In this training camp you will learn the skills, technique and tactics needed to win extra points when playing local league matches. You will get lots of practical tips on footwork, ball placement, serve, receive, topspin attacks, flicks, tactics and more. This training camp is ideal for anyone playing at local league level or competing in amateur tournaments.
- Date: Tuesday 30 July 2024 to Friday 2 August 2024
- Venue: Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS
- Start / finish time: 10am-4pm each day
- Coaches: Tom Lodziak, Ferenc Horvath + Dan Milburn
- Participants: Maximum of 16 players per day
- Cost: £70 per day
- Flexible booking: Join for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
Programme
Here’s what to expect from the training camp…
Tuesday 30 July
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Rallying skills … Learn how to switch efficiently between backhand and forehand strokes and play that one extra shot to outplay your opponent.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Ball placement … Learn how to improve the placement of your shots to put your opponents under more pressure.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Wednesday 31 July
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Topspin vs backspin … Learn how to attack pushes and chops with fast, spinny and consistent topspin shots.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Flicking … Learn how to attack short serves with backhand and forehand flicks. No pushing allowed!
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Thursday 1 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Service strategy … Learn how to make your existing serves even stronger with more spin, better placement and clever variations.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Returning serves … Learn how to return serves the easy way and apply pressure on your opponent straight away.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Friday 2 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Analysing your opponent … Learn how to assess strengths and weaknesses and use tactical thinking to outwit your opponents.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Match tactics … Learn some new tactics to win extra points and stay a step ahead of your opponents.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Coaching team
The coaching team for this training camp will be:
Tom Lodziak
Tom is a full-time table tennis coach, based in Cambridge. In addition to coaching, he also competes in the top division of the Cambridge league and veteran tournaments around the country.
Ferenc Horvath
Ferenc is head coach of Paragon Table Tennis and has featured in many of my YouTube videos. He has coached in many countries in Europe and plays to a very high standard. Ferenc will be joining the training camp for all four days.
Dan Milburn
Dan coaches at Norwich City Table Tennis Club and a Level 2 Tournament Organiser. He competes in Norwich and Dereham leagues and also plays in British League and regional tournaments. Dan returned to table tennis after a long break following an arthritis diagnosis, and strives to be an ambassador for anyone being capable of playing and learning this great sport, regardless of their ability.
Who is this training camp suitable for?
This training camp is suitable for players who are already competing at a local league level or in amateur tournaments. At a minimum you should be able to serve confidently and be competent playing a forehand push, backhand push, forehand drive and backhand drive.
This training camp is not suitable for complete beginners. If you are unsure whether this training camp is suitable for you, please email me with more information about your playing standard and I will advise.
Training camp format
There will be a maximum of 16 players per day on this training camp. The big benefit of attending a smaller sized training camp is that you get lots of feedback from the coaching team.
There will be a mixture of demonstrations, drills and match-play exercises. There will also be opportunities for you to set your own exercises and work on the skills which are really important to you. The coaching team will observe you play and give technical and tactical feedback.
You will get the opportunity to play with different people throughout the training camp – usually a mixture of players from around the UK and also players from other countries. You will experience a positive coaching environment, joined by like-minded table tennis enthusiasts.
In the evenings, there might be opportunities to play table tennis at nearby clubs. There may also be opportunities for 1-to-1 sessions. More details will be given nearer the time. Alternatively other players may wish to meet up together for food and drink. You will be invited to join a WhatsApp group where you can communicate easily with other players.
Venue + accommodation
This training camp will take place at Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS.
There will be eight good quality tables and high quality training balls.
The sports centre has a small car park (free of charge) and modern changing facilities. The sports centre sells basic refreshments and also has free water dispensers to fill up water bottles.
If you require accommodation, please take a look at this accommodation guide, which gives lots of affordable options.
Visit Cambridge
If you live in another part of the UK (or another country), you could combine this training camp with some sightseeing of Cambridge in the evenings. There is always plenty to do in the picturesque university city. Find out what’s on in Cambridge on the Visit Cambridge website.
How to book
This training camp took place in August 2024.