The One Minute Window: Cornering for Coaches

It was the big day! The competition is at a conclusion. Holding your racket, cold sweat and adrenaline rushes through your veins. “I have to make this shot, this one is mine!” you tell yourself over and over again as you move towards the table. The score is 9-10, you are struggling to level up the point, on the 5^th game. The whole team is hanging on to this last match.  You held the ball, opened your palm, tossed it high and moved to make the serve… it hit the side of your racket – you lost the point. Disgruntled and pressured your Coach called for a Time Out!  

In life and in table tennis when pressures builds up and when everything is hanging on a balance there is always a perfect time to stop, recollect yourself and look back. In sports, these crucial moments will call for a time out. It takes a lot of courage to stand in front of the table holding the only weapon you got – your racket and your spirit, and find the courage to win one point after another when everything is on your shoulders. 

If you are the coach during this crucial moment, what can a one-minute-time-out be? How would you turn around the game and what would you say to your best player? How would you motivate him to win the match?

I asked two of our prominent coaches this substantial questions and these is what they have to say: 

Coach  Michael Gan (NU Philippines , 13 years coaching career)

Cornering Do’s

1.       Ensure that the player is ready to listen.

2.       Be very clear and straight to the point.

3.       Observe his/her mental state. If too excited, calm him/her if needed.

4.       Match the advice to the players level.

Don’t’ s:

1.       Don’t rush.

2.       Don’t give to many instructions.

3.       Don’t give advice beyond the player’s capability.

4.       Don’t argue. Listen.

He adds up, “When you only have 1 minute go straight to the point. I keep it in mind to remind him/her of the game plan and tell it if he/she is not keeping up with it. Maximize strength and cover the weakness!”

Coach Mike is also teaching and part of the Pasig Table Tennis Club family and a good friend who share the same passion in developing players from grass roots level.

Coach Noel Gonzales (17 years Head Coach of Collegio De San Juan De Letran, Manila)

"Coaching between games"...well, it is very important for the coach to call a time out especially when his/her player is in trouble. A coach should be able to use it wisely .But he just have to give the very important words of wisdom or key words in a short period of time (1 minute).The coach must be sure that the players received clearly all the important information about the tactics that he/she can apply during that moment."

Coach Noel has also served as Coach in Far Eastern University for 7 years, RP Team from 1993 to 2001 and just came back as RP coach. 

In summary it is imperative to know your player – how would the player respond to your advice? What you would want them to do and what they would like to hear from you? Remember, that when you are on the spot as the player you cannot see all the angles of the play nor at some point notice the tactics the opponent is doing on you. Telling the player on how you see the game is going would definitely mean a lot.

Even at the start of the game the player should know clearly the game plan. The game plan should be realistic and achievable tailor fitted to their style of play. During cornering time you might have to remind them if they are sticking to the plan or on what point in play they win or loss points and how. 

According Michel Gadal from the book “Train to Win,” these key words will help you in giving that edge to your player on that crucial moment: Calm Encourage Plan Focus React (ITTF Manual) Concise Precise Positive. POSITIVE COACHES MOTIVATE ATHLETES!

This list can go on endless. You just have to pick up the most important and crucial information you have to share with your player and I assure you that the One Minute window can either mean winning or losing. 

At the end of the game it is important to realize that as a coach you were able to talk to your player in a language that they can understand. You unload the pressure and gave them peace and direction so he or she can make through that match point either to take home the trophy or a player’s lesson that will always be remembered.