Put aside numbers for a minute, (we all know TT is played in the masses there) but numbers does not guarantee success!
It’s a collaborative system, structure and team work… Unity enables China to dominate TT like no other sport on the planet. If we truly want to compete with China, we must unite nationally and internationally. I have the master plan, now who will join me 🙌🏓💪🏼
It doesn’t matter your level, we all make mistakes in table tennis, in fact, we all make mistakes in life.
The Best Way to Learn
I am constantly looking for ways in which I can grow and develop both myself and those I coach. I’m yet to find a better learning path that is done via mistakes, my whole life has been full of big mistakes. It starts from my parents, them being together was a mistake, my dad and mother constantly making ‘life’ mistakes. I made one right choice in my life which enabled me to grow and learn from all my mistakes (table tennis was that 1 correct life choice). I believe table tennis is the no.1 sport for making mistakes and unforced errors. Every few seconds we make a mistake or error, by missing or misreading an element of the game. This is where we have three choices;
1) quit
2) keep making the same mistake and accepting a limitation or
3) learning from our mistakes.
Table Tennis Disappointments
You are in charge
The amazing thing about this life is the ability to make choices and decisions that can change everything. I made a few mistakes last week, one of trying to help the table tennis community but by expressing my disappointments (directed at the association) I didn’t realise this could be seen and felt by those I was trying to help. So, I took ownership and admitted my mistake and apologised. It’s easy to stand on a high horse and say that’s what I think and I am right! But if you’re true to yourself, you will learn from your mistakes. Table Tennis has enabled me to see mistakes and find ways of growing from them rather than allowing those mistakes to override my desires.
Table Tennis mistakes
We often look for solutions but sometimes making mistakes allows us to find a solution that has long term effects. A quick fix is nice but rarely is it a lasting solution! It’s ok to make mistakes and if you’re willing to go through the uncomfortable process you’ll find greater gains in the long run.
embrace the mistake because it can take you towards your ultimate goal
Many if not all of us have some kind of anxiety and fear pre-table tennis matches!
Table Tennis Match Preparation
I spoke to one of my students recently about an event they have coming up and how they feel and what is their preparation looking like. It was clear from the start of the conversation that they where anxious and wanted to avoid the subject. We are all different and deal with things differently which is why some get better results than others. There is no quick fix to gameplay preparation but there is a guide and a formula I use with my players.
As mentioned we are all unique so bare your personal needs in mind.
3 Types of warm-up;
Short – This is when you’re late or don’t have match time to prepare and need to quickly get your body focused and ready for the match (1-5min).
Medium – When you are at an event and you have plenty of matches that day and you wish to reserve your energy (5-15min).
Long – This is where you’re either a high-level player or have a few big matches in a particular event (20-45min)
Table Tennis Warm-Up
How to Warm Up
Firstly, you must understand that your mind needs to warm up before your body, this means to take a seat or lay down somewhere and focus on how you feel. Be aware of your current state and if you feel anxious, start to focus on positive things. 1. remember when you played well, reenforce that feeling 2. take big breaths, to bring your pulse rate down and increase oxygen in your blood flow. 3. remember if you feel nervous, it’s a blessing because it means you care and the event means something to you.
Second, like a car you need to warm up the engine and tires especially if it’s cold outside, this gives the car maximum performance. For you, a warm-up is to increases blood flow, synovial fluid, concentration, and muscle elasticity. Please note a warm-up should be individual, you need to know what kind of movements suits you best and what works best for your body type.
Third, knock up! often players feel very anxious if they have not had a proper knock up (or what they call a proper knock-up). What is a proper knock up? (it’s subjective) In reality, there is no proper knock up because you will not improve in the 5-10min knock up you can only make yourself feel good or bad depending on the knock you did. Therefore I suggest learning what kind of knock up suits you but being adaptable. Like the above warm-up, you need to have three kinds of knock-ups. Short, medium and long and each one you must come out feeling positive and ready. The best way of doing it is by varying your knock-up every time you train (length of time – short, medium, long). If you have one knock up routine and come event/match day and you are unable to go through your normal routine you’ll automatically use it as an excuse. But if you are able to adapt your warm-up routine, then you can come out feeling good in any circumstance.
