When the Chinese teams gets crushed, it is a good day for everyone (including the Chinese players). It is good for the rest of the world because it give us hope that they really are beatable and it is good for the Chinese team because it gives them a challenge. When you always have an all Chinese semifinal and all Chinese final, there is no one to cheer for and no one to cheer against. Great Job Mima Ito! Keep up the good work!

Thurs-Sat, Dec 26-28 Ohio Winter Camp
Fri-Sat, Feb 15-16 Presper Financial Architect Open (Major USATT Tournament)
 
Weekly Schedule
November
Mon, Nov 19 Open Club Play and Group Classes
Thurs, Nov 22 (No League - thanksgiving day)
Mon, Nov 26 Open Club Play and Group Classes
Thurs, Nov 29 Winter League begins
 
 
December

Chance Friend
 
Why is he developing into one of the best US coaches?  It isn’t his rating, it isn’t his US ranking, it isn’t his forehand or backhand or footwork.  It is his mind.
 
See, most top players began playing at 7 or 8 years old and the skills were developed at a young age from repetition again and again during structured training programs.  Not for Chance Friend.  He had to work through many things on his own learning skills throughout his teen years and he learned to watch pros, think for himself, and try to develop his own game.
 

Multiball Contest

The Samson Dubina Table Tennis Academy wants to see your multiball skills! Video record yourself feeding multiball and post it to youtube, facebook, or instagram. How many balls can you feed per minute? Send the link to Coach Samson Dubina tt@samsondubina.com. The winner will receive a dozen Nittaku Premium Balls sent directly to your house for FREE! Contest goes from Nov 10 through Nov 17. Winner will be publicly announced on Nov 19.

Two Bad Words…
 
MORE PRACTICE!
Why are they bad words? 
These 2 words seems so harmless. 
Doesn’t everyone in the US need to practice more? 
 
No, US players don’t need to ONLY practice more.  They need to have a plan of what to practice, they need details on what to focus on during practice, they need a structure to understand how their games should progress, and they need more practice in the right environment practicing the right aspects.
 

 
 
At the Ohio Winter Camp, we offer FREE airport transportation and FREE daily transportation from the area hotels to the venue each day.  Area hotels range from $60-$80/night.  If you want to save money, contact Samson and he will try to pair you with someone to share a room with so you only need to pay $30/night (includes breakfast).  We want to make sure that this camp is affordable for Ohio players as well as those traveling from our of state!  See you soon!
 
Ohio Winter Camp... December 26-28
All Ages - All Levels Welcome!

 
 
At the world class level, is table tennis more mental or physical?
Facebook Poll
Vote NOW at https://www.facebook.com/samson.dubina
 
At the world class level, is table tennis more mental or physical?   This question has been asked many many times, and today I would like to briefly give you a few things to think about.  (Even though I’m only listing three basic aspects of each, there are actually dozens of mental and physical aspects.  I’m just listing three to give you a short sample).

One of the most exciting US tournaments is just around the corner...

Recognition

In table tennis, recognition is very important...  regardless if you are a beginner 7-year-old, senior citizen trying to make progress, or Olympic gold medalist.  Last year, I was racking my brain trying to figure out a way to feature the beginners at our weekly league.  How can I put them in the spotlight for 5 min?  How can I feature a 1500-rated play or a 500 rated player can make him the champion for the night?

Thinking...  thinking... thinking...

Sam Rosario requested that I post his coaching article.  Check it out below...
 
 
5 Common Ping Pong Injuries and How You Can Avoid Them
Few people consider ping pong – also known as table tennis - to be a sport that comes with a high risk of injury.
After all, how much pain can batting around a light plastic ball really cause?
The answer to that, at least in my case is: quite a bit.