Coach Samson Dubina US National Team Coach 4x USATT Coach of the Year
 

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Group Session FAQ

by Samson Dubina on Mon, 2014-07-14 21:56
Learn how to improve your skills through group training!

I receive frequent e-mails with questions regarding weekend group clinics.  In the article, I’m going to outline the details of my group coaching sessions.

Mental Strategies - Part 25

by Samson Dubina on Thu, 2014-07-10 22:32
Feeling Moody? Read this article!

 
 
 
Be Happy
 
     At tournaments, some players are very happy and others are very disappointed. 
 
Is it the winning that changes the mood? 
 
Or is it the mood that changes the winning? 
 
     It could be both.  But in this article, I would like to address the fact that staying positive and cheerful and excited will help boost your confidence and help you play your best.  I feel that often the mood, before and during the match, really changes the outcome of the match.

Bible Thought of the Week

by Samson Dubina on Thu, 2014-07-10 22:09
Read a short story about sheep, grass, and snow...

This afternoon, I read a short story that relates to 2 Bible passages…
 
A little girl was once looking at a sheep as it ate green grass.  She thought to herself how nice and white the sheep looked against the green grass.  Then it began to snow.  The little girl then thought how dirty the sheep looked against the white snow.  It was the same sheep, but with a different background.
 
When we compare ourselves to the background of man’s standards, we come up reasonably white and clean.  Compared to other people, we don’t see the wickedness of our sin. 
 

100 Steps to Elite Table Tennis

by Samson Dubina on Thu, 2014-07-10 08:50
Written by ITTF Coach Richard McAfee

In this article, Richard McAfee lists 100 steps that every top player need to take to reach perfection in table tennis.  I hope that reading this will be as beneficial to you as it has been to me.
 
Technical development
STAGE 1
1. Athlete will be able to produce and explain a proper grip, including pressure points.
2. Athlete will be able to demonstrate the proper ready position.
3. Athlete will be able to execute the following basic strokes with correct form, directional control, and with an 80% success rate when fed by coach:

An Update From ITTF

by Samson Dubina on Thu, 2014-07-10 08:50
Get the latest scoop on the new ball!

Here are some rules regarding the new plastic balls....
 

  1. Plastic balls will be used at ITTF Sanctioned events from 1st July 2014
  2. As an exception celluloid balls will be used at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and at four (4) ITTF Junior Circuit events taking place after 1st July 2014 but before the 2014 YOG

Here is the list of the four (4) ITTF Junior Circuit events exceptionally using celluloid balls in the period between 1st July and 15th August 2014:

Thinking Ahead...

by Samson Dubina on Sat, 2014-07-05 17:55
Read this short article about setting goals in table tennis

Goal setting is very important in life, school, work, athletics, and many other areas of life.  If you want to train in table tennis with excellent focus and you want to perform well in competition, I would recommend writing out a long-term goal.  Long term generally means 2-10 years from now.  After you have written it out, hang it in your training room for a daily reminder.
 

Bible Passage of the Week

by Samson Dubina on Sat, 2014-07-05 17:52
Read about a prediction...

Luke 18:31-34
 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.  For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.  They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”  But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

A New Twist on Concentration

by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2014-07-04 20:49
Try This New Idea At Home!

Your consistency will improve when you are able to focus on the ball as it contacts your racket.  You should watch the ball all the way to contact.  Many players repeatedly say to themselves, “Watch the ball!  Watch the ball!”  However, they still don’t watch the ball until contact.  So how can you train yourself to concentrate more on the contact point? 
 

Train Your Mind

by Samson Dubina on Sun, 2014-06-29 20:15
Improve your tt skills by watching these 3 short clips

 
 
Here are 3 new video clips.
The first is a highlight clip from the North American Cup, the second is a training clip with Egyptian National Team Member Sameh Awadallah, and the third clip is demonstration on dealing with no-spin serves.
 
 
Highlight Clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lwI2BpTA&feature=youtube_gdata
 

Put the Fire Out

by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2014-06-27 22:51
Learn to overcome one of the major tournament problems

 
“There is nothing I can do!”
“He is just on!”
“It’s like he is on fire!”
“There is no shame in losing to this guy!”
“He is playing out of his mind!”
“He never misses!”
These are some of the common expression that I hear from low-rated players at tournaments.  When I hear these comments during matches from a student, I know that the student has already mentally conceded the match.
 

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