The "coaching" in table tennis means the conducting, or the activity before, during and after the match. A unwritten law in table tennis says that the match is being played three times.

• Preparation for the match (warming, tactics, concentration, etc).
• The match itself.
• The after match analysis.

In the days preceeding the tournament there should be no corrections made during the training. Everything that was taught before be left to the matches played during the tournament. The approach to the match as well as the necessary preparations for the match are very important. The player has to be well prepared for the match, and the coach has special duty to talk to the player and to agree with the way he will play, what are the alternatives, what are the expectations for the match and the tactics of the opponent, and what should be the answer to such kind of game.

So, during the first phase (Preparation for the match) the coach has to:

• Talk with the player about the tactics and the possible weaknesses of the opponent, help him to relax and get the desired concentration, and try to raise their moral.

During the second phase (The match itself) the coach has to:

• Stay close to the arena because such an attitude gives the necessary safety to the player, stay "behind the scene" and take the match (if possible) in his hands like a stage director who is never on the stage, stay calm and friendly to the player, remind him his strong side, and instruct him to play the way he knows better.

During the third phase (The after match analysis) the coach has to:

• Analyze the reasons which caused the defeat but NEVER dramatize the defeat, analyse the resons which lead to victory, the positive details and the crucial points (maybe later with the help of the video) but KEEP the player "in the ground", show a positive attitude in both defeat an victory, and support psychological the player.

© Denis TT World

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