Exploring Best Practices of University Table Tennis Teams in China: Basis for Improving Table Tennis Sports Training

Abstract

This article is a qualitative research, using interview method to investigate the table tennis teams of six Chinese universities to understand the development of Chinese university table tennis teams from the perspective of their management structure, enrollment process, cultural learning, team training, source of funding, team's budget, and assisting organizations to the teams. Through the interviews, it was learned that the table tennis teams of these universities are mainly divided into three types, the first one is independent enrollment, which requires that the students applying for the exams have a Level 2 Athlete Certificate, and the table tennis exams and the cultural learning exams are both conducted independently. The second type is for students who are admitted to the university by the general college entrance examination, they will participate in the school's selection competition after entering the university, and the winners will be selected to join the school's table tennis team. The third type is a combination of a high-level enrollment test and a college entrance exam. After passing the school's table tennis test, the student will take the college entrance exam and be admitted on merit after reaching the school's admission line. Coaches and athletes generally believe that nowadays the examination system for college athletes is getting better and fairer, and that coaches and athletes have high recognition of their school table tennis teams, and that each school has a good atmosphere for training and competition with perfect training, teaching, and medical facilities and security, and participates in regular competitions in the province or the whole country. By understanding the different development models of university table tennis teams in China, we hope to help university table tennis teams to summarize their experiences and find a better development direction.