About Connecticut Table Tennis
Real Table Tennis for Real People — a coach-run club network with roots in the early 1990s.
Mission
Think ping-pong is fun? Wait until you see and learn Real Table Tennis. It is a fast Olympic sport — and Serious Fun for everyone. Our goal is top-quality tables, lighting, instruction, and open play for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
How the clubs began
The Middletown club was founded by Normand Chouinard of Waterbury around 1991 as part of the NorthEast Table Tennis Association (NETTA) vision for a Southern New England club network. Norm later invited Dave Strang — then relocating from the Midwest after running clubs and tournaments in Ohio — to become director and expand sites in Connecticut.
Early locations included Middletown (Riverview Hospital gym), Hamden, Fairhaven youth programs with Peter Noble, and Fairfield (with town recreation / Senior Center). Over time the organization became known as Connecticut Table Tennis / CT TT Association rather than NETTA in most situations.
How it works
CT TT partners with public and private gyms: the host provides space; Dave provides equipment, organization, supervision, and promotion. Players pay a modest nightly fee. Schedules are complementary so players can attend multiple sites when available.
Community & youth
Alongside adult open play, Dave and partners have supported Special Olympics connections, CT Senior Games hosting, mall exhibitions, and long-running youth programs in the New Haven area — including work recognized by USATT grassroots support and local press.
Seeking new gyms
Fairfield’s previous site ended around 2020. Help finding under-used gym time in SW, West, or Central CT is welcome — text Dave at (203) 525-6194.