who belong to clubs and schools and who form the pool of players who compete at the grassroots level.

This does not include those people who play table tennis as a game (in bars, cafes, youth clubs, parks and their garages). These form the social grassroots table tennis community. The competitive grassroots community should welcome these players at every opportunity, but for now they stand outside of sporting table tennis in an eco-system of their own.

The competitive grassroots may also include those players who graduate through their own efforts to advanced, elite, or even international levels. However, this manifesto recognises that those players naturally have ambitions and concerns that may not necessarily align with those of the competitive grassroots.

Why does competitive grassroots table tennis need a manifesto?

Table Tennis - like almost all sports - operates within a pyramid of excellence. The grassroots is the base of the pyramid. It produces and supports a smaller layer of advanced players. This group in turn produces and supports the pinnacle of the pyramid, our elite players.

For the pyramid to remain intact, every section needs to be catered for. Without a healthy competitive grassroots, advanced and elite table tennis can neither emerge nor survive.

Threats to the competitive grassroots of sport come in various forms. This manifesto should present a standard to which all internal and outside bodies should aspire, in order to protect and maintain the essential health of the competitive grassroots of table tennis in the United Kingdom.

The Manifesto (Part 1: Guiding principles)

1. The competitive grassroots of table tennis should be recognised as the essential foundation for the sport in the United Kingdom.

2. The right for all grassroots players to play competitively and the right for clubs, schools and other organisations to provide competitive grassroots opportunities should never be infringed upon by other considerations.

3. Competitive opportunities should be as affordable, accessible, local and appropriate as possible.

4. Opportunities to compete or to provide competition must never be limited unreasonably.

5. Advanced and elite table tennis is dependent on the competitive grassroots and must not be promoted at its expense.

The Manifesto (Part 2: Operational principles)

1. Players and organisers take precedence over processes.

2. Change must be democratic.

3. Change should be incremental and subject to review.

4. Collaboration takes precedence over central planning.

5. Plans should respond to changes in circumstances and relevant input.

Please leave your name and club in the comments section if you wish to add your name as a signatory to the manifesto.