December 1, 2025 (by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC) In the 1990s, psychologist Anders Ericsson revolutionized our understanding of expertise. Through his landmark research on expert performers—from musicians to chess players to athletes—he discovered something surprising: what separates world-class performers isn’t innate talent or the quantity of practice, but the quality of practice. Based on his research, Ericsson went on to write the book Peak: How to Master Almost Anything. Ericsson identified “deliberate practice†as the key ingredient, characterized by focused attention on specific weaknesses, immediate feedback, and systematic progression just beyond one’s comfort zone. This applies just as much to mental training as it does to physical technique. Core Components of Deliberate Practice Ericssonâ€s framework identifies five essential elements that can help you transform ordinary practice into deliberate practice: Specific Goals, Full Concentration, Immediate Feedback (from yourself or others), Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone, and Repetition and Refinement. This diagram below shows you some table tennis examples. Applying Deliberate Practice to Your Physical and Mental Game When we apply deliberate practice principles to mental training in table tennis, five relevant psychological tools stand out for every player to practice achieving their peak performance. Set Process-Oriented Goals. Instead of “win the tournament,†set goals like “execute my focus routine between every point†or “implement breathing strategy when trailing.” These goals are within your control and directly target mental skills, following Ericsson’s principle of specific, measurable objectives. See more tips in Set SMART Process Goals: Focusing on the Journey Over the Destination. Create Pressure Situations in Training. Your practice must simulate match conditions. Set up consequences for errors—push-ups, sprints, or lost points. Make training harder than competition so matches feel manageable – this trains your nervous system to perform under stress. See more tips in Handling Pressure in Big Moments: Lessons from Truls Moregardâ€s Grand Smash Victory. Get Immediate Feedback. Work with a coach or training partner who observes your mental responses. Record yourself to review body language and emotional reactions. Use self-monitoring checklists during practice. Develop Emotional Reset Routines. Create a specific sequence you’ll execute after errors: turn away, deep breath, bounce the ball three times, cue word (“next pointâ€). Practice this routine deliberately after every mistake in training until it becomes automatic. This gives you a reliable tool for emotional regulation during competition. See more tips in Use Pre-Point Routines – Mastering Crunch Time Like Timo Boll. Maintain a Detailed Training Journal. After each session, write for five minutes about your mental performance. Which situations triggered anxiety? When did you lose focus? What worked? This reflection converts experience into learning and reveals patterns you can address specifically. See more tips in US Nationals Reflection – Winning the Mental Game. The Long Game Deliberate practice for mental training requires patience and consistency. You won’t see dramatic overnight improvements, but over weeks and months, you’ll notice greater composure under pressure, sustained focus, and clearer thinking during critical moments. Remember that discomfort signals growth. If practice feels easy and comfortable, you’re probably not in the zone where real development occurs – elite players understand this. Start with one or two specific mental skills, practice them with full concentration using the principles Ericsson identified, and stay committed to the process. The mental edge you’re seeking is built one deliberate session at a time. Share the post "5 Ways to Implement Deliberate Practice for Achieving High Performance in Table Tennis" Source link

Durante o Novembro Azul 2025, o CMPC Romilda Maltês em Feira de Santana registrou 12 novos casos de câncer de próstata e intensificou consultas, exames de rastreio e encaminhamentos especializados. A campanha reforça a importância do diagnóstico precoce, do PSA e toque retal, do acompanhamento psicológico e da promoção de hábitos de vida saudáveis, garantindo maior sobrevida e prevenção de complicações para os pacientes.

Según el listado del Servel, María José Hoffmann ha recibido un monto total de $247.814.000 en aportes para su campaña, destacándose las donaciones del expresidente de Azul Azul e involucrado del deno...

Según el listado del Servel, María José Hoffmann ha recibido un monto total de $247.814.000 en aportes para su campaña, destacándose las donaciones del expresidente de Azul Azul e involucrado del deno...

