TABLE TENNIS RULES Version 2 Date: 17 March, 2015 Please note: These rules are to be read in conjunction with the School Sport Australia General Policies and the relevant additional policies and Pacific School Games Policies. This championship is to be played under the rules of the ITTF Laws of Table Tennis and Regulations for International Competitions. These official School Sport Australia sport rules supplement these national/international rules. Thus, the national/international rules will be followed, except where stated below. SECTION 1 RULES OF COMPETITION 1.1 Divisions The divisions of the carnival / championships shall include; 12 Years and Under: Boys (Hopes) 12 Years and Under: Girls (Hopes) 18 Years and Under: Boys (Junior) 18 Years and Under: Girls (Junior) 18 Years and Under: C1 5 Division (Physical Impairment Wheelchair) 18 Years and Under: C6 10 Division (Physical Impairment Standing) 18 Years and Under: C11 Division (Intellectual Impairment) Divisions Junior Division Hopes Division C1 5 Division C6 10 Division C11 Division Sections Teams Mixed Singles - Boys Singles - Girls Teams Mixed Singles Boys Single - Girls Teams Mixed Singles Mixed Teams - Mixed Singles Mixed Teams - Mixed Singles - Mixed 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 1
1.2 Age and Eligibility 1.2.1 Player eligibility is per the School Sport Australia Policy. 1.2.2 All competing students must be a minimum age of 10 in the year of competition. 1.2.3 All ages are taken as at 31st December in the year of competition. 1.2.4 Players must stay within their registered age group for the duration of the carnival. 1.3 Team Size 1.3.1 In the Junior and Hopes division, a team will consist of up to six players with a minimum of two boys and two girls making up the team. 1.3.2 In the C1-5, C6 10 and C11 divisions, a team will consist of up to three players (boys and / or girls with a minimum of two players). 1.3.3 States/territories/countries may enter only one team in each section but do not have to put a team in each section in order to compete. 1.4 Team uniform and colors 1.4.1 Players must compete in their state/ territory / country official sport uniform. 1.4.2 Playing clothing shall normally consist of a short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt and shorts or skirt or one-part sports outfits, socks and playing shoes; other garments, such as part or all of a track suit, shall not be worn during play except with the permission of the referee. 1.4.3 The main colour of a shirt, skirt or shorts, other than sleeves and collar of a shirt shall be clearly different from that of the ball in use. 1.4.4 Each student must supply their own table tennis racket to compete with. 1.5 Equipment 1.5.1 Warm up area: ITTF Approved Training Tables may be available for athletes prior to their match. 1.5.2 Tables: 12 x ITTF Approved Competition Tables will be used for competition. 1.5.3 Balls: ITTF Approved 3 Star white balls will be used for competition. 1.5.4 Nets: ITTF Approved Net and Post sets will be used on all tables. 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 2
SECTION 2 - PLAYING RULES 2.1 Competition Structure 2.1.1 Five team events and seven singles events will be contested. 2.1.2 Mixed team events will be conducted in all five sections. 2.1.3 Singles events will have separate boys and girls events in the junior and hopes sections. 2.1.4 There will be mixed singles events in each of the other three para sections. 2.1.5 Competitions may be limited to certain number of entries based on number of tables and venue availability. 2.2 Definitions 2.2.1 A game shall be won by a player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players (or pairs) score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of two points. 2.2.2 A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games. 2.2.3 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play. 2.2.4 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored. 2.2.5 A point is a rally of which the result is scored. 2.2.6 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in the rally. 2.2.7 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally. 2.3 Pre-match Ceremony At the commencement of each round of the teams event, team captains will introduce their team members and pins/badges will be swapped (if applicable). Team members are also expected to shake hands at the conclusion of each teams match and singles match. 2.4 Game Structure 2.4.1 All matches in the team and singles sections will be best of five games. Each game to 11 points (advantage), with two serves alternating. 2.4.2 Junior and hopes division - the competition between two teams will be the best of five matches. 2.4.3 The order of play will be; girls singles, boys singles, mixed doubles, girls singles, boys singles - except at the discretion of the Technical Delegate. 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 3
