(*PATT Notes is a periodically issued table tennis discussion from The PATT Institute (www.ThePATTInstitute.com))

Service Training within the Training Session

Recently I recalled a discussion I had with a coach from a prominent German club during a training camp we were coaching at in Gstaad, Switzerland.   She introduced the subject by mentioning to me the clear disadvantage many of the club players experienced during the first three shots of points, particularly when the players were serving.   All coaches at the club were in agreement as to the problem assessment; different views were expressed as to the cause of the problem.

During a coaches� meeting, all agreed that one needed area of improvement was the quality of serving.   One astute coach mentioned that there appeared to be a puzzle here: He noted that the time they spend in service training was equivalent, if not greater, than comparable club environments.  The level of effort appeared sufficient, the result of that effort insufficient.

Through a few experiments, the club arrived at a solution that significantly increased the players� serving effectiveness.  The two changes they made are as follows:

1.       Division and placement of the service training:  The typical format for the club�s training session was to divide the session into two periods, with a break between the two periods.  Following the second period, service training would occur.  The change they made was to divide the service training period into two periods also, placing the service training at the end of each training period.  This change significantly improved the players� concentration.

2.       Coaching of the service training:  The second change made was to ensure that at least one coach participated in each of the service training periods.  Previously, the service training was without direction.  The value of this change is found in both the technical suggestions available from the coach and the opportunity for the players to discuss a more broad-based approach to each player�s service repertoire and its strategic use.

Many concluded the subsequent improved league play as directly attributable to these training improvements.