Serão beneficiados 65 cidades onde a CMPC tem operações florestais, industriais e portuárias

La iniciativa, organizada por el Club de Ciclismo MTB Nacimiento junto a CMPC, se realizará este sábado 18 de octubre desde las 14:00 horas, con circuitos para adultos y niños, premios y medidas de...

La iniciativa considera la adquisición de un terreno en Los Encinos para la instalación de un pozo profundo, permitiendo incorporar nuevos usuarios al comité de agua, con apoyo de financiamiento po...

Los socios del sindicato de trabajadores de CMPC Tissue en Puente Alto acusan a la compañía de negarse a reajustar las remuneraciones.

Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC Every serious table tennis player has aspirations – whether it’s dominating a local league, winning high-level tournaments, or simply improving techniques. While victory motivates us, the secret to playing at a high level lies in how we approach our development. Let’s dive into a strategic framework of goal setting that can transform your training and accelerate your progress. Transform vague intentions into actionable plans by ensuring every goal meets five criteria of a SMART goal: Specific (clearly defined) Measurable (quantifiable progress) Achievable (realistic given your current level) Relevant (aligned with your priorities) Time-bound (timeline-driven) The Three Pillars of Effective Goal Setting Good players understand that success isn’t built on wishful thinking – it’s constructed through SMART goals that involves three distinct types. Process Goals: These center on the daily habits and training routines that drive improvement. Think of them as your controllable inputs – the specific drills you’ll practice, the number of training sessions per week, or the technical elements you’ll refine. Examples include: Practicing footwork drills for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for two months Studying and practicing a new serve technique like the reverse pendulum serve for 1 hour per week until consistently executed. Performance Goals: These establish measurable benchmarks for your skill execution. They bridge the gap between your daily work and competitive results by tracking improvements in consistency, accuracy, or technique quality. Examples include: Increasing your successful third-ball attack shots from 60% to 75% in match play within three months Reducing unforced errors by 25% over six weeks of tournament play Outcome Goals: These represent your ultimate aspirations – tournament placements and rankings – involving comparison with other players. Examples include: Winning your club championship in the intermediate division Achieving a top 20 national ranking in your age group Research consistently demonstrates that athletes who emphasize process and performance goals experience greater motivation, reduced anxiety, and more consistent improvement compared to those fixated solely on outcome goals. Your Action Plan for Immediate Impact Now that you understand the importance of individualized goals, letâ€s transform this knowledge into results with these practical steps: Select specific aspects (physical, technical, tactical, and psychological) of your game requiring attention Develop SMART process and performance goals for those areas Establish a tracking system to monitor your progress Find an accountability partner to support your commitment By shifting your focus from hoping for success to systematically building it, you’ll discover that improvement becomes more predictable and table tennis becomes significantly more rewarding. Source link

Mental health emerged as a common concern during the recent online meeting of the CMPC workers’ unions network, which brought together union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, along with Alejandro Valerio, IndustriALL deputy regional secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean and Tom Grinter, IndustriALL pulp and paper sector director.

Durante o Setembro Amarelo, o Hospital da Mulher e o CMPC realizam atividades para prevenção ao suicídio em Feira de Santana, com palestras, rodas de conversa, apoio psicológico e distribuição de material informativo. A campanha, realizada nacionalmente desde 2015, reforça o acesso aos serviços de saúde mental e incentiva o diálogo como forma de prevenção, especialmente para puérperas e pacientes oncológicos.

September 12, 2025 (by Dr. Alan Chu, Ph.D., CMPC) Champion mindsets aren’t born—they’re built, one focused breath and pressure point at a time. When Truls Moregard became the first European to win a WTT Grand Smash title in August 2025, defeating world number one Lin Shidong on home soil in Sweden, his victory revealed as much about his mental game as physical technique.

September 8, 2025 (by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD CMPC) Hugo Calderano’s journey from crushing Olympic disappointment to World Cup champion offers every table tennis player a blueprint for recovery from a tough competition. After missing the podium at Paris 2024 despite being the highest-ranked non-Asian/European player, Calderano faced his darkest competitive period. However, he made history eight months later by becoming the first non-Chinese World Cup winner since 2017 and reached the World Championships final.