Table Tennis

DESCRIPTION:

AGE GROUPS:

Participants must be in the 6th-12th grade by the time of Celebrate Life in May. Each District President is responsible for who may/may not participate.

GENERAL RULES:

Table tennis competition takes place in the Warming House.
There shall be two table tennis players allowed from each district as follows:
- One male single representative
- One female single representative
Each district may select one alternate for the male’s singles and one alternate for the female’s singles. Alternates names must be submitted when registering for Celebrate Life. Alternates are only eligible to attend/participate in CL when replacing a team member who is unable to attend/participate in CL.
Each district will garner grand trophy points with the 1stplace individual in each category receiving the most and the 11th place individual in each category receiving the least.
It shall be a double elimination tourney.
Each entrant should have his/her own paddle. Standard balls will be used.

TOURNAMENT RULES: (The official USATT rules shall be followed):

A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10 points; then the game shall be won by the first player subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
A match shall consist of the best of 3 out of 5 games.

THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS:

The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be decided by the toss of a coin and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end.
When one player has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player shall have the other choice.
After each 2 points have been scored, the receiving player shall become the serving player and soon until the end of the game, unless both players score 10 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
The player serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match.
The player starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match, and in the last possible game of a match the players shall change ends when first one player scores 5 points.

OUT OF ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS:

If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered. Play shall resume with those players serving and receiving who should be server and receiver respectively at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.
If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered. Play shall resume with the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.
In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be reckoned.

THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM:

Except where both players have scored at least 9 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes’ play or at any earlier time at the request of both players.
If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was interrupted.
If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with service by the player who received in the preceding rally.
Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn until the end of the game and if the receiving player makes 13 good returns the receiver shall score a point.
Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of the match.

A GOOD SERVICE:

The server shall project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck.
As the ball is falling, the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver’s court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.
From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server’s end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by any part of the body or clothing of the server or his doubles partner.
Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point.

GOOD RETURN:

The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent’s court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

THE ORDER OF PLAY:

The server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter, server and receiver alternately shall each make a good return.

LET: The rally shall be a let (let = the result is not scored)

if in service, the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner; a player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play when it is above or travelling towards the playing surface and has not passed beyond his end line, not having touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.
if the service is delivered when the receiving player is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;
if failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;
if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

PLAY MAY BE INTERRUPTED:

to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;
to introduce the expedite system;
to warn or penalize a player;
because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the outcome of the rally.

A POINT: Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point

if his opponent fails to make a good service;
if his opponent fails to make a good return;
if, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;
if the ball passes beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by his opponent;
if his opponent obstructs the ball; if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively;
if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;
if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly;
if his opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface;
as provided under the expedite system

MISCELLANEOUS:

Players may be coached during a match only between games. Play is continuous except for breaks of no more than 2 minutes at the end of a game.
The team failing to arrive will forfeit any game that is not started within 15 minutes of its posted time.
A random draw of tournament play will take place prior to Celebrate Life.
Table Tennis is considered a team sport.