I Spent 3 Weeks with Full The Chinese National Team

[Matt Hetherington]

I have sat on this for a long time (years), but since I am trying to make more long-form content I wanted to share. I tried to think of things I observed which could actually help people to think about the way they coach and train, and what their perspectives and focus points are during their training. I hope it at least has some things to either re-affirm ideas you may already have, or some new ones to adopt.

 

[Tyce]

Thanks Matt, top stuff. I especially love the part that makes clear that they don't really have to work on technique anymore. Not because they are special, but because they already put in 10.000 hours of technical practice when they were young.
People seem to keep thinking that they can skip that step, because it looks like the CNT doesn't do it either. Just like they think they can skip straight to fast, powerful professional gear.

As an amateur, with certainly no good technique, I think my best training sessions would cover a technical aspect for maybe half an hour in pure form, and then evolve into matchplay where you're encouraged to apply what you just covered. For example, you can only score with a BH loop, or counters give double points, basically anything can be converted into gamified, randomised practice.

For most beginners and intermediates, this is an effective training framework. When you go beyond that, you just put less time in the pure technical aspect and more into application. It makes sense!

However, lots of intermediate players just skip the technical part completely and play practice matches only, without intention. Sometimes due to lack of guidance, sometimes lack of interest. It's often considered weird if you have been playing for over 5 years and still want to improve. Apparently it's not possible to learn beyond that point once you stagnate, that's it.