Games of Knowledge | Sports and Exercise

Games Guy | April 29, 2010

Modern Table Tennis Styles – Part 8 – The Close to the Table Defender

By Richard McAfee, USATT International Coach

This series of articles will provide you with the strengths and weaknesses of each table tennis style, along with some suggested table tennis robot drills to help you develop your game. In reading through the descriptions you may find that your personal style will have attributes from more than one. However, you should be able to recognize your dominant playing style (”A” style) and your secondary style (”B” style). Each article presented in this series will also give you some suggestions on tactics to use against the other table tennis styles of play. Hopefully the style descriptions and the suggested video will serve as a guide in analyzing your own table tennis style.

Part 8 – The Close to the Table Defender
Description:

This style is built around a chop/block executed from close to the table. Players of this style most often use combination rackets with long-pips or anti-spin on one side and inverted rubber on the other. Players of this style use underspin blocks to force weak topspin shots from their opponents. These players will then attack the weak topspin with a well-placed loop or drive.. This style is lacks real finishing power, but is often the master of placement..

Strengths:
•    Very consistent close-to-the-table chop/blocks.
•    Excellent serve and receive game.
•    Very accurate forehand drives.
•    Excellent short game using pushes and drop shots.
•    This provides the ability to absorb their opponent’s strong opening shots.
To make their returns stronger, often use the spin and speed of oncoming shots..

Weaknesses:
•    No real power.
•    High looping balls directed to the backhand.
•    Hard balls directed towards the wide forehand.
•    No spin serves, loops, and pushes will often cause errors.

For more table tennis ping pong tips and training opportunities, visit Table Tennis.

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Games Guy | April 29, 2010

Have you ever imagined how helpful a soccer field diagram can be in designing practice sessions? It has already been discussed that it is a must to document the plans you have for the training season. The result is a plan that is flexible enough to accommodate all types of changes from time to time.

It’s essential in case of choosing the soccer formations for players that they already are well versed with the various dimensions of the soccer field.

Firstly, it’s your duty as a coach to select as to what would be the agenda of the training session. This should include the details on what is intended to be taught, where and when? When you have decided what you wish to teach, you will then get to the details of various techniques and skills to be imparted.

You must also mark down the place on the filed where the training session will happen. It’s also necessary for you to pen down the motive behind teaching a specific skill. Its latent benefits and value could be one of the reasons. If you also document the incident when this particular skill will be employed, it’ll be even more helpful.

Soccer Formations

A practice plan should also mention the exact methodology that a specific technique would employ. After everything stated above has been done, draw everything on the soccer field diagram. The diagram should include the goal box, penalty box, the end line, and the arcs where the flags are placed along with the centerline and circle.

The next important step in deciding the soccer positions is the practice gear needed for the session. All players should be given a ball now. All players should be instructed to get their own balls. Also, they should bring their water bottles to the field.

Use the cones to earmark the areas on the field. These are also helpful in classifying various soccer drills. The players should also wear practice vests that are helpful in protecting and also giving each player a different identity.

Then, it is the use of the goal boxes. It is well known in soccer tactics that using the real goals during practice keep the players aware of the real scenario. Also, use flags as they help in scrimmages. Arrange for a first aid kit that has sufficient medical supplies.

In the end, keep the refreshments prepared. Ice cubes may also be required from time to time and a cooler as well to store them. It is recommended that you also have access to a phone which will prove useful in seeking help in medical situations.

Now go ahead and implement your learning in a soccer field diagram. Afterwards, make a practice session in accordance with it. Our youth soccer coaching community is a treasure of soccer resources to help you design effective sessions.

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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Soccer field diagram.

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