- 11 point vote at AGM: In our system the National Associations represent their own constituency (members) and the ITTF must rely on its members (associations) in such decisions which need 75% majority.

- USATT consultation: I am not aware how the USATT consulted their membership- but I can tell you that they probably voted against this proposal as they had voted against the 40mm proposal as well. So in fact, maybe the USATT followed its membership's wishes. However, there were only 7 votes against- the World is not only the USA!

- Consultations: in Canada the CTTA is formed by the provinces. The membership constitutes of the 10 provincial associations with one vote each. CTTA decisions are made by this body, which in turn will consult their clubs or regional associations. I am not sure how it is done in other countries. I know that in England the clubs were consulted. Practically speaking I would imagine that it would be difficult to consult each individual player in a referendum (possibly smaller associations do it). Usually each association has expert committees that are in touch with the players and have a good idea of the players' feelings. In Canada (also I think in the USA) we have a player representative that is a member of the Executive Committee

- Drop-out: I can understand if the equipment is changed as per your example that we would experience a drop-out in players because they can not adjust. What I meant, is that I can not understand anyone enjoying table tennis less because the score was changed to 11 points. the play is the same- the technical aspects remain unchanged. With the 40mm ball change I could accept a drop-out rate because of difficulties adjusting to the new ball- but with the 11 points change I do not see the difficulty. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to continue to play in your club with 21 points or any other score that suits you if that gives you more pleasure. The rule was changed because of demands from TV, from tournament organizers, from fans and especially from players, granted, at the top level.

- Experiments: all this was presented in detail to the national associations at the AGM. The experiments took place over a 2-year period from National events (in over 10 countries including England, Finland, Slovakia, China, etc.) to top International events like the Pro Tour (French Open). The players consulted were at the national levels and international high ranking players. The spectators consulted were at each of the events where the experiments took place. The conclusion derived was that the best scoring system would be 11 points with change of service every two points.

- Time will tell: I do not share your pessimism. I am very optimistic with the future of our sport as long as we implement the necessary changes. Of course, I could be wrong- but we would never know without trying. One thing is sure: we could not keep the status quo.

- Existing constraints: rules, regulations, procedures to follow, experimentation to implement, time frames to respect, etc. Therefore, changes can not be made very fast it is a long and slow process. This has nothing to do with manufacturers.

- The past: you have proved my point. Instead of "no action" as in the past, we are taking "action" now. You may disagree, but I believe that we are acting in the best interest of our sport. Those that think differently have the option to run for election, get elected and do it differently.

- Opinions: to me it remains a matter of opinion. It is my opinion, having known and worked with past administrations, that the ITTF is much stronger today than it was in the past, of course based on our parameters which we clearly established in the beginning of the mandate: P4 (Participation, Popularity, Profit, Planning).

- Popularity: we are examining methods to increase popularity of our sport everyday. One fact is sure: we can not remain the same- we must make changes. You and others may not like certain changes and you may like other changes. This is a fact of life. Without making the changes we will never progress.

- Team events at veterans: this is not an ITTF decision, I recommend that you send a proposal through your association to the Swaythling Club and to the ITTF Veterans Committee.

- Consultations in the USA: you should take this matter up with your national association (I do believe that the USATT may have voted against the change though). If we took a world-wide player referendum then you must accept that China (or Germany) would decide everything with their several million players. Your vote would be insignificant. With our system the USATT has exactly the same power as China (one vote each).

- Drop-out because of changes: thank you for your opinion.

- 40 mm ball: thank you for your opinion and observations.

- Service rule: you applaud it, but others are vehemently against it as you are for the 11 points rule. I see and hear from both sides- but we must decide what we belive is best overall.

- Equipment changes: thank you for your comments.

- Popularity in the USA: what are you doing to popularize your sport in your country? What have you done lately?

- Cancel 11 point rule: it is possible democratically at the next AGM but not likely since your view is amongst a very small minority. You may be right and the majority may be wrong- it has happened before. Only time will tell.

- Courage: belive me it takes a lot of courage to make the changes that the ITTF is now making.

On behalf of the ITTF I applaud the help you have provided in the USA and I hope that you will continue regardless of the ITTF rules. I thank you for your input and hope that you remain an active player, using whichever racket you prefer and using whichever scoring system that gives you pleasure.

