"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives," wrote LSU business professor Leon C. Megginson. "It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." This quote, inspired by and often misattributed to Charles Darwin, was in reference to small business management. Nonetheless, the principles are particularly pertinent in this rapidly changing world. Take, for example, the "Talent Development Program" (TDP) at the Maryland Table Tennis Center (MDTTC), which draws young table tennis talent all the way from Pennsylvania to Virgina. Under the tutelage of coaches Wang Qingliang and John Hsu, the program was flourishing, boasting many of the top junior players in the country. Everything was going great until, you know, 2020 happened. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, players and coaches alike were restricted to their homes under a precautionary quarantine. It seemed there was nothing that could be done. As the young players were losing more and more precious time from their training regimens, one of them engineered an elegant solution. Enter Stephanie Zhang, 16. The high school junior (and reigning Maryland women's singles champion) with a vicious backspin defensive game has also proven to be quite forward-thinking. Noticing the proliferation of online "virtual" meetings on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other platforms, Zhang suggested something similar to coaches Wang and Hsu. Making the most of the resources they had, they quickly came up with a lesson plan for group training. The coaches sought guidance from members of the Singapore national team to build a comprehensive curriculum. In addition to the physical training, the course features homework in the form of technical analysis of professional matches. While players who have tables and practice partners and/or robots at home obviously enjoy a tremendous advantage, the coaches ensured that everyone would be able to participate using shadow drills, video analysis and other innovative techniques. The class now meets twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In addition to the professional training, the program offers much-needed exercise and social interaction, which are especially critical now during lockdown. With bright young leaders like Stephanie Zhang illuminating the way, the MDTTC is modeling the evolution of table tennis training.

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