COMPETITION FORMAT AND RULES

European Table Tennis Union

Rules 2015 Baku 1st European Games

ETTU – European Games rules

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Release: Final Version

Date: 18 February 2015

COMPETITION FORMAT AND SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

TABLE TENNIS – BAKU 2015 1

EUROPEAN GAMES

1 European Games competition format

1.1 Events

1.1.1 The Table Tennis European Games competition will consist of four events: men's singles,

women's singles, men's teams and women's teams.

1.2 Singles Events

1.2.1 In each of the men's and the women's singles events there will be a maximum of 48 players, with

not more than two players from the same National Olympic Committee (NOC).

1.2.2 Men’s singles and women’s singles will follow a knockout (single elimination) format. The entries

ranked 1 to 16 will qualify directly to the second round, the entries ranked 17 to 32 will play those

ranked 33 – 48 in the first round.

1.2.2.1 The losers of semi-finals shall play-off for the Bronze medal.

1.2.3 All matches shall be the best of seven games.

1.3 Team Events

1.3.1 In both men’s and women’s team events there will be a maximum of 16 teams entered.

1.3.2 A team consists of three players but a team of two players is allowed to participate in the team

match if the third player is absent due to injury or disqualification. If a player is not able to play a

match due to injury he or she will forfeit the match but he or she can participate in his or her

subsequent matches of the team match.

1.3.3 Each team match consists of five individual matches and shall end when one team has won a

majority of the possible individual matches. Each individual match shall be the best of five games.

1.3.4 A team match consists of two singles matches followed by a doubles match, followed, if

necessary, by one or two singles matches, until a team wins three matches.

1.3.5 For each team match, the captain shall nominate the players who will play the first two singles

matches. The third player will play in the doubles match (match number 3) with either of the two

players who played the first two matches, selected by the captain after the second singles match

is completed. The remaining matches (if necessary) will be set in a way to ensure that each

player plays a maximum of two matches according to the following system:

1.3.5.1 Before the start of the match, the team that won the toss shall choose to be either the ABC team

or the XYZ team.

1.3.5.2 After choosing ABC or XYZ team, the captain shall nominate players in position A, B, C or X, Y,

1.3.5.3 After the captain hands over the nomination sheet for doubles (once the 2 first singles matches

have been played), the match order of the 4th and 5th matches is automatically decided.

1.3.5.4 There shall be a 5-minute break prior to and following the doubles match.

1.3.6 The team competition will follow a knockout (single elimination) format.

Order

Type

ABC team

XYZ team

Singles

Captain chooses DBL pair. 5 minutes break

Doubles

C + A or B

Z + X or Y

5 minutes break

Singles

A or B (non-playing Doubles)

Singles

X or Y (non playing Doubles)

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Rules 2015 Baku 1st European Games

ETTU – European Games rules

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1.3.6.1 The losers of semi-finals shall play-off for the Bronze medal.

1.4 Procedure when a team has only 2 players.

1.4.1 A team of two players is allowed to participate in the team matches if the third player of the team

is injured, sick or disqualified (see 4.2.3.3 and 4.2.3.4).

1.4.2 Before the start of the match, the team winning the toss shall choose either to be the ABC team

or the XYZ team and the two team captains should decide the order of players. The team with the

injured, ill or disqualified player will lose the match/es supposed to be played by this player

automatically by walkover following the established order of matches. The final result of the team

match will be the played matches scored plus walkover matches scored.

1.5 Procedure when both teams have only 2 players.

1.5.1 The competition format will be as follows:

1.5.2 If both teams have only two players participating in the team match, the team match shall end

when one team has won a majority of the possible matches and this team will be declared the

winner of this team match (2:0 or 2:1).

1.6 Replacement of a player in a table tennis Team

1.6.1. During the European Games, it is the policy of the EOC that P accreditations are not available.

1.6.2. Replacement of an athlete can only occur after consultation with the relevant European

Federation (EF) and, when deemed necessary by the EOC, an EOC medical expert.

1.6.3. The replacement of athletes due to medical reasons after 1 May 2015 and up to 2 hours

prior to the Sport Technical Meeting, or weight draw as appropriate, is possible providing:

1. The replacement athlete is entitled, and qualified, to take part in the European Games as

stipulated in the Qualification systems, published in 2014 and regularly updated by the EOC and

Baku European Games Operation Committee (BEGOC).

2. No doping control issues are pending concerning the replacement athlete.

3. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the replacement athlete had applied for

accreditation for the athlete prior to the application for accreditation deadline on 12 March 2015.

1.6.4. The non-medical replacement of athletes is possible after 1 May 2015 and up to 24 hours prior

to the Sport Technical Meeting, or weight draw as appropriate. NB: The deadlines for medical

and non-medical replacements are different. For non-medical replacements, in order to keep

changes to a manageable level and to support a sustainable level of resourcing within the

BEGOC Sport Entries team, a limit on changes to an NOC’s delegation has been put in place.

2 Draws

2.1 For singles events

2.1.1 The draw for singles events will take place in a public session, at least two days prior to the first

day of the singles competition. Confirmed date: 14 June 2015.

