UKCC
Scotland will be able to deliver the UKCC Level 1 & 2 courses once
the tutors & assessors have completed their training. UKCC Level 3
& 4 Courses will be run in England only (Refer to TTS Coaching Award
Structure). Existing coaches are unaffected in the short to medium term
as the "mapping" timescales have still to be resolved, along
with the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) criteria. Changes affecting
existing coaches are expected in 3 to 5 years.
In House Coaching Course - "Introduction to
Table Tennis"
The introduction of UKCC awards means an end to our existing coaching
awards. Therefore we have looked at what we can deliver below UKCC. TTS
have revised the previous Teachers & Leaders Course that is available
to Teachers, After School Club Leaders and Sports Coaches employed by
their Local Regional Authorities.
This Course is aimed at grass roots coaches and is a 6 hour course followed
by a written assessment. Those who pass will receive an award certificate.
Persons having successfully completed the course may gain an Accreditation
of Prior Learning (APL) that could be taken into account should they wish
to venture on to the UKCC Level 1 course.
This Course is NOT for persons intending to coach in independent TT clubs.
The revised TTS Coaching Awards structure can be viewed by clicking
here.
TTS TOPS TABLE TENNIS in SCHOOLS PROGRAM & "Batskills"
To supplement the"Introduction to Table Tennis" courses, the
following complimentary resources are available: The TOPS TT in Schools
Program, (modified with permission from TT Australia) and "Batskills"
as a fun skills learning resource.
The TOPS TT Program is available to purchase separately, along with the
Batskills resource. See Resources Section to order.
Video Analysis Worksheet
A section of the Level 3 course run at the end of 2006 by Stuart Wallis
included reference to Video Analysis. For anyone interested in employing
this technique, I've produced a worksheet template that captures the data
in the format prescribed on the course. This file is available to download
and is best used in A3 format. Please click
here.
Why Does TTS Need to Support UKCC?
As a Home Country, TTS is ensuring that existing & future coaches in Scotland have access to this nationally recognised professional standard that allows them greater freedom of movement to practice in any other part of the UK.
With the introduction of the UKCC there will be a mandatory licensing of coaches, which serves to ensure professional standards are maintained.
UKCC eligibility criteria will ensure that coaches are rigorously checked through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), therefore certifying high standards of screening are in place.
Our Funding partners (Sport Scotland & Scottish Executive) require TTS to adopt the UKCC, as a criteria for future funding
Batskills have constructed a series of on-the-table targets based on other sports: a five a side football game, a basketball net, rugby posts, an archery target, a golf green and flag, super cricket and the rally net and posts. The eighth game in the set is 'Noughts and Crosses'. Children can be motivated by the games and their control in serving or in playing basic strokes can improve the more they concentrate on hitting the precise targets.
A skills circuit can be devised using as many games as there are tables in which the players play all eight games. A scoring system is devised for each target, (ref: the teaching cards) and the winning team being the one that achieves the highest aggregate number of points after completing the circuit. A teacher can occupy 50+ children at a time within the circuit!
All the targets can be used flexibly. Changing the position of the targets
on the table can provide a challenge whatever the pupils level and careful
positioning of the targets develops accurate placement of strokes. Each
of the targets has been designed to encourage accuracy with a variety
of strokes, and the variety of different targets available allows a large
number of players to be meaningfully occupied whilst developing skills
in a coaching or teaching situation.
The final part of the Batskills set is the Rally Net. By raising the
Rally Net (which is a second, height adjustable net placed above the table
tennis net) to its highest position, the player can learn to keep the
ball low by hitting it between the two nets. If the Rally Net is dropped
lower still, the player is forced to keep the ball even lower. By placing
the Rally Net in its lowest position, the player then learns to be able
to hit higher over it, as with a high topspin loop or roll.
Batskills have worked closely with the Youth Sport Trust to ensure that
these games can be used by people of all abilities. Each relatively inexpensive
game is approved by Table Tennis Scotland and comes with a coaching card,
suggesting teaching points and differentiated skills practice ideas.
Further information can be had by checking out the website www.batskills.com
To order any of the equipment, support Table Tennis Scotland by clicking
here for order form.