Exploring adaptive coaching practices in elite table tennis: A qualitative perspective on tactical evolution and talent logic in the ABS ball era

Abstract

This study investigates how elite coaching cognition in Chinese table tennis has been reshaped by the ABS plastic ball era, not merely in technical outcomes but in the deeper logic of tactical and developmental practice. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), we conducted an in-depth interview with Liu Guozheng, head coach of the Chinese men's national team, to capture how systemic disruption was experienced and acted upon. Findings reveal four interrelated domains of adaptation. First, tactical emphasis shifted from early-stroke aggression toward sustained rally control, with athletes trained to delay pressure and cultivate “silent control” across extended rallies. Second, psychological preparation was reframed as emotional regulation and decision resilience, illustrated by resetting routines that enabled clarity under prolonged rallies. Third, ecological training design was used to simulate uncertainty and cognitive load, embedding perception-driven drills where the “right moment to act” was intentionally obscured. Finally, talent selection criteria evolved to emphasize cognitive elasticity, reflecting a broader shift from fixed traits toward developmental potential. These domains did not emerge as abstract categories but as lived responses to systemic change. Together, they highlight adaptive expertise as a multi-layered process—spanning tactical reasoning, psychological stability, ecological training design, and future-oriented talent logic. By grounding theoretical insight in practitioner judgment, this study offers an ecologically valid account of how elite coaching negotiates performance disruption, with implications for broader high-performance contexts undergoing structural transitions.