August 11, 2016

Back to Coaching, Office Coaching, ITTF Classes, and Dan's Autobiography
After my five weeks wandering the country, I'm back to regular coaching. I was coaching during most of my travels – but much of that was coaching matches at the USA Nationals and Junior Olympics. I did a lot of "regular" coaching at the USATT Supercamp, but since I didn't apply to be one of the National Team Coaches (which I was for about ten years back in the 1990s/early 2000s), I was more of an assistant there – sometimes a "walk around" coach, other times working one-on-one as a practice partner/coach. (But my primary duties there was a manager and writer.) It was great fun working with many of the top U.S. junior players from all over the country, but now it's back to coaching just locals.

But with the Nationals and Junior Olympics over, for many players now's the time to start reworking parts of their game, thinking long-term. One of my players currently dominates with his serve and his backhand, but is having forehand problems - attacking, rallying, and blocking – and so we're really working on this, with some major technical changes. It's tiring for me since to work on his forehand block, someone has to loop – and that would be me! I had two hours of coaching last night – not too much – but it'll get busier in the coming weeks. Fortunately, I wasn't needed at this week's MDTTC camp so I'm able to catch up on things. I might be needed in the next two camps coming up, however. (They are all Mon-Fri.)

But now I'm facing major time problems. With private and group coaching starting up, and my usual writing (both table tennis and science fiction & fantasy), plus all my USATT work, plus my current big project – editing Dan Seemiller's autobiography (more on that below!), I just don't have time or energy for anything new. For example, yesterday I received an email from an office with 18 people, where table tennis has apparently become a craze – and they want me to come in a coach all these people – all 18! – on their one table. Even if I take more than one at a time, that's a lot of time I don't really have – but it's also a lot of income if I take it. Later today I have to decide whether to do this or pass it on to another coach.

I've also been asked to run an ITTF coaching seminar at MDTTC. Again, it's a major time commitment, so I don't know yet if I'll be doing it. We were thinking of getting it together quickly and run it at the end of August, but that's probably just too short notice, so we're rethinking that. If anyone's interested in attending an ITTF Level 1 Coaching Class, let me know and I'll contact you when/if we have plans.

Regarding Dan's book, I'm hoping to finish the main editing by the weekend, or Monday at the latest. Then I'll be working with Dan in placing about 70 photos (along with captions and photo attributions). Then there's the covers, copyright page, dedication page, acknowledgement page, table of contents, and an index. If all goes well, we can have it ready by early September. I'll post updates here. Mark your calendar – this is a long-awaited book that (at least in the table tennis world) will sell like Harry Potter!

Olympic Coverage
Here's the ITTF International Coverage, and here are USATT's News Segments. Here's the Day Four Summary – and Congrats to Ding Ning, the Women's Olympic Gold Medalist!

10 Things that Require Zero Talent
Here's the article from Samson Dubina.

Footwork Training in China
Here's the video (37 sec). We've done versions of this at MDTTC, but not in recent years. Maybe we should bring it back.

China's Olympic Gold Medal Factories
Here's the video (1:24). This is why China will likely soon dominate in skill sports at the Olympics. For years they relied on Chinese coaches in sports where the best coaches were from other countries. In recent years they have been recruiting top foreign coaches for sports like basketball and soccer. These special sports schools started in the 1960s with table tennis and badminton – Cheng Yinghua came from one of them. (He's been a coach at MDTTC since 1992, and was three-time U.S. National and two-time U.S. Open Men's Singles Champion, and a member of the Chinese National team from 1977-87.)

Jun Mizutani's Serve
Here's the video (55 sec) – as I write this he just lost to Ma Long in the semifinals of the Olympics.

Paul Drinkhall with this Insane Rally!
Here's the video (55 sec).

Belly Pong?
Here's the repeating gif image.

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On Samson's advice:

> Do you go the extra mile or do you only do what is asked or expected of you and no more? Do not ask for success if you do not wish to go the extra mile.

I think it is a very dangerous one. Always going for an extra mile off the plan can lead to overtraining and burnout, which may impede progress for months and even cause injury or illness. High profile coaches and athletes from endurance sports know this very well. They even use real time blood tests to know when it is time to stop.