4.4 Match Conduct - Regulations For International Competitions
Description
This article is from the Table Tennis (Ping Pong) FAQ, by ttennis@bu.edu with numerous contributions by others.
4.4 Match Conduct - Regulations For International Competitions
4.4.1 Scoring
4.4.1.1 The umpire shall call the score immediately the ball is out of play at
the completion of a rally, or as soon as is practicable thereafter
taking account of any applause or other noise which may prevent the
call from being heard.
4.4.1.1.1 In calling the score during a game the umpire shall call first the
number of points scored by the player or pair due to serve in the next
rally of the game and then the number of points scored by the opposing
player or pair.
4.4.1.1.2 At the beginning of a game and before any change of server the umpire
shall follow the score call by naming the next server.
4.4.1.1.3 At the end of a game the umpire shall name the winning player or pair
and shall then call the number of points scored by the winning player
or pair followed by the number of points scored by the losing player
or pair.
4.4.1.1.4 When a rally is a let the umpire shall call "let" and shall then
repeat the previous score call before the next rally begins, to
indicate that no point has been scored.
4.4.1.1.5 If a player's service action is illegal but play continues the umpire
shall call "fault" and shall then award a point against the server.
4.4.1.2 In addition to calling the score the umpire may use hand signals to
indicate his decisions.
4.4.1.2.1 When a point has been scored, he may raise to shoulder level the
hand nearer to the player or pair who won the point.
4.4.1.2.2 At the start of a game or at the change of service he may point with
his hand towards the player or pair due to serve next.
4.4.1.2.3 When for any reason the rally is a let, he may raise his hand above
his head to show that the rally has ended.
4.4.1.3 The server is recommended not to serve until all the players are aware
of the correct score, either through hearing the umpire's score call
or by seeing the score indicators; if the server frequently serves
prematurely and the umpire considers that this is adversely affecting
an opponent, the umpire shall warn the server to delay his service and
shall, if necessary, remind the receiver to indicate, by raising his
free hand, that he is not ready.
4.4.1.4 The score shall be called in the language of the Association in whose
territory the competition takes place or in any other language
acceptable to both players or pairs and to the umpire.
4.4.1.5 The score shall be displayed on mechanical or electrical indicators so
that it is clearly visible to the players and, as far as is practicable,
to the spectators.
4.4.2 Procedure for assistant Umpire
4.4.2.1 In timing the duration of play the assistant umpire shall start the
clock immediately the ball is first in play in any game and shall stop
and re-start it for interruptions of play other than momentary breaks,
such as interruptions due to the ball going outside the playing area,
towelling, the change of ends or the replacement of damaged equipment.
4.4.2.2 During play the assistant umpire shall call
4.4.2.2.1 "fault" if a player's service action is illegal;
4.4.2.2.2 "side" if the ball in play touches the side of the table facing him,
below the level of the playing surface;
4.4.2.2.3 "net" if, in a service which is otherwise good, the ball touches the
net assembly while passing over it;
4.4.2.2.4 "stop" if the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could
affect the outcome of the rally;
4.4.2.2.5 "time" at the end of 15 minutes' play in any game in which the
expedite system is not in operation.
4.4.2.3 As he makes the appropriate call the assistant umpire shall raise his
hand above his head to draw the umpire's attention to his action.
4.4.3 Expedite Procedure
4.4.3.1 At the end of 15 minute's play in any game in which the expedite system
is not already in operation the umpire shall tell the players that the
remainder of the match will be played under the expedite system,
interrupting play if necessary to do so; play shall then resume without
any interval.
4.4.3.2 Thereafter, in each rally, the number of each successive stroke made by
the receiving player or pair shall be called out immediately the ball
has been struck , so that it is clearly audible to the players.
4.4.3.3 The number shall be called in English or in any other language that
is acceptable to both players or pairs and to the umpire.
4.4.3.4 If play continues after the thirteenth return the umpire shall call
"stop".
4.4.4 Continuity of Play
4.4.4.1 It is the duty of the umpire to ensure that play throughout a match is
continuous, except during any authorised intervals.
4.4.4.2 The umpire may allow brief interruptions to the continuity of play for
towelling, after every five points from the start of each game and at
the change of ends in the last possible game of a match; to restrict
the duration of these pauses, towels shall be kept in the playing area,
near the umpire.
4.4.4.3 Wherever practicable, players shall be asked to choose two or three
acceptable balls before they go to the match table so that the match can
start promptly and so that, if the ball breaks during a game, play can
continue without delay.
4.4.4.4 If a match cannot proceed because the players are unable to agree on
the choice of a ball the umpire shall take one at random; a player
refusing to accept this ball may be disqualified by the referee.
4.4.4.5 If a player breaks his racket during a game he shall replace it
immediately with another racket which he has brought with him to the
playing area or with one which is handed to him in the playing area.
4.4.4.6 Players shall be given reasonable opportunity to check and to
familiarise themselves with any equipment which they are to use, but
this shall not automatically entitle them to more than a few practice
rallies before resuming play after the replacement of a damaged ball
or racket.
