Fun is guaranteed as Girls Spinneroos returns to Townsville

As she was searching for new coaching opportunities, Townsville Table Tennis Association (TTTA) coach Caitlin Woods was quick to jump on the Girls Spinneroos program when it was first introduced at the club last year.

Woods is now leading the program at TTTA, making great use of the funding associated with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) My Gender My Strength initiative to grow female participation in the sport.

“Townsville didn’t have many other female coaches at the time and it seemed like the perfect opportunity. 

“It is a great program and it is a really good way to get girls involved in the sport,” Woods said. 

One of the appealing qualities of the Girls Spinneroos program is that it creates a safe environment for young girls to give table tennis a go. Woods is particularly focused on creating a welcoming and judgement-free environment where girls can learn together and challenge each other in a positive way throughout the sessions. 

“Learning a new sport can be intimidating, so I want to make sure that the girls are having fun and learning together,” she said.

Woods’ goal is also to keep as many girls as possible in the sport, so she takes pride when program participants stick with table tennis at the end of the course. The program is growing and Woods kept a perfect record last year, seeing both her Girls Spinneroos players continuing into the junior pathway.

Of course, table tennis is also a great sport to play in the summer, up in North Queensland. 

“It is indoors, out of the sun and air conditioned, which is exactly the kind of environment you need in summer up here,” she said.

The new edition of the TTTA Girls Spinneroos program begins Wednesday 27 October. Places are limited and are expected to fill up fast, so click here to find out more and secure your child’s place.