An all-purpose table tennis father

Stress moments by the stove, as food before the training is hastily downed; and stress moments in the traffic, as the lights keep changing to red as we approach. It’s his first season without foortball. Today he went to watch his old football mates. He saw them lose 11-1. They miss him and he misses them.
But the choice was inevitable. The football season has too many overlaps with the table tennis season. Table tennis now has pride of place. Football is only played on the street and in the school playground, As a father you follow without demur, even though you yourself have more affinity with football than with table tennis. You no longer stand shouting on the sidelines, your feet in sodden grass. Now it’s every week through the door of a small sports hall, smelling somewhat musty and a bit too chilly.

Nearly everywhere I come, I wonder how long time has stood still here, and whether this is perhaps what keeps the somewhat stuffy image of table tennis intact. The coffee, made in the adjacent canteen by friendly club members, or sometimes less friendly ‘victims’ of the bar roster system, is usually a far cry from the taste and aroma of  the familiar home brew that drips from the fully automatic expresso machine. Still, the first cup is free and the second never costs more than one euro, so you can’t really comment or expect too much.  It’s certainly not the case that ‘ín the old days’ everything was better. To be honest, the coffee in the football club was also comparable to drain water. And on the sidelines of the table tennis arena people do not shout or scold umpires, and that is more than pleasant.

There’s still the enjoyment of your child’s enthusiasm, of a proud smile after he’s won a point, and even of the glum face after a disappointment.I wouldn’t miss it for the world. That’s why I’m pleased to act as chauffeur, mental coach, sparring partner in a training session if the second trainer has cried off, and even do a bar stint during the season. I’m an unpaid employee in the organisation of my son’s table tennis club. I’m used when needed. You could call me an all-purpose table tennis father.

I’m a happy all-purpose table tennis father.

Edwin Alblas