How various volunteering roles in table tennis have been crucial for professional coach Craig Bryant 

Craig Bryant has been involved with table tennis for most of his life in a whole range of capacities, from playing at major tournaments to volunteering on the Board of Table Tennis Wales. 

He’s played the sport he loves for over 30 years, representing England from the age of 11 and winning a Commonwealth Championships silver medal before turning semi-professional at the age of 22. 

Craig is now a full-time coach and works with players all over the world, having previously been Lead Coach of England’s Cadet and Women’s sides. 

The Level 4 Coach has been professional in this capacity for over 18 years, which has allowed him to work with players of all levels, including those at the top of the sport.  

He is currently working with German player Benedikt Duda for example, ranked inside the top 30 globally and recent winner of his first WTT Contender Event in Mendoza. 

While Craig has collated memorable experiences and made a living in his professional roles within the sport, he places huge importance on volunteering in table tennis and sport in general. 

Craig hasn’t been shy to voluntary work in the past, having been Head Coach for Team GB at the World University Games twice; once in 2017 in Taipei, and then in 2019 in Naples, Italy. 

On both occasions, Craig worked with fellow TTW Board member Aled Rhys Howell, who held the position Team Manager for Team GB. 

“They were such amazing experiences, Taipei in particular,” Craig revealed when we chatted to him recently. 

The World University Games are the second largest Games, only beaten by the Summer Olympic Games, boasting 10,000 volunteers and 8,000 athletes. 

“To walk into a stadium of 50,000 people cheering was very surreal. To be part of that was a true honour,” he said. 

“Working with our GB athletes over the course of two weeks, building relationships, mentoring them, coaching them in their team and individual matches was great. It was great experience for me as a coach, and as a person, to experience such a different culture. 

“It’s brilliant to give back too, and we created some unforgettable moments.”  

Craig has also held a voluntary position on the Table Tennis England Members Advisory Group and is now of course a Board Member of Table Tennis Wales. 

“I joined TTW a year ago now,” he confirmed, “and work closely with Josh Morgan, Stephen Jenkins and Owen Rodgers on the Performance aspects of the organisation.  

“This is mainly around strategy, where the coaches’ focus is or should be, changes we need to make, and things like that.” 

From on-hands work with GB athletes to a Director’s view, volunteering has provided Craig with great opportunities so far.  

“It’s always great to give back, of course,” he commented, “especially to a sport that I’ve been involved with for so long.  

“Quite selfishly, volunteering gives me a very different perspective on the sport, a more holistic view. That has an impact on my professional work too, as it allows me to look at what I do with a wider lens and improve on what I’m doing.  

“My role with TTW is very different from my day-to-day work. I’m advising, guiding and trying to challenge those that I’m working with. It’s much more natural for me to be hands-on, so as well as (hopefully) adding value to the organisation, it’s testing my skill set too.” 

Table Tennis Wales is hugely grateful for the volunteers that allow our sport to thrive and continue providing vital opportunities for local communities across Wales. 

“The sport would not function without volunteers,” Craig affirmed. “It’s absolutely imperative that we capture, retain and engage volunteers in table tennis.  

“From those that open up a table tennis hall to allow players to play, to those that travel the country umpiring and officiating, and everything in between! 

“Not everyone has the capacity to volunteer, I understand that, but for those that can, they make our sport happen.” 

From Craig’s point of view, volunteering is incredibly useful to the individual as well as essential for the sport as it “keeps you on your toes”. 

“There are challenges, there are a variety of characters, there’s opportunity and there’s lots of passion,” he concluded. “All of that makes for an exciting time. This is the sport that everyone should be involved in and can be involved in.  

“It’s truly a sport for everyone, at all levels.” 

If you would like to volunteer for Table Tennis Wales, don’t hesitate to get in contact with our team. And if you’re interested in working on the TTW Board, be sure to keep an eye on our Vacancies page.  

If you would like to see more from Craig, then you can find him on Instagram at @thettserviceguy and on YouTube at Craig Bryant – The Table Tennis Service Guy.