League Rules

RULES 2025 - 2026

Version 2, issued: 23 Sept 2025

1. The Association shall be called “THE BATH AND DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION.”

The objects of the Association shall be to conduct an annual Competition between Affiliated Clubs whose playing conditions and venue have been approved by the Executive Committee, to arrange and conduct Individual Championship Competitions, to assist and encourage the formation of Table Tennis Clubs in Bath and District, and to promote the game of Table Tennis in every possible way.

2. (a) The Annual Subscriptions shall be in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule. All fees should be paid before the date fixed for the first league match, except those resulting from the application of Rule 8 (d).

(b) In addition to the above fees, all members must also pay Table Tennis England's prescribed individual membership fee (where one is payable) in order to register with the Association and enter its competitions, as set out in Rules 1, 8, and 15.

(c) Unless Table Tennis England membership has been arranged directly with Table Tennis England, or through another affiliated league, each member must complete and submit a Table Tennis England membership form in order to obtain, where necessary, a valid Table Tennis England Membership Card. The form must be accompanied by the fee applicable as a ‘player member’ or an ‘associate member’ in accordance with Table Tennis England Ltd. Affiliated membership scheme procedures current at the time.

(d) Since only approved Table Tennis England members are eligible to play in the Association’s competitions, should an application for Table Tennis England membership subsequently be rejected by them, the player shall be considered to have been ineligible and his/her sets forfeited. However, no fine will be imposed on the Club under Rule 8.

(e) All members must give consent to provide full access to their personal data as described in the Association's GDPR Policy and for the reasons stated. This consent will be part of the member's annual registration and subscription process.

3. (a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held each year not later than the last week in July. It shall be the supreme governing body of the Association. All Clubs have28 days’ notice in which to propose the names of intending new Committee Members, these names to be sent in at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. If more nominations than necessary are received for the position, then all nominations shall be put to the vote. The names of all Committee members not wishing to stand for a further period shall be circulated to Clubs with the proposal form.

(b) If insufficient nominations are received within the specified time, those nominations received will automatically be elected to the Executive Committee.Nominations for the vacant positions may be made at the Annual General Meeting; if more nominations than necessary are received these will be put to the vote.

(c) All Members shall be entitled to attend the Annual or Special General Meeting but only delegates from each Club shall be entitled to vote. Clubs shall be entitled to one vote only except Clubs with three or more teams which shall be entitled to two votes: six members shall form a quorum.

(d) The Financial Year shall end on the 31st May.

(e) A Special General Meeting shall be convened by the Executive Committee should they consider it necessary or if the same should be desired by one quarter of theClubs affiliated. At least Ten days notice of any Special General Meeting shall be given to all affiliated Clubs.

(f ) Every decision of every Annual or Special General Meeting shall be final and conclusive, and shall be binding on all Clubs and registered Members as the voice of the whole League.

(g) Any suggested alterations to the Rules must be made in writing and such suggestions must reach the Association Secretary 28 days before the date of theAnnual or Special General Meeting. Any suggested alterations and additions to rules to be notified

to Clubs 14 days before the date of Annual or Special General Meeting.

(h) No member shall be allowed to vote at any Meeting on any protest or dispute that concerns her or his Club.

(i) All Clubs must have a representative in attendance at the Association’s Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting, failure to do so, then the club shall be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule.

4. The Executive Committee shall convene General Council Meetings when necessary consisting of the Executive and the Secretaries of the various Clubs. Any Club failing to send a representative shall be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule. Voting rights shall be as 3(c).

5. (a) The Officers shall consist of President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. These Officers with up to 8 other members shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Officers and other members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. In addition, if not already represented, all Clubs shall be requested to send one representative to each meeting of the Executive Committee, with full voting powers as if they were an elected Executive Committee member. The Executive Committee and Club Representatives shall be responsible for the management of the Association. The elected Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt.

(b) The Executive Committee (including Club Representatives) shall meet at regular intervals during the year to administer the affairs of the Association and govern the Association subject to the control of the Annual General Meeting. Five shall form a quorum,

of which at least three must be members of the Executive Committee.

(c) The Executive Committee shall have power to fine, suspend or expel any Club or member found guilty of breaking the rules of the Association, and it shall decide all appeals made by Clubs arising out of, and in connection with the League and Championship Competitions. It shall have power to decide anything not provided for in these rules. Every decision and order of the Executive Committee shall be binding on all Clubs and registered members, subject to appeal to a Special General Meeting called in accordance with Rule 3. Complaints related to breaches of the Code of Conduct will be investigated by a Disciplinary Committee comprising the Officers of the Association. Appeals against their decisions will be heard by a separate committee made up of the remaining elected members of the Executive Committee, excluding members of the club(s) involved in the case.

(d) The Executive Committee shall at a pre-season General Council meeting consider all applications for membership and decide the composition of the divisions and arrange the fixtures. No league match may be arranged for Sunday Play other than the rearrangement of a match with the consent of BOTH CLUBS. Fixture Lists shall be issued at least one week before the first match is due to be played.

