I Fitness I Coaching Plan I Levels I Results 2011 I I Results 2012 I Calendar I Fees I Coaching
Tell me Terry - how do I become a good table tennis player?
How much shall I practise? - Well, most probably you will have to practise more than the players you want to beat! I had a little chat with a tiny player from Hong Kong that won the U12 boys single at the international global junior circuit in New Zealand in April last year. He said that the U15 players from Hong Kong practised 5-6 hours every day. Himself he "only" practised 5-6 days a week! Sounds a lot!? - Table tennis players all over the world practise a lot - it is not unusual for young players to practise up to 20 hours a week. And then play competitions in the weekends. Isn't that too much? - You got to have recovery/rest periods when you practise that much. And also a proper coaching plan that can motivate and take you there step by step. But what about school? - Time management is the key. Very often students good at sports are also good at school! For how many years? - I used to say that it takes three years of proper training to make a table tennis player, and that still seems to be so. It is also easier to learn if you start young, many of the top players in the world today started as young as 4-5 years old! But what if you start older? - With hard work everybody can achieve a lot. I know a person that started to play when he was in his early thirties; he practised more than anybody else and became Norwegian champion for veterans over 50! How good will I become? - It is more or less up to you and the work you are putting in, but it is important that you set your own goals. If you are dreaming of becoming a world champion that is fine but you also will have to set realistic goals: Long term and short term goals. And it should be goals that you can measure. Like: This season I shall beat Peter. Or: I shall be ranked among the five best in Australia within two years. So if I practise every day then I will be really good? - Hopefully but not necessary; It you are just fooling around at the table, without concentrating and working hard, it does not really matter how much you practise, your skills will hardly improve! You also will have to practise correct. So what do you believe is most important when practising table tennis? - Footwork and recovery but I will come back to this later! Some links: The secrets of Chinese table tennis - here Chinese practising "pingpong ball training 1" - here Ma Long practising multiball - here
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