Training of table tennis coaches begins

Muscat, July 23

As many as 13 coaches took part in the Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Table Tennis Coaches (Level 2) which began at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Saturday. The training course is organised by the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) in coordination with Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) and Olympic Solidarity. The six-day coaching course, which is presented by the international certified trainer Karima Tella from Algeria, includes theoretical and practical sessions.

The course opening took place earlier on Saturday in the presence of OTTA officials who welcomed the international trainer and the participants. Later, the lecturer started the agenda of course for day one which witnessed a general briefing on the course contents beside some basic training skills. In the evening session, the participants implemented some training skills like turning and movement during the matches. The forthcoming days will feature a series of theoretical and practical sessions on coaching top performer paddlers; physical preparations for the players ahead of actual training, foot work, analysis of a game; attack and defence fundamentals; pressurising rivals; technical standard training on backhand and forehand; and many others related sessions. Each day will comprise six hours of training; four hours for theoretical and two hours for practical sessions.

Karima Tella is an approved lecturer from ITTF, world TT governing body, and she is a member of the technical coaching expert committee. She was a former player and coach in different clubs and teams. She is focusing now on delivering an advanced coaching course to different countries.

Mohammed al Jassasi, Board member of OTTA and head of coaching and umpiring committee, said that OTTA is keen to provide a proper development for all the personnel related to table tennis family including coaches, referees, players and officials. “ Coaches are considered as key members in the TT sport as they deliver crucial roles to the players during coaching and official competitions. This training course is designed properly to ensure development of our national and expatriates coaches to grow and lead their respective teams”

Al Jassasi affirmed that OTTA will organise more courses for coaches in the near future to boost the number of qualified trainers in Oman.