Please feel free to distribute this e-mail to anyone you wish. Have a good week-end and take one action everyday to popularize our sport in your country.

Adham Sharara


ITTF President

PRESIDENT'S FORUM : RESPONSES

ITTF PRESIDENT ANSWERS LIONEL HURST OF AUSTRALIA


21/8/01 10:26:36 PM

Adham Sharara

Thank you very much for your input and opinions.

1. Veterans

The Veterans World Championship is an event under the auspices of the Swaythling Club and staged under their responsibility. The ITTF merely sanctions the event but does not get involved in any organisational or structural matter. Therefore, I have forwarded your question (by copying this e-mail) to Mrs. Diane Scholer, President of the Swaythling Club and to Mr. Hans Westling, Chairman of the Veterans World Championships Committee for direct answer to you.

In addition, I would like to inform you that the ITTF, at the initiative of the Swaythling Club President has just formed an ITTF Veterans Committee to better co-operate with the Swyathling Club and the Veterans Championships. The activities of this committee will start very soon.

--President Sharara, do you believe that the ITTF Veterans Committee might co-operate with the Swaythling Club and the Veterans' Championships to consider the introduction of hard rubber (i.e. traditional short pips without sponge) events at upcoming World Veterans' Championships?--

2. 11 points games
I respect your opinions and understand your concerns. However, I allow me to clarify first some of your misconceptions or possibly misunderstandings:

• The decision of introducing 11 point games is made by the highest authority of the ITTF, namely the General Meeting, which is composed of the member associations. There were 125 member associations represented at the AGM in Osaka (April 2001) and the proposition was passed with 118 associations in favour and 7 associations against! In my opinion this was an overwhelming support for the change.


--This was, President Sharara, overwhelming support for the 11-point rule change from the member associations of the ITTF. This does not necessarily indicate overwhelming support for this rule change from the membership of each individual association.--

• Of course we must assume that each member national association consulted their own membership internally and based on this consultation decided on the way to vote.


--USA Table Tennis, the national association of which I am a life member, did not consult me nor did they consult any player I know as to our opinions either for or against the 11-point rule change.—

• This is our political structure. The ITTF is composed of member national associations and they are the ones that vote. We can not be expected to consult all the players in the World. In China alone we would have to consult over one million players- this is why we have national Associations and each such national association has its own structure (regional associations, state associations, provincial associations, clubs, etc.)


--Do you have any reasonably clearcut idea, President Sharara, as to how member national associations consult their membership with respect to ascertaining opinions regarding rule changes? Or is this pretty much up to each national association to decide, whether with or without input from the ITTF?—

• The decisions made by the ITTF apply only to International events under the auspices of the ITTF. In other words: World Championships, Olympic games, World Cups and Open International Championships. It the belongs to each national association to decide at what level nationally will ITTF rules apply. This is not an ITTF responsibility. In the case of England, they have decided not to adopt the new 11-point rule at certain levels (at local leagues) and this is their prerogative- the ITTF has absolutely no problem with their decision. Other national associations have adopted the new rule for all the competitions and levels within their territory.

• I find it hard to accept that a player who loves table tennis would drop out because of a change in the scoring system.


--I do not, as a player who began playing table tennis competitively in 1960, the twilight era for hard rubber table tennis in the United States, find this quite so unlikely a prospect. A number of players I knew in the early 1960s dropped out of table tennis because they either could not successfully adjust to the increasingly predominant sponge rubber play or did not wish to do so. This was particularly true of older competent hard rubber players who preferred the touch and precision from a hard rubber racket that they were accustomed to and could not adjust either to playing with a sponge rubber racket or continuing or reversing spin with a hard rubber racket against sponge.—

• You are certainly aware that Volleyball also changed their scoring system and that Badminton will follow very soon. The reasons are simple- each sport is trying to improve their game the best way they can. In the case of table tennis numerous experiments were conducted leading us to this conclusion. This was not a whim or spontaneous decision. Experiments were conducted at the international and national levels, players were consulted (apparently not you), umpires were consulted, coaches were consulted and even spectators were consulted. Conclusions were derived and options were presented to the AGM for decision. This process took more than 3 years to reach the final decision even though the idea has been floating for many years. We at the ITTF, firmly believe that the decision was the right one. Only time will tell.


