2.15.1 Except where both players or pairs 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 or pairs.
2.15.1.1 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.
2.15.1.2 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.
2.15.2 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 returns the receiver shall score a
point.
2.15.3 Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end
of the match.
3 REGULATIONS FOR
3.1.1.1 An international competition is one that may include the players of more than
one Association.
3.1.1.2 An international match is a match between teams representing Associations.
3.1.1.3 An open tournament is one that is open to the players of all Associations.
3.1.1.4 A restricted tournament is one that is restricted to specified groups of players
other than age groups.
3.1.1.5 An invitation tournament is one that is restricted to specified Associations or
players, individually invited.
3.1.2 Applicability
3.1.2.1 Except as provided in 3.1.2.2, the Laws (Chapter 2) shall apply to World,
Continental and Olympic title competitions, open tournaments and, unless
otherwise agreed by the participating Associations, to international matches.
3.1.2.2 The Board of Directors shall have power to authorise the organiser of an open
tournament to adopt experimental law variations specified by the Executive
Committee.
3.1.2.3 The Regulations for International Competitions shall apply to
3.1.2.3.1 World and Olympic title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the
Board of Directors and notified in advance to the participating
Associations;
3.1.2.3.2 Continental title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the
appropriate Continental Federation and notified in advance to the
participating Associations;
3.1.2.3.3 Open International Championships (3.7.1.2), unless otherwise authorised
by the Executive Committee and notified in advance to the participants in
accordance with 3.1.2.4;
3.1.2.3.4 open tournaments, except as provided in 3.1.2.4.
3.1.2.4 Where an open tournament does not comply with any of these regulations the
nature and extent of the variation shall be specified in the entry form;
completion and submission of an entry form shall be regarded as signifying
acceptance of the conditions of the competition, including such variations.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.1.2.5 The Laws and Regulations are recommended for all international
competitions but, provided that the Constitution is observed, international
restricted and invitation tournaments and recognised international
competitions organised by unaffiliated bodies may be held under rules laid
down by the organising authority.
3.1.2.6 The Laws and the Regulations for International Competitions shall be
presumed to apply unless variations have been agreed in advance or are
made clear in the published rules of the competition.
3.1.2.7 Detailed explanations and interpretations of regulations, including equipment
specifications, shall be published as Technical Leaflets authorised by the
Board of Directors and in Handbooks for Match Officials and Tournament
Referees.
3.2 EQUIPMENT AND PLAYING CONDITIONS
3.2.1 Approved and Authorised Equipment
3.2.1.1 The approval and authorisation of playing equipment shall be conducted on
behalf of the Board of Directors by the Equipment Committee; approval or
authorisation may be withdrawn by the Board of Directors at any time if its
continuation is found to be detrimental to the sport.
3.2.1.2 The entry form or prospectus for an open tournament shall specify the brands
and colours of table, net assembly and ball to be used; the choice of
equipment shall be as laid down by the Association in whose territory the
competition is held, selected from brands and types currently approved by the
ITTF.
3.2.1.3 The covering material on a side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be
of a brand and type currently authorised by the ITTF and shall be attached to
the blade so that the supplier and brand names and the ITTF logo plus the
ITTF number (when applied) are clearly visible near the edge of the striking
surface.
Lists of all approved and authorised equipment and materials are maintained by the
ITTF Office and details are available on the ITTF web site.
3.2.2 Playing Clothing
3.2.2.1 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
3.2.2.2 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.
3.2.2.3 Clothing may bear numbers or lettering on the back of the shirt to identify a
player, his Association or, in club matches, his club, and advertisements in
3: Regulations for International Competitions
accordance with the provisions of 3.2.5.10; if the back of a shirt bears the
player’s name, this shall be situated just below the collar.
3.2.2.4 Any numbers required by organisers to identify a player shall have priority
over advertisements on the centre part of the back of a shirt; such numbers
shall be contained within a panel having an area not greater than 600cm2.
