Schaumburg Park District table tennis offers friendship, fitness and fun
Let's bounce.
A paddle, Ping-Pong ball and quick reflexes are all you need to take a popular rec room game to the next level at Schaumburg Park District's Community Recreation Center.
Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, table tennis attracts between 30 and 40 players to the CRC, 505 N. Springinsguth Road.
Rows of tables, nets and constant motion alternating from paddle to paddle transform the gym into an
intense hub of competition, concentration and camaraderie.
“I like hitting the ball hard,” Pavel Ivanovski, 8, said as he swung his paddle on a recent Wednesday night. “Then I get a point.”
The Schaumburg youngster was playing against his dad, Emil. The pair just started playing table tennis at the CRC this year after trying the game on a family vacation. Pavel also takes tennis lessons at the district's Schaumburg Tennis Plus.
His dad enjoys their time together — even if it means losing once in a while.
“He's a tough opponent,” Emil Ivanovski said, smiling.
Schaumburg Park District began offering table tennis in the 1990s as a way for patrons to stay active and socialize, said Kristy McCann, manager of the CRC.
“There are not many table tennis clubs in the area,” McCann said. “We are unique that we offer drop-in table tennis to our community as well as hosting sanctioned tournaments throughout the year. Word-of-mouth is huge. Many members tell a friend and it's just expanded from there.”
A popular racket sport in Asian and European countries, interest in competitive table tennis is growing in the U.S., said Spenser Lam, director of the Schaumburg Table Tennis Club. He has been teaching the game at the CRC for about 15 years and also supervises the open play sessions.
“Table tennis is an athletic game,” said Lam, who grew up playing the sport in Vietnam and became hooked at age 6 after watching the China national table tennis team play an exhibition game.
“A modern match at the elite level lasts about 30 minutes, with top players often smashing the ball at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.”
And although more serious players might scoff upon hearing you drop the term “Ping-Pong,” Lam said, the table tennis crowd at the CRC welcomes all ages and levels of experience.
“This game is fun and easy to play, whether playing singles or doubles,” Lam said. “It improves your reflexes and balance and burns calories while developing mental acuity. Table tennis is a lifelong sport you can play from age 7 to 90.”
Mauricio Higuera has been playing table tennis with his two sons, Sebastin, 12 and Mauricio Jr., 13, for about five years. In addition to participating in open play, the family also takes part in quarterly tournaments at the CRC. Learning to understand the spin of the ball takes practice, he said.
“We make a lot of friends here,” Higuera said. “Instead of watching TV or playing video games, this is what we do in the evenings.”
If you go
What: Table Tennis Open Play
When: 6-10:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 3-7 p.m. Sundays
Where: Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Cost: $4
Details: (847) 490-7020 or <a href="http://www.parkfun.com/">www.ParkFun.com</a>