Wednesday, November 10, 2010

A NEW PROGRAM FOR TAFT




The Olympic sport of table tennis, more affectionately known as ping pong, and formerly played mostly in basements and carports has smoldered and received little attention here in the southeast for years.

It is time for a change.  Thanks to Mr. Joseph Newgarden and his Newgy Industries, students at the Taft Youth Development Center can now enjoy table tennis on the latest equipment and receive training in the fundamentals of the sport.  Furthermore, this equipment and training is the identical equipment and training being provided to some of the best high schools in the state under the same program as for Taft.

Mr. Newgarden has devoted a lifetime to elevating the sport of table tennis. He is known, not only across this country, but he has been a major contributor to table tennis in Europe, Asia, and even third world countries.

Fortunately for Taft, Mr. Newgarden’s passion for table tennis and promotion of table tennis has led him to the Taft Center.  He has now offered resources to the Center for the establishment of table tennis programs there.  His Taft offer was made and accepted by the forward-looking administration of Mr. Robert Bowen, Superintendent of Taft.

Mr. Newgarden has now assigned the development, establishment, and execution of table tennis programs in East Tennessee to Mr. Bill Neely.  Mr. Neely has an impressive table tennis resume including gold medals in the District and State, and National Senior Olympics.  Additionally, he has won multiple gold medals in the U. S, Open, U. S. Closed, International Veterans, and Huntsman World Senior Games.  These include Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles competitions.  His total medal count and other awards since he resumed table tennis in 1994 is more than 190 after an absence of 31-years..

The Taft program is unlike any other in the State’s history:  Thousands of non-government dollars in new equipment and training, free of charge are offered, requiring only that they play under the prescribed structured program of learning.  The administration is genuinely ecstatic at this offer, which provides another option for improved self esteem, as well as health and well being through an enjoyable physical activity; one which can be used throughout their lives.

The program provides, free of charge to Taft, all of the equipment and training necessary for the formation of solid programs to augment physical education in the Center.  The students are encouraged to use the equipment at any time approved by the administration.  There are several creative ways in which the equipment can be used.  We leave that up to the Administration.

The only conditions for receiving this equipment are that:
  • The equipment be used as described in the proposal.
  • The equipment be maintained and cared for.
  • The schools accept the training in the use and care for the equipment
  • Competitions be held (in class, inter-class, and at some point, with outside entities).
  • All competitive play be recorded on match sheets provided by Newgy.
  • The match sheets be forwarded to Newgy for processing of ratings.
The initial delivery of equipment for teacher training, for each schools includes:
  • Three tournament-grade tables. (Originally only two were promised.)
  • 10-rackets (Beginning level)-competitive rackets are personal, such as tooth brushes, and should be purchased later by the players after they settle on their own style of play.)
  • One-gross of balls (40-mm).
  • Fifteen barriers.
  • One challenge ladder set.
  • Two-hundred match sheets
  • Robots, not delivered at this time. (Need and quantity to be determined later.)
This equipment will be delivered to Taft at 1:30 pm CST on September 16.
The next step is to schedule and train the teachers to teach the sport to the students.

Other equipment for teaching the students will follow after the teachers have been trained and the additional needs have been assessed.

Table tennis, at best, is only fledgling sport on the national level.  Mr. Newgarden has plans to correct this inequity.  This will take time, but we all have heard how a long journey begins. There are currently several colleges who have recognized this and have established table tennis as a sports program within their institutions.  A few are even giving sports scholarships to skilled and deserving athletes.  This, I believe, is a preview of the future.

It is Mr. Newgarden’s greatest desire that every person in the United States have access to table tennis and that they play for health, improvement, and enjoyment.  For a brief profile of Mr. Newgarden, a USATT Hall of Fame member, go to USATT.org, click of “features”, click on “hall of fame”, scroll to “Newgarden, Joe”.

By Scot Shanks

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