New Coaching Articles

[Leeston]

Hi,
Please see below a new website, owned by Rowden Fullen, one of the senior coaches in the UK :

http://protabletennis.net/

Regards

Lee

[DrumDrum16]

Rowden Fullen? One of the top coaches in the UK? The same guy who was kicked out of sweden for teaching the gilrs in his club to try and push push push there way to victory? The same guy who hasn't produced any player of note? Nice guy.... but one of the top UK coaches? i think not :-)

[Leeston]

Hi - I think you are being a little unkind / unjust. He has been working with Hannah Hicks over recent years and has clearly influenced her abilty. At the end of the day, the articles stimulate thought / debate and encourage development - you can't knock that.

[DaveR]

All articles stimulate thought which is why "open minds" mean open debate with positive and negative being brought forward. The push push push debate has gone on for years with a few younger players failing dramatically in just that!

Now when we can integrate every area with success then maybe we can compete at the top level with some medals following in the sport sadly until then we may have to stick to our "attack" "attack" "attack" policy, which by the results seems to be falling short of the mark would we not agree?

[DrumDrum16]

I take your point Dave, and its well justified - but its not quite as black and white as that. England falling short internationally does not have anything to do with youngsters being taigh to 'attack attack attack' - young attackers are being taught the right way to play, but fail to develop the consistency required to make an impact. They fail to remember that they must attack the right balls, pick the winners etc etc. So i think really we are both singing from the same hymn sheet to an extent! One thing is for certain, if you make a weak push return at anything higher than local league level the chances are it will be punished - international level it will 100% be killed and with an allarmingly hight rate of consistency!!

p.s.... if younger player are failing in pushing, it is up to the coaches to take glue off thier bats (we obv wont have this problem anymore!) and teach them a solid technique that works for them and respects the fundamentals of the game. To many youngsters are wham bam from first picking up a bat - useless.

Soapbox dismounted!!!!!

[DrumDrum16]

And too Leeston... apologies if that sounded unkind in any way; that really was not the intention. But describing somone as a top coach is a big merit!! And i dont think Mr Fullen quite qualifies there. Top coaches? Look at the guys who have produced players... Jai Yi Liu, Denis Neale, Carole Knight Moore, Nicky Jarvis.... and we could all name several more. Mr Fullen is a nice guy and a great volunteer - great club guy, but in my opinion he is not one of the countries leading coaches.

[DaveR]

Solid technique is the key to every sport from F1 to Tiddlywinks so i agree with that, does a push (with a degree of accuracy) not have its place? obviously it has but the problem is and has been at most levels the ability to choose the correct stroke / shot at the correct given time. The amount of times i have seen young players come into the sport over the years with little of no technique then continue onwarss to "hit" as hard as possible just because the fellow on the next table is doing just that is amazing.

The reason most young players who start out in the table tennis road to glory fall short in the technique area is because it usually isnt applied by said coach or coaches ............... which is another debate as that is a problem in itself !

Glue seemed to be the only interesting thing for the new young players but sadly has left a lot short in the techinique stakes.