The Sunbury and District Table Tennis Association
Match Regulations (By-Laws)
TABLE OF CONTENTS By-Law No.
ADVICE 1
BEHAVIOUR 2
INTERVALS 3
SANCTIONS 4
ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY IN FINALS 5
PLAYERS SUBSTITUTION (HOME & AWAY ONLY) 6
HANDICAP SYSTEM (HOME & AWAY ONLY) 7
PROMOTION & RELEGATION 8
SCORESHEETS 9
TABLES AND BARRIERS 10
FINALS 11
START AND FINISH TIMES 12
COMPLAINTS 13
MATCH FEES 14
BY-LAWS FOR THE SUNBURY & DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
1. ADVICE
Players may receive advice or coaching by a team member, only during the intervals
between games or during an authorised suspension of play.
2. BEHAVIOUR
Players and coaches are to refrain from behaviour that may unfairly affect an opponent, may
offend spectators, or bring the game into disrepute. Such behaviour shall include, but not be
limited to, deliberate damage to equipment such as hitting the table with a bat, striking court
dividers with a bat or any part of the body, excessive shouting, audible bad language, and
disrespect to match officials.
3. INTERVALS
(a) Players are permitted up to one minute interval between games in a rubber. In addition to
intervals between games, players are entitled to brief intervals for towelling after every six
points from the start of each game and at the change of ends in the last possible game of a
match. No other breaks in play, except due to injury, are allowed.
(b) If anyone in the playing area is bleeding, play shall be suspended immediately and shall
not resume until that person has received medical attention and all traces of blood have been
removed from the playing area.
4. SANCTIONS
Breaches of by-laws 1-3 on Advice, Behaviour, or Intervals are to be initially sanctioned by a
verbal warning from the umpire.
A second offence for any breach in a single match is to be sanctioned by awarding the
opposition a point.
A third offence for any breach in a single match is to be sanctioned by awarding two points to
the opposition.
A fourth offence in the same match or a single major breach is to be sanctioned by
disqualification from the match and all subsequent matches in that weekly round.
All breaches and subsequent warnings shall be reported to the Committee at the time of the
offence, or immediately after the completion of the rubber.
5. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY IN FINALS
a) A player has to be registered (fees paid) and have played in at least three matches for
a division team to be eligible to play in finals. A match means either playing either both
doubles or three singles on the night. A player from a lower grade can play in the higher
grade final only if the player is not playing on the night.
b) In extreme circumstances a qualified player from the same grade not involved in the
finals may play in that grade. The player must not be of a higher standard than the replaced
player. Extreme circumstances are things such are deaths in the family, personal injuries,
etc. Holidays, travels, business, camps, etc are not extreme circumstances. No handicaps
are given away.
6. PLAYERS SUBSTITUTION (HOME & AWAY ONLY)
Substitute players – Match Secretary will approve substitute players and an appropriate
handicap if necessary.
7. HANDICAP SYSTEM (HOME & AWAY ONLY)
The handicap is based on computer points assigned to players. A ONE point handicap is
given away by the substitute player for every 30 player ranking or part thereof on Ratings
Central he/she is above the computer points of the replaced player. No handicaps are given if
the substitute player is below the replaced player.
8. PROMOTION & RELEGATION
Depending on the committee's decision the last ranked players in a grade may be relegated
to the lower grade and leading players in lower grades may be promoted to the grade above.
This largely depends on numbers playing.
9. SCORESHEETS
The winning team is responsible for handling in the correctly completed scoresheets.
10. TABLES AND BARRIERS
During the Pennant season representatives of both team should arrive by 7.15pm to help
with the setting up of their table. Both teams are responsible for packing away their table and
barriers after they have finished, unless another team asks to use their table.
11. FINALS
a) The choice of home and away is done by toss of a coin.
b) Where possible a neutral umpire should be chosen.
12. START AND FINISH TIMES
Games must start by 7.30pm. If however a team has not started by 7.45pm the opposing
captain should claim the first rubber. If a team has not started by 8.00pm the opposing team
captain should claim the whole match.
13. COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS
Advise a Board member straight away and any complaints and concerns must be written and
forwarded to the Association Secretary by 12.00 noon Sunday following the match.
sunburytabletennis@gmail.com
14. MATCH FEES
Match Fees to be paid by the Week 3 of the Pennant season. Any variation of this will require
the consent of the Treasurer. If fees are not paid by week 4 it is at the Discretion of the
Committee as to their playing status in that season.
Reviewed and updated, September 2022