Walter Johnson H.S. Table Tennis 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 as least 16 cm 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, passing directly over or around the net assembly touches the receiver's court. In doubles the ball shall touch successively the right half court of the 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.
· If, in attempting to serve, a player fails to strike the ball while it is in play, his opponent will be awarded a point.
· A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
A Match
· A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games
· The ball, having been served or returned in play, shall be struck so that it passes directly over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.
· If the ball, having been served or returned in play, returns with its own impetus over the net, it may be struck so that it touches directly the opponent's court.
The Order Of Play
· 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 each make a good return.
· In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter, each player alternately in that sequence shall make a good return.
· If in service the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the serve is otherwise good or is obstructed by the receiver or his partner.
· If the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball.
· If, the failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player.
A Point - Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point:
· If his opponent fails to make a good service.
· If his opponent fails to make a good return.
· If, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent.
· If the ball passes beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by his opponent.
· If his opponent obstructs the ball.
· If his opponent strikes the ball twice successively.
· If his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racquet blade having an illegal surface.
· If his opponent, or anything he wears or carries, moves the playing surface.
· If his opponent, or anything he wears or carries, touches the net assembly.
· If his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface.
· If, in doubles, his opponent strikes the ball out of sequence established by the first server and first receiver.
The Choice of Ends and Serves
§ The choice of ends and the right to serve or receive first in a match shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or receive first or to start at a particular end.
§ When one player or pair has chosen to serve or receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.
§ After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequence of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
§ In each game of a match the pair who has the right to serve first shall decide which of them shall do so and in the first game of a match, the opposing pair shall then decide which partner will receive first. In subsequent games of a match, the first server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in the preceding game.
§ In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.
§ The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match, and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.
§ The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5 points.
Out of Order of Serving, Receiving or Ends
§ If a player serves or receives out of his turn, play shall be interrupted and shall continue with that player serving or receiving who should be server or receiver respectively at the score that has been reached according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match, and in doubles, to the order or serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game in which the error is discovered.
§ If by mistake the players have not changed ends when ends should have been changed, play shall be interrupted as soon as the error is discovered and the players shall change ends.
§ In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be reckoned.
§ 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.
· If the ball is in play when the game is interrupted, play shall restart with service by the player who served in the rally that was interrupted.
· If the ball was not in play when the game was interrupted, play shall restart with service by the player who received service in the immediately preceding rally.
§ Thereafter, each player shall serve 1 point in turn. If the receiving player or pair makes thirteen successive good returns, the receiver shall score a point.
§ Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation for the remainder of the match.
§ A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.
§ The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until it touches anything other than the playing surface, the net assembly, the racquet held in the racquet hand or the racquet hand below the wrist, or until the rally is otherwise decided a let or a point.
§ A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
§ A point is a rally of which the result is scored.
§ The racquet hand is the hand carrying the racquet.
§ The free hand is the hand not carrying the racquet.
§ A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racquet, held in the racquet hand, or with his racquet hand below the wrist.
§ A player obstructs the ball if he or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play when it is above or traveling toward the playing surface and has not passed beyond the end line, not having touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.
§ The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.
§ The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
§ Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing or carrying at the start of the rally.
§ The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes under or outside the projection of the net assembly outside the table.
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