I was just wondering if the community had some ideas for me on planning a session.

The session lasts for about 3 hours and are currently once a week. I do some private coaching also if the players need further help with their game.

This is how a session would typically run with my current setup.

1. Stretching 5-10 mins of basic stretching all areas before training begins. 

2. Warmup - 10 mins backhand and forehand counterhit.

3. Footwork Drills - 30 mins usually do about 3 different drills which I vary based on player.

4. Short Pushing - 5 mins 

5. Break - 5 mins

6. Multiball -  Depending on size of group usually takes 40-45 mins to complete covering all major areas.

You should not stretch cold muscles so you would need some sort of a warm-up (light jog) before stretching.

 

Haha, SO TRUE. Dynamic stretching is best and that means doing light versions of whatever activity is being done, so to warm up body using dynamic stretching for TT, one can do slow and half power hits, then up it up a bit with half power lops and the associated movements half power or hop steps, two steps, & crossover.

 

Static stretching is sooooo over-rated before an activity and can wreck you if over-done. Yet, even in this day we see it done everywhere.

 

Why?

 

It is in the coaching manual and has been drilled into us in school from jokers who really don't know, but are in charge. Sounds like both military and corporate execs. So, who is in charge of all the drunken monkeys in the world?

Nothing, as long as do not teach static stretching on cold muscles.

So what I really would like to know is the following:

What specific drills should I be doing with the players to help further their game?

In what order should I be structuring the session?

Should I be including all the things I mentioned in the first post and is there anything that I'm missing that is essential to include?

I'm looking for a specific session guide that I can use and refer to which will help maximize our time the most efficiently.

Should probably have mentioned the coaching is for all ages not just juniors specifically maybe that will help you in answering my questions.

Thankyou.

2. multiball drills:

a. since they are of intermediate level, i seldom do single forehand drills as warm up drills but i go directly to side to side fh-fh drills side and middle part of the table and middle and side part with pivot.

b. backhand drive drill

c. backhand - forehand side-to-side drills

d. falkenberg

e. random bh-fh drills, side to side

f. push-chop follow up with forehand loop ( depending on what situation you are trying to simulate) could also be 2nd ball attacks using loop vs. backspin with either fixed or random placement. more advanced version is you block the loop and then the player does follow up

g. backhand loop

these are some of the things i would do for intermediate players.

after multiball drills:

1. table single ball drills (patterned or random)

2. service practice and service receive

3. match plays

4. last is physical conditioning exercises and cool down

+1. this is more or less the drills/ that my coach has me and a few others do.

For example, lately I've been doing the following a few times a week. This is at the individual (not class) level though it could be adapted. Each drill has a set goal. The session ends when the whole basket of balls is done. Can be done within the hour.

1. Forehand to forehand hit. You proceed to step 2. when you can do at least 100 balls in a row without missing.  (When players are used to this, they can complete step 1. in the first 2 or 3 balls and they can stop the rally after the 100.) 

2. Backhand to backhand hit. You proceed to step 3. when you can do at least 100 balls in a row without missing. (Probably can be done without using up more than half-a-dozen balls from the basket.)

Total time for Phase 1 is about 5 mins, maybe 10 max.

Student is now warmed up enough to add some workload.

3. Forehand loop. Partner forehand blocks. You proceed to step 4. when you can do at least 30 loops in a row without missing. (Maybe takes at least the time for steps 1. and 2. combined. Degree of difficulty is higher so error rate should be higher here. Probably consume a dozen balls...)

Now the student is probably fully warmed up and sweating, time to add significant footwork ...

4. Forehand loop from two points (forehand corner and middle), alternately.  Proceed to step 5. when you can do at least 15 sets (30 loops total) without missing.

5. 2 backhands, 2 forehands from the backhand corner. Proceed to step 6. when you can do at least 7 s ets (28 balls) without missing.

This completes the pure drill segment. If the student is experienced, steps 1 to 5 can be completed successfully in under 30 mins and there should still be plenty of balls left in the basket.

If the student lacks stamina or consistency, probably this will take the entire hour or all the balls will be used up.

Even with real professional coaches, I've been insisting on steps 1 through 5 to start each of my sessions. And because I go through the same, familiar stepped protocol, I feel more relaxed and ready.

Step 6. onwards are more advanced and relate more to actual match play and my own strengths/weaknesses.

Sandiway