IDTTL News:

New Team / Players. Aug 2023

A page has been added to the IDTTL website to explain to new players how they can apply to play in the league.
see here

🏓 Good Service! 🏓. Aug 2023


Before the season starts, we thought it would be a good opportunity to remind everyone of service rules!

These are official (ITTF) International Table Tennis Federation Rules “

✋🏻 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.

⬆️ 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.

⬇️ 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.

£ 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 any part of the body or clothing of the server or his doubles partner; as soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be removed from the space between the server’s body and the net.

🫡 It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a good service.

🚨If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service he may, on the first occasion in a match, declare a let and warn the server.

‼️ Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that player or his doubles partner will result in a point to the receiver.

1️£ Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point.

‘️ Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a good service where he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.

New Season dates!. Aug 2023

The committee have decided the following dates for the new season:

2023
Starting week commencing 11th Sept until week commencing 11th December
2024
Starting week commencing the 8th January until week commencing the 15th April.

All fixtures to be completed by 4th May 2024

Table Tennis England Membership. Jun 2023

Please see link to follow providing all information on next seasons memberships!

https://www.tabletennisengland.co.uk/membership/individual-membership/

IDTTL Rule Changes. May 2023

Following last week's AGM, the two rules listed below were passed.

IDTTL 2023 AGM Rule Change Proposals. May 2023

Let your club representative know of your thoughts before the AGM, Thursday 11th May, 7:30pm at Ipswich Sports Club.

CHANGE 1:

FROM:

There is no limit to the number of matches a player may play up in a higher division. However only the first 6 games won will count towards the higher division team's points. Subsequent games won will be recorded as walkovers to the opposing team unless the player has been formally transferred before the match.


TO:

A team may call on any player registered in a lower division team and that player may play for a higher division team until they have won seven games in higher division team(s). At that point the player will automatically be registered for the higher division team for which they have won the majority of their games. If this should be equal, the player will be registered in the lower team, and the games won in the higher team will count towards any further re-registering calculations.


CHANGE2:

FROM:

Premier Division: Two teams finishing in the last two positions will be relegated to Division 1

First Division: Teams finishing in the top two positions will be promoted to the Premier Division. Teams in the bottom three positions will be relegated to Division Two

Subsequent: Teams finishing in the top three positions will be promoted one division. Teams finishing in the bottom three positions will be relegated one division. After relegations have taken place teams finishing in the bottom three places will not automatically be re-affiliated to the League the following season


TO:

For divisions with 7 or less teams the team finishing in bottom position will be relegated, and the top team promoted from the division below in their place.

For divisions with between 8 and 11 teams the teams finishing in the bottom two positions will be relegated and the top two teams in the division below promoted in their place.

For divisions with between 12 and 14 teams the teams finishing in the bottom three positions will be relegated and the top three teams in the division below promoted in their place.

Woodbridge Table Tennis Sessions. Apr 2023

Two Table Tennis Taster sessions (FREE) on Tuesday 9th and 16th May at Woodbridge Community Hall from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

George Earle. Apr 2023


George passed away peacefully at home on 20th April, aged 90.
George played table tennis for over 60 years and was a coach for more than half that time.
He loved the game, it gave him great pleasure helping people to improve their game, especially the youngsters and people new to table tennis.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at Dedham Church on 24th May at noon.
All our welcome.

Our thoughts are with George’s friends and family at this time.

IDTTL 22/23 Handicap Shield!. Apr 2023

Held at the Britannia Dome the final of the Ipswich and District Table Tennis Leagues Handicap Shield was an exciting battle between the finalists:

Pickwicks ‘C’ (the current holders)
and
Wherstead Tornadoes.

The 2 teams battled hard with the lead changing constantly throughout the match, and there was never more than a few points difference throughout.

The Pickwicks ‘C’ team of Johnny Clougherty, Mark Beaumont and Ray Perry started strongly only for the Wherstead Tornadoes team of Ashley Philips, Martin Chamberlain and Nicholas Anthony to square the match, who then took a slender lead, only for the Pickwicks team to come back, and after the first series of 9 singles games the score was 176-170 in Pickwicks favour.

Wherstead cut this deficit during the 3 doubles games and at that stage the tie was evenly balanced again at 234-234. This ding dong battle continued during the second round of 9 singles games, with excellent table tennis played by all competitors, and with the last 3 games to play Wherstead held a 3 point lead. Pickwicks ‘C’ held their nerve and managed to overcome this to take the title again with the score finishing at 405-401, a very close finish indeed.

Congratulations to the Pickwicks ‘C’ team and commiserations to the Wherstead Tornadoes team with all competitors making this a memorable final, the closest finish for many years.

