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3.1
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SCOPE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS
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3.1.1
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Types of Competition
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3.1.1.1
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An international competition is one that may include the
players of more than one Association.
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3.1.1.2
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An international match is a match between teams representing
Associations.
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3.1.1.3
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An open tournament is one that is open to the players of all
Associations.
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3.1.1.4
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A restricted tournament is one that is restricted to
specified groups of players other than age groups.
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3.1.1.5
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An invitation tournament is one that is restricted to
specified players, individually invited.
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3.1.2
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Applicability
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3.1.2.1
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Except as provided in 3.1.2.2, the Laws (Chapter 2) shall
apply to World, Continental and Olympic title competitions, open
tournaments and, unless otherwise agreed by the participating Associations,
to international matches.
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3.1.2.2
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The Board of Directors shall have power to authorise the organiser
of an open tournament to adopt experimental law variations specified by the
Executive Committee.
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3.1.2.3
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The Regulations for International Competitions shall apply to
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3.1.2.3.1
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World and Olympic title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by
the Board of Directors and notified in advance to the participating
Associations;
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3.1.2.3.2
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Continental title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the appropriate
Continental Federation and notified in advance to the participating
Associations;
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3.1.2.3.3
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Open International Championships
(3.7.1.2), unless otherwise authorised by the Executive Committee and
notified in advance to the participants in accordance with 3.1.2.4;
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3.1.2.3.4
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open tournaments, except as provided in 3.1.2.4.
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3.1.2.4
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Where an open tournament does not comply with any of these
regulations the nature and extent of the variation shall be specified in
the entry form; completion and submission of an entry form shall be
regarded as signifying acceptance of the conditions of the
competition, including such variations.
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3.1.2.5
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The Laws and Regulations are recommended for all international
competitions but, provided that the Constitution is observed, international
restricted and invitation tournaments and recognised international
competitions organised by unaffiliated bodies may be held under rules laid
down by the organising authority.
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3.1.2.6
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The Laws and the Regulations for International Competitions shall be
presumed to apply unless variations have been agreed in advance or are made
clear in the published rules of the competition.
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3.1.2.7
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Detailed explanations and interpretations of regulations, including
equipment specifications, shall be published as Technical Leaflets authorised by the Board of
Directors and in Handbooks for Match Officials and Tournament Referees.
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3.2
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EQUIPMENT AND PLAYING CONDITIONS
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3.2.1
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Approved and Authorised Equipment
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3.2.1.1
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The approval and authorisation of playing equipment shall be
conducted on behalf of the Board of Directors by the Equipment Committee; approval
or authorisation may be withdrawn by the Board of Directors at any time if
its continuation is found to be detrimental to the sport.
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3.2.1.2
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The entry form or prospectus for an open tournament shall specify
the brands and colours of table, net assembly and ball to be used; the choice of
equipment shall be as laid down by the Association in whose territory
the competition is held, selected from brands and types currently approved
by the ITTF.
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3.2.1.3
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The covering material on a side of the blade used for striking the
ball shall be of a brand and type currently authorised by the ITTF and shall be attached to the blade so that the
brand and the ITTF logo are clearly visible near the edge of the
striking surface.
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Lists of all approved and authorised equipment and materials are
maintained by the ITTF
Office and details are available on the ITTF web site.
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3.2.2
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Clothing
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3.2.2.1
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Playing clothing shall normally consist of a short-sleeved or
sleeveless shirt and shorts or skirt or one-part sports outfits,
socks and playing shoes; other garments, such as part or all of a track suit, shall not be worn
during play except with the permission of the referee
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3.2.2.2
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The main colour of a shirt, skirt or shorts, other than sleeves and
collar of a shirt shall be clearly different from that of the ball in use.
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3.2.2.3
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Clothing may bear numbers or lettering on the back of the shirt to
identify a player, his Association or, in club matches, his club, and
advertisements in accordance with the provisions of 3.2.4.9; if the back of
a shirt bears the player’s name, this shall be situated just below the
collar.
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3.2.2.4
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Any numbers required by organisers to identify a player shall have
priority over advertisements on the centre part of the back of a shirt;
such numbers shall be contained within a panel having an area not greater
than 600cm2.
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3.2.2.5
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Any markings or trimming on the front or side of a playing garment and
any objects such as jewellery worn by a player shall not be so
conspicuous or brightly reflecting as to unsight an opponent.
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3.2.2.6
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Clothing shall not carry designs or lettering which might cause
offence or bring the game into disrepute.
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3.2.2.7
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Any question of the legality or acceptability of playing clothing
shall be decided by the referee.
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3.2.2.8
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The players of a team taking part in a team match, and players of
the same Association forming a doubles pair, shall be dressed uniformly, with
the possible exception of socks, shoes and the number, size, color and
design of advertisements on clothing.
