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RULES

If you have any doubt whether a particular point should be yours or not or you'd like to find out more about table tennis below are the rules for the season 2010/2011



            THE LAWS OF TABLE TENNIS 



2.1         THE TABLE

 2.1.1      The     upper   surface   of  the  table,  known     as  the  playing   surface,   shall  be

             rectangular, 2.74m long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane

             76cm above the floor.

 2.1.2      The playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of the tabletop.

 2.1.3      The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce

             of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 30cm.

 2.1.4      The   playing   surface   shall   be   uniformly   dark   coloured   and   matt,   but   with   a

            white side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm

            wide, along each 1.525m edge.

 2.1.5      The   playing   surface   shall   be   divided   into   2   equal   courts   by   a   vertical   net

             running   parallel   with   the   end   lines,   and   shall   be   continuous   over   the   whole

             area of each court.

 2.1.6       For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white

             centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall

             be regarded as part of each right half-court.



2.2         THE NET ASSEMBLY

 2.2.1      The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting

             posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.

 2.2.2      The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post

             15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side

             line.

 2.2.3      The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing

             surface.

 2.2.4      The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to

            the playing surface and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible to

            the supporting posts.



2.3         THE BALL

 2.3.1      The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.

 2.3.2      The ball shall weigh 2.7g.

 2.3.3      The   ball   shall   be   made   of   celluloid   or  similar   plastics   material   and   shall   be

            white or orange, and matt.
           



2.4          THE RACKET

 2.4.1       The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and

             rigid.

 2.4.2       At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive

             layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon

             fibre, glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of

             the total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.

 2.4.3       A   side   of   the   blade   used   for   striking   the   ball   shall   be   covered   with   either

             ordinary     pimpled    rubber,   with   pimples    outwards     having   a   total  thickness

             including adhesive of not more than 2.0mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples

             inwards or outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more

             than 4.0mm.

2.4.3.1          Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or

                 synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over its surface at a density of

                 not less than 10 per cm² and not more than 30 per cm².

2.4.3.2          Sandwich rubber is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single

                 outer layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber

                 not being more than 2.0mm.

 2.4.4       The   covering   material   shall   extend   up   to   but   not   beyond   the   limits   of   the

             blade, except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may

             be left uncovered or covered with any material.

 2.4.5       The   blade,   any   layer   within   the   blade   and   any   layer   of   covering   material   or

             adhesive on a side used for striking the ball shall be continuous and of even

             thickness.

 2.4.6       The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the

             blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on

             the other.

 2.4.7       The   racket   covering  shall   be   used   without   any   physical,   chemical   or   other

             treatment.

2.4.7.1          Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to

                 accidental   damage   or   wear   may   be   allowed   provided   that   they   do   not

                 significantly change the characteristics of the surface.

 2.4.8       Before  the   start   of   a   match   and   whenever   he   changes   his   racket   during   a

             match a player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about

             to use and shall allow them to examine it.



2.5          DEFINITIONS

 2.5.1       A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.

 2.5.2       The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of

             the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until the rally is

             decided as a let or a point.

 2.5.3       A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.

 2.5.4       A point is a rally of which the result is scored.

 2.5.5       The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.

 2.5.6       The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket; the free arm is the arm of

             the free hand.

 2.5.7       A   player  strikes  the   ball   if   he   touches   it   in   play   with   his   racket,   held   in   the

             hand, or with his racket hand below the wrist.

 2.5.8       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,   not   having

             touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.

 2.5.9       The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

2.5.10       The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.

2.5.11       The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.

2.5.12       The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain

             decisions.

2.5.13       Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing

             or carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.

2.5.14       The ball shall be regarded as passing  over or around the net assembly if it

             passes anywhere other than between the net and the net post or between the

             net and the playing surface.

2.5.15       The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.



2.6          THE SERVICE

 2.6.1       Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's

             stationary free hand.

 2.6.2       The     server    shall  then    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.

 2.6.3       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.

 2.6.4       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   the   server   or   his   doubles   partner  or   by   anything   they

             wear or carry.

2.6.5        As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall

             be removed from the space between the ball and the net.



              The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite

                 upward extension.



2.6.6        It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant

             umpire can be satisfied that he complies with the requirements of the  Laws,

             and either may decide that a service is incorrect.

2.6.6.1           If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the legality of

                 a service he may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn

                 the   server;   but   any   subsequent   service   by   that   player   or   his   doubles

                 partner which is not clearly legal shall be considered incorrect.

2.6.7        Exceptionally,   the   umpire   may   relax   the   requirements   for   a   correct   service

             where he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.



2.7          THE RETURN

2.7.1        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.



2.8          THE ORDER OF PLAY

2.8.1        In singles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a

             return and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a return.

2.8.2        In doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make

             a return, the partner of the server shall then make a return, the partner of the

             receiver   shall   then   make   a   return   and   thereafter   each   player   in   turn   in   that

             sequence shall make a return.