Match Play – Prepared
PrePlan
If you know what, where and who you are playing before an event or match, I suggest planning ahead. What I always tell my players, the famous phrase “Fail to Plan – Prepare to Fail” I genuinely believe in that phase. It’s like wanting to go to a new town, getting in your car and hoping you’ll reach the destination. If you plan your journey, surely you’ll reach your destination, a lot quicker and with very little hassle. Same in table tennis do your homework and prepare for a forthcoming match the results will most likely be far more positive, than if you avoided preparation. Some will argue but Joe Bloggs never prepares and he wins! There’s always exceptions to the rule book and mavericks tend to break the rules, therefore, you need to think about yourself and what suits you best.
To reduce pre-match anxiety all you ever need really is one thing, take control of your mind and body by preparing. If you can’t prepare for whatever reason then take control of your mind and remember why you play (because you enjoy or love it) otherwise don’t do it.
Do what you love not what you don’t or hate and the rest will fall into place
Table Tennis flow or ‘zone state’ is possibly one of the hardest things to master and few know how to enter that special dimension.
As a young player
Kids, enter a flow state naturally when they are engaged in something they enjoy doing. Nothing seems to affect their concentration and I believe that’s why their cognitive responses are greater than most adults. As a child, I excelled in physical activities because that’s what I enjoyed doing and when I began playing table tennis many people thought I was on speed. I played the game at such a high tempo and I was truly relentless back in my teens. I clearly remember jumping over barriers chasing the ball in between points, running around to get my forehand anywhere possible and bouncing up and down between each and every point. Where did I get that energy from? I truly don’t know, because I hardly ate in tournaments and barely slept night’s prior to events, due to excitement and anxiety. I may not have been the best player at some events but I would win many tournaments due to my Duracell bunny power.
Table Tennis Zone
How was I able to have this huge energy?
I believe it was due to my ‘flow state’ that I was able to enter into the zone 9 times out of 10. So how did I do it?
The answer is simple from the very first point, I wanted to win so much that my body and mind became in-sink. My mind was focused on one thing and that was winning! This meant I would think about what serves to execute and how I would follow up with a positive stroke or shots until I would come out on top. I truly felt invincible when (entering the zone) and in my mind, I believed anyone could or can be beaten.
3 Steps to enter a flow state:
Picture in your mind, yourself playing a perfect game (before the match)
Focus on the game and let nothing else distract you (stay in the moment)
Have a rhythm and routine which no one or nothing can break (keeps your body and mind relaxed)
Many Distractions
Breaking the flow
I remember when I played, few could break my flow because all I wanted to do was win and that meant I would fight for every single point. This brought fear to my opponent because they knew, no point would be given for free. Due to my youth I did come unstuck occasionally, some players would break my rhythm, some would comment and make me think about something else and some would take their time knowing I love fast tempo matches. Today with maturity and experience I am able to counter these things but now my will to win as a player has gone. This means I rarely enter into the zone because my mind is not focused on a specific task (winning).
Flow State
You see entering into a flow state, in reality, is simple, you just need to focus on the task at hand and avoid all distractions. The best way to explain it is if you are in a life or death situation (hopefully you’ll never have that). But imagine a scene where you must save yourself from a potentially life-threatening scenario. At this moment your brain will shut down all other interference or distractions and focus on the task at hand (survival). This focus gives you the best possible chance of coming out alive.
In the flow state
Flow state is about intense focus on the present task, akin to a life-or-death situation where the brain filters out all distractions. This intense concentration is what extreme athletes use in high-risk sports. In table tennis, instead of dwelling on external thoughts, focusing solely on each point can elevate performance.
In today’s world, where distractions like phones are common, training our minds to focus is crucial. By consistently redirecting our attention back to the original thought, we can enhance our ability to concentrate for extended periods.
I never knew Table Tennis in Mauritius was a national sport and truly respected!
Table Tennis Experience
Wow, what an experience I had the past 2 weeks, in a small Island called Mauritius. I was invited to attend an ITTF Level 1 coach by Julien Girard and asked to run training sessions for the Mauritian national team. What an opportunity, to become an ITTF qualified coach and coach the national team, it was an experience I will never forget. I was on the course early morning to the afternoon and from 1pm I coached the national team for 3 hours, break then 2 hours (each day).