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3.2.2.9
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Opposing players and pairs shall wear shirts that are of
sufficiently different colours to enable them to be easily distinguished by spectators.
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3.2.2.10
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Where opposing players or teams have similar clothing and cannot
agree which of them will change, the decision shall be made by lot.
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3.2.2.11
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Players competing in a World or Olympic title competition or Open
International Championships shall wear shirt and shorts or skirt of types
authorised by their Association.
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3.2.3
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Playing Conditions
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3.2.3.1
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The playing space shall not be less than 14m long, 7m wide and 5m
high.
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3.2.3.2
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The playing area shall be enclosed by surrounds about 75cm high, all
of the same dark background colour, separating it from adjacent playing areas and from spectators.
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3.2.3.3
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In World and Olympic title competitions the light intensity, measured at the height of the playing surface, shall
be at least 1000 lux uniformly over the whole of the
playing surface and at least 500 lux
elsewhere in the playing area; in other competitions the intensity shall be
at least 600 lux uniformly over the playing surface and
at least 400 lux elsewhere in the playing area.
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3.2.3.4
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Where several tables are in use, the lighting level shall be the
same for all of them, and the level of background lighting in the playing hall
shall not be greater than the lowest level in the playing area.
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3.2.3.5
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The light source shall not be less than 5m above the floor.
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3.2.3.6
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The background shall be generally dark and shall not contain bright light
sources or daylight through uncovered windows or other apertures.
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3.2.3.7
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The flooring shall not be light-coloured, brightly reflecting or
slippery and its surface shall not be of brick, ceramics, concrete or stone; in World and Olympic
title competitions the flooring shall be of wood or of a brand and type of
rollable synthetic material authorised by the ITTF.
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3.2.4
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Advertisements
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3.2.4.1
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Inside the playing area, advertisements shall be displayed only on equipment
or fittings that are normally present and there shall be no special
additional displays.
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3.2.4.2
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Fluorescent or luminescent colours shall not be used anywhere in the
playing area.
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3.2.4.3
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Lettering or symbols on the inside of surrounds shall not include
white or orange nor more than two colours and shall be contained within a
height of 40cm; it is recommended that they be in a slightly darker or
slightly lighter shade of the background colour.
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3.2.4.4
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Markings on flooring and on the ends and sides of the tabletop shall
be in a slightly darker or slightly lighter shade of the background colour
or black.
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3.2.4.5
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There may be up to 4 advertisements on the floor of the playing
area, 1 at each end and 1at each side of the table, each contained within
an area of 2.5m2; they shall not be less than 1m from the surrounds and
those at the ends shall not be more than 2m from the surrounds.
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3.2.4.6
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There may be 1 temporary advertisement on each half of each side of
the tabletop and 1 on each end, clearly separated from any permanent
advertisements and each contained within a total length of 60cm; they shall
not be for other table tennis equipment suppliers.
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3.2.4.7
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Advertisements on nets shall be in a slightly darker or slightly
lighter shade of the background colour, shall not be within 3cm of the tape
along the top edge and shall not obscure visibility through the mesh.
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3.2.4.8
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Advertisements on umpires' tables or other furniture inside the
playing area shall be contained within a total area on any face of 750cm2.
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3.2.4.9
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Advertisements on playing clothing shall be limited to
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3.2.4.9.1
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the maker's normal trademark, symbol or name contained within a total
area of 24cm2;
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3.2.4.9.2
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not more than 6 clearly separated advertisements, contained within a
combined total area of 600 cm2, on the front, side or shoulder of a shirt,
with not more than 4 advertisements on the front ;
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3.2.4.9.3
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not more than 2 advertisements, contained within a total area of
400cm2, on the back of a shirt;
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3.2.4.9.4
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not more than 2 advertisements, contained within a combined total
area of 80cm2, on shorts or skirt.
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3.2.4.10
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Advertisements on players' numbers shall be contained within a total
area of 100cm2.
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3.2.4.11
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Advertisements on umpires' clothing shall be contained within a
total area of 40cm2.
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3.2.4.12
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There shall be no advertisements on players' clothing or numbers for
tobacco goods, alcoholic drinks or harmful drugs.
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3.3
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MATCH OFFICIALS
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3.3.1
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Referee
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3.3.1.1
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For each competition as a whole
a referee shall be appointed and his identity and location shall be made
known to the participants and, where appropriate, to the team captains.
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3.3.1.2
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The referee shall be responsible for
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3.3.1.2.1
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the conduct of the draw;
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3.3.1.2.2
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the scheduling of the matches by time and table;
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3.3.1.2.3
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the appointment of match officials;
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3.3.1.2.4
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conducting a pre-tournament briefing for match officials;
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3.3.1.2.5
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checking the eligibility of players;
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3.3.1.2.6
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deciding whether play may be suspended in an emergency;
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3.3.1.2.7
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deciding whether players may leave the playing area during a match;
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3.3.1.2.8
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deciding whether statutory practice periods may be extended;
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3.3.1.2.9
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deciding whether players may wear track suits during a match;
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3.3.1.2.10
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deciding any question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations,
including the acceptability of clothing, playing equipment and playing
conditions;
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3.3.1.2.11
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deciding whether, and where, players may practise during an
emergency suspension of play;
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3.3.1.2.12
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taking disciplinary action for misbehaviour or other breaches of
regulations.
