April 15, 2016

Thursday Beginning Junior Class
We started a new seven-week session of the Thursday class, which is 6-7 PM – though in reality we tend to go an extra 20 or so minutes each time, since the kids are so enthusiastic and it's my last coaching of the day, so I'm free. The new session has a small group of just seven, including two returnees from last session, but it's already looking like one of the best groups to work with. It's also a somewhat older group than in the past, ranging from 11 to 15. But all seven are gung-ho about table tennis – not a slacker in the group!

When I say "slacker," that means two types of players that can really hurt a group session. One is the type who doesn't really want to play, doesn't want to be there, treats it like work, and keeps asking, "How much longer?" The other is the goof-off, who won't take anything serious, and refuses to try or learn – they just smack balls around however they want to. Both of these types can hurt the group as their behavior can spread to others.

But there are no slackers in this group!

Six of the seven have obviously played some before, and knew how it was supposed to be played – they all could hit decent forehands and backhands. One is more of a beginner, playing "basement" style where he mostly patted the ball back with his backhand; forehands were a novelty for him. But he's picking it up.

After the session officially ended I spent about 15 minutes serving to them as they tried to return my spin and speed serves. As I tell them, either they are going to look silly or I am, since I'll serve a sidespin, and quickly put my paddle down and move to the side to catch the ball. Usually the ball is rather there, but every now and then they'll get a serve back, and then I look silly – and they live for that. But usually I'll say things like, "This ball is very thirsty," and I'll give them a tomahawk serve so their return goes to the water fountains to the right. Or I'll say, "This ball is very lonely," and serve so they put the ball to my left, where I have the big box of balls. Or I'll make them absolutely promise not to put the next ball into the net, which they inevitably do as I serve backspin. All this serving whets their appetite for more, and I promise them I'll teach them spin serves later on.

I also demonstrated the new "Trick Shot" routine I'm working on for the next ITTF Trick Shot Competition – I'd love to tell you about it, but then someone might steal my ideas! Let's just say it's a growing routine as I keep adding more elements to it.

Back Problems and The Impossible Dream
Yesterday I wrote about and posted a link to Jim Nabors on the old Gomer Pyle TV show (1964-69) singing "To Dream the Impossible Dream." Here's the link again (3:52). The song got me thinking about my past hopes and dreams.

When I was a kid I always dreamed of having back problems. Sure, I knew the odds were stacked against me. But still I dreamed, and I worked toward my goal, year after year, always seeking the advice of the best bad back coaches and putting in the extra effort. Many doubted me but I did not give up. And then, a few years ago, after decades of striving, I accomplished the goal of excruciating back problems. They were so painful that people carried my playing bag around for me, partly because I could barely lift it, but mostly in awe and perhaps a little jealousy of what I had accomplished. I spent many wonderful hours with a physical therapist as we gloried in my feat – though I soon learned she was scheming against me, determined to take away my achievement. Glory is fleeting, and the back problems soon left, thanks to treachery of this malicious therapist. However, I did not give up, and recently it flared up again, forcing me to cancel a number of coaching sessions as I once again reveled in my achievement. But like all athletes, decline inevitably comes with age, and once again the back problems are going away. Perhaps someday they'll be the just fading memory of an old man reminiscing about his glory days, but nothing will ever completely remove those vivid memories of a knife stuck in my back and jiggled about.

How to Play Table Tennis in Ten Days
Here's this excellent guide (with links to video) from Expert Table Tennis. It has ten sections:

  1. Grip
  2. Stance
  3. Footwork
  4. Forehand Drive
  5. Backhand Drive
  6. Backhand Push
  7. Forehand Push
  8. Serve
  9. Return of serve
  10. Match Play

Table Tennis Training – Tips for Parents
Here's the new article from Expert Table Tennis.

Tactical Training has a major contribution in Table Tennis
Here's the coaching article, apparently from a blogging coach in India.

Indian Coverage of Richard McAfee's ITTF Courses
Here's some Indian press about the classes, with pictures. Wrote Richard, "Our ITTF Courses in India have generated some good press around the country. Here is an article from the National Newspaper." Can anyone read . . . um . . . Indian? (I'm pretty sure that's Hindi.)

School Ping Pong Clubs Create ‘Battle of Paddles’ Event, Scholarships
Here's the article about Virginia Beach high schools: "Local High Schools will be competing in the first annual Monarch Bank Battle of the Paddles School Ping Pong and Scholarship Events this Saturday, April 16th."

Asian and European Qualifications for Rio Olympics 2016
Ma Long vs Fan Zhendong - Final (4:47). Here are links to other matches. Here are links to European Qualification matches and the European Olympic Qualification home page.

International Table Tennis
Here's my periodic note (usually every Friday) that you can great international coverage at TableTennista (which especially covers the elite players well) and at the ITTF home page (which does great regional coverage). Butterfly also has a great news page.

Octopus Pong!
Some of these I've posted before, but some are new. Enjoy!

Mostly Non-Table Tennis: Publicity for Campaign 2100: Game of Scorpions
Here are various blogs and interviews with me or about my SF novel Campaign 2100: Game of Scorpions. But if you'd prefer my table tennis books, here they are!

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