Below are the winners: Pickwicks ‘C’ team with their Team Manager; Mike Chenery.

Completion Deadline Extended!. Apr 2023

The committee have extended their deadline for the completion of matches to the 5th May.

Championship Start Times!. Apr 2023

Mens/Mixed Doubles - 09:00
Non league event - 09:20
Division 1 singles - 10:00
Premier/ Division 2/3 singles - 10:20
Cadet Singles - 12:00
40/50/60s - 13:00
Junior Singles - 14:00
Men/Ladies (open) Singles - 16:00
Junior Doubles - 16:00
Singles Finals - 18:00

Players need to register 20 mins before start times and ready to start at times specified.

Any queries please email Martin on
Idttlfixtures@hotmail.com

Non-league event - championships. Apr 2023

Anyone that has entered the non-league event at the Championships can they email; idttlfixtures@hotmail.com

Thank you!

Handicap Shield. Apr 2023



We have our finalists!!

Pickwicks ‘C’ v Wherstead Tornados
Wednesday 19th April
Britannia Table Tennis Club

Congratulations to both teams for reaching this far!!

Closed 22/23 Championships. Mar 2023

Entries are now open for this seasons Championships!!

You can enter online:
http://www.idttl.net/champsentry/
Ipswich Sports Club
Saturday 15th April

Use of bar, showers, steam room and sauna available!

We also have a NON league event for any players currently not playing in the league!

We will need assistance setting up and packing away, exact timings to follow.

IDTTL Closed Championships 2023. Feb 2023

The Championships are back! Save the date; Saturday 15th April at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road.

Further details to follow.

New Committee Member. Jan 2023

Please join us in welcoming Trevor Elmy to the committee. We are grateful for his support.

Rumour Mill

  • The following waiver of ETTA Rule (2003/4) 57.1 is to allow the staging of handicap competitions, hard bat tournaments etc. The waiver is not intended to cover the normal league competition, only an "additional competition". Under ETTA Rule (2003/4) 57.1 all Competitive Table Tennis must, subject to any waiver granted, be played under the ETTA Approved Laws of Table Tennis, which are at present as set out in this leaflet.

    National Council resolution dated 9th July 1994 under Rule (1994/5) 42.7.1, to remain in force until further resolution, states: "Any County Association, Local League or club may, without specific permission, organise and conduct an additional competition or competitions solely among its own members and players on a knock-out basis , wherein the normal provisions of the Approved Laws are varied in one or more of the following ways:

    (1) by reducing or increasing the number of points required to win a game, either for all players or differentially under a system of handicaps

    (2) by restricting the type of racket covering or by otherwise diverging from the normal requirements as to equipment."

    To answer Adrian Clarke's suggestion of finding a method to allow people to play 21pt matches without breaching the ETTA regulations, we find the above WAIVER quite restrictive:
    We cannot run a 'league' type event, it must be knock-out.
    The event must come second to the main 11 pt league - this effectively means that players must be registered and involved in the main league.

  • Being a regular cleaner of his bat, the Registration Sec' was challenged the other night for cleaning his bat between games of a match. In such a situation there's only one person to ask... Chairman Bert with his umpire blazer on. Bert ruled that there is no regulation against cleaning your bat. Footnote: The magic cleaning fluid was none other than good old Suffolk tap water bor.
  • The three week grace afforded teams to play outstanding matches at the end of the season will be enforced so that matches played after that date will not count for the final league table.
  • The Ipswich league is currently trying to increase the number of people playing the league, especially those of a younger age group. Players usually enter the lower divisions of the league at an age of 13 - 14, however, by that time they will have been playing non-league Table Tennis for a couple of years and the earlier they start the easier it is to improve. Having said that, the league welcomes players of all ages.
  • In the summer of 2000, the ETTA decided to follow the ITTF ruling on using a larger 40mm ball, as opposed to the existing 38mm ball. If you are just starting or about to get into playing again after a break, you might want to check you're using the right size. The larger ball is easier to see and is slightly slower. Great for the old'ns!.
  • Another rule change of note for those who haven't played for a while, is the one concerning bats and the rubbers. Without getting into the finer points, it basically means those playing league and competition games have to play with a Red rubber on one side and Black on the other of the bat. If you are a pimple rubber user, you will need to check the current legal pimple types, (the old grass type pimple is out!).
  • Still trying to perfect that ultimate serve that no one can return? Watch out because the ball has to be visible to the opponent for the whole of the serve. No dangling the free arm in front of the ball!
  • Think the 40mm ball is big?. In Japan 44mm balls are making an impact - will we see the same?
  • Do you keep your tracksuit on until you are properly warmed up, i.e about the middle of the first game. Soon you may have to start the warm up clothed in the manner you wish to complete the whole game.