2.4.4 Para Division The competition between two teams will be the best of five matches (two x singles, one x doubles and two x singles). 2.5 Competition Points 2.5.1 For all round robin games, match points will be awarded on the following basis: o For a win - two points o For a loss in a played match - one point o For a loss in an unplayed match or unfinished match - 0 points 2.5.2 The team events will be round robin to knock out format with all teams playing to a final position to ensure maximum games 2.5.3 The Singles events will be round robin to knock out format 2.5.4 A bronze medal playoff will occur in all sections 2.6 Seedings Nominations 2.6.1 Team Seedings Competing states/territories/countries will be required to list the team members in each category in order of standard one being the strongest. For junior and hopes divisions boys and girls should be listed separately. The Tournament Committee will then refer to these lists along with the current TTA National Junior Ranking List, OTTF Ranking List and ITTF Ranking List (where relevant) to determine the seedings for the Teams event (if required). 2.6.2 Singles Seedings The seedings for the singles events will be decided at the conclusion of the teams event and will be based on the results of the Teams event. The Tournament Committee will distribute the Singles draws, including the seedings, to all Team Captains prior to the commencement of the Singles events. 2.7 Classification 2.7.1 Classification for the Para events will not be offered prior to the event. What does this mean? 2.7.2 Please see Appendix A for the eligibility criteria and conditions attached with participation in Physical Impairment sections Standing and Wheelchair. 2.7.2 There is Minimal Eligibility Criteria - Intellectual Impairment (please see Appendix A). 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 4
2.8 Competition Structure 2.8.1 Where a state/territory is unable to field a full team in any of the five categories, they may form a composite team with another state/territory. Any state/territory not able to field a team as described above, must obtain permission from School Sport Australia prior to the commencement of the tournament. The Technical Delegate will have the final decision on the composition of these teams. 2.8.2 A student must compete in the teams event to be eligible to compete in the corresponding Singles event. 2.8.3 A student can only enter into the same singles event category in which he/she competed in the Teams event. 2.8.4 Except for matters contained in these rules, Rules of Play shall be as laid down by Table Tennis Australia. SECTION 3 EVENT ORGANISATION 3.1 Meetings 3.1.1 A pre-championship Team Manager/Captains meeting will be conducted at the Table Tennis venue the day before competition commences on Practice Day (if possible). Alternatively, this meeting will be conducted on the first day of competition, prior to competition. 3.1.2 This meeting will be conducted by the Technical Delegate with the support of the Referee and Deputy Referee for discussions surrounding the rules and interpretations. 3.1.3 There will be a meeting post-event to allow team managers/captains an opportunity to provide feedback to School Sport Australia on the rules, the venue, the competition structure and event as a whole. 3.2 Game Officials 3.2.1 Appointments The Technical Delegate, Referee and Deputy Referee will be appointed by Table Tennis Australia and approved by School Sport Australia. Umpires may be Association, State or National level and be appointed by the TTA National Umpires and Referees Committee and approved by School Sport Australia. This includes student officials. 3.2.2 Referee and Umpires In the Teams divisions students may be required to umpire matches when there is no official umpire allocated to their match. If there is no official umpire and a dispute arises the adjudication will be made by the Referee. If there is an official umpire and a dispute arises an appeal can be made to the Referee on a question of interpretation of the laws, but not on a question of fact. The Referee and Deputy Referee, with assistance from the Technical Delegate, will be in charge of conducting all of the matches. 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 5
3.2.3 Student Umpires Each participating team shall include, where possible, a suitably qualified student umpire in addition to its registered players. 3.2.4 Sports Trainer A Level 2 Sports Trainer or First Aider, where possible, will be available for the duration of play each and every day. 3.3 Educational excursions / social activities An educational excursion will be incorporated into a rest day of competition included in the format of the event and conducted according to SSA and PSG policies. 3.4 Merit Teams There will not be merit teams selected for Table Tennis as it is an invitational sport into the School Sport Australia program for Pacific School Games. 2015 Pacific School Games - Table Tennis Rules Page 6