2.1.2 The top sixteen ranked players will be seeded and drawn directly into the second round of play.

The next sixteen (players ranked 17 to 32 by their European Ranking) will be drawn directly into

the first round of play. The next sixteen players (33 up to 48) will be drawn to play against them in

the first round of play.

2.2 For team events

2.2.1 The draw for team events will take place in a public session, at least two days prior to the first day

of table tennis competition. Confirmed date: 11

June 2015.

2.2.2 The draw will be conducted according to 3.6 of the ITTF Handbook: “Draw for knock-out

Order

Type

ABC team

XYZ team

Singles

5 minutes break

Doubles

5 minutes break

Singles

European Table Tennis Union

Rules 2015 Baku 1st European Games

ETTU – European Games rules

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Release: Final Version

Date: 18 February 2015

competitions” and following the specific team ranking list issued by ETTU at the beginning of

June 2015.

3 Ranking lists

3.1 Individual ranking lists

3.1.1 Qualification process: Qualification for the team events took place at the 2014 European

Championships. Two members of each team also qualify for the Singles Events. The European

Ranking List published on March 1 2015 will be used to qualify an additional 13 athletes for the

Singles Events. Entry into the Singles Events is limited to a maximum of two athletes per NOC.

3.1.2 Draw for singles events. To decide the seeds for the draw of the singles events the ETTU

European Ranking list published on 1 June 2015 will be used. This will be the last ETTU

European Ranking published before the draws.

3.2 Team ranking lists

3.2.1 Draw for team events. A special team ranking list taking into consideration only the players

qualified from each team will be produced on 5 June 2015 (taking the individual RL 6/15 as a

basis) to establish the seeds for the team events.

4 Special rules for disqualification during the European Games

4.1 Disqualification: General principles

4.1.1 The referee shall have power to disqualify a player from a match, a team match, an event or a

competition for seriously unfair or offensive behaviour, whether reported by the umpire or not; as

the referee does so he or she shall hold up a red card.

4.1.2 If a player is disqualified from 2 matches of the team event, he or she shall automatically be

disqualified from that team event.

4.1.3 The referee may disqualify for the remainder of a competition anyone who has been sent away

twice from the playing area during that competition.

4.2 Disqualification of a player

4.2.1 If a member of a team is found to have committed a violation of the ITTF Anti-Doping Rules the

team shall be disqualified from the event and any title, medal, points and prize shall be withdrawn.

4.2.2 Except for anti-doping violations if a player is disqualified from:

4.2.2.1 a match of a team match, he or she will forfeit the match but can participate in his or her

subsequent matches of the team match. The final result of the forfeited match should be n:3.

(Note: n refers to the games already gained by the disqualified player.)

4.2.2.2 a team match, he or she will forfeit all the matches scheduled for him or her to play in the

team match but is allowed to participate in the subsequent team matches of his or her team.

4.2.2.3 two team matches or from the event, he or she will not be allowed to participate in the

subsequent team matches of his or her team, but the other two players of the team are

entitled to continue the competition.

4.2.2.4 the competition, he or she is no longer considered a member of the team. The team may

continue the competition with two players. The player will not be allowed to participate in any

event of the tournament.

4.3 Specific rules for team events: Withdrawal of a team

4.3.1 The team will be considered as withdrawn from the team match, if it does not start the first match

of a team match (walkover) or decides not to finish the team match. If a team withdraws from a

team match, the team match will be won 3-0 by the opponent.

4.3.2 If a team is disqualified or withdraws after the draw but before the start of the competition: the

team will not be replaced.

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4.3.3 If a team is disqualified or withdraws during or after the competition:

4.3.3.1 During a scheduled team match. The team will lose that match by forfeit (the team match by

3-0, each match by 3-0 and each game by 11-0). The opposing team will advance to the

next round.

4.3.3.2 After the results of a team match have been approved. The team will lose the last team

match by forfeit (the team match by 3-0, each match by 3-0 and each game by 11-0). The

team disqualified will not be ranked, the ranks of the remaining teams will be adjusted

accordingly, and the ranks of the teams that have already finished the competition will be

moved upwards.

4.3.3 The public statistics presented for the above mentioned situations shall be handled according to

the system described in the “Exceptional Situations Handling” section of the European Games

Results and Information System (EGRIS) document attached as Annex 2.

5 Mixed zone and I-Zone

5.1 Mixed zone

5.1.1 All players and coaches must leave the field of play through the broadcast mixed zone.

5.2 I-Zone

5.2.1 For the Baku 2015 European Games the I-Zone replaces the press mixed zone and press

conference. Journalists will have the opportunity to request to speak to athletes in an informal

setting at the end of their matches. Volunteers will escort those athletes who have been

requested to attend the I-Zone to this area from the broadcast mixed zone, and they will be

escorted back to the athletes lounge at the end of their interviews.

All players must attend the I-Zone after each medal event or as warranted by an outstanding

performance or at the request of his or her NOC, BEGOC or ETTU.

5.2.1.1 If a player does not want to take part in a press conference, this will be considered as unsporting

behaviour.

