Table Tennis

Does anyone happen to know a good club in Chicago where high schoolers aged 16-18 can join?😉

I don't think you have the credentials for that... but you're more than welcome to come by my place for some training instead.

I’m not getting my hopes up too high, but maybe someone from the Phoenix area can shoot me a DM and let me know where I can find some good table tennis around here?

Roger Doyle67 said:I don't think you have any openings right now, but you're more than welcome to come by my place for training.

😁 😁 😁
So, it’s best if I contact the agency directly?
Okay... thanks.

As for Chicago, I honestly don't know anything about it.😁

amberskipper38 said:😁 😁 😁
So, I should probably just call the EEOC then?..
Okay.. thanks..

And as for Chicago, I don't even know anything about New York... 😁

Heh, I think I'll be filing with the EEOC too, maybe we'll run into each other. You really need a solid crew for that. Honestly, I could probably give you some pointers on how to handle it.. heh..

Roger Doyle67 said:He and I are heading to the bar, so let's meet up there. You definitely need a crew for that. Honestly, I could probably give you some better training, haha...

Hahaha... so, what, are you some kind of coach? Doing private lessons or something..?
Haha :P

Does anyone know if there are any benches left in the parks over in West Washington, D.C.? I feel like there used to be one in the park near Canadian Avenue, but I can't seem to find it anymore. Is there one anywhere else nearby?...

Casey Palmer5 said:Does anyone know if there's a table left in any parks in the West Side of Washington, D.C.? I thought there was one in that park near the Canadian neighborhood—but maybe I'm wrong, since it seems to be gone. Anywhere else nearby?

Wait, how could it not be in the Canadian area?
I was playing there just about a month ago. 😉

I don't know, I could have sworn the tables were right at the entrance of the park, near those climbing structures for the kids, on a little raised platform. We headed over there yesterday evening, but maybe I just missed them... am I losing my mind?

Casey Palmer5 said:I don't know—it seemed to me like the tables were right at the entrance of the park, near those climbing structures for kids, maybe slightly elevated. We went there last night, unless my eyesight is failing me or something.

I was there for the first time about a month ago. If you walk through the playground and follow the gravel path for a few hundred yards, you'll run into two tables.

Total misstep on my part. She actually saw those tables months ago when I was out walking, so it’s been there for over half a year now. We finally remembered yesterday evening that we wanted to go play, but we were under the impression they had been moved right at the start (like someone had already hauled them off 😁), so we didn't even take that trail since it was pitch black. Do you happen to know if that area is lit up at night? I often find myself wanting to get out and play right around dusk or in the evening...

Thanks for letting me know 🙂

not sure if there's any lighting 🤷

I was wondering if there are any table tennis clubs in Miami? I really want to start training... I think I'm still young enough since I'm only 17.😛🙄

Can anyone point me toward a solid club in LA for training? I’m 18 and looking to join up with a buddy of mine—he’s 20—so we can train together and play doubles. We’ve already got some great chemistry; he actually played singles for his high school team back in the day... so we're a pretty established duo. If you have any leads, please shoot me a PM.
Thanks!

cosmicorca20 said:I was wondering if there are any table tennis clubs in Miami? I'm looking to get into training—hopefully it's not too late since I'm only 17.😛🙄

http://www.aurora-vikktor.net/stolni_tenis.htm Check this out.

There’s this spot out in a suburban area near a suburban town, right on the local playground 😉

From what I know, there isn't a single club where older players can just sign up. Table tennis here in the States is still such a niche sport with zero money behind it—most clubs and coaches are just chasing trophies and hunting for the next teenage prodigy.

Sokaz is more of a recreational setup. They don't actually own any facilities or run official training sessions; they basically just plug recreational players into a competitive league structure. It’s on the players to figure out where and when they’re going to play. Each team has to sort out their own gym space (one week you're at home, the next you're traveling, though some teams just play away games constantly—not sure how long you can pull that off or what the rules are there).

That said, Sokaz is actually awesome because they have over 20 different leagues, so most casual players will definitely find their skill level. If I remember right, registration for a full team happens about six months in advance $67—maybe around 300 people join—so the biggest expense is really just renting out the courts. But it's fun because the away games take you all over, playing at random office buildings, community centers, basements, etc. 😍

Anyway, if you're looking for places where recreational players can just show up and pay by the hour, check out the YMCA or the top floor of the local mall. There might be a few other spots out there I don't know about...

rustyfalcon24 said:From what I’ve gathered, there isn't a single club out there that actually welcomes older players looking to get serious. Table tennis in America is still such a niche sport—there just isn't enough money flowing into it. Most clubs and coaches are solely focused on immediate results, constantly hunting for the next young prodigy rather than nurturing talent at any other stage of life.

Sokaz operates primarily as a recreational league organizer rather than a traditional sports club. They don't actually own any facilities or host scheduled training sessions; their main function is simply to structure recreational players into an organized competitive system. The responsibility falls entirely on the participants to figure out the logistics—essentially, you have to sort out where and how often you’ll be playing. Each team is tasked with securing their own gym space. The standard setup involves rotating between home and away games, though a team can technically operate without a home court by playing as the visiting team every week. I’m not entirely sure how long a team can sustain that arrangement or what specific factors dictate those rules, but it's definitely something to consider when joining.

Honestly, I think this tournament format is a brilliant move. With over 20 different leagues represented, most recreational players are actually going to find a division that fits their specific skill level. It’s much better than being thrown into a shark tank with pros when you're just playing for fun. Plus, we have about six months to get the whole squad signed up and ready to go. $67 If my memory serves me right—and I’m estimating we’re looking at somewhere around 300 people—the single biggest expense actually ends up being the insurance for the arena. It’s one of those hidden costs that really hits the budget. But honestly, that’s part of what makes this whole thing interesting; you see all these different local businesses, community centers, and even small basement setups stepping up to sponsor the visiting teams. It keeps things dynamic. 😍

If you're looking for places to get some court time in, there are a couple of spots where recreational players can just show up and pay by the hour. Right now, I know about the gym over at the local community center and that sports facility on the top floor of the mall out in the suburbs. There might be a few other options floating around out there, but those are the ones currently on my radar.

And you, honestly, are just some kind of stone-cold cynic.

I'm right there with you.

That’s kind of subjective. I wouldn't call myself a pro, but I definitely know my stuff.

I’m actually looking to get some table tennis going if anyone here is interested—just some casual, recreational play every Saturday (starting September 5th) from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. We’ll be over at the small gym in the Arlington high school center. It's just a little $6.75 for all three hours
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=4...06899&t=h&z=17

Just so you don't get lost or anything!! Just follow this link