--Could you please be more specific, President Sharara, as to what experiments were conducted, which players were consulted, where and when spectators were consulted and whether or not those spectators were acquainted with modern table tennis, and what conclusions were derived from all of this? For may part, and obviously for Mr. Hurst's part, we believe that the ITTF decision to adopt an 11-point format was ill-considered from a standpoint of ultimately improving the sport's popularity, but I do agree that only time will tell. I only fear that time will tell that the sport of table tennis, despite recent rules changes, will not have become significantly more popular than it is now.--

• You may be right regarding your remarks related to equipment and the actions or lack thereof of the ITTF in the recent past. However, as a recently elected President (1999) of the ITTF it is my responsibility to inherit decisions made in the past and their consequences and then do our best to move forward within the existing constraints.


--What excatly do you mean, President Sharara, by "existing constraints"? Possible objections from worldwide table tennis equipment manufacturers that setting limitations on equipment that might cut into their present profits, is, given their relative importance to the ITTF, simply not feasible?—

• It is not constructive to start looking back at errors made in the past, instead our philosophy is to look at the present and plan for the future while learning from the past.


--It is indeed constructive to start looking back at errors made in the past, such as not banning fingerspin services immediately in the 1930s when it became obvious they were a detriment to the sport, waiting until 1959 to set limitations on racket coverings, waiting several years to establish a two-color rule, and bowing in the mid-1990s to player pressure rather than acting to ban the practice of speed gluing. The ITTF now needs to both to learn from its past history and to begin to act more in the best interests of the sport than it has thus far done by acting to impose sensible limitations on table tennis equipment, in particular table tennis rubbers, such as those I have suggested in my response to Mr. Hurst's comments.—

• Whether the ITTF is now weaker or stronger is only a matter of opinion and depends on which parameters you are basing your decision.


--It is not simply a matter of opinion, President Sharara, as were this true your opinion that the ITTF is now stronger and my opinion that the ITTF, in not doing what it should be doing to impose sensible equipment limitations, is now weaker based on your paramaters for basing your conclusion and my parameters for basing mine would have equal merit. Opinions are not necessarily to be confused with facts, and I hope that your conclusions regarding a stronger ITTF will be supported by facts indicating that this increased strength will contribute to a significant increase in the worldwide popularity of the sport of table tennis. The facts as I understand them, however, do not lead me to believe that this will necessarily happen.--


I would, in conclusion, ask you to really examine the reasons for the drop in popularity of our sport- may it possibly be for the lack of changes in recent years which would have allowed our sport to move forward and respond more rapidly to a fast changing society? Having made virtually no changes over the past decades did not bode well for our sport, while those that remained on the forefront of change seem to have maintained their popularity.

I sincerely thank you for your contribution and would kindly ask you to visit our web-site (www.ittf.com) where you will find under the section "President's Forum" several articles and responses to readers that may answer many of your questions.

Adham Sharara


ITTF- President


1. would like to encourage the ITTF to make it a rule that future World Vet. championships include teams events as did Manchester in '98. Apart from ETTA, World Vet organisers seem greedily intent on grabbing tourism dollars rather than promoting table tennis.The narrow European viewpoint does not seem to take into account the high cost of travel from distant countries. Most players want more table tennis. Sightseeing is a secondary consideration.


--I agree with the above and would like in addition to encourage the ITTF to include a classic table tennis (i.e. hard rubber or short pips without sponge) event as well. I and Marty Reisman, 1952 World Consolation Men's Singles Champion and 1997 U.S. National Championships Men's Hard Rubber Singles Champion, and Dr. Michael Scott, physician and player and USA Table Tennis member discussed the possibility of including hard rubber competition in future Veterans' Championships with both Mrs. Scholer, Mr. Westling, and several ITTF Officials at the 2000 Veterans' Championships in Vancouver.--

2.As a registered player of 45 years continuous experience at high level of playing,coaching, journalism and in adminstration, I feel ITTF have erred greatly in autocratically introducing the 11 up rule without conducting a world-wide plebiscite of all member associations.As with the ETTA, there is a very strong rejection of the new rule by most players in the South-east Queensland region. The most common complaint as: "Why weren't the players consulted?"