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3.3.1.3
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Where, with the agreement of the competition management committee,
any of the duties of the referee are delegated to other persons, the
specific responsibilities and locations of each of these persons shall be
made known to the participants and, where appropriate, to the team
captains.
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3.3.1.4
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The referee, or a responsible deputy appointed to exercise authority
in his absence, shall be present at all times during play.
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3.3.1.5
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Where the referee is satisfied that it is necessary to do so he may
replace a match official with another at any time, but he may not alter a
decision already made by the replaced official on a question of fact within
his jurisdiction.
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3.3.1.6
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Players shall be under the jurisdiction of the referee from the time
at which they arrive at the playing venue until they leave it.
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3.3.2
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Umpire, Assistant Umpire and Stroke Counter
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3.3.2.1
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An umpire and an assistant
umpire shall be appointed for each match.
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3.3.2.2
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The umpire shall sit or stand in line with the net and the assistant umpire shall sit directly facing him, at
the other side of the table.
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3.3.2.3
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The umpire shall be responsible for
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3.3.2.3.1
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checking the acceptability of equipment and playing conditions and
reporting any deficiency to the referee;
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3.3.2.3.2
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taking a ball at random as provided in 3.4.2.1.1-2;
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3.3.2.3.3
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conducting the draw for the choice of serving, receiving and ends;
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3.3.2.3.4
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deciding whether the requirements of the service law may be relaxed
for a player with physical disability;
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3.3.2.3.5
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controlling the order of serving, receiving and ends and correcting
any errors therein;
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3.3.2.3.6
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deciding each rally as a point
or a let;
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3.3.2.3.7
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calling the score, in accordance with specified procedure;
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3.3.2.3.8
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introducing the expedite system at the appropriate time;
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3.3.2.3.9
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maintaining the continuity of play;
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3.3.2.3.10
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taking action for breaches of the advice or behaviour regulations.
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3.3.2.4
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The assistant umpire shall decide whether or not the
ball in play touches the edge of the playing surface at the side of the
table nearest to him.
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3.3.2.5
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Either the umpire or the assistant umpire may
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3.3.2.5.1
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decide that a player's service action is illegal;
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3.3.2.5.2
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decide that, in an otherwise good service, the ball touches the net assembly while passing over or around it;
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3.3.2.5.3
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decide that a player obstructs the ball;
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3.3.2.5.4
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decide that the conditions of play are disturbed in a way that may
affect the outcome of the rally;
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3.3.2.5.5
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time the duration of the practice period, of play and of intervals.
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3.3.2.6
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Either the assistant umpire or a separate official may act as stroke counter, to count the strokes of the receiving
player or pair when the expedite system is in operation;.
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3.3.2.7
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A decision made by assistant
umpire or stroke counter in accordance with the provisions of 3.3.2.5-6 may
not be overruled by the umpire.
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3.3.2.8
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Players shall be under the jurisdiction of the umpire from the time
at which they arrive at the playing area until they leave it.
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3.3.3
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Appeals
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3.3.3.1
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No agreement between players, in an individual event, or between
team captains, in a team event, can alter a decision on a question of fact
by the responsible match official, on a question of interpretation of Laws
or Regulations by the responsible referee or on any other question of
tournament or match conduct by the responsible management committee.
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3.3.3.2
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No appeal may be made to the referee against a decision on a
question of fact by the responsible match official or to the management
committee on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations by the
referee.
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3.3.3.3
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An appeal may be made to the referee against a decision of a match
official on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations, and the
decision of the referee shall be final.
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3.3.3.4
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An appeal may be made to the competition management committee against
a decision of the referee on a question of tournament or match conduct not
covered by the Laws or Regulations, and the decision of the management
committee shall be final.
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3.3.3.5
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In an individual event an appeal may be made only by a player participating
in the match in which the question has arisen; in a team event an appeal may be made
only by the captain of a team participating in the match in which the
question has arisen.
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3.3.3.6
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A question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations arising from the
decision of a referee, or a question of tournament or match conduct arising
from the decision of a competition management committee, may be submitted
by the player or team captain eligible to make an appeal, through his
parent Association, for consideration by the ITTF Rules Committee.
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3.3.3.7
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The Rules Committee shall give a ruling as a guide for future decisions, and this ruling
may also be made the subject of a protest by an Association to the Board of
Directors or a General Meeting, but it shall not affect the finality of any
decision already made by the responsible referee or management committee.
