INTRODUCTION

Munster Table Tennis has been divided up into eight main areas of development indexed below.
  1. National Schools
  2. Special Olympics
  3. Inter Counties
  4. Women In Table Tennis
  5. Administration
  6. Publicity
  7. Coaching
  8. Umpiring

Within these four categories their are other divisions.
  • Under Age
  • Cadet
  • Junior
  • U12's
  • Senior
  • Women
  • Veteran

    This report is in two parts.
    Part 1 is an analysis of the existing clubs, schools, players, coaches & organisation.
    Part 2 includes proposals for the further development within Munster Table Tennis.

    SETTING THE SCENE
    In recent years the Munster Branch has been dominated by Cork County with a decline in participation from other counties. The junior scene is very healthy with the Interprovincial Title being taken in 1999 for the first time in its history. Cork County schools have also dominated the All Ireland Schools in the last few years.

    The senior scene has not been as successful as there has been a steady decline in numbers participating. The Cork Senior League was not played in 98-99 with only a couple of senior tournaments played. However Cork players Brian Fitzgerald and Linda Mountjoy both held No.1 positions in the Irish Senior Rankings during 2000-2001. The is also a very strong U21 level with the Provincial Title coming to Munster for the last two years.

    West Cork has become more involved with the Munster Branch over the last 5 years and now regularly sends players of every age group to Cork and Munster events. As well as holding Munster Rankings and a junior International (1998).

    Thurles School in Tipperary and a club in Cloghjordan, Co.Tipperary have entered players into Munster events and a Junior Munster Ranking is usually held in Thurles.

    A club near Killarney in Co.Kerry has been recently approached by the Munster Branch and a friendly match was played during the 1999-2000 season between West Cork and Killarney.

    During the last two seasons (2000-2001) players from Limerick and Clare have also attended Munster Rankings and coaching has been organised in Limerick to enable these players to progress..

    During 2000-2001 Munster Special Olympics was approached and the Munster Development Officer attended a Special Olympics training event in Limerick in order to create closer links between the two organisations, an assimilated double event was played during the 2000 season, but had to be cancelled during 2001 because of FMD. The W.C.T.T.A have been coaching at Co Action, Bantry for 2 years. Beech Hill TTC and the COPE Foundation have developed closer ties between the Special Olympics and Main Stream. There are a number of Special Olympic Centres around Munster. It is hoped that a Special Olympic event will be demonstrated at the Munster Open.

    The Munster Branch has also become more actively involved with the Community Games at it is hoped that there will be an increase in participation within this area of the sport.