3.2.2.5 Any markings or trimming on the front or side of a playing garment and any
objects such as jewellery worn by a player shall not be so conspicuous or
brightly reflecting as to unsight an opponent.
3.2.2.6 Clothing shall not carry designs or lettering which might cause offence or
bring the game into disrepute.
3.2.2.7 Any question of the legality or acceptability of playing clothing shall be
decided by the referee.
3.2.2.8 The players of a team taking part in a team match, and players of the same
Association forming a doubles pair in a World or Olympic Title Competition,
shall be dressed uniformly, with the possible exception of socks, shoes and
the number, size, colour and design of advertisements on clothing. Players of
the same Association forming a doubles pair in other international
competitions may wear clothes of different manufacturers, if the basic colours
are the same and their National Association authorises this procedure.
3.2.2.9 Opposing players and pairs shall wear shirts that are of sufficiently different
colours to enable them to be easily distinguished by spectators.
3.2.2.10 Where opposing players or teams have a similar shirt and cannot agree which
of them will change, the decision shall be made by the umpire by lot.
3.2.2.11 Players competing in a World or Olympic title competition or Open
International Championships shall wear shirt and shorts or skirt of types
authorised by their Association.
3.2.3 Playing Conditions
3.2.3.1 The playing space shall be rectangular and not less than 14m long, 7m wide
and 5m high, but the 4 corners may be covered by surrounds of not more
than 1.5m length.
3.2.3.2 The following equipment and fittings are to be considered as part of each
playing area: The table including the net assembly, umpires tables and chairs,
score indicators, towel and ball boxes, printed numbers identifying the table,
surrounds, floor mats, boards on the surrounds indicating the names of
players or Associations.
3.2.3.3 The playing area shall be enclosed by surrounds about 75cm high, all of the
same dark background colour, separating it from adjacent playing areas and
from spectators.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.2.3.4 In World and Olympic title competitions the light intensity, measured at the
height of the playing surface, shall be at least 1000 lux uniformly over the
whole of the playing surface and at least 500 lux elsewhere in the playing
area; in other competitions the intensity shall be at least 600 lux uniformly
over the playing surface and at least 400 lux elsewhere in the playing area.
3.2.3.5 Where several tables are in use, the lighting level shall be the same for all of
them, and the level of background lighting in the playing hall shall not be
greater than the lowest level in the playing area.
3.2.3.6 The light source shall not be less than 5m above the floor.
3.2.3.7 The background shall be generally dark and shall not contain bright light
sources or daylight through uncovered windows or other apertures.
3.2.3.8 The flooring shall not be light-coloured, brightly reflecting or slippery and its
surface shall not be of brick, ceramics, concrete or stone; in World and
Olympic title competitions the flooring shall be of wood or of a brand and type
of rollable synthetic material authorised by the ITTF.
3.2.4 Gluing
3.2.4.1 It is the responsibility of each player to ensure that racket coverings are
attached to their racket blade with adhesives that do not contain harmful
volatile solvents.
3.2.4.2 Tests for harmful volatile solvents shall be carried out at World and Olympic
title competitions, Pro-Tour tournaments and World Junior Circuit events; and
a player whose racket is found to contain such a solvent is liable to be
disqualified from the competition and reported to his Association.
3.2.4.3 A properly ventilated area shall be provided for the attachment of racket
coverings to rackets, and liquid adhesives shall not be used anywhere else at
the playing venue.
“Playing venue” means the whole establishment in the playing building and the
ground where the playing building stands, which contains the doorway, the parking lot
and related facilities.
3.2.5 Advertisements
3.2.5.1 Inside the playing area, advertisements shall be displayed only on equipment
or fittings listed in 3.2.3.2 and there shall be no special additional displays.
3.2.5.2 At Olympic Games advertisement on playing equipment, on playing clothing
and on umpires’ clothing shall be according to IOC regulations.
3.2.5.3 Fluorescent or luminescent colours shall not be used anywhere in the playing
area.