ITTF Level 1
The course, was smoothly run by Julien and although basic I felt privileged to be on the course and it helped me re-focus on basic fundamentals. Each coach was humble and truly open to learning and growing themselves via Julien’s knowledge and sharing experiences. A very big manual book was handed out at the start of the course and we went through it. For me the best part was learning about Para-coaching. How to handle players on a wheel chair and how to adapt your coaching to suit special needs.
Para table tennis coaching
Table tennis in Mauritius
In truth I had no idea what I was walking into when I agreed to attend the course and coach the national team. I was told the country is beautiful and that was all I had in my mind, I had an incredible flight with a stop over in Dubai. On arrival I was picked up by a driver whom was extremely friendly. He told me a little about the country and it was a life I had not seen or witnessed before. Driving through woods and mountains I was amazed by the scenery and saddened by the poverty. I was hosted in a beautiful resort which had tennis courts, a stunning beach, golf, restaurants, gym, spa and 14 pools to choose from.
Table Tennis Day 1
As we drove into the car park I saw three buildings, one was the office of Cedric the technical director of Mauritius table tennis. He is basically in charge of everything at the academy and he is treated like royalty. Table tennis is the third biggest sport in Mauritius and therefore if you have his role you are in the national newspaper and TV on a regular basis. The first hall is the size of 3 Badminton courts and is used for Judo but Cedric tells me they often use this hall for table tennis also. The table tennis hall and the larger of the two halls, is about the size of 8 Badminton courts. It was purpose-built for table tennis, with 20 tables set up permanently (ample space between each table), tar-flex flooring, new tables Butterfly and STAG, lifted seating stage area and shower-toilet facilities. This Hall was truly my ideal table tennis hall and one I would keep in my mind for life.
Mauritius table tennis academy
Table Tennis Day 2
Now the players know me and they have began to open up and explore my methods, players are varied from good to very good level (some ranked top 300 in the world). I was more impressed with the girls, they had great attitudes and wonderful games, with many different styles of play. Now I started to really connect with each individual player and found they each had a unique and wonderful story. What was also interesting was how they each had different religious beliefs but they were so close-nit (kissing and hugging, laughing and joking).
Gift from players to coach
Last few Days
Now it felt like we were all family and we had some bonding activities, (quad bikes), hiking and site seeing. I was awarded my level 1 certificate and more importantly the group of national players had written a card for me and bought me a special gift. I must admit it’s rare for players to buy you a gift and as coaches we gift without the sense of being given back. This was one of very few times in my coaching career where I was given a gift and it was truly heart warming
This event was held at Wolverhampton at a lovely venue which has been used for Grand Prix’s and Junior British League. I feel the event was run a lot more smoothly than the (Junior National Table Tennis Championships) with a lot more entries and the tournament was punctual. I must admit though, the event for me runs way too long, commencing at 8am and finishing near 8pm. I don’t think it’s fair having players, coaches, and parents in a hall 12 hours. The results sometimes can be misleading because the young players are tired and more often than not you will not see their peak performance after a long day.
The Atmosphere
I must admit the atmosphere in the hall felt pleasant and positive; players coaches and parents seemed to be getting along. I believe due to many being new to the sport they are competing via the will to win. The young players don’t know what kind of politics is going on and the parents are new to the sport. Also, the prestige of this event compared to junior or senior level national’s is less and the coaches relax and watch their players compete on friendly but competitive terms.
Enjoy and Play Table Tennis
I often ask myself why is there so much politics inside a minor sport? I guess the answer is simple the more you get involved and become accustomed to something the more you want it to be your way. Therefore this lead’s to inner ego’s and even though many think they are doing the right thing they often forget the most important thing. The love and joy of the sport, yes its nice to win and implement certain methods of your own but in truth, we all just want to play.
Table Tennis England
I was happy to see Matt (England Coach), Marcus (England Coach) and Sandra Deaton (TTE Chairman), at the event. From what I saw they seemed to be mingling with players, coaches, and parents. This is what our sport needs, the heads of table tennis working with the community towards future growth. I won’t lie I was disappointed not to see Alan and more importantly, Sarah (TTE CEO) or Simon (TTE Performance Director), from my perspective it feels like they don’t truly care about our sport (domestically). The European youth championships will commence next month, let’s see how our players do. Personally, I want each player to shine but realistically I don’t believe this will happen due to poor TTE youth development.
