Coaching for Elite Performance

As a teenager, Mike Symonds played table tennis, representing England in many countries, and gathered ideas that facilitated the acquisition of skills. His best win was in an international match against China where he beat Chang Shih-lin, who was ranked third in the world at the time. After emigrating to South Africa, he took up squash and resumed competing in table tennis, winning seven South African Men's Singles Championship titles. Within a few years, he became resident squash professional at the Transvaal Automobile Club in Johannesburg. As a squash coach, he guided his players to South African championship titles and world rankings. He tries to be the catalyst that helps players experience the essence of each technique, thereby facilitating instantaneous improvement. "Practice does not make perfect unless you have experienced perfection and thus know what to practice," he says. Eventually Mike moved from Johannesburg back to England, then to Perth in Western Australia where he resides today.