An evaluation of the outdoor table tennis initiative pilot programme in London: ‘ping pong in the fresh air how does that work?’

Abstract

This article examines the findings from an evaluation of the English Table Tennis Association outdoor table tennis pilot initiative in London. Ethnographic participant observation fieldwork was conducted, alongside semi-structured interviews with project and local partner staff to explore the impact and effectiveness of the scheme. The project aspiration was to develop a new entry route into the sport of table tennis, using an innovative new format of the game in park facilities. The project challenged established principles of sports development to encourage self-organised participation, raise the profile of the sport and attract new participants to this form of physical activity in a park setting. Results from the pilot programme evaluation illustrated that participants had engaged in multiple forms of self-organised play, usage of the tables were high and that there were minimal barriers to participation. Future challenges include how to link this initiative with wider national governing body sports development plans, harnessing the profile raising potential of the scheme and the development of opportunities and participants that were created through the scheme.