3.2.5.4 Lettering or symbols on the inside of surrounds shall not include white or
orange nor more than two colours and shall be contained within a height of
3: Regulations for International Competitions
40cm; it is recommended that they be in a slightly darker or slightly lighter
shade of the background colour.
3.2.5.5 Markings on flooring shall not include white or orange; it is recommended that
they be in slightly darker or slightly lighter shade of the background colour.
3.2.5.6 There may be up to 4 advertisements on the floor of the playing area, 1 at
each end and 1 at each side of the table, each contained within an area of
2.5m2; they shall not be less than 1m from the surrounds and those at the
ends shall not be more than 2m from the surrounds.
3.2.5.7 There may be 1 temporary advertisement on each half of each side of the
tabletop and 1 on each end, clearly separated from any permanent
advertisements and each contained within a total length of 60cm; they shall
not be for other table tennis equipment suppliers.
3.2.5.8 Advertisements on nets shall be in a slightly darker or slightly lighter shade of
the background colour, shall not be within 3cm of the tape along the top edge
and shall not obscure visibility through the mesh.
3.2.5.9 Advertisements on umpires' tables or other furniture inside the playing area
shall be contained within a total area on any face of 750cm2.
3.2.5.10 Advertisements on playing clothing shall be limited to
3.2.5.10.1 the maker's normal trademark, symbol or name contained within a total
area of 24cm2;
3.2.5.10.2 not more than 6 clearly separated advertisements, contained within a
combined total area of 600 cm2, on the front, side or shoulder of a shirt,
with not more than 4 advertisements on the front ;
3.2.5.10.3 not more than 2 advertisements, contained within a total area of 400cm2,
on the back of a shirt;
3.2.5.10.4 not more than 2 advertisements, contained within a combined total area of
120 cm2, only on the front and the sides of shorts or skirt.
3.2.5.11 Advertisements on players' numbers shall be contained within a total area of
100cm2.
3.2.5.12 Advertisements on umpires' clothing shall be contained within a total area of
40cm2.
3.2.5.13 There shall be no advertisements on players' clothing or numbers for tobacco
goods, alcoholic drinks or harmful drugs.
3.3 MATCH OFFICIALS
3.3.1 Referee
3.3.1.1 For each competition as a whole a referee shall be appointed and his identity
and location shall be made known to the participants and, where appropriate,
to the team captains.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.3.1.2 The referee shall be responsible for
3.3.1.2.1 the conduct of the draw;
3.3.1.2.2 the scheduling of the matches by time and table;
3.3.1.2.3 the appointment of match officials;
3.3.1.2.4 conducting a pre-tournament briefing for match officials;
3.3.1.2.5 checking the eligibility of players;
3.3.1.2.6 deciding whether play may be suspended in an emergency;
3.3.1.2.7 deciding whether players may leave the playing area during a match;
3.3.1.2.8 deciding whether statutory practice periods may be extended;
3.3.1.2.9 deciding whether players may wear track suits during a match;
3.3.1.2.10 deciding any question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations, including
the acceptability of clothing, playing equipment and playing conditions;
3.3.1.2.11 deciding whether, and where, players may practise during an emergency
suspension of play;
3.3.1.2.12 taking disciplinary action for misbehaviour or other breaches of
regulations.
3.3.1.3 Where, with the agreement of the competition management committee, any of
the duties of the referee are delegated to other persons, the specific
responsibilities and locations of each of these persons shall be made known
to the participants and, where appropriate, to the team captains.
3.3.1.4 The referee, or a responsible deputy appointed to exercise authority in his
absence, shall be present at all times during play.
3.3.1.5 Where the referee is satisfied that it is necessary to do so he may replace a
match official with another at any time, but he may not alter a decision already
made by the replaced official on a question of fact within his jurisdiction.
3.3.1.6 Players shall be under the jurisdiction of the referee from the time at which
they arrive at the playing venue until they leave it.
3.3.2 Umpire, Assistant Umpire and Stroke Counter
3.3.2.1 An umpire and an assistant umpire shall be appointed for each match.
3.3.2.2 The umpire shall sit or stand in line with the net and the assistant umpire shall
sit directly facing him, at the other side of the table.