(i) The Executive shall divide itself into suitable Sub-Committees appointed by the Executive Committee. Their duties shall consist of advising the Executive Committee on matters relating to their respective activities, and to carry out the Executive Committee’s decisions. Each Sub-Committee shall have a Chairman appointed by the Executive Committee, and shall have the power to co-opt.

(ii) The Chairman and Secretary of the Association are ex-officio members of all Sub-Committees.

(iii) The Officers of the Association shall be empowered to act in an emergency, but must report on such action to the next Executive Meeting.

(iv) Any member of the Executive failing to attend three consecutive meetings of the Executive without reasonable excuse may be asked to resign.

(e) Vice Presidents shall be nominated and elected by the Executive Committee annually and shall hold office for one year.

6. Teams competing in the League Championship shall consist of three

players, who shall play ten sets per match. Each team member shall play one Singles set against each opponent, and there shall be one doubles set for which up to two additional registered players may be introduced. If a player from a lower registered team plays up in the doubles only then this also counts towards the limits set in para 8b.

(a) When teams tie on points in the league tables, then the team winning the most matches will be placed higher in that league table. If they are still equal then the team that has lost the least matches will be placed higher. If they are still equal then the head to head match results between the teams will be taken into account, e.g. if one team wins both matches, or wins one and draws the other then they will be placed higher. Head to head sets will not be taken into account. If the teams are still equal then they will be placed equally unless a division title or a runner up or a relegation place is affected, in which case a play-off match at a neutral venue will be arranged, comprising nine single sets only.

(b) The time for commencing the match shall be 7.30 p.m. unless otherwise stated under “Playing Nights”, and both the home and visiting teams must ensure that a sufficient number of their players are present so that this time can be adhered to. If a team is short of the regulation number of players by 8.30 p.m., the absent players’ games shall be awarded to the opposite team (subject to the right of appeal to the Executive Committee). Any player arriving after the commencement of a match shall forfeit the right to a knock-up with their own team prior to playing their first game.

(c) In cases where it is not possible to complete the match owing to any other reason, the facts must be submitted to the Results Secretary when the result is sent in. If in his opinion the circumstances warrant such a course, the matter must be reported to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

(d) (i) Matches are to be played on the night specified in the handbook. However, matches may be played on a different night during the same week of the original fixture, or played prior to the week of the original fixture without penalty. Dates of matches falling on Statutory Public Holidays may also be changed without incurring any penalty.

(ii) Any team requesting a postponement, other than those where special circumstances apply, e.g. unavailability of venue, will be subject to a 12 point deduction on each occasion. Clubs postponing a match must normally notify their opponents at least 48 hours before and must obtain confirmation from the opposing team, and notify the Results Secretary in writing or by email at the same time, or be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule.

(iii) In the event of a postponement, the home team must offer two dates as soon as possible, one of which must be accepted within 7 days of notification. Dates for rearranged matches should be notified in writing to the Results Secretary immediately that they are agreed. Neither of the dates offered should conflict with the away team’s scheduled league fixture dates.

(iv) Rearranged matches involving teams from the same club must be played before the final week of the season.

(v) No matches may be conceded without being sanctioned by the Executive Committee, who may insist that the match is played or adjudicate the score to be used.

(vi) Any match not able to be played by the final match date notified by the Results Secretary will be deemed a 0–0 draw, subject to appeal within seven days of the date notified.

(e) Any Club changing its Secretary, venue or playing night after the commencement of the season MUST inform the General Secretary who will notify all Secretaries of the Clubs in their respective Divisions to this effect, giving THREE DAYS notice in respect of the first fixture affected. Clubs failing to do so, shall be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule. All Clubs receiving notification of either alteration MUST acknowledge receipt to the General Secretary. Clubs not acknowledging receipt shall be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule.

(f) The primary method of submitting the results of matches will be by the home team captain or deputy entering the scores for each player's matches and the doubles via the TT Leagues on-line entry system. See the sample scorecard on the website for league matches. After checking, the home team captain should 'approve' the final result which will then be uploaded. This should be done within three days of the date the match is played. The home team will also record the scores and match result on a scorecard provided by the League. This must be signed by both team captains and an image of the scorecard emailed to the Results Secretary within three days of the match (Sundays excluded). Within one week of the match the team captains should check the on-line result and if it is incorrect they should contact the Results Secretary to ask for any necessary changes to be made.

In the event of a team not arriving for a match it is the responsibility of their opponents to email the details to the Results Secretary with a copy to the opposing team captain. Appeals or protests of any description must reach the General Secretary in writing or by email within SEVEN DAYS (Sundays excluded) of the date of complaint. The Executive Committee shall have the power, having regard to all the circumstances of any complaint to warn, suspend or fine any Club or player guilty of any breach of these rules, and continued default may be penalised by deprivation of points; and in cases of flagrant disregard of the Association’s Rules by expulsion from the Association.

