Meningkatkan Prestasi Atlet Tenis Meja Remaja melalui Latihan Berkala dan Kemampuan Teknik Dasar

Abstract

The performance of teenage table tennis athletes is influenced by various factors, including regular training and mastery of basic techniques. Both aspects become important components in the influence of athlete training to improve playing skills and achieve optimal performance. The research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive method. The research informants consist of teenage table tennis athletes and coaches who are directly involved in training and coaching activities. Data collection was conducted thru in-depth interviews and direct observations of the ongoing training process. Data were analyzed thru stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The research results show that regular training contributes to the improvement of athletes' playing abilities, particularly in aspects of shot accuracy, reaction speed, and confidence during competitions. In addition, mastery of basic techniques such as serves, forehand, backhand, and footwork becomes an important factor supporting the quality of the athletes' game. This research also highlights that the role of coaches, intrinsic motivation, and a supportive training environment contribute to the improvement of athletes' performance. The implications of this research indicate that structured and continuous training programs, as well as the reinforcement of basic techniques, need to be the main focus in the development of teenage table tennis players for better achievement.