3.3.2.3 The umpire shall be responsible for
3.3.2.3.1 checking the acceptability of equipment and playing conditions and
reporting any deficiency to the referee;
3.3.2.3.2 taking a ball at random as provided in 3.4.2.1.1-2;
3.3.2.3.3 conducting the draw for the choice of serving, receiving and ends;
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.3.2.3.4 deciding whether the requirements of the service law may be relaxed for a
player with physical disability;
3.3.2.3.5 controlling the order of serving, receiving and ends and correcting any
errors therein;
3.3.2.3.6 deciding each rally as a point or a let;
3.3.2.3.7 calling the score, in accordance with specified procedure;
3.3.2.3.8 introducing the expedite system at the appropriate time;
3.3.2.3.9 maintaining the continuity of play;
3.3.2.3.10 taking action for breaches of the advice or behaviour regulations;
3.3.2.3.11 drawing by lot which player, pair or team shall change their shirt, should
opposing players or teams have a similar shirt and cannot agree which of
them will change.
3.3.2.4 The assistant umpire shall
3.3.2.4.1 decide whether or not the ball in play touches the edge of the playing
surface at the side of the table nearest him;
3.3.2.4.2 inform the umpire for breaches of the advice or behaviour regulations.
3.3.2.5 Either the umpire or the assistant umpire may
3.3.2.5.1 decide that a player's service action is illegal;
3.3.2.5.2 decide that, in an otherwise correct service, the ball touches the net
assembly while passing over or around it;
3.3.2.5.3 decide that a player obstructs the ball;
3.3.2.5.4 decide that the conditions of play are disturbed in a way that may affect
the outcome of the rally;
3.3.2.5.5 time the duration of the practice period, of play and of intervals.
3.3.2.6 Either the assistant umpire or a separate official may act as stroke counter, to
count the strokes of the receiving player or pair when the expedite system is
in operation.
3.3.2.7 A decision made by the assistant umpire in accordance with the provisions of
3.3.2.5 may not be overruled by the umpire.
3.3.2.8 Players shall be under the jurisdiction of the umpire from the time at which
they arrive at the playing area until they leave it.
3.3.3 Appeals
3.3.3.1 No agreement between players, in an individual event, or between team
captains, in a team event, can alter a decision on a question of fact by the
responsible match official, on a question of interpretation of Laws or
Regulations by the responsible referee or on any other question of
tournament or match conduct by the responsible management committee.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.3.3.2 No appeal may be made to the referee against a decision on a question of
fact by the responsible match official or to the management committee on a
question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations by the referee.
3.3.3.3 An appeal may be made to the referee against a decision of a match official
on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations, and the decision of the
referee shall be final.
3.3.3.4 An appeal may be made to the competition management committee against a
decision of the referee on a question of tournament or match conduct not
covered by the Laws or Regulations, and the decision of the management
committee shall be final.
3.3.3.5 In an individual event an appeal may be made only by a player participating in
the match in which the question has arisen; in a team event an appeal may be
made only by the captain of a team participating in the match in which the
question has arisen.
3.3.3.6 A question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations arising from the decision
of a referee, or a question of tournament or match conduct arising from the
decision of a competition management committee, may be submitted by the
player or team captain eligible to make an appeal, through his parent
Association, for consideration by the ITTF Rules Committee.
3.3.3.7 The Rules Committee shall give a ruling as a guide for future decisions, and
this ruling may also be made the subject of a protest by an Association to the
Board of Directors or a General Meeting, but it shall not affect the finality of
any decision already made by the responsible referee or management
committee.
3.4 MATCH CONDUCT
3.4.1 Score Indication
3.4.1.1 The umpire shall call the score as soon as the ball is out of play at the
completion of a rally, or as soon as is practicable thereafter.
3.4.1.1.1 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.
3.4.1.1.2 At the beginning of a game and when a change of server is due, the umpire
shall point to the next server, and may also follow the score call with the next
server’s name.
