I’m thinking about training in Germany

[KTableTennis]

Hi everyone. I have been thinking about training in Germany for a bit when I am 15. I am 12. I want to know which clubs are the best that I could go to. And I was also wondering because my coach got recruited to train in Europe when he was 16, how could I get “recruited” somehow. Where would I go where there are people who do that? Thanks! And are there any ways that I could get discounts on prices? Because it would be hard for me and my family to pay. I would also need somewhere to stay. And how long should I go for

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Unless you are very high level by the time you are 15, think 2600+ at the least, you will have to pay out of pocket in order to train at a high level club.

Unless you are much higher level than most of the people you are training with or bring something extremely valuable to the table, no, you will not get "discounts". And yes that includes a cost for housing as well as training.

There is no point in thinking now what clubs are the best - it will be more of a question of what clubs will be willing to take you.

Have you asked your coach about these questions?

 

[KTableTennis]

Ah, i see. Yeah I have. He said the best would be DTTZ but I would need to figure out how to get in. That definitely is my top pick right now, DTTZ, but I need to get enough money for that by the time I’m 15 to be able to buy my way in right? Also tiwan is another good option

 

[ThePongCommenter]

You are thinking way too far ahead. You should worry about getting to 2500 at the minimum in the next 3 years. If you don't do that, and as you learned in the last thread, you have a long road ahead to reach that...then you can forget about playing in any high level table tennis center in Europe or Asia, whether you have the money or not.

If and when you reach that level by that age, then you can make a decision based off the options that are even available.

 

[piligrim]

Saarbrücken good club

 

[lightspin]

Do not go abroad unless your parents go with you. I will not go into why but the adults on the forum can guess why. Some clubs in Germany are bad news. Some places in China are bad news. I don't mean bad training either. Once you are 15, send me a DM and I can suggest some places but absolutely do not go abroad at that age unless your parents go with you.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Do not go abroad unless your parents go with you. I will not go into why but the adults on the forum can guess why. Some clubs in Germany are bad news. Some places in China are bad news. I don't mean bad training either. Once you are 15, send me a DM and I can suggest some places but absolutely do not go abroad at that age unless your parents go with you.

Why?

 

[BlopChock]

Surely lightspin is referring to protection from predators.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

you can't be traveling around as a minor
will require a legal guardian.

I already said in the last thread, not just you need to make sacrifices, one of your folks need to too.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Ask your mom to go live in China with you for the next 3 years. She can teach english and you just train all day

 

[Metaxa]

https://www.borussia-duesseldorf.com/en/tt-school/home

 

[KTableTennis]

https://www.borussia-duesseldorf.com/en/tt-school/home

For this how would I book training for many many months?

 

[KTableTennis]

Another one I was looking at is Eslöv table tennis academy. I am going to first work on getting to a higher level like 2300-2400 then I will write them an email to train there. Is that good?

 

[Tyce]

For this how would I book training for many many months?

By reading the page and using the contact information.

 

[joshmak10]

I’m not sure why this kid is using TTD as his research for attempting to go down the professional player route

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Another one I was looking at is Eslöv table tennis academy. I am going to first work on getting to a higher level like 2300-2400 then I will write them an email to train there. Is that good?

Just so you know, these academies that are attached to famous TT clubs you have heard of (such as Dusseldorf, Grenzau, or Eslov) are not where the pro players from that club's A team or even B team are training. If the academy allows anybody of any level to train, then the club is probably really not much higher level training than what you would get at a premier TT club in the USA. At 2300-2400 you will probably be not good enough to practice with the best players but also too good to practice with the people paying their way there.

Unfortunately it is not as simple as finding a club and signing up. It is very important you go to a club where you have connections to the head coach or owner. You get those connections either through your coach, yourself, or your network. If you are a random person paying your way in, the hard reality is that they probably won't prioritize your development and likely will be a waste of time and money.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I’m not sure why this kid is using TTD as his research for attempting to go down the professional player route

He is using the internet to try to get information as I'm sure you do too. Seems like his coach and club may not have had all the answers which I'm sure he tried first.

 

[Yurifi]

like I said already. everyone is talking about rating and numbers, and I told you - forget about this. especially in Germany. in Europe in general. here results count. if you practice hard, and play well, do well in tournaments, win some bigger tournaments - that is your big chance.

if you win some nice tournaments with strong opposition, than you can write to Borussia or Saarbrucken, that you are young and talented player and that your results support that. this could be your way in. still, it might be expensive, but if you have good results, maybe they would take you in so that you could grow in their club, but that would be a very long term ... and yes, you need your parent's support. either one will have to come with you for the first few weeks to help you settled and then you can stay here as I guess club could take care of you - at least this was the case some 10-20 years ago - clubs would help you with training, school, getting settled, but as I said, it won't be cheap.

 

[joshmak10]

He is using the internet to try to get information as I'm sure you do too. Seems like his coach and club may not have had all the answers which I'm sure he tried first.

Sure but i feel like if he actually wants to make progress, using TTD won’t help him as many have said before. or maybe he should get a new coach lol

 

[ThePongCommenter]

like I said already. everyone is talking about rating and numbers, and I told you - forget about this. especially in Germany. in Europe in general. here results count. if you practice hard, and play well, do well in tournaments, win some bigger tournaments - that is your big chance.

if you win some nice tournaments with strong opposition, than you can write to Borussia or Saarbrucken, that you are young and talented player and that your results support that. this could be your way in. still, it might be expensive, but if you have good results, maybe they would take you in so that you could grow in their club, but that would be a very long term ... and yes, you need your parent's support. either one will have to come with you for the first few weeks to help you settled and then you can stay here as I guess club could take care of you - at least this was the case some 10-20 years ago - clubs would help you with training, school, getting settled, but as I said, it won't be cheap.

What you are saying isn't any different than what others are saying about ratings - its just how the USA equates what you are saying to roughly a 2500 level.