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3.4
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MATCH CONDUCT
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3.4.1
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Score Indication
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3.4.1.1
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The umpire shall call the score as soon as the ball is out of play at the completion of a
rally, or as soon as is practicable thereafter.
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3.4.1.1.1
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In calling the score during a game the umpire shall call first the
number of points scored by the player or pair due to serve in the next rally
of the game and then the number of points scored by the opposing player or
pair.
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3.4.1.1.2
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At the beginning of a game and when a change of server is due, the
umpire shall point to the next server, and may also follow the score call
with the next server’s name.
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3.4.1.1.3
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At the end of a game the umpire shall name the winning player or
pair and shall then call the number of points scored by the winning player
or pair followed by the number of points scored by the losing player or
pair.
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3.4.1.2
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In addition to calling the score the umpire may use hand signals to
indicate his decisions.
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3.4.1.2.1
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When a point has been scored, he may raise to shoulder level the
hand nearer to the player or pair who won the point.
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3.4.1.2.2
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When for any reason the rally is a let, he may raise his hand
above his head to show that the rally has ended.
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3.4.1.3
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The score and, under the expedite system, the number of strokes
shall be called in English or in any other language acceptable to both
players or pairs and to the umpire.
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3.4.1.4
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The score shall be displayed on mechanical or electrical indicators
so that it is clearly visible to the players and the spectators.
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3.4.1.5
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When a player is formally warned for bad behaviour, a yellow marker
shall be placed on or near the score indicator.
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3.4.2
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Equipment
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3.4.2.1
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Players shall not choose balls in the playing area.
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3.4.2.1.1
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Wherever possible players shall be given the opportunity to choose one
or more balls before coming to the playing area and the match shall be
played with one of these balls, taken at random by the umpire.
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3.4.2.1.2
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If a ball has not been chosen before players come to the
playing area, the match shall be played with a ball taken at random by the
umpire from a box of those specified for the competition.
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3.4.2.1.3
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If a ball is damaged during a match, it shall be replaced by another
of those chosen before the match or, if such a ball is not available, by one
taken at random by the umpire from a box of those specified for the
competition.
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3.4.2.2
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A racket shall not be replaced during an individual match unless it
is accidentally damaged so badly that it cannot be used; if this happens
the damaged racket shall be replaced immediately by another which the
player has brought with him to the playing area or one
which is handed to him in the playing area.
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3.4.2.3
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Unless otherwise authorised by the umpire, players shall leave their
rackets on the table during intervals.
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3.4.3
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Practice
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3.4.3.1
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Players are entitled to practise on the match table for up to 2
minutes immediately before the start of a match but not during normal intervals;
the specified practice period may be extended only with the permission of
the referee.
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3.4.3.2
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During an emergency suspension of play the referee may allow players
to practise on any table, including the match table.
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3.4.3.3
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Players shall be given reasonable opportunity to check and to familiarise
themselves with any equipment which they are to use, but this shall not
automatically entitle them to more than a few practice rallies before
resuming play after the replacement of a damaged ball or racket.
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3.4.4
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Intervals
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3.4.4.1
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Play shall be continuous throughout a match except that any player
is entitled to
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3.4.4.1.1
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an interval of up to 1 minute between successive games of a
match;
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3.4.4.1.2
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brief intervals for towelling after every 6 points from the
start of each game and at the change of ends in the last possible game of a match.
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3.4.4.2
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A player or pair may claim one time-out period of up to 1 minute
during a match.
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3.4.4.2.1
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In an individual event the request for a time-out may be made by the
player or pair or by the designated adviser; in a team event it may be made
by the player or pair or by the team captain.
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3.4.4.2.2
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If a player or pair and an adviser or captain disagree whether a
time-out is to be taken, the final decision shall be made by the player or
pair in an individual event and by the captain in a team event.
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3.4.4.2.3
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The request for a time-out, which may be made only when the ball is out
of play, shall be indicated by making a "T" sign with the hands.
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3.4.4.2.4
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On receiving a valid request for a time-out the umpire shall suspend
play and hold up a white card; he shall then place the card on the court of
the player or pair making the request.
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3.4.4.2.5
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The white card shall be removed and play resumed as soon as the player or pair making the request is ready
to continue or at the end of 1 minute, whichever is the sooner.
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3.4.4.2.6
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If a valid request for a time-out is made simultaneously by or on
behalf of both players or pairs, play will resume when both players or
pairs are ready or at the end of 1 minute, whichever is the sooner, and
neither player or pair shall be entitled to another time-out during that
individual match.
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3.4.4.3
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The referee may allow a suspension of play, of the shortest
practical duration, and in no circumstances more than 10 minutes, if a
player is temporarily incapacitated by an accident, provided that in the
opinion of the referee the suspension is not likely to be unduly disadvantageous to the opposing
player or pair.