4.4.4.7 The referee may allow a suspension of play, of the shortest practical
duration, and in no circumstances more than 10 minutes, if a player is
temporarily incapacitated by an accident, provided that in the opinion
of the referee the suspension is not likely to be unduly disadvantageous
to the opposing player or pair.
4.4.4.8 A suspension shall not be allowed for a disability which was present or
was reasonably to be expected at the beginning of the match, or where it
is due to the normal stress of play; disability such as cramp or
exhaustion, caused by the player's current state of fitness or by the
manner in which play has proceeded, does not justify such an emergency
suspension, which may be allowed only for incapacity resulting from an
accident, such as injury caused by a fall.
4.4.4.9 Players shall remain in or near the playing area throughout a match,
except with the permission of the referee; during authorised intervals
between games they shall remain within three metres of the playing area,
under the supervision of the umpire.
4.4.5 Practice
4.4.5.1 Players are entitled to practise on the match table for up to two
minutes immediately before the start of a match; the specified practice
period may be extended only with the permission of the referee.
4.4.5.2 Players shall not practise on the match table during the normal
intervals in a match but during an emergency suspension the referee may
allow players to practise on any table.
4.4.6 Advice to Players
4.4.6.1 A player or pair may receive advice from anyone during the intervals
between games or during any other authorised suspension of play but
not at any other time in a match.
4.4.6.2 If there is any attempt to give or to receive advice other than at the
authorised times or otherwise to influence play while it is in progress
the umpire shall warn the adviser that any further attempt will lead to
his exclusion from the vicinity of the playing area.
4.4.6.3 If such attempts persist after a warning the umpire shall ask the
adviser to leave the vicinity of the playing area for the remainder
of the individual match that is in progress; if the adviser refuses
to leave the umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the
referee.
4.4.6.4 This restriction applies only to advice on play and nothing in these
regulations shall prevent a player or captain, as appropriate, from
making a formal appeal against the decision of a match official or
hinder a consultation between a player and his Association repre-
sentative or interpreter on the explanation of a juridical decision.
4.4.6.5 The umpire shall display a yellow card when an illegal adviser is
formally warned and a red card when an illegal adviser is dismissed
from the playing area.
4.4.7 Behavior of Players
4.4.7.1 Players shall refrain from mannerisms or behaviour that may unfairly
affect an opponent, may offend spectators or may bring the game into
disrepute.
4.4.7.2 When the umpire considers that, for any of these reasons, the conduct
of a player in the playing area is not of an acceptable standard he
shall warn the player to stop the offending behaviour and warn him
that any repetition is liable to incur penalties.
4.4.7.3 When a player who has been warned continues to behave in an unfair or
offensive manner the umpire may , if the offence is sufficiently
serious, suspend play and report immediately to the referee for him to
take the appropriate action; for less serious offences, the umpire may
initially impose penalties as provided in 4.4.7.4.
4.4.7.4 For a first offence after being warned, the umpire may award a point
to the offender's opponent; for a subsequent offence he may award a
game to the opponent, by awarding him the number of points necessary
to complete the game in progress.
4.4.7.5 The type of behaviour for which such penalties may be imposed includes
deliberate damage to equipment such as breaking the ball or hitting
the table with a racket, excessive shouting or bad language, unfair
delaying tactics such as deliberately hitting the ball out of the
playing area, and persistent disregard of the regulations prohibiting
advice during play.
4.4.7.6 Whenever the umpire imposes a penalty the referee shall be informed
but play shall continue.
4.4.7.7 If misbehaviour continues after the imposition of penalties by the
umpire, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.
4.4.7.8 The referee may, at his discretion, disqualify a player for persistent
unfair or offensive behaviour, whether reported by the umpire or not;
such disqualification may be from a match, from an event or from a
whole competition.
4.4.7.9 The umpire shall display a yellow card when a player is formally warned
and the referee shall display a red card when a player is disqualified.
4.4.7.10 If a player fails to notify the umpire and his opponent when he changes
his racket during a match the umpire shall immediately report the
matter to the referee; on the first occasion the referee shall warn
the player and on any subsequent occasion the referee shall
disqualify him.
4.4.8 Doping
4.4.8.1 There shall be no doping before or during play in any competition.
4.4.8.2 For the purpose of these regulations, doping is the introduction into
the body in any way of any of a list of prohibited substances with the
object of improving performance during competition.
4.4.8.3 At World Championships, anti-doping controls shall be carried out in
accordance with directives issued by the Council.
4.4.8.3.1 These directives, which shall be based on medical advice, shall
include details of the procedure for the conduct of tests and of the
imposition of penalties.
4.4.8.3.2 Any directives authorised by the Council under these regulations
shall be issued to all Associations not later than six calendar months
before the start of the championships to which they are to apply.
4.4.8.4 At Olympic competitions, doping controls shall be carried out in
accordance with directives agreed with the IOC.
4.4.9 Betting
4.4.9.1 There shall be no betting of any kind on players or matches.
Continue to:
My Books
