Should I quit playing?

Table Tennis Training and Drills

Last updated 15 years ago

Ginette Unknown

Ginette Unknown Asked 15 years ago

Hi Coach

I have been playing table tennis for five months and used to be very passionate about the sport when I began playing. At that time, I was very lucky to have a coach who taught me so well and was very inspiring (he used to be a national athelete). However, since he has been very busy, now I only have a chance to play with him only around once a month and I have no one else to teach me. Other training centers are so far away from my place. I did try the training center nearby but I was very disappointed with the coaches' impunctuality and the training methods there so I didn't want to play with other coaches except the one I mentioned.

 Now I feel that my interest in table tennis has been fading away - so much that sometimes I feel like quitting because I have no one else to play with. At the beginning, I am still motivated to practice on my own at home for at least an hour every two days but since I rarely have a chance to play with my coach, I no longer have enthusiasm to play on my own although my coach encouraged me to do so. I do play with some friends but I didn't have that much chance to practice or learn new tricks because my friends have just started playing for around a month.  It was the case where the blind simply leads another.

When my coach is free, I go to play with him but the feeling is not the same. Every time I have a chance to play, I feel like I have to start from scratch again. My skill is deteriorating and I wasn't as good as I was at the beginning and I feel that my coach is a bit disappointed as well. Sometimes I am not sure whether I am wasting his time (he teaches me as a favor because he knews a member of my family) Without passion, it's so difficult to maintain the level of performance I used to have, nor can I encourage myself to practice on my own the way I used to.

 Now I am confused. I am not sure whether I should just quit playing. I love the sport so much (and have invested so much money on this already) and really want to play. My coach is so nice  but he doesn't have that much time to teach me.Whenever he is free and I go to play, I feel like a little kid who didn't do homework when I play. Now I am no longer motivated. Do you think I should quit?  Thank you very much for reading this long letter!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Ginette,

It is not how good we get, but how well we use what is available to us.

Work hard with the time that you have with your coach and use the rest of your table tennis time well. 

If you happen to be able to find other training that is useful then use that too, but don't quit because everything is not juts right.

You may not improve as much as if you had regular sesisons with your coach but you can still improve and reach a good level with whatever opportunity you have.

Work hard and se what you can achieve.  Remember this is a sport that you love so give it everything you can. If you really enjoy it keep with it.


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