In 2023-24 the Bristol Senior League had just over 20 clubs located in and around the Greater Bristol area. The Senior League in the 2023-24 season had 7 divisions with 13 teams per division and over 450 players signed up.
For 2023-24 the Bristol Junior League had 4 clubs running teams in one division containing 8 teams.
During the summer the league runs an informal social league which in 2023 has 28 teams with 160 players signed up to play.
The league is operating two websites and mirroring content on each.
Bristol Table Tennis League (tabletennis365.com)
Bristol Table Tennis League | TT Leagues
Recreational Play
We often receive enquiries from players wanting to have a playing session. The league does not have access to premises to cater for turn up and play sessions.
Most league clubs exist for playing in the league. They book a room just for league matches and are not able to readily accommodate recreational players who want to turn up for a session.
However there are some clubs that do hold sessions that cater for recreational players and these are detailed in the following links.
Coaching and Practice - Bristol Table Tennis League (tabletennis365.com)
Practice Facilities | Bristol Table Tennis League | TT Leagues
Coaching
There are junior and adult coaching sessions detailed in the following links.
Coaching and Practice - Bristol Table Tennis League (tabletennis365.com)
Junior coaching - Bristol Table Tennis League (tabletennis365.com)
Practice Facilities | Bristol Table Tennis League | TT Leagues
Senior League Play
The Senior League season runs from late September through to mid May. This does require a commitment from the players to be available for one match per week unless the team has a squad so potential new players do need to be aware of what it involves. It also requires people to be able to travel to matches so transport is needed unless other members of a team can provide a lift.
Planning for the new season takes place during June and July so ideally prospective new players who are interested in league play should approach the league during this period. It will still be possible for new players to sign up after this period but they would need to be accommodated within the registered team squads and some may be over subscribed. If a group of players wish to start a team or even a new club then the league really needs notice of this by the end of July. It is sometimes possible to accommodate new teams during August and September but this will be dependent on whether any divisions have a vacant slot.
Typically, each team will play their opposing teams within their division twice within the season, once at their home venue and once at the opposing team’s venue. Home nights for each club may vary. Home nights will be on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings but not weekends, depending on each club and team. This means there will usually be one match per week for each team. Home nights for each team will usually be on the same day in the week throughout the season but away matches will vary. There are normally a few weeks where there are no matches being played at all due to holidays eg Christmas. Also during the season there are weeks that are set aside for cup competitions and some free weeks for playing postponed matches.
Most matches will start at 7.30 pm and should finish by around 10.30 pm, but this may vary depending on each club with some clubs for example starting at 7.00pm to finish by 10.00pm.
Some clubs will play matches in a relatively small room that can only accommodate one table. Other clubs play in a larger room or hall that can accommodate two or more tables and there may be more than one match in an evening. Usually a match will be played on just one table but sometimes may be played on two tables if a club has to finish matches by a particular time.
The senior league runs a 3-player format. This means at least 3 players must be registered for a team before they are able to be entered into the league. There is no age limit for players to play in a team. There is no limit to how many players are registered for any single team so a team can have a squad of players but only three players can play in any single match. A player can only be registered to play for one club and only for one team. Any new player wanting to play for a team can still be registered after the season has started up until a cut-off date, which is normally on the 31st of January.
If the team has only two players available to play they will forfeit some of their games. If a club has a team in a lower division then other players can play as reserves to make the team numbers back up to three players.
The number of divisions is dependent on how many teams enter each season. At the end of the league season, two teams will get automatic promotion and two will be relegated from their divisions. New teams just starting will be slotted into divisions based on an assessment of the playing ability of the players and any vacant slots available.
Once the league has finalised the divisions (usually in August) the fixtures will be published on the league’s websites.
Matches are played with 3 players who shall respectively play each member of the opposing team in a set, best of 5 ends. In addition to these 9 single sets, there is 1 doubles set to be played. The players in the doubles may or may not be the same ones represented in the singles. The score for the match is determined on how many sets each team wins out of the 10 sets that should be played. 1 point is awarded to the team for each individual set that is won.
Matches can be postponed, but only under certain circumstances, which are determined in the league’s rules, and any postponed matches have to be played by a certain time. All matches must be played by the designated end of the season.
Senior League Fees
Each club has to pay a team registration fee per team for the teams entering the forthcoming league season. The club will also have other specific costs including room hire and equipment so club player fees will vary for each club.
Each player will pay an individual Bristol League player registration fee of £5.00 per senior player and £0.00 per junior player for 2024-25.
All players playing in the Bristol Table Tennis League, need to hold a valid Table Tennis England (TTE) membership prior to the start of the league season. This membership needs to be either a “Compete” or a “Compete Plus” membership. A “Compete” membership is adequate for playing in the Bristol League. It is expected to be £22.00 for senior players and £11.00 per junior player at the "Compete" level in 2024-25.
Junior League Play
The Junior League matches are different to the Senior League in that they use a short format and are played at a central venue which for 2024-25 will be Civil service.
The league will welcome teams from clubs outside of those in the Greater Bristol area.
The matches are played on five weekends usually Sunday mornings with teams playing 3 or 4 matches.
Matches are played with 2 players who will play each member of the opposing team and one doubles.
It will be possible to have a squad of players but if a team only has 2 players registered then each player should play at least 9 sets (each set best of 3 games) on the day.
