Worthing TTC launches new Junior Team 1 Star event

Worthing Table Tennis Club (Worthing TTC) has announced a new event for young players: the Junior Team 1 Star. The event takes place on October 10, with a two-player team format and progressive knockout. This initiative creates more team competition opportunities for young athletes, especially teams unable to join the Youth British Clubs League (YBCL) – the top national youth team competition in England. According to Worthing TTC, the event is designed so teams are not eliminated early but continue playing and gaining experience. Head coach Matt Porter shared: "We saw many youth teams, including ours, couldn't get into YBCL. So what can we do for our boys and the other teams that haven't got in? That's why we created this event." Porter said the event aims to give young players team competition experience and exposure to opponents from various regions. The event has attracted interest from clubs outside England. The islands of Jersey and Guernsey – located in the Channel – have confirmed participation. Jersey Table Tennis representative Lisa De Poerck said their boys' team couldn't enter YBCL this year, and they are delighted to have another suitable competition. "We appreciate Worthing's initiative. This is a chance for the kids to play more, especially given the geographical and travel cost limitations of official competitions," De Poerck said. England's youth system follows a pyramid model. At the top is the Youth British Clubs League (YBCL) – featuring the strongest teams, played on national weekends with high travel costs. Below are JuniorBCL and CadetBCL – regionalised, less travel, lower cost, and more flexible formats. Recently, a supplementary tier has emerged: club-organised events like the Junior Team 1 Star. These events serve the team-play needs of teams not eligible for YBCL or without a place. JuniorBCL entry deadline is September 16, CadetBCL deadline is October 28. Worthing's event on October 10 falls between these dates, indicating it targets teams that missed or couldn't enter earlier competitions. Notably, the event receives support from Table Tennis England (TTE) through the TAP programme. Neil Rogers and John Mackey from TTE/TAP were thanked for helping organise. This co-production model – club-initiated, governing-body supported – is seen as an effective way to expand participation without large central resources. Porter said the turnaround from idea to scheduled event was very quick, thanks to TTE's flexible approval process. Worthing TTC is no stranger to success. Last season, their youth team won their division. The club also shows commitment to developing junior players both on and off the table. "We believe sport is not just technique, but also life lessons. This event is part of that effort," Porter said. The Junior Team 1 Star is expected to feature teams from Worthing, Jersey (two teams), and Guernsey. The two-player team format helps small clubs or sparsely populated areas field a team without a large squad. This is particularly meaningful for islands like Jersey and Guernsey, where travelling to national events is often costly and complex. The event is not just a competition, but a solution to geographical challenges in youth sport. Although in its early stages, organisers hope it will become an annual fixture in the English youth table tennis calendar. If successful, the model could be replicated, creating an official supplementary tier for the current system. However, to sustain long-term, the event needs continued TTE support and participation from more clubs. Some suggest reliance on a few enthusiastic individuals could be a sustainability risk, but for now, it's a positive step for grassroots table tennis. In an increasingly competitive global table tennis landscape, developing participation bases in non-leading countries like England matters. Initiatives like the Junior Team 1 Star won't create stars immediately, but they help expand resources and retain young players in the sport. It's a sustainable approach, albeit a quiet one. This is a noteworthy event in the context of grassroots sport. The event takes place on October 10. Results and team numbers will measure the true demand for this model. If successful, it could become a template for other countries seeking to fill gaps in their youth competition systems.