Meet Zachary from Greenhouse Sports

Zachary* is 10 years old and has been with our Primary Committed table tennis programme for the last two years. Zachary attends the local Primary School only a few minutes around the corner from the Greenhouse Centre and is an ever-present at the Primary Committed sessions on week nights, weekends and school holidays. When Zachary started at Greenhouse, with English being his second language, he struggled with his communication, had low confidence and didn’t get involved in the group sessions. With Coach Daniel noticing this, he focused on developing Zachary’s Social, Thinking and Emotional Skills (part of Greenhouse’s unique STEP Framework). During this time, Zachary has greatly developed key life skills such as in self-confidence, communication, teamwork and leadership leading to increased focus and concentration within sessions and matches.

Zachary has taken these learnings and new skills into his school work where, thanks to his achievements in table tennis, he has been selected in the school’s “Gifted and Talented” programme, increasing his confidence and reputation within the school and into his home life.

Zachary is now a nationally ranked table tennis player and recently competed well in his first national tournament. He now has the confidence and ability to lead activities within the sessions and is seen as a role model to the younger and less experience young people on the programme. Zachary looks forward to his second major tournament scheduled for December 18th – we’ll look forward to letting you know how he gets along!

*(Names and photos changed for safeguarding purposes)

Some images from our latest tournament: