Revision August 2009
7. ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING (AGM)
8. EXTRAORDINARY
GENERAL MEETING (EGM)
15. INDIVIDUAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS/TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER COMPETITIONS
2.1 To foster and promote organised table
tennis.
2.2 To endeavour to obtain better
facilities for the sport.
2.3 To conduct the game
of table tennis in accordance with the rules in force at
3.1
Paragraph Deleted
3.2
The league may only be dissolved
after an
The League shall be confined to clubs situated within a 15 mile radius
of
5.1 Executive Committee
5.1.1 The
League shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Match Records Secretary/Press
Officer, Championships Secretary, Waveney Centre Secretary, Waveney Centre
Maintenance Officer, Coaching Officer, plus a maximum of 5 other members, some
of whom may be appointed to other specific roles
5.1.2 All
Officers and Executive Committee members shall retire annually and be eligible
for re-election.
5.1.3 The
Executive Committee shall meet monthly throughout the season and as necessary
at other times.
5.1.4
The Executive Committee has the power to co-opt and fill
any vacancy that may occur.
5.1.5 All Officers shall be ex-officio members
of all sub-committees.
5.1.6 The quorum for Executive Committee
meetings shall be 5 members.
5.1.7 The
following Committee members will be honorary members of the Waveney Centre:
Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Match Records Secretary, Coaching
Officer, Waveney Centre Secretary and Maintenance Officer.
5.2
Duties
of the Executive Committee.
5.2.1
Consider all applications for membership.
5.2.2
Arrange an appropriate annual programme of team and
individual tournaments and events.
5.2.3
Deal with all protests, disputes and reports submitted by
either clubs or individual players.
5.2.4
Deal with all cases of misconduct either by clubs or individual
players.
5.2.5
Call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the League
whenever necessary.
5.2.6
Deal with any other matters that may arise.
5.3
Duties
of the General Secretary
5.3.1
Convene and attend all meetings.
5.3.2
Deal with all correspondence.
5.3.3
Act when appropriate under the direction of the Executive
Committee.
5.3.4
On retiring from office, hand over to the Chairman, all
documentation, etc., belonging to the League.
5.4
Duties
of the Treasurer
5.4.1
Bank all monies belonging to the League in an account in
the name of the
5.4.2
Be responsible for all monies received and for the payment
of all accounts.
5.4.3
Keep proper books of account.
5.4.4
Compile Statement of Account for audit.
5.4.5
Act when appropriate under the direction of the Executive
Committee.
5.4.6
On retiring from office hand over to the Chairman all books
and monies, etc., belonging to the League.
6.1 The financial year shall run from 1st
May to 30th April each year.
6.2 The
audited Statement of Accounts for the year ending 30th April shall
be presented for adoption at the Annual General Meeting.
6.3 Cheques
drawn on the League's account shall be signed by any 2 of the following:
Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer.
7.1 The
7.2 Attendance
7.2.1 All teams must be represented at the
7.2.2 Teams not
represented at the
7.2.3 At least one-third of
the total number of teams shall form a quorum.
7.2.4 The
7.2.5 At
least 14 days notice of the
7.3 Agenda - The business transacted shall include:
7.3.1 Presentation of Reports and Statement of
Account.
7.3.2 Election of Officers, Executive
Committee and Honorary Auditor(s).
7.3.3 Proposed alterations to Rules.
7.3.4 Any
proposed alterations to the Rules must be submitted in writing to the General
Secretary not later than 1st April in any year.
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)
8.1 The
General Secretary shall convene an EGM on receiving a requisition signed by the
secretaries of at least seven of the teams in membership or by request of the
Executive Committee. Fourteen days
notice must be given to all affiliated clubs when an EGM is called.
8.2 At least one half of the total number
of teams shall form a quorum.
9.1 Fees shall be recommended annually by
the Executive Committee for approval at the
9.2 No team shall be
allowed to play a match until all fees have been paid.
10.1 Team Registration
10.1.1 The
closing date for team registrations shall be approved annually by the Annual
General Meeting and printed on the registration form.
10.1.2 Late applications will not be accepted.
10.2
Player
Registration
10.2.1
Individual registration fees shall be decided annually by
the Annual General Meeting and printed on the registration form.
10.2.2
The Executive Committee shall have the right to cancel or
refuse any registration considered detrimental to the interest of the League.
10.2.3
No player shall be registered for more than one team in the
League.
10.2.4 No player shall play a
match until 12 hours has elapsed after registration.
10.2.5 New
registrations during the season should be sent to the Match Records Secretary
enclosing the current registration fee and stating players name, team, address
of player, previous experience, availability for representative matches and, if
a junior, date of birth.
10.2.6 No
player may be registered after 1 March without the approval of the Executive
Committee.
10.2.7 Should
a team play an unregistered or ineligible player, that
player's sets will be awarded to the opponents and the team shall be penalised
in accordance with Rule 17.2.1.
10.2.8 All
teams must register at least 3 and not more than 5 players at the start of each
season. After a season has commenced,
teams may register additional players in emergency situations only at the
discretion of the Executive Committee at its next scheduled meeting only except
that a team with less than 5 players can increase to up to 5 players with the
approval of the Match Records Secretary.
10.2.9 Registration
of any player in a particular division shall be at the discretion of the
Executive Committee or the Match Records Secretary acting on the Committee’s
behalf. (Rule 10.2.8)
10.2.10 Each registered player will be allocated an individual
handicap by the Handicap Sub-Committee for use in certain events and these will
be reviewed by the Committee periodically during the season. However, these handicaps are subject to
alteration at any time during the season should this be deemed necessary by the
Handicapping Committee. Alterations will
be notified to Club Secretaries who must advise their team members of any
changes as soon as they occur. Teams
will not be allowed to field in any match, other than those in which individual
handicaps apply, more than one player with an initially allocated handicap
exceeding -14 at the start of any season or at the time of registration. This rule will not apply to players who
receive an amended handicap of -15 or greater during the current playing season
or where they have played continuously for the same team for at least one previous
season whilst their handicap has progressed beyond –15.
10.3 Transfer of a Player
10.3.1 Transfer
of a player must have the consent of both the player's team and the Executive
Committee.
10.3.2 No
transfer will be accepted between 1 March and the end of the playing season.
10.3.3 A player may only be transferred once
during any playing season.
10.4 Representative Matches
10.4.1 Any
player representing
10.5 Misconduct
10.5.1 Should
a player use offensive language or indulge in any form of misconduct, it is the
duty of the umpire(s) to stop play and consult the offending player's team and
ask that it should cease. Should the
offence continue, the opposing team shall report the circumstances to the
Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee will consider disciplinary action and is
empowered to impose a fine or to disqualify or suspend the offending player
from any event or competition organised by the
11.1 The
League shall consist of as many divisions as is deemed necessary by the
Executive Committee.
11.2 Promotion and Relegation
At the discretion of the
Executive Committee:
11.2.1 Where
possible, all winners and runners-up will be promoted to the division above and
the two lowest placed teams shall be relegated to the division below.
11.2.2 As
many teams as necessary will be promoted or relegated to fill vacancies that
have occurred in any division.
11.3 Restrictions on Substitute Players
11.3.1 A
player may play 6 times only in a higher division or divisions. On the seventh occasion the player becomes
ineligible to play in the lower division.
The player must then be transferred to a team in a higher division. If a
player plays in more than one higher division, he or she may opt to be
transferred to the lower of these. Players registered in the Junior Divisions
or who are regular attendees at the League's
11.3.2 No
player shall be allowed to play in a division below the one for which he is
registered unless granted a transfer.
11.3.3 In Cup competitions players may only
play for the team for which they are currently registered. This will not apply
to the League’s Coaching School Junior players who are not registered to any
specific team. Such Junior players will be considered
cup tied for that particular competition and may not represent any other club
in that event during the season. (Please
also see Rule 10.3.4 concerning players transferred during the season). This Rule applies to the League Cup, Blue Riband Cup, Team Knockout Cup and President’s Cup”.
11.4 Withdrawal of Teams
11.5.1 Should
a team resign at any time following its registration, matches played by that
team shall be ignored.
12.1 Match Nights
12.1.1 Matches
must be played on the dates specified in the fixture list except as provided
for in Rule 12.5.
12.2 System of Playing
12.2.1 All
teams shall play at least 1 home and 1 away match with each of the other teams
in their division.
12.2.2 Three
players shall constitute a team and an optional fourth player may compete in
doubles only. This must be indicated by
the team using the fourth player before the commencement of the match in
question.
12.2.3 Ten sets to be played - 9 singles and 1
doubles.
12.2.4 The home team shall nominate their team on
the scorecard first.
12.2.5 The order of play shall be as printed on
the scorecard.
12.2.6 Any variation to the
order of play must be by mutual consent of both teams.
12.3 Umpiring
12.3.1 Teams shall appoint an umpire before the
start of each set.
12.3.2 Teams
shall alternate umpiring duties in all matches with the home team usually
umpiring the first set
12.4 Time of Matches
12.4.1 All matches must start by 7-30pm.
12.5 Postponement of a Match
12.5.1 Postponement
must be agreed by both teams, otherwise the match must
be played as scheduled.
12.5.2 If
a postponement is agreed the requesting team will be automatically penalised 2
league points in accordance with rule 17.2.4 unless the postponed match is
played before the end of the same week as the original scheduled date. The team
agreeing to a requested postponement will not be penalised. In extreme weather
conditions this rule may be waived following a request made in advance to the
General or Match Records Secretary who will continue to review the situation on
a day-to-day basis. In such circumstances, in order to avoid the normal
two-point penalty, the match must be rearranged and played by the end of the
following calendar month. The provisions of rule 12.5.3 must by adhered to in
rearranging the fixture.
12.5.3 Home
team to be responsible for re-arranging match. Within 2 weeks of the original
scheduled date, the home team must offer 3 dates to the away team and a date
for the rescheduled match MUST be agreed. Postponed matches originally
scheduled before 31st December must played by this date. Postponed
matches originally scheduled after 31st December must be played
within the specified League season.
12.5.4 Non-acceptance
of one of these dates by the away team will result in the match being awarded
to the home team and the away team fined in accordance with Rule 17.1.2.
12.5.5 Match
Records Secretary must be notified of any postponement, by the team requesting postponement,
as soon possible and at the latest within 3 days of the original date of
fixture.
12.5.6 Match
Records Secretary MUST be advised of a re-arranged fixture within 2 weeks of
the original scheduled date.
12.5.7 Failure
to inform the Match Records Secretary of either the postponement and/or
re-scheduled fixture as required in 12 5 4 and 12 5 5,
will result in the responsible team being penalised in accordance with Rule 17
2 2.
12.6 Failure to Play a League Match
12.6.1 Should
a team not play a League match the opponents will be awarded the match 10-0.
12.6.2 Any
team responsible for the non-completion of a League fixture will be penalised
in accordance with Rule 17.1.3 and may be refused entry to the League in the
following season.
12.7 Playing Order and Attendance.
12.7.1 Any
change in the playing order of a match shall be with the consent of both teams.
12.7.4 A
match where less than 5 players are present will be declared void unless one
team has 3 players present, in which case the match will be awarded 10-0 to
that team.
12.8 Change of Clubroom or Home Night.
12.8.1 A
team wishing to change its venue or home night after the start of the season
must have the permission of the Executive Committee. It is the responsibility of the team to
notify all opposing teams of the permitted changes.
12 9 Playing Conditions
12.9.1 Space,
lighting and equipment must be of a standard acceptable to the Executive
Committee.
13.1
The home team must forward score cards to reach the Match
Records Secretary within 3 days of a match taking place. Failure to comply will result in penalty in
accordance with Rule 17.2.3.
13.1.1 Score cards must be
fully completed and signed by both team captains.
13.2 Fictitious Results
13.2.1 Deliberate
falsification of a scorecard may render the team(s) concerned liable to
suspension and fined in accordance with Rule-17.1.4.
13.3 Award of Points
13.3.1 A
point will be awarded for each game successfully contested, to a maximum of 10
points
PROTESTS
14.1 Protests
and disputes should be submitted in writing to the General Secretary for
consideration at the next Executive Committee meeting.
14.1.1 No
protests or disputes relating to a match will be considered unless received by
the General Secretary within 7 days of the match concerned.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/TOURNAMENTS
15.1 The
Executive Committee shall organise annually a selection of competitions and
tournaments as they see fit and which will include the Annual Championships.
15.1.1 The
Championships Secretary appointed by the Executive Committee will be
responsible for the general running of the Annual Championships. A Tournament
Referee may be appointed who will also be the arbiter in all disputes in the
absence of the Championships Secretary.
15.1.2 To
be eligible to enter the Individual Championships or any other Individual
event, a player must have taken part in at least 50% of his or her club's
fixtures played at the time of entry. If
less than 6 fixtures have been played, players must have played in at least 3
fixtures at the time of entry of the Individual competition.
15.1.3
Annual
Championships – Rules
CR1 Entry is limited to:-
(a)
All players registered with the
(b)
Members of the League’s Coaching Scheme
CR2 All
match sets will be played under laws of table tennis as at
CR3 Entries
received after the designated closing date will not be accepted.
CR4 Competitions
will normally be run using a simple knockout system except Men’s and Women’s
Singles or in any competition with less than 8 entrants. In these cases Group
play followed by further stages at the discretion of the Championships
Secretary shall take place. (See Rule
CR7).
CR5 Players
not reporting to control by the specified time may be subject to
disqualification.
CR6 Entry Qualifications
Men’s Singles & Doubles Any male player.
Women’s Singles & Doubles Any female
player.
Mixed Doubles Any male
player partnered by any female player).
Primary Singles & Primary Doubles Any player except those
with a handicap greater than -6. (i.e. –7 to –20).
Division 2 Singles & Doubles Any Division 2
player(s).
Veterans 60+ Any
player 60 years and over on or before the preceding 30th June.
Veterans 50+ Any
player 50 years and over on or before the preceding 30th June.
Veterans 40+ Any
player 40 years and over on or before the preceding 30th June.
Youth Singles Any player under 21 years as of the preceding 30th June.
Boys Singles Any
male player under 17 years as of the preceding 30th June.
Girls Singles Any female
player under 17 years as of the preceding 30th June.
Cadet Singles Any player under 14 years as of the preceding
30th June.
CR7 Where
there are less than 8 entrants, the Championships Secretary may change the format and limit the
prizes.
CR8 Events
will be seeded, the number of seeds being at the discretion of the
Championships Secretary.
CR9 Entries
for any event will be accepted on the understanding that players are available
for any final matches that will be played on a designated day towards the end
of the Championships. Any player entered but not available for a final without
good reason may be subject to disciplinary action .
CR10 In
all cases the decision of the Championships Secretary or the Tournament Referee
shall be final.
15.1.4
League
Cup Rules
LC1 The
Executive Committee shall be empowered to run a League Cup Competition for all
teams and their registered players as the first event of each season.
LC2 Teams
will be drawn into Groups which will be seeded as evenly as is practicable from
each Division of the League.
LC3 Matches
in each Group will be played as per the normal League format without doubles
using the Individual Handicaps and Scaling Chart detailed in the handbook and
as amended from time to time. The handicap system will be used throughout the
entire competition. The first player to reach twenty one will win each
individual game. (i.e. No deuce will be played with a
service change at 20 all). Points will
be awarded one for each set won as in League play and teams in each group will
play each other on a home and away basis.
LC4 League
Cup matches must be played within the weeks scheduled for this event
LC5 The
winners of each Group, and an appropriate number of second placed teams
determined by Group results averaged if necessary with a pre-determined and
published formula, will take part in a knockout
competition. A seeded draw will be used for the first knockout stage to avoid
Group winners playing each other.
LC6 The
dates for the completion of each stage will be designated before the start of
the season and detailed within the handbook.
