by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

A total of 27 students, a high proportion being female, attended; the expert on duty was José Luis Urrutia.

Improving technical skills was the main element of the course; the aim being that some members of the group will progress to take the ITTF Level Two Course in 2017, whilst also providing assistance at national tournaments.

Five days of intense learning, José Luis Urrutia addressed the full range of topics necessary to gain the required qualification and thus supported the efforts of Henry Reimberg, the President of the Chilean Table Tennis Federation.

Notably, Henry Reimberg was a most welcome guest; he addressed the group, highlighting the value of the course and the policy of the federation to increase the number of coaches.

Impressively, it was the sixth course staged in Chile in 2016 under the umbrella of the ITTF Development Programme.

Hong Kong’s Cindy Leung alongside Switzerland’s Katja Brand led and Umpires Course in April. Later in July, Venezuela’s Luisana Perez was the head coach for National Hopes Week, before in November, compatriot Francisco Seijas was the expert on duty for an Olympic Solidarity supported ITTF Level Two Coach Education Course.

Meanwhile, self-funded as with the most recent initiative, José Luis Urrutia conducted a ITTF/PTT Level One Coach Education Courses in January and October; further such courses are planned for 2017.