6 Clothing and equipment

6.1 Clothing and equipment worn or used by table tennis players and other participants in the

European Games Table Tennis competition must comply with ITTF Rules, and European Games

Rules on Advertising, Demonstrations and Propaganda.

6.2 For the European Games, each player must have with him or her at least two shirts in different

colours. The players participating in team events must have at least two shirts in different colours

but all the players of the team must be dressed uniformly with the same colours of clothing. The

name of the player and the three letters code of his or her NOC or the full name of the NOC must

be printed on the back of each shirt and it is optional on the front of the shirt.

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Rules 2015 Baku 1st European Games

ETTU – European Games rules

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6.3 Each player must have with him or her at least two shirts in different colours during the clothing

rehearsal to be held in the Call Room at a date and time to be announced in due course.

7 Jury

7.1 Composition of the Jury

The Jury will consist of a Chair, the Referee, the Technical Delegate and two further members

appointed by the ETTU.

7.2 Protests and appeals

Appeals will be decided according with section 3.3.3 of the ITTF Handbook, regulations for

International Competitions.

7.3 Scope of responsibility and line of authority

7.3.1 Jury Chair

7.3.1.1 The Jury Chair will chair the meetings of the Jury and will schedule the duty roster of the Jury

members.

7.3.1.2 The Chair of the Jury shall not have a vote at Jury meetings. In case of a tied vote, the Chair shall

have the deciding vote.

7.3.1.3 The Chair of the Jury shall report all Jury decisions to the ETTU Executive Board (EB). In turn,

the ETTU EB, through its Secretary General, shall report any sanctions to the EOC Executive

Board.

7.3.2 Jury Members

7.3.2.1 At least two Jury members shall be on duty at all sessions of the table tennis competition.

Legend: Back of the shirt:

 The name of the player and NOC code must be put on the back of the shirt

 The size of the player’s name and NOC code should be no more than 1/3

of the shirt’s width

 The font used is at the discretion of the NOC

 Minimum 3.8cm indicates there should be a space between the seam edge of the shirt and the first logo to appear

 The format of the player’s name can be according to national custom (2 examples are provided)

Legend: Front of the shirt:

 The only “sponsor” logo allowed is the

manufacturer’s logo which has to comply with

the size requirements stated in the European

Games Rules on Advertising. It can be on

either side of the shirt but this should be

checked with the NOC

 The name of the player and NOC code is

optional on the front but must be put on the

back of the shirt

 The size of the player’s name and NOC code

should be no more than 1/3

of the shirt’s

width – the same for the manufacturer’s logo

– on the front

 The font used is at the discretion of the NOC

 Minimum 3.8cm indicates there should be a

space between the seam edge of the shirt

and the first logo to appear

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ETTU – European Games rules

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Release: Final Version

Date: 18 February 2015

7.3.2.2 The attendance roster shall be scheduled by the Jury Chair with the assistance of the ETTU

Secretary General and the BEGOC Table Tennis Manager.

7.3.2.3 Jury members shall attend meetings called by the Jury Chair, examine appeals, determine

sanctions and have the right to vote. They may use video recording/DVD of any TV match in the

deliberations.

7.3.2.4 The quorum for the Jury shall be two Jury members in attendance, not counting the Chair (in

case of a tied vote, the Chair shall have the deciding vote).

7.3.2.5 The Referee shall have the right to speak but not to vote.

7.3.3 BEGOC Table Tennis Manager

7.3.3.1 The BEGOC Table Tennis Manager is responsible for all organisational and logistical matters of

the table tennis competition including the field of play.

7.3.4 Referees and Deputy Referees

The responsibilities of the Referee and the Deputy Referees are according to the ITTF

regulations.

7.3.5 Technical Delegate

7.3.5.1 The Technical Delegate shall advise and assist the BEGOC Table Tennis Manager and the

Referee in all their functions.

7.3.5.2 The Technical Delegate shall attend the Jury meeting and have the right to vote.

7.3.5.3 The Technical Delegate shall supervise the draws and sign-off the final version of the draw and

schedule.

8 Racket control procedure

8.1 Racket tests will be conducted according to ETTU procedures

9 Clarifications

9.1 To avoid doubt, the Referee shall not be a member of the Jury if a decision under appeal was

made by the Referee. The Referee shall explain the case to the Jury, but the Jury's deliberations

shall take place without the presence of the Referee.

9.2 An appeal of a decision made by the Referee can only be made after the completion of a match

and within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the match.

9.3 The Jury Chair cannot be in attendance at all times. Therefore, he will assign the responsibility to

the two Jury members at the venue to receive any protest or appeal. The Jury members at the

venue will then contact the Jury Chair, all members of the Jury and convene the Jury meeting.

The Jury meeting will start when both the Jury Chair and a quorum are present.

9.4 Information regarding a sanction or disqualification of a player shall not be given to the media

until the decision is final and ready for transmission to the EOC Executive Board.

9.5 In the case that a matter is not covered by this document, then the necessary procedure will be

implemented by consensus between the Technical Delegate, the BEGOC Table Tennis Manager,

the Jury Chair and the ETTU President (or his designate).