By Michael Reff
NCTTA Press Committee

It’s smiles all around as table tennis equipment powerhouse Paddle Palace signs a partnership deal with NCTTA! In exchange for their high-quality equipment and table tennis supplies, NCTTA will be promoting Paddle Palace within our monthly newsletter.

Here are some of the quotes from the important players involved in getting the contract signed.

Ryan Hoarfrost, President of Paddle Palace:
"We are thrilled to partner with the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association to elevate the game at the collegiate level. Our commitment is to provide the best equipment, like the world-renowned Nittaku balls, ensuring that every player has the tools they need to succeed. Together, we’re not just growing the game; we’re setting a new standard of excellence for the next generation of champions."

Sean O’Neill, OLY
Paddle Palace Media and Sponsorships:
"This partnership with the NCTTA is a perfect match for our mission to support and enhance the collegiate table tennis experience. By supplying the highest-quality Nittaku balls, we’re investing in the future of the sport, making sure that every collegiate athlete competes with the very best. Our collaboration with NCTTA is all about serving the players and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in table tennis."

NCTTA President Willy Leparulo could barely contain his enthusiasm about this latest sponsorship breakthrough:
“We in NCTTA are excited to partner with one of the premier table tennis companies in North America. Looking forward to moving the respective table tennis needle forward!"

Here’s to a bright future with Paddle Palace paving the partnership path!

By Shaquila Sarapao, Press Committee

In the archaic days of NCTTA, the tech committee had only fire. But with that fire, they created shadows to dance amongst their caves that had wandered out into the wonders of the world. Out there, they found calamity and chaos.

That is when they sought for order.

In the past, NCTTA used to have independent school membership registration applications where they had to send emails and write on paper. Over time and especially after the Covid pandemic, Tae Kim, the Chair of the Tech Committee, had an idea. With the help of Willy Leparulo and James Wang, Kim created and bought the domain nctta.app.

The original purpose of the app was to help schools register where you can add and edit players as well as update ratings.

Now, after months of hard work, the nctta.app has improved to be more efficient, user-friendly, and intuitive.

For the user, due to the change of framework, EVERY USER, including staff, will have to reset/renew their password by using the “Forgot Password” feature.

The app will be released on September 4th!

Let the fire burn bright.

Be “in the know” with new 2024-2025 NCTTA Regulations*

Every year, NCTTA updates its rules and regulations. Whether you are a coach or current player it is a good idea that you are familiar with any changes.
Registration starts Wednesday September 4th, so we hope you all are ready!

Here are the highlights:

· NCTTA fees went up. This is not a surprise as the fees were advertised last semester. Click here for updated fees: http://nctta.org/content/fee-schedule

· NCTTA added rules about Medical Hardship waivers. As NCTTA VP Joe Wells says, this addition “could lead to a number of student athletes who have encountered some difficult circumstances that would not allow them to compete for an extended period of time, the opportunity to put time back on their competitive clock. We strive to grow as an organization, and one of the ways we do that is to try and make our competitive rules to align with similar sporting organizations.”

Click Here: http://nctta.org/doc/2024-2025%20Rules%20and%20Regulations.pdf and scroll down to 2.12 on page 7 to read the full waiver.

NCTTA Eligibility form is also a general photo/video release. All NCTTA players (A, B, C, etc. and singles) must sign this. Eligibility will still only be counted for Singles, Women and A team however.

· Clarified how to be eligible for the postseason.

In addition, the NCTTA Eligibility Form which must be done by every school 72 hours before your first tournament is here (Fall 2024 Eligibility Form) Click Here: http://nctta.org/doc/Fall%202024%20Eligibility%20form.pdf

By Michael Reff
Press Committee Chair

I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Pougher of the Parkinson’s Wellness Initiative, who volunteered at the NCTTA champs in Eau Claire as well as purchased tables from NCTTA after the tourney for his organization.

1. Please describe the history of your initiative. When and how did table tennis first get introduced to you personally as well as your foundation?

The Parkinson's Wellness Initiative was formed to serve people in the WI area who have Parkinson Disease (PD) and wish to pursue exercise as part of their ongoing care and rehabilitation. My father has Parkinson’s so I researched study programs (such as that done by Ken-ichi Inoue, MD, of Fukuoka University in Fukuoka, Japan) that had been proven to make an impact on a persons ability to improve their hand /eye coordination, dexterity and therefore assist with basics functions like getting out of bed, posture, dressing oneself, getting up the stairs, thus generally building up confidence.

So I set about creating a custom program, building upon the research findings for Table Tennis that would be accessible in the Eau Claire and surrounding areas. I called it 'Healthy Eau Claire’, table tennis for Parkinson’s. The program combines a mix of drills and workouts, warmups and appropriate skill sets that are tailored to PD while bringing all the fun of the game to the fore.

Finding like minded people who are on the same mission to support the PD community meant opening up a variety of sports, reaching as many folks as possible. Allowing for collaboration with other programs such as boxing which paved the way to establish our 501c3 organization called Parkinson's Wellness Initiative (PWI). The programs preceded the formation of the charity last year but as a not for profit we are able to unify, raise funds and awareness while being 'under one roof' with a common goal.

Table tennis has been a love of mine since schools days back in England. From playing and teaching in clinics at a young age to playing in tournaments. Albeit my career took me into other fields, I have returned to this wonderful sport from a very personal perspective while applying my vocational skills to this program now in terms of data analysis, program building, coaching and creating a solid foundation to allow members to map their progress. Working with people and helping folks with needs is the most rewarding work one can do. PWI is a great vehicle to allow support and information to the PD community while raising awareness to the benefits of playing table tennis.