(g) Only Table Tennis England approved plastic balls shall be used for all League and Knockout cup matches.

(h) If any team is unable to fulfill its fixtures during a season and withdraws from the league, all prior results shall become invalid and expunged from the league table.

7. The Home team must be first to declare their playing order. The umpiring of each set shall be undertaken alternately by a member of the home and visiting teams, with the home team umpiring the first set. In case of a disputed point the umpire’s decision shall be Final - subject to the decision agreeing with the Table Tennis England laws of the game. The order of play in League matches shall be as printed on the Official Score Cards.

8. (a) Only players registered with the Association shall be allowed to play in League Matches. There shall be no limit to the number of players registered for any Club,but before any player can play in a League Match he/she shall be registered within the Association as detailed in Rule 2. and be a Player Member of Table Tennis England. Any Club playing an unregistered player shall be fined in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule and forfeit that player’s sets. No player can be registered for more than one Club. If two or more teams are entered for one Club, the players shall be registered for the team for which they intend to play.

(b) A player may play up for his/her club in League matches in a higher division than that for which he/she is registered, but he/she may not play for a lower designated team (designation being determined as that accepted by the Executive Committee at the time of the formation of the leagues). In addition, a player may play up for his/her club twice in his/her own division in any higher designated team, but will forfeit games if he/ she plays up a third time or more in his/her own division. To remain eligible for the team for which he/she is registered the player may play up no more than 4 times (including any match within the same division). By playing a fifth time, he/she becomes registered for the highest team for which he/she has played. Playing up includes playing only in the doubles. Any further instances of playing up will be allowed only to teams in a higher division, and on each occasion will result in the player being immediately registered for that team. A player may not play up in any League match against his/her own team. This rule will include Cup Matches. Separate rules apply to playing up in Cup matches.

(c) The Executive Committee shall have the right to decide for which team a player may be registered. They shall also have power to refuse registrations.

(d) After the affiliation form has been submitted, applications to register additional players must be sent directly to the General Secretary in writing or by email and these players will not be allowed to play until official sanction has been given. No player is to be registered for League Championship purposes for any team after the end of January, except by permission of the Executive Committee.

9. Any player wishing to change his Club during any season for some bona-fide reason,may upon application in writing or by email to the General Secretary and the payment in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule obtain permission to transfer, providing that the Club the player is leaving has no objection to the transfer,this should be given to the General Secretary in writing or by email. No application for Transfer will be entertained after January of the current season, except by special permission of the Executive Committee.

10. (a) Individual Tournaments may be arranged by and only at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

(b) Permission shall be obtained from the Executive Committee before any affiliated Club may play matches against non-affiliated Clubs.

11. The Association shall be affiliated to Table Tennis England and all games shall be played to the laws adopted by that Association and its Code of Conduct.

12. (a) Holders of any Association Trophy (except Championship Trophies - see Rule 14j) must arrange for it to be returned in good order and clean condition to the Trophy Secretary by the First day of March next. Failure to do so will incur a fine in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule, plus any expenses incurred by the Association in recovering the trophy.

(b) The Association shall be the Legal Owners of all Association Trophies and no Trophy shall become the property of any individual Club.

13. In the event of the winding up or dissolution of the Association and following the payment of any outstanding debts, the balance of all monies held by the Association shall be transferred to the County to which the Association is affiliated; all table tennis equipment owned by the Association will be transferred to B&NES.

CHAMPIONSHIP RULES

14. (a) All events and entrance fees to be arranged at the discretion of the Championship Committee.

(b) The Closed Championships are only open to registered players of the Association, whether they be a Player member or Associate member of Table Tennis England.

(c) Entrants for Veteran’s Cup shall be 40 years of age or over, and for the Super Veterans event 55 years of age or over, on the 31st December preceding the Championships. Eligible players for the Super Veterans event may choose to enter either of the events but not both.

(c) Entrants for Junior Cups or Cadet Cups must be Under 19 or Under 15 years of age respectively, on the 1st January during the current administrative year.

(d) Where events are over subscribed, priority will be given to fee paying members of the Association.

(f) All players must report to the Organiser on arrival and permission must be obtained to leave the premises. Failure to do so renders them liable to be disqualified by the Organiser.

(g) Events shall be on the knock-out system. The Finals to be arranged at the Committee’s discretion.

(h) The seeding of events in these Championships will be based upon the Association’s ranking list.

(i) Any player who enters the Championships must be prepared to play in the final of any event where he or she reaches the finals, as directed by the ChampionshipCommittee.

(j) Having received a Championship Trophy, the player must return the trophy in good order and clean condition to the Trophy Secretary by 31st December next. Failure to do so will incur a fine in accordance with the approved Fees and Fines Schedule, plus any expenses incurred by the Association in recovering the trophy

TEAM HANDICAP AND KNOCK OUT CUP COMPETITION RULES

15. The Knock Out Cups subcommittee will determine the rules to be applied and arrange for them to be circulated to the membership at the commencement of each season