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3.4.4.4
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A suspension shall not be allowed for a disability which was present or was reasonably to
be expected at the beginning of the match, or where it is due to the normal
stress of play; disability such as cramp or exhaustion, caused by the player's
current state of fitness or by the manner in which play has proceeded, does not justify such an emergency
suspension, which may be allowed only for incapacity resulting from an
accident, such as injury caused by a fall.
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3.4.4.5
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If anyone in the playing area is bleeding, play shall be suspended
immediately and shall not resume until that person has received medical treatment and all traces of
blood have been removed from the playing area.
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3.4.4.6
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Players shall remain in or near the playing area throughout an
individual match, except with the permission of the referee; during
intervals between games and time-outs they shall remain within 3 metres of
the playing area, under the supervision of the umpire.
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3.5
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DISCIPLINE
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3.5.1
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Advice
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3.5.1.1
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In a team event, players may receive advice from anyone.
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3.5.1.2
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In an individual event, a player or pair may receive advice only
from one person, designated beforehand to the umpire, except that where the
players of a doubles pair are from different Associations each may
designate an adviser, but with regard to 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 these two advisors
shall be treated as a unit;
if an unauthorised person gives advice the umpire shall hold up a
red card and send him away from the playing area.
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3.5.1.3
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Players may receive advice only during the intervals between games
or during other authorised suspension of play, and not between the end of
practice and the start of a match; if any authorised person gives advice at
other times the umpire shall hold up a yellow card to warn him that any
further such offence will result in his dismissal from the playing area.
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3.5.1.4
|
After a warning has been
given, if in the same team match or the same match of an individual event
anyone again gives advice illegally, the umpire shall hold up a red card
and send him away from the playing area, whether or not he was the person warned.
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3.5.1.5
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In a team match the dismissed adviser shall not be allowed to
return, except when required to play, and he shall not be replaced by
another adviser until the team match has ended; in an individual event he shall not be
allowed to return until the individual match has ended.
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3.5.1.6
|
If the dismissed adviser refuses to leave, or returns before the end
of the match, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.
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3.5.1.7
|
These regulations shall apply only to advice on play and shall not
prevent a player or captain, as
appropriate, from making a legitimate appeal nor hinder a consultation with
an interpreter or Association representative on the explanation of a juridical
decision.
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3.5.2
|
Misbehaviour
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3.5.2.1
|
Players and coaches shall refrain from behaviour that may unfairly
affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into disrepute,
such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball
or hitting it out of the playing area, kicking the table or surrounds and
disrespect of match officials.
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3.5.2.2
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If at any time a player or coach commits a serious offence the
umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee; for less
serious offences the umpire may, on the first occasion, hold up a yellow card and warn the offender
that any further offence is liable to incur penalties.
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3.5.2.3
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Except as provided in 3.5.2.2 and 3.5.2.5, if a player who
has been warned commits a second offence in the same
individual match or team match, the umpire shall award 1 point to the
offender's opponent and for a further offence he shall award 2 points, each
time holding up a yellow and a red card together.
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3.5.2.4
|
If a player against whom 3 penalty points have been awarded in the
same individual match or team match continues to misbehave, the umpire
shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee.
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3.5.2.5
|
If a player changes his racket during an individual match when it has not been damaged, the umpire shall suspend play
and report to the referee.
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3.5.2.6
|
A warning or penalty incurred by either player of a doubles pair shall
apply to the pair, but not to the non-offending player in a subsequent
individual match of the same team match; at the start of a doubles match
the pair shall be regarded as having
incurred the higher of any warnings or penalties incurred by either player
in the same team match.
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3.5.2.7
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Except as provided in 3.5.2.2, if a coach who has been warned commits a further offence in the
same individual match or team match, the umpire shall hold up a red card
and send him away from the playing area until the end of the team match or,
in an individual event, of the individual match.
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3.5.2.8
|
The referee shall have power to disqualify a player from a match, an
event or a competition for seriously unfair or offensive behaviour, whether
reported by the umpire or not; as he does so he shall hold up a red card.
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3.5.2.9
|
If a player is disqualified from 2 matches of a team or individual
event he shall automatically be disqualified from that team event or
individual competition.
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3.5.2.10
|
The referee may disqualify for the remainder of a competition anyone
who has twice been sent away from the playing area
during that competition.
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3.5.2.11
|
Cases of very serious misbehaviour shall be reported
to the offender's Association.
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3.5.3
|
Gluing
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3.5.3.1
|
Coverings may be attached to racket blades only by means of
pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets or adhesives that do not contain a
prohibited solvent; a list of prohibited solvents is available from the
Secretariat.
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3.5.3.2
|
Tests for prohibited solvents will be carried out at World and
Olympic title competitions and major Pro-Tour tournaments and a player
whose racket is found to contain such a solvent is liable to be
disqualified from the competition and reported to his Association.
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3.5.3.3
|
A properly ventilated area shall be provided for the attachment of
racket coverings to rackets and liquid adhesives shall not be used anywhere
else in the playing hall.
