In this training camp you will learn the skills, technique and tactics needed to win extra points when playing local league matches. You will get lots of practical tips on footwork, ball placement, serve, receive, topspin attacks, flicks, tactics and more. This training camp is ideal for anyone playing at local league level or competing in amateur tournaments.
- Date: Monday 31 July 2023 to Friday 4 August 2023
- Venue: Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS
- Start / finish time: 10am-4pm each day
- Coaches: Tom Lodziak + two guest coaches (TBC)
- Participants: Maximum of 16 players per day
- Cost: £65 per day
Programme
Here’s what to expect from the training camp…
Monday 31 July
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.45pm – Footwork … Learn how to move quicker side to side and in and out. Lots of footwork drills. Be prepared to work your legs hard!
- 12.45pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Rallying skills … Learn how to switch efficiently between backhand and forehand strokes and play that one extra shot to outplay your opponent.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Tuesday 1 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.45pm – Ball placement … Learn how to improve the placement of your shots to put your opponents under more pressure.
- 12.45pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Touch, push and block … Learn how to use touch shots, fast pushes and clever blocks to make your opponent miss or play weak shots.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Wednesday 2 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.45pm – Service strategy … Learn how to make your existing serves even stronger with more spin, better placement and clever variations.
- 12.45pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Returning serves … Learn how to return serves the easy way and apply pressure on your opponent straight away.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Thursday 3 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.45pm – Topspin vs backspin … Learn how to attack pushes and chops with fast, spinny and consistent topspin shots.
- 12.45pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Flicking … Learn how to attack short serves with backhand and forehand flicks. No pushing allowed!
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Friday 4 August
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.45pm – Analysing your opponent … Learn how to assess strengths and weaknesses and use tactical thinking to outwit your opponents.
- 12.45pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Match tactics … Learn some new tactics to win extra points and stay a step ahead of your opponents.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Coaching team
The coaching team for this training camp will be:
Lead coach – Tom Lodziak – Tom is a full-time table tennis coach, based in Cambridge. In addition to coaching, he also competes in the top division of the Cambridge league and veteran tournaments around the country.
Support coach – Ferenc Horvath – Ferenc is head coach of Paragon Table Tennis and has featured in many of my YouTube videos. He has coached in many countries in Europe and plays to a very high standard. Ferenc will be joining the training camp for all five days.
Support coach – Charlotte Bardsley – Charlotte is an England International Table Tennis player and represented England in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She has played professionally for SV Böblingen in Germany (1st Division of the Bundesliga) and is studying History & Politics at the University of Cambridge. Charlotte will be joining the training camp for all five days.
Who is this training camp suitable for?
This training camp is suitable for players who are already competing at a local league level or in amateur tournaments. At a minimum you should be able to serve confidently and be competent playing a forehand push, backhand push, forehand drive and backhand drive.
This training camp is not suitable for complete beginners. If you are unsure whether this training camp is suitable for you, please email me with more information about your playing standard and I will advise.
Participants
There will be a maximum of 16 players per day on this training camp. The small number creates a more intimate training camp and ensures every player gets lots of feedback from the coaching team.
You will get the opportunity to play with different people throughout the training camp – usually a mixture of players from around the UK and also players from other countries. You will experience a positive coaching environment, joined by like-minded table tennis enthusiasts!
Venue + accommodation
This training camp will take place at Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS.
There will be seven high quality tables and lots of high quality training balls.
The sports centre has a small car park (free of charge) and modern changing facilities. The sports centre sells basic refreshments and also has free water dispensers to fill up water bottles.
If you require accommodation, please take a look at this accommodation guide, which gives lots of affordable options.
Visit Cambridge
If you live in another part of the UK (or another country), you could combine this training camp with some sightseeing of Cambridge in the evenings. There is always plenty to do in the picturesque university city. Find out what’s on in Cambridge on the Visit Cambridge website.
How to book
Please note: This training camp is now fully booked.
You are welcome to join the waiting list and I will let you know if any spaces become available.
Alternatively, you may be interested in attending one of my other training camps or group coaching days. If you would like to be notified of future training camps, then please complete this very short expression of interest form.