INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

Carl Danner of Alamo

HAVE YOU BEEN AMAZED WITH THE TIPS COMING OUT FROM CARL DANNER?  HERE WE INTERVIEW CARL AND GET HIS INPUT AND OPINIONS ON OUR SPORT.

Norcal Table Tennis:  How did you get started in table-tennis?

Carl Danner:  My dad played, and we had a table in the basement.  When I was about 10, I got to start going along with him to the Wednesday night club at which he played.  That was a big deal for me at the time.  I recall losing every single match my first year in the league.

Norcal Table Tennis:  Who or what helped you most as you were improving?

Carl Danner:  I think the opportunity to play was the most important thing for me.  I would go once or twice a week to a club, and play with my dad in the basement.  Tournaments were also a good thing, as I was always stronger in tournaments than in practice and got the chance to see what good players were doing.  Initially, I didn't understand that much about training; later, when I did, I probably didn't train as much as I should have.

Norcal Table Tennis:  Who are the best coaches you have learned from or dealt with?

Carl Danner:  I have had the benefit of dealing with many knowledgeable people over the years.  Without intending to slight anyone not mentioned, some who stand out are Dell Sweeris, Dan Seemiller, Sean O'Neill, Larry Hodges, and Avishy Schmidt.  These are folks who combine a whole range of knowledge, from beginning to advanced technique, to tactics, mental preparation, and physical training.  I have also learned a great deal from many good players I have spent time with over the years.  Table tennis players are good folks and there is a lot of willingness to share ideas and insights, if you ask.

Norcal Table Tennis:  What helped you most in developing your knowledge?

Carl Danner:  Aside from learning things from other players and coaches, it was probably two things.  First, I have kind of an analytical bent; I always want to figure things out.  Walking around tournaments and watching matches, there is a lot to see if you look for it.  Second, I probably suffer a little from what makes good coaches in many sports -- I was pretty good as a player, but not at the top and limited in some ways that forced me to try to identify what was wrong and how to get better.  Part of what I have learned is to avoid mistakes I made growing up as a player.  If I had it to do all over again now...well, let's just say that there's a lot I would do differently.

Norcal Table Tennis:  What do you think the US needs to develop a strong team without the dependence on top foreign professional players?

Carl Danner:  Our basic problem is that we don't attract that many excellent athletes into the sport.  I'm thinking about the kind of kids who are the three-sport stars at their high schools.  For the most part they're just not around at table tennis clubs, and when one shows up and stays with the game, he or she advances pretty quickly to become a strong player.  Then, of course, you need a good number of these kids to challenge each other and build the competitive level so we have some depth.  At the international level, the top class of players is comprised exclusively of such people.

Norcal Table Tennis:  Do you think it is more important to focus on grassroots development or elite players?

Carl Danner:  This is the eternal chicken and egg question, and we have problems and opportunities in both areas.  Elite player development is costly and uncertain, because you are depending on a relatively small group of individuals who are susceptible to falling off the tracks for any number of reasons (including a recognition that education and a career are far more important).  You also need to have outstanding athletes and talent to begin with, or such an effort will not pay off at the world level.  There is a political problem that USATT faces because once such programs are established, there is always pressure to provide such resources to the best prospects of the day, even if they really don't have the right stuff to make it as world class players.  Yet, if you could assemble a core group of 10-20 truly outstanding athletes of the same age, it just might work to lavish some resources on them to try to build an elite group of players. The problem is that we can't muster even that number.

On the other hand, grassroots is the obvious way to go if we want to build up player numbers, create audiences for TV and tournaments, develop a bigger consumer buying base to justify enhanced sponsorship and prize money, and draw in more athletes to raise our playing level and world standing.  The problem there is that there is little incentive and opportunity for actually developing the grassroots in a systematic way.  Most clubs are run as little co-ops for the benefit of existing players who want a place for their weeknight league, and don't want to deal with a big influx of newbies -- for understandable reasons.  We don't have good models for coaching the masses in ways that let coaches make a living, as occurs at so many golf driving ranges or tennis clubs.  Genuine novice tournaments are pretty uncommon.  Few schools make table tennis part of any organized physical education program.  For someone who is excited about table tennis and wants to try his hand at improving, about the only avenue is to happen to know someone who already plays at a club and can bring the kid in on a kind of apprentice basis.  Now there are exceptions to all this, and some of the good ones are found in the Bay Area (as in Bill Lui's junior programs).  But by and large, we are ill-equipped to offer substantial numbers of newcomers any kind of table tennis experience they will want to embrace.

It's funny.  By the time they graduate high school, virtually all students have tried baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, and maybe half a dozen other sports.  But by graduation, most of them aren't playing sports any longer.  However, in most of those other sports the most talented kids have been drawn into a system that offers ongoing coaching, competition, and high-level play feeding into Olympic, college, and professional ranks.  There's a kind of screening that takes place, so that if someone is good at soccer (or basketball, baseball, etc.), they get fed into organized play that will take them as high as their ambition and skill will permit. In table tennis, that screening and system of organized play is absent, almost utterly so.  Almost every kid has played; most will tell you they liked it, and many will say they would love to compete more.  But almost none do.  That's the gap we need to bridge somehow to make it as a world power, and to become a country where players, coaches and organizers can make a good living.

