October 23, 2015

State Championships

(This also just went up as a USATT news item.)

Dear Table Tennis Leaders,

USA Table Tennis is making it a goal to have State Championships in all 50 states – and we'd like to do it in 2016. We want to turn these events into major events for both the players and the media. Here is a listing of all fifty states and which ones have a 2015 State Championships (including those with a State Games).

For most players, the State Championships should be one of the most important events of the year. Many can compete to become a State Champion, whether it be in men's or women's singles, a senior event, a junior event, hardbat or sandpaper, a rating event, or doubles. It gives them something to train and look forward to. It's also the time when players from all over the state get together for table tennis and fun, usually ending with everyone going out for dinner together.

We'd like to celebrate these champions by commemorating them on a USATT State Champions Page as well as on the USATT News page. We'd also like to have an annual Parade of Champions at the U.S. Nationals, where, between matches during the showcase events, we invite all the attending state champions to take a march around the playing arena as the crowd cheers.

We'd like to turn these State Championships into major events in the local media. To do this, the tournament director or publicity director would simply Google the local TV, radio, and newspaper listings to get contact emails. Then, the week before the tournament, send them press releases inviting them to cover the tournament. Afterwards send them a follow-up press release that they can use.

To get this done, we need your help. In states where there are no State Championships we need volunteers or entrepreneurs to set up and run these tournaments. It's not hard to do so; all that you need to know is in the USATT Tournament Guide. It includes info on getting a referee, sanctioning, events to run, etc. (For info on getting referees and umpires, see the USATT Rules and Officiating page.) Here is the Tournament Directors Info Page

Here is a sample State Championship entry form. You'll need to fill in the local info where indicated. Feel free to make changes – design it for your state's needs. You get to choose which and how events you'd like to run (you don't have to run 22 events!), and schedule them as you see best. It can be a one-, two-, or even a three-day event starting on Friday night.

If you would like to run a 2016 State Championships, or have any questions, please contact the appropriate person below, and contact me to let me know you are running one, or for general questions. We thank you for helping to develop the sport in this country!

Sincerely,
Larry Hodges
USATT Regional Associations Coordinator and At-Large Director on USATT Board of Directors

  • For info on running tournaments (including USATT sanctioning), see the USATT Tournament Guide, or contact Larry Rose, USATT Tournament Committee Chair.
  • To find your Regional Sanctioning Coordinator, see the USATT Tournament Coordinators page.
  • For info on getting a referee or umpires, see the USATT Umpires and Referees page, or contact Joseph Yick, USATT Umpires and Referees Committee Chair.
  • For info on doing a direct mailing to players in your state (email or regular mail), contact Andy Horn, USATT Membership Director.
  • For info on publicizing your State Championships, contact Richard Finn, USATT Media Director.
  • For info on publicizing your events on the USATT web page, contact Sean O'Neill, USATT Webmaster and Social Media guide.
  • For general info, contact Larry Hodges, USTT Regional Associations Coordinator.   

Greatness is an Attitude, Part 2

Here's the new podcast (43:24) from Expert Table Tennis, featuring Coach Marc Burman. (Here's Part 1 (42:48), which I linked to when it came out last week.) Topics in Part 2 include the following:

  • Why you should focus on your performance, not your results.
  • Why sometimes it is a good idea to play against your opponents strengths.
  • What Marc learned from Jean-Philippe Gatien at the London Open.
  • How to develop the habit of winning.
  • Marc’s views on the importance of talent and personality.
  • Six practical tips that will turbocharge your improvement.
  • The difference between “good mistakes” and “bad successes”.
  • How to deal with the pressure of being expected to win.
  • The attitude that will help you to consistently beat lower ranked players.

Ask the Coach Show

Episode #178 (14:45) – When to Increase Drills (and other segments)

Rate This! Table Tennis Ratings

Here's the new article from Coach Jon. "High ratings are so coveted that I have heard players claim they will retire from table tennis once they get their rating over 2000." … "We definitely need to take a fresh look at our sport. Are we so obsessed with ratings and improved play that we are not enjoying playing?"

Multiball Training in Germany

Here's the video (2:22).

Polish Open

Here's the ITTF home page for the event, with results, articles, pictures, and video. It started Thursday, and is in Warsaw, POL, Oct. 21-25.

Tomokazu Harimoto Causes Sensation, Youngest Ever to Reach Main Draw

Here's the ITTF story on the 12-year-old from Japan, already ranked #286 in the world in Men's. He made the main draw at the Polish Open (final 64), but guess who he faced in the first round? Men's Singles World and World Cup Champion, and World #1 Ma Long (5,5,3,6). I can't find video of that match (I'm guessing it'll go up later) but here's video (8:15, with time between points removed) of him in the qualifier defeating the group's top seed, Tan Ruiwu (world #72) from Croatia. His world ranking is going to shoot up.

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.

Ask a Pro Anything – Marcos Freitas

Here's the video (19 sec) where Adam Bobrow invites you to submit questions for the world #8 from Portugal.

Bouncing Ball on Racket Handle Challenge

Here's the video (3:18) as top players in Asia are challenged to see how many times they can do this. To see the final standings, go to 3:07; to see the record performance of 55 by Xu Xin, go to 2:49.  

USATT Member, Comedian, and Author Judah Friedlander on The Daily Show

Here's the video (6:11) from Tuesday night (Oct. 20) of Judah Friedlander. With a 1607 rating (over 2000 if he sheds the excessive weight from his hair and beard), he's the "World Champion"! "Comedian Judah Friedlander explains the inspiration behind his signature look and discusses 'If the Raindrops United,' his book of satirical illustrations." (He's also the author of "How to Beat Up Anybody."

I've coached Judah a number of times at MDTTC – while he now lives in New York, he grew up in Maryland, and spends a few weeks here every year. One of my surreal moments was the time I coached, back-to-back, Delaware Governor Jack Markell (USATT rating 1223) and then Judah, and then introduced the two and they played each other for over an hour.

More Mike Mezyan Pictures

NOTE - If you are unable to see these pictures, all you have to do is join the Table Tennis Group - it's easy! Here are all the past, present, and (soon) future pictures he's collected. (I pick out his best ones for here - he has more.)

Bonding Time with the Women's USA Team

Here's the video (50 sec) as USA Women's team members Lily Zhang and Jiaqi Zheng have a "Lady and the Tramp" moment – with Adam Bobrow there to capture the moment.

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