PBTT Club Rules
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RULES OF THE
OLYMPIC HEIGHTS COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
AND THE PBTT
(REV. 5/14/2012)
Experience has proved that a set of rules is necessary which is easy to understand, straightforward to use, applied consistently, to guarantee an enjoyable table tennis environment within a Community School program. Space might be limited and early enrolment is recommended when the registration period starts. An “Advanced player” is defined as a player with a USATT rating of at least 1200, or teacher-qualified.
FIRST PROTECT OUR EQUIPMENT: Cooperation is appreciated upon setting and clearing up sessions. Players who kindly help must be familiar with the equipment, which mostly needs tender loving care. Avoid damage caused by banging casters when rolling away tables; allow time for the wheels to pivot. Do not push by the apron, but by the metal legs. According to the “table personality” (i.e., table #8: locking levers), watch for the latches when (un)folding tables. Tables may not be pushed or moved away without unfolding. When mounting net assemblies onto a table, position the net posts from a lateral angle, one side at a time. Prevent damage to thread and do not over-tighten. Conversely, do not under-loosen when removing the net posts as this also causes damage to the cushion pads when pulling out the assembly from the table. Handle the ball barriers carefully to avoid damage or causing them to fall down. The robot may only be operated by the teacher. Do not sit or lean on tables. Please watch all posted signs!
ORDER OF PLAY, MATCH-UP RULES, AND FAIR TABLE TIME
1. Every player must have completed a registration form in order to enroll in the program that best suits his/her current playing level as defined above, and paid the tuition before playing. Immediately upon arrival, the player must put his name on the respective program white board as this determines the order of play (next in line). A player who arrives early and helps setting up a class has the prerogative to start playing first. The two players that start practicing at a table are normally the players who will play the first match at this table, unless they voluntarily agree on changing opponents.
2. As soon as there is one or more players waiting to play, match competition must start at once at all those tables where players who arrived earlier have already been practicing for several minutes.
3. The player who is next in line according to the white board must pick up one of the waiting player, and both players must strike out their respective names as otherwise they will appear to still be waiting to play. The winner of a match is responsible for keeping the white board updated immediately after completion of a match (the winner’s name first).
4. Although playing any player is absolutely voluntary, a player that declines an invitation to play must move his name to the bottom of the waiting list. This is mandatory, and regardless of the reason, especially when declining to play an obviously lesser player, this player shall have the courtesy of inviting this person to play as soon as the first occasion to do so presents itself. Table tennis athletes are supposed to not use excuses such as “I am tired” too often when asked to play. Nevertheless, players have the prerogative of declining /skipping play basing on player’s style, racket characteristics, or any other reasonable consideration.
5. When all tables are being used and there are still players waiting to play, no player may play back to back matches, except when picked by a player who is up and has already played all the remaining waiting players. Cooperation of all players is necessary to avoid possible table hogging and abuse of the reasonable time for warm-up and/or practice/drills.
6. Players must check the white board every now and then in order to be proactive enough for matching up when their turn comes up. Players already at another table are not to rush and take an open table unless players next in line needlessly delay to get to the open table. Underutilization of open tables is a waste of resources, affects fair playing time, and is the opposite of "table hogging".
7. Doubles matches require teacher’s authorization and shall only be played toward the end of a session. This is due to the possible configuration in which one or more “wait-listed players” might have not yet played one or more of the 4 players who wish to play doubles. In other words, doubles matches yield to singles! Subsequent doubles matches also require teacher’s authorization.
8. When allowed by the number of players attending a given session, if there are open tables available, players enrolled in another program may use them. Intermingling is defined as a player taking part during the time frame of a program in which he/she is not enrolled. The teacher’s authorization is required both for intermingling and play overlapping. Players enrolled in another program should play only at the end tables.
MATCH AND GENERAL RULES
(SOME INFRACTIONS MAY BE GROUND FOR EXPULSION)
1. Matches are, for ALL LEVELS WITH COACHING HINTS: best of 3, and for ADVANCED LEVEL: best of 5.
2. In crowded sessions, when a player has already played a match, warm-up time for subsequent matches is 2 minutes (share fair table time!).
3. Besides the above, a general approach and principle for players to match up is: Both players leave the table after finishing a match, return to the front, and add their names to the BOTTOM of the waiting list (white board).
4. Players are expected to display table tennis etiquette and sportsmanship; of course, this includes playing a wide variety of opponents. Our motto is: “SPORTSMANSHIP FIRST AND COMPETITION NEXT”. Players shall practice fair play, obey the rules and uphold the spirit of our noble game. A player who loves our sport is willing to make his/her own contribution to enhancing the programs.
5. Match play ends at 9:45 PM in order to allow time to clean up. Players are expected to cooperate in this action at the end of the class.
6. All USATT rules apply (please, remember: no white or orange clothes!). Please wear the club T-shirt.
7. The venue for the Table Tennis Program is a community high school. In this kind of environment special care is necessary to watch the language. In general, the rules implemented by the Palm Beach County School Board for all campuses also apply to the Table Tennis Programs. Players can not wear anything controversial (signs on shirts, hats, etc., which should be neutral.)
8. Players must refrain themselves from engaging in personal arguments on issues of any nature beyond the normal discussion of the (USATT) table tennis rules or over a play during their match. It is customary that argued points are replayed. Before a situation gets out of control or negatively escalates, mediation/intervention of the teacher shall be requested.