2.8.3        When two players who are in wheelchairs due to a physical disability are a

             pair playing doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall

             then make a return but thereafter either player of the disabled pair may make

             returns. However, no part of a player’s wheelchair shall protrude beyond the

             imaginary extension of the centre line of the table. If it does, the umpire shall

             award the point to the opposing pair.



2.9          A LET

2.9.1        The rally shall be a let

  2.9.1.1         if in service the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches

                  it, provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the

                  receiver or his partner;

  2.9.1.2         if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready,

                  provided   that   neither   the   receiver   nor   his   partner   attempts   to   strike   the

                  ball;

  2.9.1.3         if   failure   to   make   a   service   or   a   return   or   otherwise   to   comply   with   the

                  Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;

  2.9.1.4         if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire;

  2.9.1.5         if the receiver is in wheelchair owing to a physical disability and in service

                  the ball, provided that the service is otherwise correct,

2.9.1.5.1            after touching the receiver’s court returns in the direction of the net;

2.9.1.5.2            comes to rest on the receiver's court;

2.9.1.5.3            in   singles  leaves   the  receiver’s  court  after   touching   it  by   either   of  its

                     sidelines.

2.9.2        Play may be interrupted

  2.9.2.1         to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;

  2.9.2.2         to introduce the expedite system;

  2.9.2.3         to warn or penalise a player or adviser;

  2.9.2.4         because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect

                  the outcome of the rally.



2.10         A POINT

2.10.1       Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point

2.10.1.1          if an opponent fails to make a correct service;

2.10.1.2          if an opponent fails to make a correct return;

2.10.1.3          if, after he has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other

                  than the net assembly before being struck by an opponent;

2.10.1.4          if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his

                  court, after being struck by an opponent;

2.10.1.5          if an opponent obstructs the ball;

2.10.1.6          if an opponent deliberately strikes the ball twice in succession;

2.10.1.7          if   an   opponent   strikes   the   ball   with   a   side   of   the   racket   blade   whose

                  surface does not comply with the requirements of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5;

2.10.1.8          if   an   opponent,   or   anything   an   opponent   wears   or   carries,   moves   the

                  playing surface;

2.10.1.9         if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, touches the net

                 assembly;

2.10.1.10        if an opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;

2.10.1.11        if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by

                 the first server and first receiver;

2.10.1.12        as provided under the expedite system (2.15.4).

2.10.1.13        if both players or pairs are in a wheelchair due to a physical disability and

2.10.1.13.1          his   opponent   does   not   maintain   a   minimum   contact   with   the   seat   or

                     cushion(s), with the back of the thigh, when the ball is struck;

2.10.1.13.2          his opponent touches the table with either hand before striking the ball;

2.10.1.13.3          his opponent’s footrest or foot touches the floor during play.

2.10.1.14        as provided under the order of play (2.8.3).



2.11         A GAME

2.11.1       A game shall be won by the 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 2 points.



2.12         A MATCH

2.12.1       A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.



2.13         THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS

2.13.1       The   right   to   choose   the   initial   order   of   serving,   receiving   and   ends   shall   be

             decided   by   lot   and   the   winner   may   choose   to   serve   or   to   receive   first   or   to

             start at a particular end.

2.13.2       When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a

             particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.

2.13.3       After   each    2  points   have    been    scored   the   receiving    player   or  pair  shall

             become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless

             both players or pairs 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.

2.13.4       In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall

             choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving

             pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent games of the

             match,   the   first   server   having   been   chosen,   the   first   receiver   shall   be   the

             player who served to him in the preceding game.

  2.13.5     In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the

             server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.

  2.13.6     The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of

             the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to

             receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair scores 5

             points.

  2.13.7     The player or pair 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   or   pairs   shall   change   ends   when   first   one   player   or   pair   scores   5

             points.



2.14         OUT OF ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS

  2.14.1     If   a   player   serves   or   receives   out   of   turn,   play   shall   be   interrupted   by   the

             umpire as soon as the error is discovered and 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 and, in doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the

             pair   having   the   right   to   serve   first   in   the   game   during   which   the   error   is

             discovered.

  2.14.2     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 and 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.

  2.14.3     In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall

             be reckoned.



2.15         THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM

  2.15.1     Except as provided in 2.15.2, the expedite system shall come into operation

             after   10   minutes’   play   in   a   game   or   at   any   time   when   requested   by   both

             players or pairs.

  2.15.2    The   expedite   system   shall   not   be   introduced   in   a   game   if   at   least   18   points

            have been scored.

  2.15.3     If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached and the expedite system is

             due to come into operation, 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 expedite system comes into operation, play

             shall   resume   with   service   by   the   player   who   received   in   the   immediately

             preceding rally.

  2.15.4     Thereafter,   each   player   shall   serve   for   1   point   in   turn   until   the   end   of   the

             game, and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 correct returns in a rally

             the receiver shall score a point.

  2.15.5     Introduction   of   the   expedite   system   shall   not   alter   the   order   of   serving   and

             receiving in the match, as defined in 2.13.6.

  2.15.6     Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end

             of the match.