--And as a life member of USA Table tennis and a player of 40 years experience and a former USATT Certified Club Coach, I agree with Mr. Hurst that a world-wide plebiscite of all ITTF member associations would have been prudent, if this were not done, before making such a significant change at an AGM in the Rules of Table Tennis. I have no idea how many American players were consulted as to whether or not a change from a 21 point format to an 11-point format should be adopted. I know that I was not one of them. Nor was any player I know consulted about this as well.--
Veterans, especially, hate the new rule and it is feared many will drop out of the sport unless they can continue under the old rules. In recent years ITTF has failed the best interests of the sport by giving in to commercial interests over speed glue and faster rubbers and blades. This has resulted in the lack of rallies and spectator interest necessary for the game to grow.

--I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Hurst that the ITTF has not, and I suspect most likely will not act in the best interests of table tennis by e.g. limiting the type of rubber used, except in hard rubber events, to inverted rubber no more than 1.5 mm. same brand both sides attached with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The practice of speed gluing, which does not contribute anything substantive to the improvement of the sport and, even with ITTF legally approved glues, constitutes something of a health and fire hazard should also be banned.--

--Having watched world class table tennis at the ITTF Pro Tour events at the 2001 U.S. Open, the introduction of the 40 mm. ball seems to me to have resulted in slightly longer rallies and somewhat fewer service return errors. But in my opinion the improvement in attractiveness over world class table tennis played with a 38 mm. to a spectator unacquainted with the subtleties of the sport is thus far marginal at best.--

--I do applaud the banishment of hidden services from the receiver's point of view, but wonder why at the AGM this was not decided to become effective, as was the introduction of an 11-point format, as of September 1, 2001.--

The sports that capture TV time include lots of rallies, passing and action before points are scored - all except modern table tennis where a match can be concluded with virtually no rallies at all. Back in the 1950's the ITTF made the correct decision to totally ban thick sponge bats because they gave the server too much spin, and they shortened rallies.

--Before 1959 there were no restrictions, provided that it was not white, light colored or reflecting on the material comprising a table tennis racket. In retrospect it was serendipitous that short pimpled rubber without sponge on wooden rackets became for the most part the standard type of equipment used by players from recreational to world class level from the early 1930s to the early 1950s, as there was indeed no mandate at that time for doing so.--

--The rubber coverings of the 21st century give significantly greater spin than those of the early 1950s, and a typical rally in today's world class play will average 3-5 shots. Yet there is no evidence that I know of indicating that any rule change to limit types and thickness of rubber and permanently disallow the practice of speed gluing will be contemplated by the ITTF or passed at an AGM by its member nations any time in the foreseeable future.--

Now, a weaker ITTF, giving the perception that it works for manufacturers', not players' interests has ignored the wisdom of the past and as a result, the game has increased in cost and dropped in popularity!

--I believe this to be as true for the United States, where table tennis has historically enjoyed great popularity as a recreational pastime but miniscule popularity as a competitive sport, as it may well be for Australia. And I do not believe this situation will improve either in the short or the long term due to the introduction of the 40 mm. ball, the 11-point per game format, or the eventual ban on hidden serves.--
It is not too late to cancel the 11-up rule, ban speed glue, carbon blades and funny rubbers and get back to a game everyone can afford and can enjoy to play and watch.

--I agree wholeheartedly and hope, as does Mr. Hurst, that this will, sooner rather than later, be done.-
I hope the ITTF has the courage and backbone to take these suggestions seriously from a person who has coached hundreds of young players and supported the sport with publicity.

--Mr. Hurst, as a player who has contributed monetarily to American junior development and hard rubber events from the Ohio Stated Closed to the U.S. Open and U.S. National Championships and has been a Certified Club Coach myself, I too hope that the ITTF would exhibit both courage and backbone to take your legitimate and well-considered suggestions seriously. I only wish I could say that I expect this to happen.--

Sincerely yours,


Berndt Mann, member, Rules and Equipment Committee


Classic Table Tennis Association

Regards,


Lionel Hurst

Secretary Brisbane TTA Inc.


Queensland, Australia.