MBF and PT-Espoo's family ping-pong was a success
The family table tennis group jointly founded by MBF and PT Espoo became an immediate success. 30 families participated in the spring family table tennis at different times. Sometimes a dozen families were playing at the same time, so the tables were just enough. Most of the families were new to table tennis. Two of them joined MBF during the spring and two others joined MBF's Easysport summer camp in Ruskeasuo.
Family table tennis was played in the Ruskeasuo and Tuulimäki table tennis halls every other Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm (exceptionally on Sunday 28.4 April) from January to May 2024. Family table tennis was intended for all young beginner players and their parents. Most of the 30 families were happily participating for the first time. Eight families of MBF and PT Espoo members were also involved, learning the secrets of table tennis under the guidance of a coach.
A little over a third of the families came with their mothers, and sometimes both fathers and mothers were present. Most of the young people were boys, but it was heartening to see about five girls also present.
Anssi Enqvist (father) and Eliel Laitasalo (son) won the last round ping-pong competition.
The feedback was excellent.
In the feedback survey (response rate was 57%), all respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with their family ping (5,7 / (max) 6), the guidance they received (5,4 / 6) and the flow of information (5,8 / 6). The system (1-2 hour visits) also received a lot of positive feedback (5,7 / 6).
So the feedback for Mika Räsänen, who led half of the family table tennis sessions, was excellent, as well as for the other leaders, who were Sebastian Abaijon-Nurmisuo, Lauri Hakaste, Wengchuan Ji and Ella Kellow.
Family tennis twice a month and the time (Saturdays 10 am-12 pm) were the most popular among the respondents. Of course, it must be remembered that those who responded to the survey came during these times. Both Tuulimäki (average 4,3 / 6) and Ruskeasuo (4,7 / 6) received support as training locations.
"It was nice to beat Dad. We got a record of 100 strokes in a row. Dad played well and won often – but I won too. -Noel Shahidi
"Family table tennis is a really nice pastime between father and son. We had fun and worked up a good sweat. The coach's instructions were precise and improved our game." -Hamed Shahidi
The families had been informed about the family ping-pong from many sources. The MBF website and PT Espoo emails were the most important sources, but the information had also spread from the MBF PT Espoo and city district Facebook pages, apparently especially to families outside the clubs.
Of the approximately 20 new players in Family Table Tennis, two will continue playing table tennis at the EasySport table tennis camp in the summer. So, from the perspective of MBF, it was nice that potential new young people also came into the table tennis circle through Family Table Tennis.
Perhepingis received support from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Family table tennis continues in the fall
Since all respondents also wanted to continue with family ping (4,8 / 5), PT Espoo and MBF plan to do this in the fall of 2024.
Text: Matti Vainio