The Table Tennis Health & Wellness Program

Thanks to the student leadership at PA High School in Virginia Beach, The Table Tennis Charity Foundation has been asked to re-ignite the Ping Pong Club of PA High School — and so…It’s now back in action!  A brand new table, dozens of student members and excitement to build upon the value of Ping Pong’s exercise, social activity and brain fitness.  Congrats to everyone at PA High for being yet another school in Hampton Roads to adopt the Table Tennis Sports and Education Program. 

Cox High School in Virginia Beach, VA has introduced the Table Tennis Sports and Education Program as a part of the schools 2025 plans to expand table tennis activities thanks, in part, to the collaboration between KETTLER USA and the Table Tennis Charity Foundation, a local non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Virginia Beach. The program is part of a larger plan to implement table tennis to both public and private schools as an extension to the mainstream sports such as football, basketball, soccer and baseball.  Studies show that daily aerobic exercise significantly benefits memory, brain health and physical fitness. “We’re excited to kick this off”, shares Jason Zuidima, Cox sponsor. The Foundation’s chairman, neuropsychologist Dr. Scott Sautter, discussed the science behind the benefits of table tennis, followed by demonstrations from local table tennis players, and finally the introduction of the program to the school, including the donation of table tennis tables by Joe Harvey Engineering and KETTLER USA, a major supplier of sporting goods equipment which is headquartered in Virginia Beach.

As Ken Lees, founder and president of the Table Tennis Charity Foundation explained: “it is the mission of the Table Tennis Charity Foundation to provide qualified schools with the Table Tennis Sports and Education Program – at NO cost. Our goal is to ‘Cross-Train Your Brain’, both educationally and physically. The program provided to participating schools on behalf of the TTCF benefits all age and skill levels and will engage students, parents, faculty and staff who are committed to a successful implementation of the program. Kellam High, like Ocean Lakes and Lynnhaven Middle (and soon Chesapeake Bay Academy and Broadwater Academy), will provide its students with proper equipment to facilitate an active Ping Pong Club, two scholarship opportunities, casual and competitive play, and the creation of the Annual ‘Battle of the Paddles’  that debuted  in the Spring of 2015 providing competitive participation between school teams!”

As described by Neuropsychologist Scott Sautter, Ph.D., ABN, “The neuroscience of playing Ping Pong has been described as a game of ‘aerobic chess.’ It’s great for eye-hand coordination, reflexes, balance, planning, strategy and a stress-reliever exercising the mind and body in a satisfying activity for everyone. The cool factor is that research has demonstrated the positive benefits to brain fitness, such as the report of a Japanese study that found just ten minutes of playing Ping Pong increased neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum.” The Table Tennis Charity Foundation is eager to raise awareness of the mental health and therapeutic benefits of playing Ping Pong.