OXFORD PARKS & RECREATION OXFORD TABLE TENNIS CLUB A new sport has landed on the steps of the Oxford Civic Center. With the purchase of a couple of Joola brand table tennis tables, a steady flow of players from several cities in Alabama–and some neighboring states–have come to play in the weekly league on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Table tennis players are always looking for the perfect bounce when it comes to tables. The Joola brand tables at the Oxford Civic Center are some of the best equipment in Alabama. Like many of us, we may have grown up with a table tennis table in the basement at home or our local youth group. If you are curious about how your game’s skill compares to other players, come out to our weekly practice sessions. We have some club members that will help you select a blade and rubber that is suited for your level of play. They will also work with you on an individual basis as a beginner or intermediate player to bring your skill to the next level. Table tennis is a sport of competitiveness and a sport that can be aimed at weight loss and burning calories. A 150-pound person can burn an estimated 272 calories by playing table tennis for an hour. Because the sport is entertaining and addictive, it can be fun and easy to get in shape. Table tennis offers a great way to bond with other people while you are exercising. Because young and old alike can play the game, it will help improve communication and build relationships, irrespective of age. Whether you are playing doubles or singles, table tennis is a fast-paced competitive sport. The sport stimulates many areas of the brain simultaneously and offers a vast range of mental benefits, even for people who may have dementia. The more people we get to realize the advantages of the sport, the more people we can get to play. Since table tennis is played indoors, it is considered a twelve-month sport. A lot of our club members compete at tournaments all year long throughout the United States. In the planning stages over the next couple of months, Oxford will be the host of some local tournaments geared to bring awareness of this sport and how competitive the players are in the general area. Please contact the Oxford Civic Center and ask about playing times on Thursday and Saturday evenings.
BY MICHAEL HARRIS
22
oxfordal.gov