Future of Table Tennis in England
My biggest gripe as a coach and a table tennis advocate for our sport in England is the lack of support for the youth via TTE. Let’s be clear and honest England have lots of money and TTE have million are going through their accounts. Why is it so difficult to have a pot of money or a sponsor for players inside the England youth team/squad? These players invest thousands of hours, thousands of pounds, put their hearts into the sport and… When or if they reach their goal of representing England, TTE asks for more money, which then includes them in the squad. Personally, I feel it’s a broken system. A system that can cost over £10k and you may not get picked, furthermore, a program that judges you on your fitness rather than your ability. Table tennis is a skill-based sport and to develop your skill takes years. Anyone at any time can uplift their fitness in a matter of weeks to months, so why penalise players if they can’t reach a certain level in a bleep test?
To become great we must start and to be great we must be supported
I believe Multi-ball in table tennis began in the ’70s in China and today, it’s rare to see advanced coaching sessions without it.
Why is Multi-ball Important
In very simple terms, you amplify the quantity of training by 100x and naturally, this enables you to increase your skills at a faster rate. You can do almost any drill using multi-ball and it’s also very real if done correctly. Lastly multi-ball, can help with footwork, timing and develop good technique.
Today, if you browse social media or Youtube, you will find many videos of players and coaches using multi-ball. The question you must ask yourself, they look great while in action but are the benefits real or is it often just a show? I always tell my players, a car can look amazing from the outside but if the engine is poor the looks mean nothing. What do I mean by this statement? Well, often when you watch players being fed multi-ball they are given a set routine and they blast each ball effortlessly. The issue is often players and coaches use multi-ball to just hit some backhands and forehands but in a match situation, this is something that would never happen. So why do we give set multi-ball drills? Well, it can be because we want to work on our technique, footwork or just confidence.
I suggest limiting structured multi-ball (one to four boxes) after that look at implementing unstructured routines. Use thought process exercises and irregular formats to truly develop your game.
There are no set routines
I’m a great believer in technique but what is the technique? It’s a foundation which must be built at an early stage, dependant upon a player’s natural gifts. Such as; playing hand, speed, height, weight, coordination, thought process, (physical and mental ability). Once you are fully aware of one’s natural gifts, then you can start to build certain techniques that compliment that person. For example someone with slow reaction speed, you may want to implement a chopping foundation away from the table. This gives them more time to react and potentially develop their reaction speed over time and move into the table over time if they wish to do so. The technique is all about efficiency, how can you play the best possible shot/stroke at a given moment.
Master of variation
Build a foundation for your player and then be willing to adapt technically as they evolve. Therefore I suggest spending a few years using multi-ball to build your player’s technique by implementing routine exercises. Every player is a different and different amount of time will be required to develop good foundations. once you feel ready then start to break away from routines and build unstructured training routines and exercises. using the foundations built you will need to find ways of implementing your technical foundations, inside an unstructured environment
Time, Quality and Quantity
Only over a long-time period will you reap the rewards, this means you must stick at it and be patient. Lots of smart work is required and time will find a way of making your smart and hard work pay off in the end. I’ve been in the game for 25 years and my time alongside smart and hard work is only just now, truly paying off. without commitment, I don’t think anything special is possible
I read an article about Michael Phelps and to my amazement, he spoke about how he became the greatest swimmer of all time but overworking. He decided to do what others wouldn’t do and that meant training 7 days a week for 5 years without a break. No rest days meant he would gain 52 extra training days per year as an advantage over his competitions. Michael explained that most of us have the same tools but what sets us apart is two things
1) How we train
2) Time – The hours we spent working towards our development
Best Swimmer of all Time
Should We Work Harder or Smarter?
The honest answer in my humble opinion, you must have both attributes to become special in any field. I know we find some people become very good at something with seemingly little work, it comes naturally to them. Look carefully and you’ll notice these people are often good or very good but rarely great! The so-called gifted people often miss one of the key ingredients required for greatness Work alongside Time. Yes, they have a gift but and can become great but due to lack of commitment, their true capability is not fulfilled due to poor effort. We are all unique and some of us possess, Hard WorkEthic but the direction is poor, hence the energy exerted is misdirected. Then you have people who are very Smart and they effortlessly grow and develop but they lack Work Ethic. This means they lack the energy required to push boundaries and grow beyond their current capabilities.
In conclusion, greatness cannot be achieved just by working smart, neither can it be done with sheer hard work. Greatness is achieved once only by combining both smart and hard work together.