3.4.1.1.3 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.
3.4.1.2 In addition to calling the score the umpire may use hand signals to indicate
his decisions.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.4.1.2.1 When a point has been scored, he may raise his arm nearer to the player or
pair who won the point so that the upper arm is horizontal and the forearm is
vertical with the closed hand upward.
3.4.1.2.2 When for any reason the rally is a let, he may raise his hand above his head
to show that the rally has ended.
3.4.1.3 The score and, under the expedite system, the number of strokes shall be
called in English or in any other language acceptable to both players or pairs
and to the umpire.
3.4.1.4 The score shall be displayed on mechanical or electrical indicators so that it is
clearly visible to the players and the spectators.
3.4.1.5 When a player is formally warned for bad behaviour, a yellow marker shall be
placed on or near the score indicator.
3.4.2 Equipment
3.4.2.1 Players shall not choose balls in the playing area.
3.4.2.1.1 Wherever possible players shall be given the opportunity to choose one or
more balls before coming to the playing area and the match shall be played
with one of these balls, taken at random by the umpire.
3.4.2.1.2 If a ball has not been chosen before players come to the playing area, the
match shall be played with a ball taken at random by the umpire from a box of
those specified for the competition.
3.4.2.1.3 If a ball is damaged during a match, it shall be replaced by another of those
chosen before the match or, if such a ball is not available, by one taken at
random by the umpire from a box of those specified for the competition.
3.4.2.2 A racket shall not be replaced during an individual match unless it is
accidentally damaged so badly that it cannot be used; if this happens the
damaged racket shall be replaced immediately by another which the player
has brought with him to the playing area or one which is handed to him in the
playing area.
3.4.2.3 Unless otherwise authorised by the umpire, players shall leave their rackets
on the table during intervals.
3.4.3 Practice
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.4.3.1 Players are entitled to practise on the match table for up to 2 minutes
immediately before the start of a match but not during normal intervals; the
specified practice period may be extended only with the permission of the
referee.
3.4.3.2 During an emergency suspension of play the referee may allow players to
practise on any table, including the match table.
3.4.3.3 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.
3.4.4 Intervals
3.4.4.1 Play shall be continuous throughout an individual match except that any
player is entitled to
3.4.4.1.1 an interval of up to 1 minute between successive games of an individual
match;
3.4.4.1.2 brief intervals for towelling after every 6 points from the start of each game
and at the change of ends in the last possible game of an individual
match.
3.4.4.2 A player or pair may claim one time-out period of up to 1 minute during an
individual match.
3.4.4.2.1 In an individual event the request for a time-out may be made by the
player or pair or by the designated adviser; in a team event it may be
made by the player or pair or by the team captain.
3.4.4.2.2 If a player or pair and an adviser or captain disagree whether a time-out is
to be taken, the final decision shall be made by the player or pair in an
individual event and by the captain in a team event.
3.4.4.2.3 The request for a time-out, which can be made only between rallies in a
game, shall be indicated by making a "T" sign with the hands.
3.4.4.2.4 On receiving a valid request for a time-out the umpire shall suspend play
and shall hold up a white card with the hand on the side of the player or
pair who requested it; the white card or another appropriate marker shall
be placed on the court of that player or pair.
3.4.4.2.5 The white card or marker shall be removed and play resumed as soon as
the player or pair making the request is ready to continue or at the end of
1 minute, whichever is the sooner.
3.4.4.2.6 If a valid request for a time-out is made simultaneously by or on behalf of
both players or pairs, play will resume when both players or pairs are
ready or at the end of 1 minute, whichever is the sooner, and neither
3: Regulations for International Competitions
player or pair shall be entitled to another time-out during that individual
match.
3.4.4.3 There shall be no intervals between successive individual matches of a team
match except that a player who is required to play in successive matches may
claim an interval of up to 5 minutes between those matches.
3.4.4.4 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.
3.4.4.5 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.
3.4.4.6 If anyone in the playing area is bleeding, play shall be suspended immediately
and shall not resume until that person has received medical treatment and all
traces of blood have been removed from the playing area.
3.4.4.7 Players shall remain in or near the playing area throughout an individual
match, except with the permission of the referee; during intervals between
games and time-outs they shall remain within 3 metres of the playing area,
under the supervision of the umpire.
3.5 DISCIPLINE
3.5.1 Advice
3.5.1.1 In a team event, players may receive advice from anyone.
3.5.1.2 In an individual event, a player or pair may receive advice only from one
person, designated beforehand to the umpire, except that where the players
of a doubles pair are from different Associations each may designate an
adviser, but with regard to 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 these two advisors shall be treated
as a unit; if an unauthorised person gives advice the umpire shall hold up a
red card and send him away from the playing area.
3.5.1.3 Players may receive advice only during the intervals between games or
during other authorised suspension of play, and not between the end of
practice and the start of a match; if any authorised person gives advice at
other times the umpire shall hold up a yellow card to warn him that any further
such offence will result in his dismissal from the playing area.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.5.1.4 After a warning has been given, if in the same team match or the same match
of an individual event anyone again gives advice illegally, the umpire shall
hold up a red card and send him away from the playing area, whether or not
he was the person warned.
3.5.1.5 In a team match the dismissed adviser shall not be allowed to return, except
when required to play, and he shall not be replaced by another adviser until
the team match has ended; in an individual event he shall not be allowed to
return until the individual match has ended.
3.5.1.6 If the dismissed adviser refuses to leave, or returns before the end of the
match, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.
3.5.1.7 These regulations shall apply only to advice on play and shall not prevent a
player or captain, as appropriate, from making a legitimate appeal nor hinder
a consultation with an interpreter or Association representative on the
explanation of a juridical decision.
3.5.2 Misbehaviour
3.5.2.1 Players and coaches or other advisers shall refrain from behaviour that may
unfairly affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into disrepute,
such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball or hitting it out of the
playing area, kicking the table or surrounds and disrespect of match officials.
3.5.2.2 If at any time a player, a coach or another adviser commits a serious offence
the umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee; for less
serious offences the umpire may, on the first occasion, hold up a yellow card
and warn the offender that any further offence is liable to incur penalties.
3.5.2.3 Except as provided in 3.5.2.2 and 3.5.2.5, if a player who has been warned
commits a second offence in the same individual match or team match, the
umpire shall award 1 point to the offender's opponent and for a further offence
he shall award 2 points, each time holding up a yellow and a red card
together.
3.5.2.4 If a player against whom 3 penalty points have been awarded in the same
individual match or team match continues to misbehave, the umpire shall
suspend play and report immediately to the referee.
3.5.2.5 If a player changes his racket during an individual match when it has not been
damaged, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.
3.5.2.6 A warning or penalty incurred by either player of a doubles pair shall apply to
the pair, but not to the non-offending player in a subsequent individual match
of the same team match; at the start of a doubles match the pair shall be
regarded as having incurred the higher of any warnings or penalties incurred
by either player in the same team match.
3.5.2.7 Except as provided in 3.5.2.2, if a coach or another adviser who has been
warned commits a further offence in the same individual match or team
3: Regulations for International Competitions
match, the umpire shall hold up a red card and send him away from the
playing area until the end of the team match or, in an individual event, of the
individual match.
3.5.2.8 The referee shall have power to disqualify a player from a match, an event or
a competition for seriously unfair or offensive behaviour, whether reported by
the umpire or not; as he does so he shall hold up a red card.
3.5.2.9 If a player is disqualified from 2 matches of a team or individual event he shall
automatically be disqualified from that team event or individual competition.
3.5.2.10 The referee may disqualify for the remainder of a competition anyone who
has twice been sent away from the playing area during that competition.
3.5.2.11 Cases of very serious misbehaviour shall be reported to the offender's
Association.
3.5.3 Good Presentation
3.5.3.1 Players, coaches and officials shall uphold the object of good presentation of
the sport; in particular players have to do their utmost to win a match and
shall not withdraw except for reasons of illness or injury.
3.5.3.2 Any player who deliberately fails to comply with these principles shall be
disciplined by total or partial loss of prize money in prize events and/or by
suspension from ITTF events.
3.5.3.3 In the event of complicity proven against any adviser or official the relevant
national Association is also expected to discipline this person.
3.5.3.4 A Disciplinary Panel appointed by the Executive Committee, consisting of 4
members and a chairman, shall decide on whether an infringement committed
and if necessary on appropriate sanctions; this Commission shall decide
according to directives given by the Executive Committee.
3.5.3.5 An appeal against the Disciplinary Panel’s decision may be made by the
disciplined player, adviser or official within 15 days to the ITTF Executive
Committee whose decision on the matter shall be final.
3.6 DRAW FOR KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS
3.6.1 Byes and Qualifiers
3.6.1.1 The number of places in the first round proper of a knockout event shall be a
power of 2.
3.6.1.1.1 If there are fewer entries than places, the first round shall include enough
byes to make up the required number.
3.6.1.1.2 If there are more entries than places, a qualifying competition shall be held
such that the number of qualifiers and the number of direct entries together
make up the required number.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.6.1.2 Byes shall be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the first round,
being placed first against seeded places, in seeding order.
3.6.1.3 Qualifiers shall be drawn as evenly as possible among the halves, quarters,
eighths or sixteenths of the draw, as appropriate.
3.6.2 Seeding by Ranking
3.6.2.1 The highest ranked entries in an event shall be seeded so that they cannot
meet before the closing rounds.
3.6.2.2 The number of entries to be seeded shall not exceed the number of entries in
the 1st round proper of the event.
3.6.2.3 The entry ranked 1 shall be placed at the top of the first half of the draw and
the entry ranked 2 at the bottom of the second half, but all other seeded
entries shall be drawn among specified places in the draw, as follows:
3.6.2.3.1 the entries ranked 3 and 4 shall be drawn between the bottom of the first
half of the draw and the top of the second half;
3.6.2.3.2 the entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the
odd-numbered quarters of the draw and the top places of the evennumbered
quarters;
3.6.2.3.3 the entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the
odd-numbered eighths of the draw and the top places of the evennumbered
eighths;
3.6.2.3.4 the entries ranked 17-32 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the
odd-numbered sixteenths of the draw and the top places of the evennumbered
sixteenths.
3.6.2.4 In a team knockout event only the highest ranked team from an Association
shall be eligible for seeding by ranking.
3.6.2.5 Seeding by ranking shall follow the order of the latest ranking list published by
the ITTF except that
3.6.2.5.1 where all the entries eligible for seeding are from Associations belonging
to the same Continental Federation the latest list published by that
Federation shall take precedence;
3.6.2.5..2 where all the entries eligible for seeding are from the same Association
the latest list published by that Association shall take precedence.
3.6.3 Seeding by Association Nomination
3.6.3.1 Nominated players and pairs of the same Association shall, as far as
possible, be separated so that they cannot meet before the closing rounds of
an event.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.6.3.2 Associations shall list their nominated players and pairs in descending order
of playing strength, starting with any players included in the ranking list used
for seeding, in the order of that list.
3.6.3.3 The entries ranked 1 and 2 shall be drawn into different halves and those
ranked 3 and 4 into quarters other than those occupied by the first two.
3.6.3.4 The entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into eighths other
than those occupied by the first four.
3.6.3.5 The entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into sixteenths
other than those occupied by higher ranked players or pairs and so on, until
all the entries have been allocated.
3.6.3.6 A men's or women's doubles pair consisting of players from different
Associations shall be considered a pair of the Association of the player
ranked higher in the World Ranking List, or, if neither player is in this list, in
the appropriate Continental Ranking List; if neither player is included in a
World or Continental Ranking List, the pair shall be considered a member of
the Association whose team is ranked higher in the appropriate World Team
Ranking List.
