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One thing that's often missing in a player's repertoire are goals. A player can practice for years, but if he doesn't decide where he's trying to get to, it's hard to get there.

If you are driving a great distance, you know what your long-term goal is: your destination at the end of the trip. You also have intermediate goals - rest stops, meal breaks, major turn-offs, etc. And you have short-term goals - the next turn. You don't just jump in your car and start driving - you first get directions.

Of course, if you have a car navigation device that tells you the directions as you go, then that's like having a coach who tells you what to do. But in table tennis, you won't always have a coach, so you sure better learn to come up goals on your own!  

What type of goals should you set in table tennis? Probably three types:

Long-term Goals: This is where you hope to eventually be. Come up with realistic goals. An up-and-coming junior might want to make the USA or Olympic Team. A club player might want to be a 2000 player by a certain time. A senior might want to win Over 60 at the State Games.

Once you know your long-term goals, you need to work out what you have to do to reach that goal. A junior who wants to make the USA or Olympic Team might know he needs to learn a specific set of skills at a high level. For example, if he's a looper, he knows he needs to develop serves and return of serves that will set up his loop, footwork to get in position to do so, the ability to loop over and over, and the power to put the ball past an opponent. A club player who wants to reach 2000 might decide he needs a steadier opening loop, better blocking, and better return of serve. A player who wants to win Over 60 at the State Games might study his main rival, and decide he needs a better defense against that player's attack, or perhaps a heavy push, or backhand pick hit.

Intermediate Goals: Now that you know where you want to get, you can work out the intermediate steps. Examine each of the techniques you need to develop to reach your long-term goals. Where do you realistically need to be with each of these techniques, say, three months away? Perhaps find a major tournament a few months away, and decide your goal is to master some of these techniques at a certain level by that time. For example, the aspiring junior might decide that by the North American Teams/USA Nationals/U.S. Open, he'll be able to consistently serve & loop, and to loop three balls in a row consistently. The aspiring 2000 player might want to have confidence that he can follow most of his serves with a loop, have confidence in his blocking so that he's not afraid to tactically let an opponent loop if that's the proper tactic, and to return serves the way he wants to. The aspiring Over 60 Champion might want to feel confidence he can win matches with better defense and a heavier push, and that he can pick-hit backhands consistently with confidence.

Short-term Goals: Now you look at your next practice session, and decide what you hope to accomplish in that session. Or perhaps you can look at what your goals are for this week's practice sessions. The point is have a goal for these sessions. You can't effectively practice everything every session, but you can decide what you need to focus on. Work out drills that will enable you to work your way toward your intermediate goals.

Developing your table tennis game is journey; you are along for the ride. Decide where you want to go, break it down into intermediate steps, and each step of the way, decide what you want to do to reach those intermediate steps. You don't have to win an Olympic Gold Medal to be a Champion; when you reach the goal you have set, you ARE a Champion.