Thursday, January 30th Mentality Matters - High Performance Table Tennis "High Performance Coaching" Article Series We sat down with Juan Acosta, who oversees High Performance Table Tennis at the RA. Get to know Juan and his program below! Acosta graduated with a degree in Sports Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and has studied Sports Management at the Peruvian Institute of Sports. He has earned an ITTF Level 3 Coach Certification, which is the highest level possible. Juan began his Table Tennis adventure at the age of 7, when he became truly passionate about the sport. Juan has held the title of National Champion in every category for Peru. Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous international tournaments – achieving the title of Bolivarian Champion. He has participated in the Pan American Games, University Olympic Games and World Table Tennis Championships. Acosta is responsible for 3 programs at the RA, including the High Performance program. He also instructs private lessons – passing on his knowledge and passion to the next generation of champions. Juan still competes to this day – entering competitive tournaments and inviting his athletes to watch, learn and cheer. He enjoys the comradery and team-building atmosphere this creates between himself and his athletes. Acosta’s philosophy is that it’s possible to learn almost anything on your own – but it is impossible to emulate the passion, motivation and experience that a strong coach can bring to the learning environment. “Talent helps, but it’s your mentality that pushes you to succeed.” His goals are not only to improve his students’ abilities, but also to create an enjoyable learning environment. Learn more about Juan and our High Performance programs at racentre.com/table-tennis! |