Playing & Practice Sessions

** For obvious reasons, any person who is ill, in particular with Covid symptoms, should stay away from the club **

These are the different sessions that the club operates. There are different tiers of membership of the club, to distinguish between social players and those competing in leagues and tournaments, but guests are welcome to join in for a small fee (all details on the Membership page)

We have a thriving Veterans section who meet to play and socialise during the daytime, all the year round:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10:00 to 12:00
• Thursday from 14:00 to 16:00 (for Singles practice)

Open to all players including guests, these sessions are very popular, bringing together players of all standards.

• Thursday from 20:00 to 22:00 (during term time) or 19:30 to 22:00 (during school holidays)
• Sunday from 17:00 to 19:00 and 19:00 to 22:00. The early session welcomes inexperienced players

Out of the league seasons there may be extra practices sessions run, which will require confirmation with the nominated session leader as they are not guaranteed. Full details are on this schedule

League Play 

Ipswich and District Table Tennis League (IDTTL) matches are usually played at the Dome each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night between September and April.

For more details of IDTTL visit their excellent website www.idttl.net

Britannia Summer League fixtures are usually played at the Dome each Tuesday and Wednesday between May and August.

Junior Coaching

• Saturday from 09:00 to 12:00 (all year round) - recently changed from 10-12:00 due to numbers attending

Sean is now running the session as 09:00-10:30 for younger/less experienced players, then 10:30-12:00 for the bigger and better players, as numbers have continued to grow. If you are bringing a Junior for the first time, don't worry about what time to turn up as you will be accommodated whenever; it is mainly to make sure the right standard of practice partners is available. Siblings will be accommodated at the same time, just chat to Sean or Colin to sort it all out.

There is a session fee of £3 per person. Contact Colin Watts (01473 412413) or Coach Sean Gridley (01473 422472) with any queries.

These sessions are organised by Aad Kwakkelstein (UKCC level 4 table tennis coach / former Dutch national coach) and mostly held at the Dome. All sessions are term-time only.

In answer to questions from members about bringing in other paid coaches to privately supplement Aad's work, the Committee issued this statement in July 2021:
"The Britannia committee is proud of the successful Junior coaching programme devised and run by Aad at the Dome. We must support this as it continues to evolve, and unanimously believe it is in the best interests of the club to restrict paid coaching for Juniors at the club to Aad alone. Aad will continue to develop, include and cooperate with our volunteer coaches and helpers."

The following cost monthly £15 for one session per week, £30 for two sessions per week, £45 for three sessions per week:

Advanced Juniors
- Tues  19:30 to 21:15 (at Stowmarket TTC)
- Thurs 18:00 to 20:00
- Fri      18:00 to 20:00

Advanced U13's
- Mon   17:15 to 19:00
- Weds 17:15 to 19:00

Intermediate U15's
- .Tues  17:15 to 19:00

Beginners & U10's
- Thurs  16:15 to 18:00

No regular sessions during school holidays. Most holidays there will be extra training days.

Contact Aad for details on 07772 123358 or aad.tabletennis@gmail.com. Players unsure of the appropriate session for their standard are welcome to attend a session on a trial basis by arrangement.

The full Junior Coaching structure in diagram form is here.