August 23, 2012

MDTTC Camp, Week Eleven, Day Three

There are 37 players in the camp, so it's somewhat hectic. Here's a camp photo from yesterday. (A few players are missing, alas.)

Yesterday I gave lectures on the forehand loop, on footwork, and on pushing. On looping, I spoke with three players in the 1800-2000 range on the importance of looping almost anything that comes long - or as I put it, "If you can see it, loop it; if you can't see it, block it or back up and loop it." You can go far with blocking and hitting, but the easiest path to a high level in our sport is to be loop-happy.

As noted in my blog yesterday, I'm wearing a neck brace now so I don't keep aggravating the neck injury. When I walked in with my neck brace, there were many stares as I said, "What, do I look different? Is it my hair?" Here's a picture of me with the neck brace.

When Derek Nie saw me with the neck brace, he said, "Larry, you look 90 years old!" Ten minutes later I interrupted my coaching and demanded that he repeat the statement so I could respond: "Yeah, but I don't feel a day over 85!" (Actually, I felt about 95, with the neck problems, hoarseness from too much coaching/lecturing, and general stiffness.) Don't you hate it when you come up with the perfect response ten minutes late?

Today was the day that the two new players in this week's camp really seemed to put it together, and began to hit real forehands and backhands, as well as pushing and serving with spin. They are even proficient now at knocking paper cups off the table. (If you haven't been following past blogs, don't ask.)

Channel 6 News, a local cable TV station, came in this morning and filmed us for a showing in September. They interviewed the coaches and many of the players, and filmed us during the morning multiball session.

USATT National Centers of Excellence

MDTTC is now listed as one of the seven USATT National Centers of Excellence.

Spider-Man Table

Want a Spider-Man table signed by Stan Lee? Here's your chance! "The SAEF is proud to present the sale of its a one-of-a-kind, Limited Edition Spider-Man table tennis table exclusively signed by Stan Lee and built expressly to raise funds for the SAEF organization and its Alzheimer’s Table Tennis Therapy Program." Here's a larger version of the picture of the table.

Table Tennis Inspired Patriotism

Here's a nice article from The Examiner about table tennis from a non-player's point of view at the Olympics. You can tell where it's going from the first line: "Here's one thing I love about the Olympics: watching people who are the best in the world at some incredibly niche sport, and seeing just how extraordinary at said sport it is possible to be." He also wrote, "It's the best live sport I've ever seen."

The Power of Block with Waldner

Here's a video (3:13) that showcases Jan-Ove Waldner's blocking skills.

Kids Training in China

Here's an interesting video of two kids training in China (0:42). Note the one on the table!

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