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SATTC Visits Wounded Veterans
New Table Tennis Program Begins February 2
On January 20, 2012, six SATTC members transported a table, net and rackets to/from a local hospital recreation room and shared table tennis action with nine wounded (wheelchair) veterans in the rec room of the Audie Murphy Spinal Cord Injury Unit of the San Antonio VA Hospital.
Initiated by Wendy Gumbert, Manager - Texas Paralympics Sports, the purpose was - and is - to evaluate interest and to explore ways that SATTC members can share the unique exercise therapy and competitive social fun of table tennis with paralympic individuals, military and others, within the greater San Antonio area. According to US Paralympics literature, paralympics table tennis athletes generally include those individuals who have experienced amputation, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, stroke and similar disabilities.
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Table Tennis on wheels!
--Photos by Wendy Gumbert-- |
Participating on Friday afternoon from SATTC were: Cindy Prindle, Tom Brown, Nelson Gervacio, Erich Dallman, Pat Khyle and Loren Williams. Also contributing: Bruce Eichman and Clark Nicholl who staffed the SATTC venue office back home so that others could share our brand of TT with a spirited group of wheelchair players. Jose Laguna of the VA hospital staff was especially helpful in making this initial session a success.
Following on-the-spot discussions, a decision was made to launch a pilot program - a weekly series of "adapted table tennis" play - to begin at 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 2 at the regular SATTC venue (Alamo Fitness Center, 16675 Huebner Rd, 78248)
for military and others. First session admission is free. For ongoing participation in this weekly, 2 - hour Thursday evening program, a donation of $5.00 per session is requested. (SATTC is a non-profit organization staffed by member volunteers.)
Thursday spectator visitors and volunteer SATTC members, no charge. We'll give it a try and adjust the program as needed.
No change in our regular Mon - Wed - Fri - Sat - Sun open play schedule, which is open to all skill levels.
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Our Table Tennis Home - Alamo Family Fitness Center |
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The Table Tennis (SATTC) Entrance
--Photo courtesy Edmund Lo-- |
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Inside the SATTC Table Tennis room
--Photo by Edmund Lo-- |
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Ask about Thursday night Robo-Pong practice drill |
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Calendar
Upcoming TT Events
TOURNAMENTS, Sanctioned
(Match results count toward
national player ratings)
For state / regional / national
tournament listings, click on:
USATT Sanctioned Tournaments
Including these in Texas:
Feb 4: El Paso TX
Mar 17: Fort Worth TX
TOURNAMENTS, Non-sanctioned
(Match play is spirited and competitive but results do not count toward national player ratings)
Houston, Jan 28
Houston TX Tourney Jan 28
Harlingen, Feb 15-17 (seniors)
Harlingen TX Tourney
Harlingen Tourney (over 50)
San Antonio, Feb 18-19
SAN ANTONIO REGISTRATION PACKET Deadline Feb 15
San Antonio Mar 24-25
Texas State Senior Games
Co-hosted by SATTC
Table Tennis - Saturday, March 24 (age 50-69) and Sunday, March 25 (age 70+), Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Early bird registration ends Feb 25
Register at:
Texas Senior Games
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Spins & Bounces
NEWS AND VIEWS
Schedule Change
Effective immediately, open play at our SATTC club venue will begin at 5:00 PM, rather than 6:00 PM, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Closing time will remain 10:00 PM. (No change Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule)
This provides an extra hour of open play on each of these two days. The "key persons" (be sure to thank them) are willing to make this change, to make it a bit easier for those affected by commuter traffic.
Practice Room
Effective immediately, the adjacent 3-table room (the "dance room") here at SATTC is designated a practice area for all players and a dedicated area for intermediate / beginner play. You will still use your ID badge to line up for a specific table but you have the benefit of uninterrupted drill of your choosing - i.e, no challenges for the first hour of practice.
Open play / match play in the large, dedicated room is not affected by this change.
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Health Benefits of Table Tennis
Table Tennis is a great way to get a cardiovascular and aerobic exercise because of the range of movements and the consistency and rapidity of the movements. The fast play ensures a good sweat and will keep your heart rate up.
And playing a friendly game of table tennis for an hour burns about 300 calories. That's equal to a 27-minute power walk on a treadmill or 32 minutes of light gymnastics. Now, which activity sounds like more fun, walking in one direction for half an hour, execute dizzying cartwheels or beating your friend in a table tennis match thus giving you bragging rights?
Table Tennis has one of the largest populations of participants internationally in comparison to other sports. Throughout the world, millions play this sport, helping them stay healthy as well as have fun.
--Adapted from the website of USA Table Tennis < www.usatt.org >. |
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About Us
The San Antonio Table Tennis Club / Foundation is a Texas non-profit corporation consisting of nearly 600 email player-recipients of whom about 120 show up during any given month for regular practice, open play, coaching, league play and occasional tournaments.
During each of our 5-days a week regularly scheduled sessions, about 15 to 30 participate in active table tennis - from beginners to accomplished players, a wide range of age and ethnicity, all bound together by a love of the fun and spirit of table tennis.
Come join us!
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