EFFECTS OF TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS UDC 796 . 342 796 . 054

The aim of the research was to determine the effects of applied technical and tactical characteristics of table tennis players on their success in competitions. The representative sample consisted of 48 top senior table tennis players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, age 18 and 36, selected on the basis of a qualification tournament. The measuring instruments for this study included eight assessment tests for the table tennis players' technical and tactical characteristics and one test for assessing success in table tennis competitions. Technical and tactical characteristics of the participants were evaluated by five experts who analyzed the efficacy of technical and tactical characteristics of the players on a scale ranging from 1 to 5. The methods of processing the results included descriptive statistical procedures, the multiple correlation coefficient, the determinant coefficient and a multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that technical and tactical characteristics have a major impact on the player's performance and are essential for table tennis success. Based on the value of the regression coefficients and their significance, it may be concluded that the 5 variables statistically significantly contribute to the regression model are: the efficiency of the serve; the efficiency of preventing the attack of the opponent and preparation of the players’ own attack; confidence when attacking across the table; the efficiency in the active defence and the efficiency of movement during the game. In the hierarchy of significance, the most important variables are the serve efficiency and efficiency of preventing the attack of an Received May 05, 2017 / Accepted May 07, 2018 Corresponding author: Vladimir Ivanek Faculty of Natural-Mathematical and Educational Sciences, Kinesiology Department, University of Mostar, St. Matice Hrvatske n.n., 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Phone: +387 (0)36355-455 • E-mail: v.ivanek@hotmail.com 158 V. IVANEK, B. ĐUKIĆ, B. MIKIĆ, M. SMAJIC, D. DODER opponent and preparation of the player's own attack. The efficiency of the serve allows an attacker to realize technical and tactical ideas and usually gain initiative in the game. By returning a serve we can prevent or at least make it harder for the opponent to attack again. A serve return can also allow us to take the initiative