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3.6
|
DRAW FOR KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS
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3.6.1
|
Byes and Qualifiers
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|
3.6.1.1
|
The number of places in the first round proper of a knockout event
shall be a power of 2.
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|
3.6.1.1.1
|
If there are fewer entries than places, the first round shall
include enough byes to make up the required number.
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3.6.1.1.2
|
If there are more entries than places, a qualifying competition
shall be held such that the number of qualifiers and the number of direct
entries together make up the required number.
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3.6.1.2
|
Byes shall be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the first round, being
placed first against seeded places, in seeding order.
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3.6.1.3
|
Qualifiers shall be drawn as evenly as possible among the halves, quarters, eighths or
sixteenths of the draw, as
appropriate.
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|
|
|
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3.6.2
|
Seeding by Ranking
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|
3.6.2.1
|
The highest ranked entries in an event shall be seeded so that they
cannot meet before the closing rounds.
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3.6.2.2
|
The number of entries to be seeded shall not exceed the number of entries
in the 1st round proper of the event.
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3.6.2.3
|
The entry ranked 1 shall be placed at the top of the first half of
the draw and the entry ranked 2 at the bottom of the second half, but all
other seeded entries shall be drawn among specified places in the draw, as follows:
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3.6.2.3.1
|
the entries ranked 3 and 4 shall be drawn between the bottom of the
first half of the draw and the top of the second half;
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3.6.2.3.2
|
the entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the
odd-numbered quarters of the draw and the top places of the even-numbered
quarters;
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3.6.2.3.3
|
the entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn among the bottom places of
the odd-numbered eighths of the draw and the top places of the
even-numbered eighths;
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3.6.2.3.4
|
the entries ranked 17-32 shall be drawn among the bottom places of
the odd-numbered sixteenths of the draw and the top places of the
even-numbered sixteenths.
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3.6.2.4
|
In a team knockout event only the highest ranked team from an
Association shall be eligible for seeding by ranking.
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3.6.2.5
|
Seeding by ranking shall follow the order of the latest ranking list
published by the ITTF except that
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3.6.2.5.1
|
where all the entries eligible for seeding are from Associations belonging
to the same Continental Federation the latest list published by that
Federation shall take precedence;
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3.6.2.5.2
|
where all the entries eligible for seeding are from the same
Association the latest list published by that Association shall take
precedence.
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3.6.3
|
Seeding by Association Nomination
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|
3.6.3.1
|
Nominated players and pairs of the same Association shall, as far as possible, be separated so that they cannot meet
before the closing rounds of an event.
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3.6.3.2
|
Associations shall list their nominated players and pairs in
descending order of playing strength, starting with any players included in
the ranking list used for seeding, in the order of that list.
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3.6.3.3
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The entries ranked 1 and 2 shall be drawn into different halves and
those ranked 3 and 4 into quarters other than those occupied by the first
two;
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3.6.3.4
|
the entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into eighths other than those occupied
by the first four;
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3.6.3.5
|
the entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into sixteenths other than those
occupied by higher ranked players or pairs and so on, until all the entries
have been allocated.
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3.6.3.6
|
A men's or women's doubles pair consisting of players from different
Associations shall be considered a pair of the Association of the player
ranked higher in the World Ranking List, or, if neither player is in this
list, in the appropriate Continental Ranking List; if neither player is
included in a World or Continental Ranking List, the pair shall be
considered a member of the Association whose team is ranked higher in the
appropriate World Team Ranking List.
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3.6.3.7
|
A mixed doubles pair consisting of players from different
Associations shall be considered a pair of the Association to which the man
belongs.
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3.6.3.8
|
In a qualifying competition, entries from the same Association, up
to the number of qualifying groups, shall be drawn into separate groups in
such a way that qualifiers are, as far as possible, separated in accordance with the
principles of 3.6.3.3-5.
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3.6.3.9
|
An Association may nominate a player under its jurisdiction to enter
any individual events for which he is qualified, but a player who is
eligible to represent another Association shall have the right to accept
nomination by that Association.
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3.6.4
|
Alterations
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|
3.6.4.1
|
A completed draw may be altered only with the permission of the responsible
management committee and, where appropriate, the agreement of the
representatives of Associations directly concerned.
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3.6.4.2
|
The draw may be altered only to correct errors and genuine misunderstandings
in the notification and acceptance of entry, to correct serious imbalance, as provided in 3.6.5, or to include additional
players or pairs, as provided in 3.6.6.
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3.6.4.3
|
No alterations other than necessary deletions shall be made to the
draw of an event after it has started;
for the purpose of this regulation a qualifying competition may be regarded
as a separate event.
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3.6.4.4
|
A player shall not be deleted from the draw without his permission,
unless he is disqualified; such permission must be given either by the
player if he is present or, if he is absent, by his authorised
representative.
