Table Tennis list in PISD off-campus PE/Sport Program

This letter is submitted in supporting Table Tennis as one of official sports that permitted in PISD off-campus sport program.

Feb 14th 2009

To:

Melanie Kelley
Off Campus PE Program Coordinator
Plano Independent School District
2700 West 15th Street
Plano, TX  75075
Phone: 469-752-8198
Fax: 469-752-8031
Email Address:  Melanie.Kelley@pisd.edu

From:

Geoffrey Hsu

5800 Farr Oak Dr

Plano TX 75093

Dear Melanie:

The students and parents of Table Tennis enthusiasts like to submit this petition to Plano off-campus PE program. We wish to express Table Tennis is a competitive sport and important recreational activity in our lives. We strongly recommend Table Tennis should be listed in one of the offical activities in PISD off-campus PE program.  Recently our young players brough national reconnitions and awards to our comminity from USATT National Tournamement in LasVagas Dec 2008.

·        Andrew Chen won the second place in U13 years old event

·        Tom Feng won the titles of U2200 and U2300  events.

·        Max Bu (10 years old) who won the first place in U1400 event.

·        Eddie Young (10 years old) won the third place in under 11 years old event.

·        Judy Chen who won the third place in U1700.

·        Joy Li (9 years old) won the third place in girl under 10 years old.

You might know Mayor Evans and city concil gave a special recognition ceremony for two wonderful kids and their coaches.

They are the winners of 2008 USA Table Tennis Open in July: Anurag Matharasi the 2nd Place in Under 1900 Rating Event, Tim Wang  the 2nd Place in Under 1450 Rating Event.

We are asking you and other members in PISD sport program to support our petition. By doing so, you can encourage more students and their families to join this fun and competitive sports that good for all ages, sizes and can be played all year long.

Facts for consideration:

I.                    There are about 30 PISD students spent more then 10~20 hours a weeks with their coaches for off campus table tennis trainning time.

II.                 There are more then 5 USATT coaches and facilities (not including Plano recreation centers) avaliable in city of plano and surrending area.

III.               Table Tennis Athelts are recruited by top Universities like UC-Berkerly, Columbia, Standford and so on%u2026%u2026.

IV.              Table Tennis enthusiasts in Plano had formed a biggest Table Tennis Club in Texas which has 400 active members. The club reach their families and friends more then 2000 Plano residents.

V.                 It is the 2nd most participatory sport (soccer is the #1) by hundreds of million of people very day world wide. In the US,. Where about 15 million people play the game, an estimated 7,000 plus people are considered serious player by USATT and Sporting Goods Manufacturesers Association.

Recent study shows that table tennis provides outstanding and exciting aerobic exercise. The game is extremely healthy for the brain by working hand-eye coordination and reflexes. And research suggests it increases activity in areas of the brain that handle forthought, impulse control and organization, to mane a few. Futhermore, it has low  sport injury rate compares with many other qualified activities in off-campus PE.

Please support us and recognize table tennis as a offical sport of PISD off-campus PE program. We want to hear your opinon regard to our petition. Your support will encorage more players. To keep kids away from their TVs / video games and enjoy this fun activity.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,