Time Spent Training
This is dependent upon your age, ability and sporting desires which is something you must know and figure out. I believe Michael Phelps did what was right for him, he had a gift and he wanted to become a supernova. For someone else spending 5 years without a break in their chosen field would most likely have a negative effect. This is because few have the grit required to push their mind and body with such force. So how did Michael make the most of his (seemingly) extreme training?
Firstly he didn’t just wake up one day and say ok I’m going to train for every day for 5 years. He had trained his body for over 10 years already in the field. His body and mind evolved and the demands put on his body had become accustomed to relentless work. Therefore he was able to increase his workload a little more from 6 days a week to 7. It’s like anything in life, if we choose with our minds our bodies will follow. In order for you to fully prosper, you must commit with a positive mindset. This means, stay focused, be specific, ignore the naysayers, have a good team around you and lastly know what your body and mind are capable of doing. There is no wrong or right when it comes to time spent on training there’s only what works best for you.
Table Tennis Time
Training does not guarantee results
Many of my players who train with me prosper both on and off the table. There is a big misconception, “I have trained super hard, therefore I deserve positive results”. Working hard towards the desired outcome will often find a way of delivering positive results but there’s no guarantee. Why you may ask? Simply because you are not in control of everything! Anthony Joshua lost his heavyweight title fight last Saturday (some will say he underestimated his opponent others will say something wasn’t right, the Ruiz style didn’t suit and so on. If you watched the fight you’ll notice one thing, Andy Ruiz, wanted to win. That desire enabled him to step outside of his normal capability and produce what many would call the impossible. The point is, you may be stronger, fitter, worked harder but sometimes life gives to someone else who may or may not deserve it. The only thing you can do is do your best and that will give you the satisfaction that you did everything in your power to succeed. If things don’t go the way you planned it, then it’s down to you to find out why and how it can be better next time.
Should we take a break?
A common theme I have noticed with many of my players, they take a break or stop training (just play occasional match play) and they go up a level. How is it possible? Well if you train your body physically you’ll see benefits and over years your body will adapt and evolve. If you stop a physical regime your brain and body will naturally reflect and look at other means towards gaining positive results. Pay attention though, if you take a break for too long your muscles will slow down and your response rate will deteriorate. This will gradually be lower your playing level and training must be resumed otherwise your level will never upscale again.
Holiday from or with table tennis?
Taking a break from table tennis
There are arguments for and against having a break but for me personally, I believe a break from your normal regiment is a necessity. Taking a break from anything gives your mind and body the healing power required to rejuvenate and effectively re-fuel. You can allow, all your learnings to sink in and your mind to put the puzzle together. The best thing about taking a break from table tennis. You can enjoy other pleasures in life and then come back with a clear joyful mindset.
Remember a break is solely up to you, ask yourself; Do I require a break? How long should it be? When should I take a break and why?
The key is to take time out of your normal routine which would allow you to see and understand what is required for your future developments.
Have you ever been to an international table tennis training camp?
Growing up in London enabled me to access most countries in the world (especially as a table tennis player and coach) but why go abroad if you have everything on your doorstep? Aged 14 I first began playing and naturally my level relatively low up until I was 16. Due, to my level I attended training camps all over England including; London Progress, Grant Solder, Teesport Summer camp, and many others. I must admit attending camps enabled me to learn from special players and coaches in the game. It also enabled me to train with players I had not played with before and most importantly I love the experience (I have many wonderful memories).
As I got better, I needed more from the table tennis camps and since England was limited in quality (production, coaches, and players). Because of this, I began looking for table tennis camps abroad, where I witnessed many qualities that make table tennis camps special:
Quality Coaches – A proven track record; producing, creating and developing players. Their playing record is irrelevant and their qualifications have little significance. I wanted to know have they produced or developed a player/players (this gave me the confidence that these coaches could bring my game on). When a coach has developed or produced good players you can rest-assure that they will have the tools to enhance your game. A common mistake people make, they assume if you are or where a top player you’ll be a good coach. Of course, it helps but it has zero significance on how you can deliver information to people.
Coaching Ratio – How many players per coach, anything between 1-8 players per coach is good and if the ratio is above 8 to 1, coaching attention will be limited.