LC7 The
Final will be played at the Waveney Leisure Centre and will be publicly staged.
The Executive Committee will publish in the Handbook at the beginning of each
season the date of the Final. Teams progressing to the Final shall inform the
Match Records Secretary at least 4 days before the specified date the names of
their players playing in that Final. These declared names may only be changed
in the event of illness or other emergency. Should one of the finalists’ be
unable to field a full team using their own players or replacement options
available to them, they will be eliminated from the competition and their place
in the final offered to the team they defeated at the semi-final stage.
15.1.5
Team
Handicap Knockout Cup Rules.
KC1 All
teams registered in the League will be entered into a Team Handicap Knockout
Cup competition.
KC2 Matches
will feature teams of three players who must be registered as league players
for that team.
KC3 Each
match shall comprise of 18 games being played over two games per set.
KC4 The
result of the match shall be decided by the number of points scored by each
team in 18 games plus any handicap awarded by a Handicapping Committee
established by the Executive Committee.
KC5 All games stop at 21
with a service change at 20 all.
KC6 In
the event of a drawn match one player from either side will be nominated to
play a sudden death final match of two games with the same handicap to decide
the winner. (i.e. total team handicap divided by 18
with fractions rounded up). Home teams
shall nominate their player first. If
after the two games the scores including handicaps are level a single deciding
game up to 21 will be played with identical handicap and no deuce.
KC7 Home
teams shall communicate with their opponents within three days of receipt of
the notification of the draw, and offer a choice of three dates and venue, with
the exception of any rounds for which specific weeks have been scheduled in the
fixture list. In such cases the home
team will confirm to their opponents that the match will take place on their
normal home night unless mutually agreed otherwise. Both teams will be notified of the handicap
awarded.
KC8 For
subsequent rounds the home team must offer the away team 3 dates. The match must be played within the time
specified by the Knockout Tournament Organiser. Failure to comply will result
in the offending team being withdrawn from the competition.
KC9 The
Final will be played at the Waveney Leisure Centre and will be publicly staged.
The Executive Committee will publish in the Handbook at the beginning of each
season the date of the Final. Teams progressing to the Final shall inform the
Match Records Secretary at least 4 days before the specified date the names of
their players playing in that Final. These declared names may only be changed
in the event of illness or other emergency. Should one of the finalists’ be
unable to field a full team using their own players or replacement options
available to them, they will be eliminated from the competition and their place
in the final offered to the team they defeated at the semi-final stage.
KC10 Scorecards
must be returned to the designated Tournament Organiser by the winning team
within 48 hours of the match being played.
KC11 All
appeals, protests, etc shall be decided at the Executive Committee's discretion
and their decision shall be final. The Handicapping Committee shall have the
power to amend a handicap allocated for any match where the inclusion of any
newly registered player(s) had not been a consideration in reaching its decision.
KC12 Unless stated in 1-13 above, normal
League rules will apply.
15.1.6 Presidents Cup Rules
PC1 All
teams will be entered into the Presidents Cup using their registered players
which will be played as a Knockout Competition using Individual Players
Handicaps and Scaling Charts.
PC2 Matches
will be played as per the normal League format without doubles using the
Individual Handicaps and Scaling Chart detailed in the handbook and as amended
from time to time. The handicap system will be used throughout the entire
competition. The first player to reach twenty one will win each individual
game. (i.e. No deuce will be played with a service
change at 20 all). Each set will be
played as a best out of three, as in League play. One point will be awarded for
each game won in that set, so that if a set that went to three games the winner
would score two points and the loser one point, and a straight two game win
would score two points for the winner only.
PC3 In
the event of a tie on points at the end of all 9 sets, a single one-end game
playoff will decide who wins the match. A coin toss will decide who nominates
their representative player first, with the winner of the coin toss electing to
nominate second if they wish. The winner of this single game will be awarded
one additional point and therefore the match.
PC4 Procedure
for arranging matches will be as for the Team Knockout Cup, i.e. on home team’s
normal match night in designated weeks or otherwise on one of three dates
offered.