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3.6.4.5
|
A doubles pair shall not be altered if both players are present and
fit to play, but injury, illness or absence of one player may be accepted as justification for an alteration.
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|
|
|
3.6.5
|
Re-draw
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|
3.6.5.1
|
Except as provided in 3.6.4.2, 3.6.4.5 and 3.6.5.2, a
player shall not be moved from one place in the draw to another and if for
any reason the draw becomes seriously unbalanced the
event shall, wherever possible, be completely re-drawn.
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3.6.5.2
|
Exceptionally, where the imbalance is due to the absence of several
seeded players or pairs from the same section of the draw, the remaining seeded
players or pairs only may be re-numbered in ranking order and re-drawn to
the extent possible among the seeded places, taking account as far as is practicable of the requirements for seeding
by Association nomination.
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|
|
|
|
3.6.6
|
Additions
|
|
3.6.6.1
|
Players not included in the original draw may be added later, at the
discretion of the responsible management committee and with the agreement
of the referee.
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|
3.6.6.2
|
Any vacancies in seeded places shall first be filled, in ranking order,
by drawing into them the strongest new players or pairs; any further
players or pairs shall be drawn into vacancies due to absence or
disqualification and then into byes other than those against seeded players
or pairs.
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3.6.6.3
|
Any players or pairs who would have been seeded by ranking if they
had been included in the original draw may be drawn only into vacancies in
seeded places.
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|
|
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|
3.7
|
ORGANISATION OF COMPETITIONS
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|
3.7.1
|
Authority
|
|
3.7.1.1
|
Provided the Constitution is observed, any Association may organise
or authorise open, restricted or invitation tournaments within its
territory or may arrange international matches.
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|
3.7.1.2
|
In any season, an Association may nominate one senior, one junior
and one veterans' open tournament which it organises as its Senior, Junior or Veterans' Open
International Championships; a player may compete in such championships
only with the permission of his Association, but such permission shall not
be unreasonably withheld.
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|
3.7.1.3
|
A player may not take part in a restricted or invitation tournament
without the permission of his Association, unless general permission has been given by the ITTF or, where all the players concerned are from the
same Continent, by the appropriate Continental Federation.
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|
3.7.1.4
|
A player may not take part in an international competition if he is
suspended by his Association.
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|
3.7.1.5
|
No event may use a World title without the permission of the ITTF, or a Continental title without the permission
of the appropriate Continental Federation.
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|
|
|
|
3.7.2
|
Representation
|
|
3.7.2.1
|
Representatives of all Associations whose players are taking part in
an Open International Championships event shall be entitled to attend the
draw and shall be consulted on any alterations to the draw or any decisions
of appeal that may directly affect their players.
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|
3.7.2.2
|
A visiting Association shall be entitled to nominate at least one representative to the management committee
of any international match in which it is taking part.
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|
|
|
|
3.7.3
|
Entries
|
|
3.7.3.1
|
Entry forms for Open International Championships shall be sent to
all Associations not later than 2 calendar months before the start of the
competition and not later than 1 calendar month before the date for the
close of entries.
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|
3.7.3.2
|
All entries nominated by Associations for open tournaments shall be
accepted but the organisers shall have power to allocate entries to a
qualifying competition; in deciding this allocation they shall take account
of the relevant ITTF and Continental ranking lists and of any ranking
order of entries specified by the nominating Association.
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|
|
|
|
3.7.4
|
Events
|
|
3.7.4.1
|
Open International Championships shall include men's singles, women's
singles, men's doubles and women's doubles and may include mixed doubles
and international team events for teams representing Associations.
|
|
3.7.4.2
|
In world title competitions, players in youth, junior and cadet
events must be under 21, under 18 and under 15 respectively on 31st
December immediately before the calendar year in which the competition
takes place; these age limits are recommended for corresponding events in
other competitions.
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|
3.7.4.3
|
It is recommended that team matches at Open International
Championships be played according to one of the systems specified in 3.7.6;
the entry form or prospectus shall show which system has been chosen.
|
|
3.7.4.4
|
Individual events proper shall be played on a knockout basis, but team events and qualifying rounds of
individual events may be played on either a knockout or a group basis.
|
|
|
|
|
3.7.5
|
Group Competitions
|
|
3.7.5.1
|
In a group, or "round robin", competition, all members of the
group shall compete against each other and shall gain 2 match points for a
win, 1 for a loss in a played match and 0 for a loss in an unplayed or
unfinished match; the ranking order shall be determined primarily by the
number of match points gained.
|
|
3.7.5.2
|
If two or more members of the group have gained the same number of
match points their relative positions shall be determined only by the
results of the matches between them, by considering successively the numbers
of match points, the ratios of wins to losses first in individual matches
(for a team event), games and points, as far as is necessary to resolve the order.
