RULES OF THE WAKEFIELD TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
PART 1 - CONSTITUTION AND GENERAL RULES
1.0 Name
1.1 The name shall be the Wakefield Table Tennis Association (WTTA).
2.0 Affiliation
2.1 The WTTA shall be affiliated to the Yorkshire Table Tennis Association and the English Table Tennis Association
2.2 The rules of the English Table Tennis Association shall apply in all respects for which provision is not made in these (Wakefield) rules.
3.0 Objects
3.1 The objects of the WTTA shall be:
a) To promote the playing of Table Tennis
b) To arrange table tennis leagues in the Wakefield and District area
c) To organise a knock out team championship
d) To promote the organisation of an annual individual championship
e) To promote social coaching and other activities
f) To assist in the development of appropriate ETTA policies and practices.
4.0 Constitution
4.1 The WTTA shall consist of President, Vice President(s), Life Members, duly elected officers and duly elected officials, registered clubs and registered players.
5.0 Registration
5.1 Each team will pay the appropriate fee.
5.2 All fees shall be decided by the Executive Committee in the light of financial circumstances of the association.
5.2.1 All teams not represented at the AGM prior to a new season will be fined £5.00 providing that they were members of the Association in the previous season.
5.3 The WTTA registration year shall be from September 1st to August 31st and all registration fees shall be payable to the WTTA treasurer before any team or individual plays the first match each year.
5.3.1 Registration fees not paid by 30th November will incur an additional penalty amounting to 15% of the teams’ total registration fees.
6.0 Officers.
6.1 The officers of the WTTA shall be Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary and Tournament Secretary.
6.2 The officers shall be elected annually at the AGM. Retiring officers are eligible for re- election.
7.0 Management.
7.1 The affairs of the WTTA shall be managed by the Executive Committee consisting of the officers and up to five representatives of registered clubs elected by the AGM. These representatives shall have the power to vote at Executive Committee meetings.
7.2 The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to four other persons who shall have the power to vote at Executive Committee meetings. The co-opted members or the club representatives may fill such positions as Vice Chairman, Inter City Match Secretary, Tournament Secretary, Coaching Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or Minutes Secretary.
7.3 The Executive Committee will meet when necessary, but must hold at least two meetings each season. The business of the Committee may be transacted by not less than five committee members meeting together. Every member shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second and casting vote.
7.4 The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint sub committees who shall conform to such terms of reference as the Executive Committee shall lay down.
8.0 Annual General Meeting.
8.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held in June or July each year.
8.2 At least fourteen days’ notice of the date, time and place together with a statement of accounts shall be sent to the President, Vice President, Executive Committee and the Secretary of each registered team.
8.3 Each registered team should send a voting delegate to the AGM. Other members may attend but not vote. Official delegates shall be entitled to one vote. The Executive Committee shall be entitled to one vote each in addition to any other votes cast as official delegates. A simple majority of votes shall suffice to carry any proposal. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second and casting vote.
8.4 The Agenda
a) The adoption of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
b) Receipt of the annual report of the Executive Committee presented by the Secretary.
c) Receipt of the audited statement of accounts presented by theTreasurer
d) Proposals concerning the alteration of any of the rules.
e) Elections of President, Vice Presidents and of appropriate Life Members.
f) Election of Officers
g) Election of up to five representatives of registered clubs
h) Appointment of Officers
i) Any Other Business
8.5 A special meeting may be called upon the requisition of two registered clubs. The object of such a meeting shall be clearly stated in writing and shall be called by the secretary within twenty eight days of receipt of such a requisition.
9.0 Finance
9.1 The funds of the WTTA shall be kept in a bank or a building society account.
9.2 All withdrawals from the account shall require the signature of the Treasurer & one other member of the Executive Committee.
9.3 The financial year shall end on April 30th.
10.0 Discipline
10.1 At any function under the auspices of the league the Executive Committee expects members to conduct themselves in a proper manner. The Executive Committee will take action against a member who brings the name of the league into disrepute. The Executive Committee deprecates bad language.
10.2 The WTTA has adopted ETTA regulation in the respect of adhesives and rubbers. Games will be awarded to the opposition should anyone be found ignoring this rule.
11.0 Dress
11.1 In matches organised by the league players shall not wear white or very light clothing which in the opinion of the referee may unsight the opponent.
11.2 In tournaments organised by the league players shall not wear white or very light clothing which in the opinion of the referee may unsight the opponent.
12.0 Alteration of Rules.
12.1 Changes in rules may only be made at the Annual General Meeting. Proposed changes shall be submitted by registered clubs or individuals or by the secretary on behalf of the Executive Committee.
12.2 Any such proposals shall be in writing and reach the League Secretary by 30th April each year.
12.3 Any new or amended rules adopted by the AGM shall take effect from the start of the next season.
12.4 Matters not covered by the rules and interpretation of the rules shall be decided by the Executive Committee.
PART 2 - INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP RULES
1 The Executive Committee shall if possible arrange an annual individual championship at an appropriate venue.
2 The following competitions shall be held if appropriate
a) Mens Singles
b) Ladies Singles
c) Handicap Singles
d) Separate Divisional Singles
e) Junior Singles
f) Cadet Singles
g) Veteran Singles
h) Open Doubles
i) Draw Doubles
3 The Executive Committee shall appoint a tournament organiser and a tournament referee.
4 The Executive Committee shall appoint a Tournament sub-committee who shall arrange a venue, fix fees, decide a handicap and make any other arrangements as necessary.
