preparing for tournament or new season

[kaikaz]

Hi

As the title says, is there something you guys do to prepare yourself for a tournament or new season.

Season in my country is over now and starts again in 4 months. How would you guys prepare for this?

Do you take a time off and play other sports or do you keep playing untill the new season starts again?

If you take some time off, how much time is it and when do you start again.

How much time do you think someone needs to prepare him/herself for a new season.

Off season, do you only play matches in your club or do you also do exercices like falkenberg and others?

Do you only do some physical training in the off season?

I would like to hear from everyone how they prepare for a new season or tournament.

 

[azlan]

Do you take a time off and play other sports or do you keep playing untill the new season starts again?

If you take some time off, how much time is it and when do you start again.

ANS : Personally, right after each season I won't be lifting my bat for at least 2 weeks. I would keep myself fit by playing badminton and tennis, and occasionally, football. I run 4 times a week just to sweat it out. Most importantly, at my age I will try to be injury free coz it'll take some time for me to recover from injuries. Usually I will start extensive training 5 weeks before the season start. At the time being, usually I will get some invitations from Vietnam and Guongzhou to play invitational local circuit tournaments.

How much time do you think someone needs to prepare him/herself for a new season.

Off season, do you only play matches in your club or do you also do exercices like falkenberg and others?

Do you only do some physical training in the off season?

ANS : For me it's about 5 weeks before each season starts, I will begin extensive training. I am not sure about the others, but since I am not taking tabletennis as serious as I used to be, 5 weeks is sufficient. My career also limits my involvement in the sport.
Nowadays, I don't do much physical training, just regular workouts, just to keep me generally fit.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Generally in the season break I go back home to where my parents live where the table tennis is not so great, so I spend up to a month and a half coaching and playing socially so I can keep my touch and feeling. I don't do any training until I come back to prepare pre-season. The start of pre-season training is re-focusing and reinforcing technical aspects of the game, regaining footwork and rhythm, feeling etc.

Generally we focus on matchplay a month to a month and a half out from a major tournament and tactical or free exercises where players focus on reinforcing the stronger points of their game and developing the weakest points.

Also off season it is important to maintain physical fitness so I spent last summer with a personal trainer toning down and keeping in shape and light on my toes.

 

[kaikaz]

Anyone else here want to share some info how to prepare for the new season or a tournament?

How many weeks or months do you start practicing again for the new season or do you never stop?

And if you keep playing all year long, do you never get a burn out?

 

[mullywully]

i find the summer is a prime time to train hard on techniques as there is loads more time available! its also a great time to try and get fit for the new season!!

 

[azlan]

To answer kaikaz, I used to get burn out..we are not footballers where we get paid millions a month, they can't afford to get burn out. So it's important to get associated with other activities. Going to the golf range occasionally helps me to relax a little and in some funny way it helps my TT strokes. Go figure......

 

[azlan]

Oh, btw....having 4 children helps a lot to keep me relaxed and off TT whenever I'm home. That really helped me.