Abstract

MALHEIRO, Fernando. Training programme evaluation of young tennis players participating in the Portuguese Table Tennis Federation training centers. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2005, vol.5, n.2, pp.184-191. ISSN 1645-0523.

The purpose of the present study was to understand the training process in 32 children and adolescents table tennis players aged 10-15 years following a special training programme in three training centers of the Table Tennis Portuguese Federation. This will help to identify the right methodology to be used, that is to say,  the identification of the adopted methodology will enable to verify if long term formation process used will help to improve significantly young players’ performance in adult age. Documental analysis approach was utilized in order to assess the training dossiers of the 2002/03 season. During this season the young player of the three training centers had 739 training sessions which were equal to 1641 practice hours. Results revealed that: i) The annual training volume was not enough to bring about improvement of the young tennis players in adult age; ii) Coaches did not pay attention to the importance of the psychological aspect. Rather, they emphasized technical, tactical and speed aspects. We concluded, that there is a need to shift given emphasis to other training categories.

Keywords : performance; children and adolescents; table tennis; sports training.

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