Special Olympics Table Tennis Coaching Guide Teaching Table Tennis Skills Hand Ball 1. Drop the ball onto the table. 2. With a forehand stroke, hit the ball with the racket or playing hand. 3. After several repetitions, have a partner toss the ball gently and hit the ball with a forehand stroke. Cup Catches 1. Hold a large cup in your racket or playing hand and try to catch a tossed ball in the cup. 2. Count consecutive catches. Racket Bounce 1. Using a forehand grip, hold the racket about 30 centimeters above the table. 2. Gently bounce the ball downward on the table. 3. Perform as many "downs" as possible in 30 seconds. 4. As players advance, challenge them to dribble the ball while moving around the table. Intermediate Drills for Forehand and Backhand Strokes Shadow Drills Shadow drills are performed without a ball and are an excellent way to check for proper stroke execution. Follow the Leader: An athlete or coach leads the group through a series of strokes without using a ball as the instructor checks technique. Simon Says: Athletes must follow the leader's instructions only when he/she says "Simon says" before giving the instruction. Statues: The coach calls out a command for the athletes to simulate a forehand or backhand and then calls out "freeze." At that time, the athletes should remain still as the coach checks for proper grip and form. Self Drop 1. Hold the racket with the proper grip and position your body in either the forehand or backhand ready position. 2. Drop the ball from the non-playing hand onto the table to the front of the body. 3. Stroke the ball over the net onto the opposite side of the table. 4. Record the number of successful drop hits and note improvement as the season progresses. 5. An adaptation of this drill is to have the coach stand at the side of the table and drop the ball. Hit Tossed Balls 1. A partner or coach tosses a ball over the net to the athlete. 2. Make contact after the first bounce and hit the ball over the net. 3. Count consecutive hits, aim for targets, and keep score between players. Be creative and keep the athletes interested. Special Olympics Table Tennis Coaching Guide - February 2014 41