2. Please tell me how you first caught wind of the nctta tables being sold after post champs and how they have been affecting your foundation.

As a NCTTA supporter and volunteer worker at the UWEC this year and indeed a member of the local TT club, I became aware that the championship tables would be available for purchase after the event. As a charity, we are reliant on donations, affordable equipment and collaborative help. These tables are a huge benefit as they are utilized in a few locations to allow members to play, train and enjoy games on a quality piece of equipment. They are simple to port within a building and to store away. The Healthy Eau Claire Table Tennis group is currently made up of 18 registrants with PD, a mix who attend classes twice a week at a local center in EC. We are looking to expand into other locations and facilities so as to ease accessibility to as many as possible. These tables are a great asset and we are grateful to the NCTTA for making them available to our organization at a good price.

3. I heard you had some great volunteers come to the champs. Describe what you and others from your foundation liked most about the setup of champs. What were some memorable moments for you all?

The event proved that the TT community in EC is strong and that with supporters of such events like this, we can come together to provide resources, help with the behind-the-scenes setups while getting the privilege to see some top class players in a sport we all love. Such as the finals between Sheth and Kumar, both from California. Makes us all want to play more and brush up on our skills! We came together at the event to coordinate setup and seemed to make it a well oiled machine. Thanks to Willy Leparulo and the team. The TT player is a unique breed of sportsman who is often a details person, enjoys the technicality of the sport and the competition. No doubt this will encourage future events and familiar faces willing to keep this momentum.

4. I know I’ve heard about the neurological benefits of table tennis. Would you like to take this time to talk about how you and your foundation have benefited from this great sport?

It’s now become better understood in the wider community that table tennis has a positive impact on people with Parkinson’s and indeed many with a range of neurodegenerative conditions. From the aforementioned study in Japan to the one that HealthyEauClaire is running right here in EC. Outside the physical benefits of a table tennis/ cardio workout are the social aspects too. We have become more like a supportive family now with a common cause. This sport is great fun, shared experiences at different levels with laughter, tears and joy. We get to give back and offer a very beneficial program that holds true to its claims. I don't regret a moment, having segued into the field of applied sports for community need as I see the impact this superb sport has on the PD community. I hope the message can reach far and we are able to sustain the PWI programs via our charity, putting table tennis on everyone’s radar as a sport for all ages, ability and indeed to improve brain health.

Andrew has kindly allowed us to publish his website and email for those interested:

Parkinsons Wellness Initiative
info@parkinsonswellnessinitiative.org
parkinsonswellnessinitiative.org
healthyeauclaire.com

NCTTA's Photo/Video Release form here!

Now when student-athletes sign the NCTTA eligibility form this will be addressed there!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TQEJVCRytUlt8X6NrHDqpBbZg4nh6SJzldOk...

By Shaquila Sarapao, Press Committee
and
James Liao, Alumni Committee

The Alumni Committee has some exciting news: we will be hosting our first ever NCTTA Career Panel this summer!

After graduation or leading up to it, the future can be intimidating and stressful. Thoughts of "What’s next?" and "What do I do now?" fill your brain.

But fear not, the career panel is here to answer your questions. Whether it is about seeking future internships, full time jobs, or even applying to grad schools, this is an opportunity for you to get some valuable insights from alumni in the NCTTA family, and build up your future networks!

The panel will occur on Aug 21, 7:30pm ET, with a Google Meet link in the reservation form below:

https://forms.gle/4WVqjZAkpnTYdqdk6

NCTTA External VP Joe Wells,
Guest Writer

While it is summer and typically our slow time of the year, this happens to be one of the more exciting times.

NCTTA is open for business, both literally and figuratively. We want to thank Joola for all their support over the past season. Richard Lee and his staff have always stepped up and lent a hand when we were in need, and we are extremely appreciative of that.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to open up the bidding process for our equipment sponsor. But it's not only equipment. This is the perfect time for any emerging business/organization to partner with NCTTA as we are always looking to build on our relationships, etc.

Click here for more information: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/153z3BUxBHfSZOZpSuRiRQGQGZQeo1JL_...

By Michael Reff
NCTTA Press Committee Chair

The Paris 2024 Olympics are occurring right now, and everyone is hyped up to see some elite table tennis! So, what’s the next best thing event wise in the college table tennis world (besides NCTTA Champs of course!)? I’m glad you asked, as this newsletter starts our promotion of the FISU World University Games (WUG)!

These games are the college equivalent to the Olympics, and will be happening July 16-27, 2025 in Germany. According to their projected stats, there will be almost 8500 athletes and officials, 18 sports, and up to 150 countries represented at WUG. And, just our luck, as table tennis is one of those sports featured!

NCTTA players are encouraged to try out and will have to not only meet NCTTA eligibility criteria but also FISU WUG criteria as well to participate
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10coDW4GT0URs5-CP59AgHImwhNv1Ng8V4Z3w...

In an effort to promote this amazing experience, we will post monthly newsletter interviews with NCTTA players who have participated in the WUG. So, get excited, and be ready to try out come 2025 NCTTA Champs time for the FISU WUG!

Photo credit: TT Canada

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and an internationally renowned college of art, design, business and technology with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, invites nominations and applications for a Head Table Tennis Coach.

NCTTA supports the Athletic Department mission to hire the Head Table Tennis Coach.

Click below for more information!
https://www.higheredjobs.com/adjunct/details.cfm?JobCode=178800878&Title...