PC5 The
Final will be played at the Waveney Leisure Centre and will be publicly staged.
The Executive Committee will publish in the Handbook at the beginning of each
season the date of the Final. Teams progressing to the Final shall inform the
Match Records Secretary at least 4 days before the specified date the names of
their players playing in that Final. These declared names may only be changed
in the event of illness or other emergency. Should one of the finalists’ be
unable to field a full team using their own players or replacement options
available to them, they will be eliminated from the competition and their place
in the final offered to the team they defeated at the semi-final stage.
15.1.7
Rules
for Spring Pairs
SP1 All
teams in the League are required to take part in the Spring Pairs Competition
during the specified week. Individual
handicaps and Scaling Charts will be used throughout this competition.
SP2 Teams will consist of two players and
the competition will be arranged so that each player in a Group will play every
other player once, one game up to 21, no deuce, service change at 20 all. The winners of each single game will be
awarded one point, the winners of each group will be
required to play in a final on another evening in the same week. The final will
be played on the same basis.
SP3 In
the event of a tie on points at any Group stage or in the Final, a single game
play off will decide who wins a group or the final, with a coin toss to decide
who nominates their representative player first. If three or more teams tie in this way the
play off game will be replaced by a count back on individual points scored
including handicaps. If two teams were
still equal after a count back result to be decided by a play off as above at
this point. If three or more teams were
still equal after a count back nominated players will take place in a shoot out
knockout competition over five points (first player to reach three points wins)
with one player drawn into a final if necessary. Each shoot out to
take place with alternative services after a toss for first service.
SP4 Deleted
SP5 Further
specific playing arrangements will be issued before the start of the
competition each season.
Rule 15.1.8 Rules for Blue Riband
Cup
16.1 All League trophies remain the property
of the League.
16.2 Teams
and individuals holding League trophies will be responsible for their safe
custody and condition until returned.
16.3 Trophies
must be returned to the Trophy Secretary within 7 days of being requested.
16.3.1 In
the event of a trophy not being returned on time, the team or individuals
concerned will be fined in accordance with Rule 17.1.5.
16.4 Permanent Trophies
16.5.1 Permanent
individual trophies not exceeding 3 in number shall be awarded to the winners
and runners-up in each division.
16.5.2 A
permanent individual trophy shall be presented to the player with the highest
percentage of wins in each division provided that the player has played in at
least 75% of available matches
17.1 Fines relating to the following Rules
are:
17.1.1 Rule 7.2.2 ........................ £ 2. 50
17.1.2 Rule 12.5.3....................... £ 2. 00
17.1.3 Rule 12.6.2
....................... £ 2.
00
17.1.4 Rule 13.2.1
....................... £ 2.
00
17.1.5 Rule 16.3.1
....................... £ 2.
00
17.2 Penalties relating to the following
Rules are:
17.2.1 Rule 10.2.6 10 League points
deducted
17.2.2 Rule 12.5.6 2 League points
deducted
17.2.3 Rule 13.1 10 League points deducted
17.2.4 Rule 12.5.2 2 League points
deducted
17.3 Payment of Fines
17.3.1 Fines must be paid within 7 days of
notification.
17.3.2 Non-payment
of fines renders the team liable to suspension or other penalties as may be
decided by the Executive Committee.
18.1 All
matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of Table Tennis as at
18.2 Specific Laws
18.2.1 Licensed
Balls: Only balls approved by the ETTA may be used for League, Knockout and
Championship Matches. (A list of approved balls is printed in the handbook).
18.2.2 The
Service: The ETTA Law relating to the service must be strictly adhered to.
18.3
The Expedite System shall come into operation if a game is
unfinished after 15 minutes' play, unless both players or
pairs have scored at least 19 points, or at any earlier time at the request of
both players or pairs. 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 immediately preceding rally of the game. Thereafter each
player hall serve for 1 point in turn until the end of the game and if the
receiving player or pair makes 13 good returns the server shall lose a point.
Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation for the
remainder of the match.
18.4 Two
Colour Bat: 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.