Sparring Partner – It’s not essential but sparring partner/’s at a camp is a great addition. It enables you to train with a potentially top player (sometimes world-class) and experience a high level of table tennis, first hand
Table Tennis Focused Themes: Many camps have a generic and structured (sometimes unstructured) training. This is a good tool if you’re looking to enhance your fitness, focus, and consistency. But if you truly want to develop your game then you require; insight into the tactical, technical, and psychological aspects of the game. Service and receive is another vital element and lastly marginal gains. These are the small nuggets required at training camps which can be added to your game over a short period of time and upscale your game, regardless of your level. For example, if a coach can provide you with something simple like, what kind of food should be eaten prior to a match and how long before! or How to increase spin on your server, etc.
Playing Level: It’s very important to attend camps that either have all level’s including yours and above or a camp that caters for players similar to your level
Two kinds of Table Tennis Camps: Off-site, this is where you attend training only. If you love your table tennis and just want to enhance your game, this is a great way of doing it. But if you wish to truly upscale your game then, on-sight is by far the best way to grow as a person and as a player. You will experience what a professional table tennis player’s life feels like. you will enjoy your time on and off the table and can reflect with other players and coaches on the days of training. On-sight table tennis camps are truly holistic and an experience you must try as a player, nine times out of ten it’s something you will cherish for life.
International Table Tennis Camp
Table Tennis Camps Abroad
As you can see from the above table tennis camps have so many benefits but for me personally and I believe this is the case with most people. If you experience a camp abroad you will enhance your game at a much faster rate. Why? you may ask because any country you visit will have a different mentality and culture to the one you live in. This means you will be given a completely different approach, unseen and possibly unheard of before. This gives you one element which is the fastest human development (uncomfortable position). As humans, we grow and adapt when we are in an uncomfortable situation and this is where we truly prosper. Therefore if you are willing to come outside of your comfort zone you will naturally develop, even if the effects are not seen or felt immediately.
I am not saying go abroad all the time and if you have a good club with a good coach who is constantly innovating, you will grow with them. Nevertheless, it’s still a wonderful experience when you completely come out of your comfort zone.
Table Tennis Camps in England
I have been hosting camps in England for nearly 20 years and my ultimate goal was to host camps aboard also. This is because I wanted to show my unique style of coaching and of course, learn by picking up some nuggets from others. Today I have hosted training camps in over 10 countries and the aim is for continuous expansion for players, clubs and coaches alike.
International Camps at Home
I have tried to bring all the above elements to my players on home soil. This is where I use my international connections to host a big camp Topspin Table Tennis Summer Camp (England). We have 10 coaches from all over Europe and players attend from all over the world. The camp was set up to provide exactly the features mentioned, to showcase the amazing benefits of a special table tennis camp.
United Table Tennis Coaching Team
I have taken my format one step further, lots of people from abroad asked if eBaTT-Topspin could come to their country. This was hard logistically due to collaboration with Topspintt therefore, I decided to link some of Europes best coaches in hope to provide special camps at any country or location in the world.
English Table Tennis National Junior championships was held in Nottingham university this weekend and I was present at the event coaching and observing.
It’s truly sad for me to say this but honesty is said to be the best policy and it pains me to say it but the foundations of English table tennis is at an all-time low.
My Attitude
Anyone that knows me or follows me on social media will know fine well, that I look at the bright side of life. I believe anything can be achieved and I believe in finding a positive even in the worst situation. I must say though, having coached at the Junior National Championships (weekend just gone), things look dire for the future English table tennis. I am struggling to stay positive with the amount of negativity I see, feel and hear.
Current Issues & Solutions for the National’s
1. Reward: players attend from all over the country and only a hand full will come out as champions, runner’s up or in a bronze medal position (for both main event and consolation). Let’s upscale the reward system.
Solution: It wouldn’t cost much to hand out other awards such as; Point of the day, Player of the day, match of the day, Sportsmanship, etc. This would also keep many players and families in the hall to the end of an event. The bonus would be, potentially more spectators for the final’s which will add atmosphere and support to the prestigious final’s.
English Junior TT National Championships 2019
2. A Restricted number of players: Having 32 players in an event is firstly un-motivating for the vast majority of aspiring players. My first junior nationals, I was ranked around 60 in England but I won my group and beat England no.16. I progressed through to the last 16, losing to England no.3 (Michael Chan) and I had my chances against him making the hall stop. I have not witnessed a hall stop for many years in English TT because we are not providing opportunities! To become the best you must face the best, but we are limiting access towards the top end. How can no.60 beat no.16 if he/she is unable to attend? TTE is making the possible impossible!