|
|
3.7.5.3
|
If at any step in the calculations the positions of one or more
members of the group have been determined while the others are still equal,
the results of matches in which those members took part shall be excluded
from any further calculations needed to resolve the equalities in
accordance with the procedure of 3.7.5.1 and 3.7.5.2.
|
|
3.7.5.4
|
If it is not possible to resolve equalities by means of the
procedure specified in 3.7.5.1-3 the relative positions shall be decided by
lot.
|
|
3.7.5.5
|
In the qualifying stages of World, Olympic and Open International Championships
players shall be drawn into groups and assigned group positions in descending order of
their current world ranking, taking account as far as possible of separation by Association.
|
|
3.7.5.6
|
Unless otherwise authorised by the Jury, if 1 player is to qualify
the final match in the group shall be between the players numbered 1 and 2,
if 2 are to qualify the final match shall be between the players numbered 2
and 3 and so on.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.7.6
|
Team Match Systems
|
|
3.7.6.1
|
Best of 5 Matches (5 singles)
|
|
3.7.6.1.1
|
A team shall consist of 3 players.
|
|
3.7.6.1.2
|
The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X.
|
|
3.7.6.2
|
Best of 5 Matches (4 singles and 1 doubles)
|
|
3.7.6.2.1
|
A team shall consist of 2, 3 or 4 players.
|
|
3.7.6.2.2
|
The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, a doubles, A v Y, B v X.
|
|
3.7.6.3
|
Best of 7 Matches (6 singles and 1 doubles)
|
|
3.7.6.3.1
|
A team shall consist of 3, 4 or 5 players.
|
|
3.7.6.3.2
|
The order of play shall be A v Y, B v X, C v Z, a doubles, A v X, C
v Y, B v Z.
|
|
3.7.6.4
|
Best of 9 Matches (9 singles)
|
|
3.7.6.4.1
|
A team shall consist of 3 players.
|
|
3.7.6.4.2
|
The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, C v Z, B v X, A v Z, C v Y,
B v Z, C v X, A v Y.
|
|
|
|
|
3.7.7
|
Team Match Procedure
|
|
3.7.7.1
|
All players shall be selected from those nominated for the event.
|
|
3.7.7.2
|
Before a team match the right to choose A,B,C or X,Y,Z shall be
decided by lot and the captains shall name their teams to the referee or
his representative, assigning a letter to each singles player.
|
|
3.7.7.3
|
The pairs for a doubles match need not be nominated until the end of
the immediately preceding singles match.
|
|
3.7.7.4
|
A player who is required to play in successive matches may claim an
interval of up to 5 minutes between those matches.
|
|
3.7.7.5
|
A team match shall end when one team has won a majority of the possible individual
matches.
|
|
|
|
|
3.7.8
|
Results
|
|
3.7.8.1
|
As soon as possible after the end of a competition and not
later than 7 days thereafter the organising Association shall send to the ITTF Secretariat and to the Secretary of the
appropriate Continental Federation details of the results, including points
scores, of international matches, of all rounds of Continental and Open
International Championships and of the closing rounds of national
championships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.7.9
|
Television
|
|
3.7.9.1
|
An event other than World, Continental or Olympic title competitions
may be broadcast by television only with the permission of the
Association from whose territory the broadcast is made.
|
|
3.7.9.2
|
Participation in an international event presumes the consent of the
Association controlling the visiting players to the televising of that
event; in World, Continental or Olympic title competitions such consent is
presumed for the showing anywhere of live or recorded television during the
period of the event and within 1 calendar month afterwards.
|
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
INTERNATIONAL ELIGIBILITY
|
|
3.8.1
|
The following regulations shall apply to World, Continental and Olympic
title competitions and to team competitions in Open International
Championships.
|
|
3.8.2
|
A player may represent an Association only if he is a national of
the country in which that Association has jurisdiction, except that a player who on 31st August
1997 was eligible by birth or residence to represent an
Association of which he was not a
national may retain that eligibility.
|
|
3.8.2.1
|
A player who is at the same time a national of more than one country
may choose which of the relevant Associations he will represent.
|
|
3.8.2.2
|
Where the players of more than one Association have the same
nationality, each such Association may determine its own additional
requirements for eligibility.
|
|
3.8.3
|
A player shall not represent different Associations within a period
of 3 years.
|
|
3.8.4
|
A player shall be regarded as having represented an Association if he has accepted nomination to represent it, whether or
not he plays; the date of representation shall be the date of nomination or
the date of playing, whichever is the later.
|
|
3.8.5
|
A player or his Association shall, if so requested by the referee,
provide documentary evidence of his eligibility.
|
|
3.8.6
|
An Association may nominate to represent it a player who is eligible
to do so but who is resident in a territory controlled by another
Association provided that he has not been suspended or expelled by that
Association.
|
|
3.8.7
|
Any appeal on a question of eligibility shall be referred to the
Executive Board, whose decision shall be final.
|