5 The winners of each event shall be awarded trophies as appropriate at a time and a place to be arranged by the Executive Committee.
6 Players are eligible to play in the Individual Championships only if they have played at least one league and/or city match before the final date of entries, except by permission of the Executive Committee.
7 In the event of any dispute (relating to the Tournament) the two officials (Competition Secretary and Tournament Referee) should consult, but if agreement cannot be reached, the decision of the Tournament Referee shall be final and binding.
PART 3 - HANDICAP TEAM KNOCKOUT RULES
1 The Executive Committee shall, if possible, arrange a Handicap Cup knockout competition and a Consolation Shield competition.
2 Players are only eligible to play in the first round if they have played one league match; in the second round if they have played two league matches; and in any subsequent round if they have played four league matches in the season of the competition.
3 Teams shall consist of three players each of whom shall play each member of the opposing team. No doubles shall be played. Sets shall consist of four games each played to eleven points only. In the event of both teams being level at the end of the match the away team will be the winners.
4 The Match Secretary will make the draw for the competition with at least one other Member of the Committee and decide on the handicapping, taking into account each player's performance in the individual average tables .
5 A player may represent only one team in all handicap competitions in one season.
6 No team or player shall complain to the committee other than by letter regarding the handicap awarded.
7 In singles play, the service to a wheelchair player shall be made so that the ball passes over the receiver's end of the table, not the side. The receiver may call a let service if the ball would not have passed over the end of the table.
PART 4 - LEAGUE MATCH RULES
1.0 Submission of Information
1.1 Before commencement of the playing season, club secretaries must submit the following information to the match secretary.
a) Full names of players with details of recent playing experience/standard if unknown to the committee.
b) Club and team in which the player will regularly play
c) Whether players are registered or intend to register with other leagues or associations.
2.0 Refusal of Registration
2.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to refuse the registration of any club or player. The results of any matches in which unregistered teams take part shall be decided by the Executive Committee.
3.0 Insurance
3.1 It is the registered player’s responsibility to insure himself/herself against accidents which may occur on playing his/her first game.
4.0 Registration of New Players.
4.1 New players may be registered up to and including the 31st January in any season. Application must be made to the Match Secretary to together with any remittance of the appropriate fee. The Match Secretary must be notified of any new registrations before a player plays his first match. Any sets played by an unregistered player will be awarded to the opposing team.
5.0 Playing for higher teams.
5.1 Once a player has been nominated in a team he/she will not be allowed to play in a lower team except with the permission of the Executive Committee. The Committee will decide the status of any player not nominated as above and may require the alteration of the status of any nominated player. A player is allowed to play three matches for higher teams providing the team is not in the same division than the one for which his/her nomination has been accepted, but on completion of his/her fourth game for any higher team he/she is automatically registered for the highest team for which he/ she played and can no longer play in the lower teams. Any games played to the contravention of this rule will be awarded to the opposing team.
6.0 Fixtures
6.1 Clubs must state their fixed home night and match starting times. The home team is responsible for arranging the date and time of each match. Fixed starting times for evening matches should be arranged for no earlier than 6.30pm. At least one player from each team should be ready to play by the time arranged for starting. Any other player not ready to play thirty minutes after the arranged time may be allowed to take part only at the discretion of the opposing captain.
6.2 In all League matches the teams shall consist of three players who shall play each of the players in the opposing team, the best of five games of singles. One set of doubles shall be played by two players of each team.
6.3 In singles play, the service to a wheelchair player shall be made so that the ball passes over the receiver's end of the table, not the side. The receiver may call a let service if the ball would not have passed over the end of the table.
6.4 Scorers of each game shall be mutually agreed and shall be undertaken alternatively by a member of the visiting team and the home team and supporters. In the event of a dispute over who shall score the visiting captain must have the choice.
7.0 Playing of Matches.
7.1 All matches must be played either on or before the scheduled date or at a mutually agreed time, as soon as possible thereafter. This must be completed before the end of the league or the match may be claimed by default at the discretion of the Match Secretary who will decide which team is at fault.
7.2 A match may be changed from the scheduled date only by agreement with the opposing team secretary.
8.0 Scorecards.
8.1 The home team shall enter its players’ names on the scorecard first. The scorecard must be sent directly to the Match Secretary after the match by the home team captain.
9.0 Failure of Team to turn up.
9.1 Any team claiming a match because of the failure of the opposing team to turn up must submit a scorecard to the Match Secretary listing the players in the claiming side and stating the reason for claiming the match. The match will be awarded to the claiming side subject to an appeal to the Executive Committee.
10.0 Determination of League Positions.
10.1 Four points shall be awarded to the winning team for a 10-0 win, 9-1 win and an 8-2 win.
Three points shall be awarded to the winners and one point to the losers for a 7-3 win and 6- 4 win.
Two points shall be awarded to each team for a 5-5 draw.
In the event of a tie on points in the final league tables, sets won shall decide the overall placings.
10.2 Promotion and relegation of teams shall be decided by the Executive Committee when the construction of the league is considered at the start of each season.
11.0 Change of Team Secretary.
11.1 It shall be the responsibility of any club when changing its Team Secretary or when the present secretary changes his/her address, to notify the Secretary of the league in writing within seven days of such a change.