Solution: Open the event to 64 or 96 players or even 128, this will create a much bigger buzz in the hall and give many more players the opportunity to be a part of this prestigious event. Having more players gives a lot more opportunities and can also cause shock results. This will encourage many more players to grow and push for the top spot. Today at the event I saw many tables unused and having more players would utilise the space in a greater capacity.
3. Groups:I understand TTE is trying to create a formula like ITTF with a group of 3 and 1 goes through. Firstly I don’t agree with the ITTF system but that’s a whole other subject. The point is simple, A family’s cost for such an event is travel expenses, possibly a coach (funding and wages), hotel, and entry fee. The expenses can mount from £100 to even £500 maybe, even more, depending on circumstances. Horrifically this huge amount spent can mount up to a total of 3 matches for 16 of the players. 1 match for one of the seeds if they lose their first match or two matches if they lose their second match. An average of 3 matches per player can cost up to £500, what is going on? That’s a holiday abroad for some families and yet these families are investing this money on 3 table tennis matches instead!
Solution: Make the groups bigger, groups of 4 (possibly 5), I think it’s fair and have two players go through and 2 go into consolation. I’m no expert in tournaments but I’m sure we can go to France, Germany or Sweden and model their system.
General observations
The first impression, when walking into the hall; uncertainty, small cliques, segregated environment, England coaches casting a shadow from above watching for hours and hours on end, the atmosphere, in general, was low, ripple effect on player’s performing below par and due to intense pressure the joy felt zapped out of the players.
I believe in healthy competition and I love to compete but in the hall today it felt like some people are enemies! We are blessed to be a part of such a special sport, so let’s remember that it’s a competition of skill, not hatred.
I had a crazy thought today – why don’t we kick off an event with all players, parents, umpires, and coaches lined up. Where everyone quickly shakes each-others hands, prior to the event? They do this prior to every football match, players and referees greet each other in friendly terms before the competition kicks off.
Trust and respect is seemingly lost for TTE
I went around talking to many coaches, parents and players and the feedback were very negative towards TTE. I did not once entice this kind of negative conversation yet somehow someway, it was brought into the conversation.
Issues mentioned
Lack of care or support for players via TTE
A most important event, where were; Sandra Deaton (Chairman), Sarah Sutcliff (CEO), Simon Mill’s? (High-Performance Director)
Lack of care for coaches from TTE
Lack of club support from TTE
EYS is a complete failure and flawed in so many ways
TTE is running table tennis into the ground
Junior 2019 Podium Ethan Walsh (winner)
The negative feedback I received was overwhelming and at times I felt like crying. I want to help so much yet I have no real say and influence on how TTE run table tennis in England. I am far from perfect but I pride myself in one quality and that’s compassion. I care about every person who plays or has involvement in table tennis. I want them to succeed in their own right and I think that’s the key ingredient missing with TTE. Every person I spoke to today spoke negatively about TTE, what was worse, no one mentioned anything about TTE trying to help or make a difference. It feels like they take and dictate their vision and their system. Does TTE not hear or choose to ignore the table tennis community’s desperate cry?
The system was never perfect but I remember and know that often the governing body aimed or wanted to help in one way, shape or form. Currently, it feels like TTE doesn’t want to help the players they just want to do what they feel or think is right and everyone must accept it.
Moving Forward
Currently, there is no easy fix but there are solutions and if implemented, our sport will grow and blossom and we will see positives in due time. The national championships today was a clear sign of where our future is heading. This should be a sign for TTE that whatever they are trying to implement is not working. They have lost so many top players due to poor treatment, so please start looking at what is working and who is doing a good job. Then look at collaborating and uniting with them, the benefits of uniting, are truly unlimited. Let’s make positive developments and stop this feeling of TTE is here and the table tennis community is there.
TTE need to:
Listen to the table tennis community
Help top players
Unite with coaches
Link with clubs
Give back to the community of table tennis
Unite and collaborate with the right people inside the system
These key elements are not hard to implement, all you need is to take your ego away and open your heart and arms to those who in effect make you.
When you are closed you are limited but if you’re open then you become unlimited.
Side note – I am hosting a table tennis training camp in America, more info Click HERE
