KU Intramural Table Tennis Rules
INTRAMURAL TABLE TENNIS RULES Rule 1 – Eligibility Rule 2 – The Playing Area Rule 3 – The Game Rule 4 – The Service Rule 5 – The Return Rule 6 – The Order of Play Rule 7 – Scoring Points Rule 8 – During Play Rule 9 – Tournament Play RULE 1 - ELIGIBILITY I.
Please see your Intramural Sports Policies and Procedures for eligibility criteria. RULE 2 - THE PLAYING AREA
I.
The playing surface shall not include the sides of the tabletop. The center line shall be regarded as part of each half-court. RULE 3 - THE GAME
I.
The winner of a coin toss between opponents shall have choice of serving, receiving, or choice of ends for the first game. The loser of the toss shall have the remaining choice. The players or pairs will alternate serve and side each game.
II.
A game shall be won by the player/pair first scoring 11 points unless both players/pairs score 10 points. If both player/pairs are tied at 10 points, the game is won by the first player/pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. The match will be capped at a maximum of 15 points. A match shall consist of the best-of-5 games. The Championship Match will be played to the bestof-7. Participants are allowed to use a ball agreed upon by both players. RULE 4 - THE SERVICE
I.
II.
III.
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, or 6 inches, 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 it touches first on their court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver’s court; in doubles, the ball shall be served cross court from the right side of the service court to the right side of the receiver’s court. In singles, service is open.
P a g e |1 Rev. 08.17
IV.
In doubles, after consecutive serves, the server and the server’s partner shall switch positions/sides. The receiver of the previous server now becomes the server. This rotation will continue until a winner is established, or until both teams have 10 points, at which time the rotation will be after ever point.
V.
From the start of the service and 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 the server’s doubles partner.
VI. VII.
In order for the serve to be legal, it cannot bounce twice on the server’s court. A let shall be called during the service if the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided all other serve restrictions in Rule 4 have been met. After two let serves, a point will be award to the receiver, or receiving team in doubles. RULE 5 - THE RETURN
I.
The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent’s court, either directly or after touching the net assembly. RULE 6 - THE ORDER OF PLAY
I.
II.
Singles: In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall make a good return. Doubles: The server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, and the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return, and so on. RULE 7 - SCORING POINTS
I.
Unless the rally is a let, a player/team shall score a point: a. If the opponent fails to make a good service, or b. If the opponent fails to make a good return, or c. If, after the player has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by the opponent, or d. If the ball passes beyond the end line without touching the court, after being struck by the opponent, or e. If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries moves the playing surface, or f. If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries touches the net assembly, or g. If the opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface, or h. If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of sequence
P a g e |2 Rev. 08.17
II.
After each 2 points have been scored, the receiving player/pair shall become the serving player/pair. In Doubles, the server must serve both points during their service turn. The only exception is if both players/pairs have achieved 10 points, in which case the sequence of serving and receiving shall be the same, but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn. RULE 8 - DURING PLAY
I.
II. III.
A player obstructs the ball if the server, or anything they are wearing or carrying, touches it in play when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface and has not passed beyond the server’s end line, not having touched the server’s court since last being struck by the opponent. A player must allow the ball to bounce before making a play on it. If any disagreement occurs in regard to a point, a game, or any other play situation, is shall be mutually agreed by all players in the game that the point or situation be played over immediately. RULE 9 - TOURNAMENT PLAY
I.
Players will have one week to play their matches before advancing to the next round of the bracket. The bracket will be updated the day following the deadline for each round. Scores must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] before or on the date specified on IMLeagues.com. Participants are responsible for contacting their opponent for each match and setting up a game time. Matches may begin at 12:01am on Friday morning and must be completed by 11:59pm the following Thursday. Failure to complete the match by the deadline will result in a double forfeit. If one participant attempts to contact their opponent, and is unable, that participant must notify The Intramural Sports program by the 11:59pm deadline in order to advance. Failure to notify The Intramural Sports program will result in a double forfeit.
P a g e |3 Rev. 08.17
Please see your Intramural Sports Policies and Procedures for eligibility criteria. RULE 2 - THE PLAYING AREA
I.
The playing surface shall not include the sides of the tabletop. The center line shall be regarded as part of each half-court. RULE 3 - THE GAME
I.
The winner of a coin toss between opponents shall have choice of serving, receiving, or choice of ends for the first game. The loser of the toss shall have the remaining choice. The players or pairs will alternate serve and side each game.
II.
A game shall be won by the player/pair first scoring 11 points unless both players/pairs score 10 points. If both player/pairs are tied at 10 points, the game is won by the first player/pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. The match will be capped at a maximum of 15 points. A match shall consist of the best-of-5 games. The Championship Match will be played to the bestof-7. Participants are allowed to use a ball agreed upon by both players. RULE 4 - THE SERVICE
I.
II.
III.
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, or 6 inches, 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 it touches first on their court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver’s court; in doubles, the ball shall be served cross court from the right side of the service court to the right side of the receiver’s court. In singles, service is open.
P a g e |1 Rev. 08.17
IV.
In doubles, after consecutive serves, the server and the server’s partner shall switch positions/sides. The receiver of the previous server now becomes the server. This rotation will continue until a winner is established, or until both teams have 10 points, at which time the rotation will be after ever point.
V.
From the start of the service and 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 the server’s doubles partner.
VI. VII.
In order for the serve to be legal, it cannot bounce twice on the server’s court. A let shall be called during the service if the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided all other serve restrictions in Rule 4 have been met. After two let serves, a point will be award to the receiver, or receiving team in doubles. RULE 5 - THE RETURN
I.
The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent’s court, either directly or after touching the net assembly. RULE 6 - THE ORDER OF PLAY
I.
II.
Singles: In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall make a good return. Doubles: The server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, and the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return, and so on. RULE 7 - SCORING POINTS
I.
Unless the rally is a let, a player/team shall score a point: a. If the opponent fails to make a good service, or b. If the opponent fails to make a good return, or c. If, after the player has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by the opponent, or d. If the ball passes beyond the end line without touching the court, after being struck by the opponent, or e. If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries moves the playing surface, or f. If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries touches the net assembly, or g. If the opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface, or h. If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of sequence
P a g e |2 Rev. 08.17
II.
After each 2 points have been scored, the receiving player/pair shall become the serving player/pair. In Doubles, the server must serve both points during their service turn. The only exception is if both players/pairs have achieved 10 points, in which case the sequence of serving and receiving shall be the same, but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn. RULE 8 - DURING PLAY
I.
II. III.
A player obstructs the ball if the server, or anything they are wearing or carrying, touches it in play when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface and has not passed beyond the server’s end line, not having touched the server’s court since last being struck by the opponent. A player must allow the ball to bounce before making a play on it. If any disagreement occurs in regard to a point, a game, or any other play situation, is shall be mutually agreed by all players in the game that the point or situation be played over immediately. RULE 9 - TOURNAMENT PLAY
I.
Players will have one week to play their matches before advancing to the next round of the bracket. The bracket will be updated the day following the deadline for each round. Scores must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] before or on the date specified on IMLeagues.com. Participants are responsible for contacting their opponent for each match and setting up a game time. Matches may begin at 12:01am on Friday morning and must be completed by 11:59pm the following Thursday. Failure to complete the match by the deadline will result in a double forfeit. If one participant attempts to contact their opponent, and is unable, that participant must notify The Intramural Sports program by the 11:59pm deadline in order to advance. Failure to notify The Intramural Sports program will result in a double forfeit.
P a g e |3 Rev. 08.17
