Rules

THE MOST IMPORTANT TABLE TENNIS RULES – AND THEIR MODIFICATIONS FOR PINGPONGPARKINSON

Game

● A game is won by the player who first scored 11 points.
● If both players have reached 10 points, the match goes into extra games.
● The first player to lead by 2 points wins the game (example: 12:10).
● After each game the ends are changed. In the decisive last game, the change of ends takes place as
soon as one of the players reaches 5 points.

Match

● A match is played until one player has won three games first.
● In the maximum case, five games can be played. In case of a 2:2 game tie, the fifth game will decide the
match.

Service

● The right to choose serve, return and end is decided by lot. The winner of the lot can choose to serve
or return or choose an end.
● The serve begins with the ball resting freely on the open hand.
● The ball must be thrown vertically up behind the table, above the playing surface, at least 16 cm.
● The server must play the ball with the racket so that it bounces first on his own and then on the
opponent’s half of the table.
● If the ball touches the net, this is a “net serve” and must be repeated.
● If the ball thrown up is not hit on serve, this is a fault and the opponent is awarded a point.
● In singles, the server may decide whether to serve with the backhand or the forehand and from which
end to serve. There are also no rules on which half of the opponent’s court the serve must come from.
● It is necessary to wait until the opponent is ready to return the serve. Otherwise, the serve must be
repeated.
● Each player serves twice, then the right to serve changes to the opponent.
● There is one exception in extra games: if the score is 10 to 10, the players take turns serving.
● The requirements for a correct serve are relaxed if compliance is prevented by a physical disability. If
the server gains no immediate advantage from the incorrect serve, the serve may be incorrect.

Rally

● Unlike the serve, the ball must be played directly onto the opponent’s half of the table.
● Before the ball is played, it may only bounce once on your own half of the table. It is not allowed to
accept the ball “fully” from the air.
● Before the ball hits the opponent’s half of the table, it may only touch the net or the net post. If, on the
other hand, the ball touches other objects such as clothing, the ceiling or the wall, this is considered a
fault.
● A ball counts only if it hits the opponent’s half of the table, including the top edge. It counts as a fault if
it touches the side of the table.
● A player may touch the table with the stroke hand or the free hand to restore or maintain the balance
when the table is not moving. The player may not use the table as a support to gain an advantage.

Special features for doubles

● The doubles pair that serves first gets to decide which partner serves. Then the returners line up.
● At each change of serve, the previous return server serves, and the partner of the previous server becomes the return server.
● In the following game, the pair that initially served as returners in the previous game decides which player will serve. The player who took the serve in the previous game is then the returner.
● When serving, the ball must first touch the right half of the court of the server and then come up in the diagonally opposite opponent’s half.
● The doubles partners always bat alternately. A point win for the opponent occurs if the order is not respected.
● If a deciding game must be played, the ends are changed as soon as a doubles team has reached five points. This also changes the order of the rebound.
● If an error happens during the changeover and it is noticed only after the rally, the points played still count.

Breaks and interruptions

● In principle, a match is played without interruptions. However, each player has the right
● to a pause of no more than 1 minute between successive games,
● on short interruptions to dry off after every 6 points from the beginning of each game and at the
change of ends in the deciding game.
● A player or pair may request a time-out of up to 1 minute during a match.
● A player or pair may request a stoppage of play of as short a duration as possible, but not to exceed
ten minutes, if a player is temporarily disabled by an accident or medication-off.
● If a player wishes a longer interruption than 10 minutes, this can be approved, once per player and
tournament day, only by the summoned head referee. The head referee will grant a longer break of maximum 10 minutes.

Playing clothes

● Match attire normally consists of a short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt and shorts or skirt or one-piece
sports dress, socks and indoor shoes. Other clothing, such as a tracksuit (full or partial), may be worn in
the match only with the permission of the head referee. Due to the increased risk of falls in PD, this
permission should be granted as a general rule to protect the health of the participants.
● Apart from the sleeves or collar of the jersey, the main color of the jersey, skirt or shorts must be
clearly different from the color of the ball used, i.e. not white.
● In principle, players are expected to wear appropriate footwear during the game. However, if a player
requests to play without shoes because wearing shoes causes him pain, the referee may allow him to
play without shoes.

Special features for the participation of one or more wheelchair users

If wheelchair users are involved, the same rules apply as for table tennis for standing players. However,
the following deviations must be observed

• Singles
  When serving, the game is interrupted without awarding points, i.e. the rally is repeated if the wheelcheir-bound returner
  
  
  
  • in singles: the ball leaves the half of the table of the returner after bouncing over one of the side lines
  
  
  
  • in singles and doubles: the ball bounces back towards the net on the serve after touching the court of the returner
  
  
  
  • in singles and doubles: the ball remains on the court of the returner.
  
  
• Doubles
  In doubles, as with standing players, the serve must be played diagonally from the right side into the opponent’s right side. However, it is not necessary to alternate serves after the return – the order is arbitrary. Wheelchair users may not cross the imaginary extension of the center line of the table during the game, otherwise they will lose the point.