The problem with the US table tennis is: their business model is based on making money first, survival when you get national level coach that are maybe too much paid for the results they bring to the USATT, not growing talents. Pingpod can't be exported to Europe for instance: a french kid here only pays 50 to 100€ a whole year to get at least 3 hours of proper training with a national level coach + 4 to 5 hours of playing with dozens of others players. League and single official tournaments included. EDIT: of course, it's per week.
Yes... I know that our coaches are not fancy names like Matilda Ekholm, but guess what ? France is the 3rd best nation for youth players now. Paying 100 bucks for only 1h of coaching with a national level coach is a total nonsense, who can afford that even in the US ?
When I was at University I had 3 hours a week of proper training with a national level coach, and I had only 150 francs (23€ !) to pay for the whole year for the University, and 100 francs (15 €) to pay to my club and the FFTT to play the official team and single leagues and tournaments. It was in the late 80's/early 90's, when France was in top 3 best nations of the world.
It's not rocket science, if you really want a sport to be big, start by making it accessible to all.
One of the clubs i know in Paris gets 3000 or 5000 (i can't remember the exact number) euros a month from the government. The best team is only in regional.
They got gov venue (no rent).
I doubt these US based clubs get a dime from the government and need to cover costs.
If US club don't do it based on business, then, whose money will it burn if it only charge 100 Euro a year?
You can't compare the two.
In South Africa, guess what, its free to play table tennis.
the coaches would also go and pick you up, play table tennis, feed you, and drop you home. The coaches doesn't earn a dime, but need to throw money in. Its so accessible, is that good for the sport? NO. Because no other kid will want to be a coach.
Taiwan, I would say is 3rd best, Guess France is better then.
Who is 1st and 2nd?
According to a couple of high profile European, I heard one of them rate Taiwan as high as number 1, even higher than China in the cadet level in terms of system and structure.
TT generally cost around 100USD a month for the school team (train around 15 to 25 hours a week)
It is common for better players to have extra 1-on-1 training that would cost around 30usd per hour for national level player. Its normal for the parents to spend 300 to 600 USD a month while you are still in elementary age.
Taipei (New Taipei City and Taipei) jointly has 6-7 million people. At a tournament (only allowed to enter in your age group), there is almost 3000 entries for 4 age groups. Grade 6,5,4,3 basically.
The better kids will go, the not so good won't take part.
Its normal for a school to have 30-50 kids players and half to a third taking parts.
There are tons of schools and tons of jobs for coaches (in the thousands)
I guesstimate, the playing population (of school teams only) in the greater Taipei area to be 10000 kids.
Top US players like Erica Wu, Sally Moyland are just some examples of those that was developed from such system.
Table tennis is more expensive than other expensive extra murals.