3.6.3.7 A mixed doubles pair consisting of players from different Associations shall be
considered a pair of the Association to which the man belongs.
3.6.3.8 Alternatively, any doubles pair consisting of players from different
Associations may be considered a pair of both of these Associations.
3.6.3.9 In a qualifying competition, entries from the same Association, up to the
number of qualifying groups, shall be drawn into separate groups in such a
way that qualifiers are, as far as possible, separated in accordance with the
principles of 3.6.3.3-5.
3.6.4 Alterations
3.6.4.1 A completed draw may be altered only with the permission of the responsible
management committee and, where appropriate, the agreement of the
representatives of Associations directly concerned.
3.6.4.2 The draw may be altered only to correct errors and genuine
misunderstandings in the notification and acceptance of entry, to correct
serious imbalance, as provided in 3.6.5, or to include additional players or
pairs, as provided in 3.6.6.
3.6.4.3 No alterations other than necessary deletions shall be made to the draw of an
event after it has started; for the purpose of this regulation a qualifying
competition may be regarded as a separate event.
3.6.4.4 A player shall not be deleted from the draw without his permission, unless he
is disqualified; such permission must be given either by the player if he is
present or, if he is absent, by his authorised representative.
3: Regulations for International Competitions
3.6.4.5 A doubles pair shall not be altered if both players are present and fit to play,
but injury, illness or absence of one player may be accepted as justification
for an alteration.
3.6.5 Re-draw
3.6.5.1 Except as provided in 3.6.4.2, 3.6.4.5 and 3.6.5.2, a player shall not be
moved from one place in the draw to another and if for any reason the draw
becomes seriously unbalanced the event shall, wherever possible, be
completely re-drawn.
3.6.5.2 Exceptionally, where the imbalance is due to the absence of several seeded
players or pairs from the same section of the draw, the remaining seeded
players or pairs only may be re-numbered in ranking order and re-drawn to
the extent possible among the seeded places, taking account as far as is
practicable of the requirements for seeding by Association nomination.
3.6.6 Additions
3.6.6.1 Players not included in the original draw may be added later, at the discretion
of the responsible management committee and with the agreement of the
referee.
3.6.6.2 Any vacancies in seeded places shall first be filled, in ranking order, by
drawing into them the strongest new players or pairs; any further players or
pairs shall be drawn into vacancies due to absence or disqualification and
then into byes other than those against seeded players or pairs.
3.6.6.3 Any players or pairs who would have been seeded by ranking if they had
been included in the original draw may be drawn only into vacancies in
seeded places.
3.7.5 Group Competitions
3.7.5.1 In a group, or "round robin", competition, all members of the group shall
compete against each other and shall gain 2 match points for a win, 1 for a
loss in a played match and 0 for a loss in an unplayed or unfinished match;
the ranking order shall be determined primarily by the number of match points
gained.
3.7.5.2 If two or more members of the group have gained the same number of match
points their relative positions shall be determined only by the results of the
matches between them, by considering successively the numbers of match
points, the ratios of wins to losses first in individual matches (for a team
event), games and points, as far as is necessary to resolve the order.
3.7.5.3 If at any step in the calculations the positions of one or more members of the
group have been determined while the others are still equal, the results of
matches in which those members took part shall be excluded from any further
calculations needed to resolve the equalities in accordance with the
procedure of 3.7.5.1 and 3.7.5.2.
3.7.5.4 If it is not possible to resolve equalities by means of the procedure specified in
3.7.5.1-3 the relative positions shall be decided by lot.
3.7.5.5 In the qualifying stages of World, Olympic and Open International
Championships players shall be drawn into groups and assigned group
positions in descending order of their current world ranking, taking account as
far as possible of separation by Association.
3.7.5.6 Unless otherwise authorised by the Jury, if 1 player or team is to qualify the
final match in the group shall be between the players or teams numbered 1
and 2, if 2 are to qualify the final match shall be between the players or teams
numbered 2 and 3 and so on.