Norcal Table Tennis:  What advice do you have for coaches?

Carl Danner:  What technical advice I can offer is fairly well summarized in my tips.  But more importantly, I think coaches need to think of themselves in professional terms, and approach their students (and their parents) on that basis.  This means taking the attitude that this is an important activity that demands attention and effort to succeed.  It also means not being shy about asking to be compensated for one's time and effort.  As much as people give to the sport (and as good as that is for everyone), you need to get something back if coaching is to be a sustainable activity you will feel good about.  That means getting paid.  Students also regard your professionalism as an indicator of your quality and the worth of what you provide.  Someone who is attentive, well-spoken, dresses well, keep appointments and charges a going rate for a service is likely to be taken more seriously by prospective students.

Finally (and this applies to all teaching situations), your worth as a coach is based entirely on what your students achieve.  How well you play, what titles you won, etc., are of no consequence.  What they learn, and how they improve, is all that matters.

Norcal Table Tennis:  What advice do you have for young players?

Carl Danner:  From a technical standpoint, a few things are key.  Play with good fundamentals, especially including your grip and stance.  It's too easy in table tennis to get along with a funny grip until you run into a brick wall (because of it) at some playing level.  Recognize that this is more a sport of movement than stroking; your footwork is absolutely key.  Work those feet, and work them some more -- and don't forget to get coaching on your footwork technique, as well.  Off the table, be very, very fit.  Work as hard as any varsity athlete at your school.

Mentally, learn to get into a match and fight like your life depends on it.  Try never to get discouraged; instead, struggle for every point until they tell you to stop because the game is over.  If you are behind 10-2, work like anything to make it 10-4, and then 10-6.  You'll be surprised how that attitude will pay off.  Finally (and this is the hardest one for a young player), try not to focus very much on your personal status as a player.  Too many kids get hung up on who they think they can beat, and what their rating is.  All that leads to is choking when something goes wrong, and you fear a drop in rating points due to a bad loss.  Just go out every time and fight hard against every opponent, and let someone else add up the results.

Norcal Table Tennis:  What advice do you have for USATT officials?

Carl Danner:  It's often a thankless task to volunteer for USATT.  There is a great deal of frustration among many players because they love the sport so much, but don't see it growing.  Some of that frustration gets directed at whoever happens to be in USATT office at any given time, which is unfortunate.  Officials deserve far more praise than blame.

At the same time, it is important for USATT officials to recognize that they are all in this as a team, and that it is necessary to agree on a shared sense of vision for the sport.  The critical element of that vision is the willingness to go along with priorities that aren't exactly the ones you might favor personally, but which fit with the overall plan you participated in developing.  When I see problems with USATT, they usually come from this source -- and it is an issue that has been around for decades.

Norcal Table Tennis: Would you ever recommend a promising young American player to go professional or would you consider that too risky?  What hesitations, if any, would you have?

Carl Danner:  It depends on what you mean by professional.  In terms of trying to make a living as a top world class player, kids need to recognize how tough it is and how good you have to be.  In the last four decades, the U.S. has produced only two top 50 players, and only two more top 100 players.  My rule of thumb is that if you are not already among the best of the current US men by the age of 15, then your chances are slim to none of ever being top world class.  For women, it might be a year younger, with an adjustment for the fact that our very top women are unusually strong at the moment.  All the wishful thinking and rationalizing in the world won't change the reality at the table.  If you're almost out of high school and Lupi and Stefan aren't afraid of you yet, forget it.  As well, recognize that life as a top world class player is almost certainly lived in Europe or Asia much of the time, pays ok but hardly big bucks, and lasts only until your mid to late 20s in most cases.  It's a hard road even if you have what it takes.

Now, if what you really want is to live abroad for a little while and support yourself playing and coaching in a league at some level, that's a perfectly fine thing many players have done.  Taking a year or two in Europe is not a bad idea for someone who has the game for it; you'll have fun and learn and see things that aren't available at home.  Just don't expect that much of a lifestyle, and you'll be fine.

Finally, there is a kind of career that some folks make through a mix of playing, coaching, equipment sales, organizing tournaments, exhibitions, etc.  You need to be creative, energetic, and adaptable to make this work, but it can be an option for someone with a heartfelt love for the sport.  I have no real idea what you can expect to earn.

Bottom line, in today's economy anyone who has what it takes for college should go, and consider table tennis an enjoyable hobby that has contributed a great deal to your life.

Norcal Table Tennis:  Do you ever feel like you are going to run out of tips to give?! :)

Carl Danner:  I'm usually several months ahead.  I try not to repeat myself, which gets difficult at times.  Got any ideas?  :)