Finding the balance in Table Tennis
In at least 222 countries, people are competing in Table Tennis. In this sense, TT is one of the largest sports in the world. Hundreds of thousands of players are serious about their sport. They are practicing and participating in competitions. They are competing in the regional league or local series system.
A great share of these Table Tennis players are children or young people. Some of them want to reach the top. Others feel external pressure from parents, leaders, and others. For some periods, times are hard, or motivation is low. It can be difficult to find the right balance. Here are some tips on the way to find balance in Table Tennis.
Setting goals gives you a path to follow
It is very good to set goals for your training. In my view, every player should have goals to support their individual development. This goes for all ages. As a player, you should have your own vision. You should also set both long-term goals and short-term goals.
A vision shows the direction
A vision has a time horizon of several years, for example, five or ten years. A vision gives you direction and intensity. You might find it difficult to phrase a vision. Then, instead write why you practice Table Tennis — write down the purpose of your training.
Long-term goals support your grit or backbone
Long-term goals usually have a time horizon of 1–2 years. There are at least three kinds of long-term goals to consider:
- Orientational goals targeting main changes to improve competitiveness. Changes in for example your style of play, in the increase of the training dose or to start playing abroad.
- Effect goals — relate to the impact of your improved skill level. Effects such as reaching a new ranking class or to be selected for a certain team, competition or camp.
- Performance targets — for example competition results.
But, be careful with some of these goals for kids, especially with the performance targets. It is better to encourage the learning and improvement effort.
Short-term goals makes you improve
Short-term goals usually have a time horizon set in months.
Short-term goals are often a combination of activity and results-based goals. For instance, improve A by doing B to achieve C.
Short-term goals are usually related to specific improvements in all areas such as the technical, mental, tactical and physical areas.
Goals are not enough motivational
Set goals provide a purpose and meaning, give hope and a basic ambition. They might give you a strength of mind. Goals give you a path.
However, goals are not a sufficient stimulus. Goals are not enough for full motivation.
There should exist a certain amount of challenges to stimulate and motivate the player. But not too much. The player should have fun, and not be either frustrated or bored.
The goal is not always important. More often the journey towards the goal is.
Leagues and competitions are good for motivation.
Training camps and exciting trips to look forward to are also good.
Knowing that someone is supporting your efforts can increase motivation a lot. It could be, support with their time, sponsoring and other resources.
Managing stress
There is also a backside of the coin. Stress could be harmful to you.
You can become stressed if you perceive the challenges and the demands to be more difficult than you can control.
This could take a physical shape. You might feel bad, have pain, get sick, or you could get strange symptoms that are difficult to explain. Stress might even contribute to or originate serious inflammatory conditions.
It is important to timely identify stress and immediately take action. This means to rest and reduce the demands. Or somehow make the player to experience enhanced control. You need to go from the stressed state to an active state. You need to do this before the stress condition becomes chronic or severe.
Of course, the demands the player perceives do not have to come only from the Table Tennis activities. Stress can have many causes.
Take care.
