Table Tennis at Work – The Complete Guide
Having a table tennis table at the office is a good start. But a table that actually gets used can become something much more.
It can be a place where people from different parts of the company meet. A reason to get up from the desk. Fifteen minutes of laughter, competition and movement in the middle of the working day.
And that's one of the great things about table tennis: the barrier to entry is low. You don't need to change clothes, book a court or set aside an hour. Two paddles, a ball and a few colleagues can go a long way.
Here's how to make table tennis a natural part of the working day – whether you already have a table or are thinking about getting one.
Why play table tennis at work?
Many of us spend a large part of the working day in front of a screen. At the same time, finding natural opportunities to move during the day isn't always easy.
This is where table tennis has a rather unique quality: the movement comes as part of the fun.
Most people don't head to the table because they've decided it's time to exercise. They go because it's fun, because their colleagues are playing, or because they want revenge after yesterday's defeat.
But at the same time, they've left their chair and taken a break from the working day.
Table tennis can also create something equally valuable for a workplace: encounters between people.
Around the table, it matters less which department you're in or what your job title is. The CFO can play the intern. A developer can take on someone from sales. A new employee can get to know colleagues they might otherwise rarely speak to.
A table tennis table doesn't create activity by itself
There are plenty of table tennis tables in workplaces that are used intensively for the first few weeks – and then gradually turn into somewhere to leave boxes and coffee cups.
The difference between a table that stands there and one that gets used often isn't the table itself.
It's the habit you create around it.
At Wilson Creative, for example, we play round-the-table at fixed times every working day. At 10 am and 3 pm, everyone knows that anyone who wants to play can head to the table.
There's no calendar invitation and nobody needs to find an opponent.
When it's time, we play.
That simple routine has made table tennis part of the working day rather than something that only happens occasionally.
Start with fixed table tennis times
If you want to get people playing at work, this is our simplest tip:
Pick a time and give it a try.
For example:
- 10 am every day
- 3 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- after Friday coffee
- 15 minutes after lunch
It doesn't need to be mandatory. Quite the opposite.
The point is that everyone knows when something is happening at the table. Employees don't have to organise a match themselves or find someone to play against.
You don't have to be good at table tennis
A regular singles match can be pretty unforgiving when there's a big difference in skill level.
That's why games such as round-the-table work particularly well in a workplace.
Several people play together, the game moves quickly and the next round starts soon. There's less focus on a long match between two people and more focus on the group.
That makes it easier for more people to take part.
If you have a group of more experienced players, you can of course add singles, doubles, King or other formats.
The format isn't the most important thing.
The important thing is that people actually play.
Make it a little more exciting
Once you've got people playing regularly, the next step might be to introduce some competition.
It doesn't have to mean setting up a complicated league.
You could compete:
- department vs department
- office vs office
- team vs team
- during a health and wellbeing week
- over a month
- for the most games played
- for the most wins
A challenge gives the group something to follow and talk about. Who's leading? Which department has played the most? Can anyone beat the person who's been at the top of the leaderboard all month?
And this is where pingis.work comes in.
Bring your workplace table tennis together with pingis.work
pingis.work is built for companies that play table tennis at work.
Instead of pieces of paper, spreadsheets or homemade leaderboards, you can bring the games together digitally. Players create an account, join their company's table and register games and results.
You can use different game formats and create challenges that allow people to compete within the company or with others.
It gives the table tennis table a life even between games.
Does the employer have to organise everything?
No.
In fact, quite the opposite.
One of the strengths of table tennis is that very little needs to be organised once the basic structure is in place.
Consider appointing one or two table tennis ambassadors to get things started. Give them the freedom to set regular playing times, start a challenge or organise an internal competition.
Then let the employees take it from there.
Five steps to get started
If you already have a table tennis table, you can start today.
1. Decide when to play
Choose one or two regular times.
2. Pick a simple game format
Round-the-table is a great option when lots of people want to take part.
3. Find someone to get things started
Creating a habit is much easier if someone takes responsibility in the beginning.
4. Make the games visible
Register results and create a leaderboard or challenge.
5. Have fun
This may be the most important point of all. Don't turn table tennis into another task or wellbeing activity that employees feel they should participate in.
Make it the break people want to take.
Ready to play?
If you already have a table tennis table at work, you've got almost everything you need.
Get your colleagues together, pick a time and start playing.
With pingis.work, you can register games, follow the results and challenge each other.
Create your company on pingis.work and play your first round.
