Effects of training program using table tennis balls with various sizes on the performance level of some attack and counterattack skills of junior table tennis players

The current research aims to design a training program to improve some attack and counterattack skills for junior table tennis players (< 18 years) and to identify its effects, using three different sizes of balls (big 55 mm ball - medium 44 mm ball - small 40 mm ball) on the performance level of the skills under investigation. The researcher used the experimental approach. Participants (n=21) were purposefully chosen from table tennis team of Gharbia governorate. Participants were divided into three equivalent groups (7 players each). A sport-specific table tennis test battery was used for measuring physical and technical skills. The recommended program lasted for (12) weeks. Results indicated that using big 55 mm balls improved the attack skills of the first experimental group compared with the other two groups. Using medium 44 mm balls improved the counterattack skills of the second experimental group compared with the other two groups. Results suggest that the best ball for training attack skills for junior table tennis players less than < 18 years is the big 55 mm ball while medium 44 mm balls are best used for training counterattack skills.