USATT Magazine Editor and League & Club Programs Director Larry Hodges Resigns

January 19, 2007

Dear USATT Board & Staff, USATT Members, and all others involved with USA Table Tennis,

I’ve greatly enjoyed my years as Editor of USA Table Tennis Magazine and USATT League & Club Programs Director. I’ve worked for USATT for 16 years in three stints (1986-1990, 1991-95, 1999-present). However, after 71 issues of the magazine, I’ve decided I need a change. I will be resigning my USATT positions upon completion of the March/April 2007 USATT Magazine. I will be helping out in the transition.

I’ve been a part-time science fiction writer for many years (member, SFWA), with a number of short story sales. I plan to devote the next two years to writing at least two science fiction novels. I tried doing so while doing my USATT work, but the hours are long and there are way too many distractions – both from well-meaning people working to develop the sport (good!) and from the constant bickering and fighting that often permeates USATT, sapping  the energy and making writing on the side nearly impossible.  (To those of you who are working hard to develop our sport, remember this: “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” -Albert Einstein.)

Ultimately, it wasn’t a matter of whether I should take two years off to write these novels, living off savings; it was a matter of knowing how much I’d regret it if I didn’t.

I do believe table tennis has huge potential in this country, if developed at the club level with a focus on developing programs for current and potential players, primarily through junior programs, beginning classes, training programs and leagues. USATT has always been split among several factions with differing views on what USATT’s goals should be, and I haven’t been particularly successful in convincing others of my Vision: “Hundreds of professional clubs with junior & adult training programs, beginning classes and leagues; thousands of recreational clubs with leagues or training programs; and hundreds of thousands playing in these leagues and training programs.” However, the USATT League is a big step forward; also needed is the development of a large core group of coaches trained to develop the needed coaching programs and clubs. 

Who knows, maybe in a couple of years I’ll be back! Until then, I will be writing SF full-time, perhaps coaching some at the MDTTC, and may even return to the tournament scene as a player.  

Sincerely,

Larry Hodges