Table Tennis : History, Rules and Measurements

History of Table Tennis

Origins and Early Development:

  • Invented: Table tennis, originally known as “ping-pong,” originated in the late 19th century in England. David Foster of England introduced the first action game of tennis on a table in 1890.)
  • Original Name: “Whiff-Waff” or “Ping-Pong” before it became widely known as table tennis.
  • Then in the 1920’s the name and the sport were revived in Europe as table tennis.)
  • In 1901, the British manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd copyrighted the name Ping-Pong. They later sold the trademark to Parker Brothers in the USA.Parker Brothers in the United States.
  • In 1920, it was first called table tennis.
  • In 1901, James W. Gibb from England invented durable and long-lasting celluloid balls for table tennis.
  • Initially, the Ping-Pong Association was established, and it was renamed the Table-Tennis Association in 1926.
  • 1926: Formation of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and establishment of official rules.
  • 1988: Table tennis included in the Olympics, Seoul, South Korea.
  • First World Table Tennis Championships:– 1926 in London.
  • First Olympic Gold Medal (Men): 1988, Seoul Olympics.
  • First Olympic Gold Medal (Women): 1988, Seoul Olympics.

world Table tennis Championship for men’s team (Swaythling Cup)-1926

Swaythling Cup for Men’s Team, donated in 1926 by Lady Baroness
Swaythling, mother of the first ITTF President, Ivor Montagu

world Table tennis Championship for Men’s Single (St. Brice Cup)- 1929

London – England-s. Bride Vase for Men’s Singles, donated in 1929 by C. Corti Woodcock, member of the exclusive St. Brice Table Tennis Club in London

world Table tennis Championship for Women’s Team (Corbillon Cup)-1933

Corbillon Cup for Women’s Team, donated in 1933 by Marcel Corbillon, President of the French Table Tennis Association.

world Table tennis Championship for Women’s Single(Geist Cup)-1931

Geist Prize for Women’s Singles, donated in 1931 by Dr. Gaspar Geist, President of the Hungarian Table Tennis Association

Awards:

  • ITTF Male Table Tennis Star: Annual award for the best male player.
  • ITTF Female Table Tennis Star: Annual award for the best female player.

Organizations:

  • International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF): Established in 1926.
  • Headquarter- Lausanne Switzerland

Measurement and Dimension of Table Tennis Court

  • Table Length: 2.74m
  • Table Width: 1.525m
  • Table Height: 0.76m
  • Net Height: 15.25cm
Table Tennis : History, Rules and Measurements

Table Tennis Net and Posts

  • Net Length: 1.83m
  • Post Height: 15.25cm

Ball Specifications

  • Weight of Ball: 2.7g
  • Diameter: 40mm
  • The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange colour.

Table Tennis Racket-

  • The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.
  • At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood. Blade is covered with a single outer layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more than 2mm.

Rules of Table Tennis

Number of Player

  • Singles: One player on each side.
  • Doubles: Two players on each side.

Match –

  • Matches are typically best of Three or best of Five games.
  • Each Set is played to 11 points, with a player needing to win by at least two points.

Start Of Match-

  • Game is started by Toss.
  • The player win the toss choose service or side

How to Service in Table-

Serving in table tennis involves a few key steps to ensure the serve is legal and effective. Here’s a breakdown of the rules in simple terms:

  • Starting the Serve:
    • Begin with the ball resting on the open palm of your free hand.
  • Contact Point:
    • When you hit the ball, it must be above the level of the table surface.
    • The ball should be behind the end line of the table.
  • Ball Height:
    • Toss the ball at least 16 cm (about 6 inches) into the air after it leaves your palm.
  • Tossing the Ball:
    • The ball must be tossed into the air; you cannot just drop it or hit it without tossing.
  • Hitting the Ball:
    • The ball must first bounce on your side of the table.
    • Then, it must bounce directly on the receiver’s side.

Scoring:

  • Points are scored on each serve, with the first player to reach 11 points winning the game.
  • If both players reach 10 points, the game continues until one player wins by two points.

Let in Table Tennis:

In table tennis, a “let” is called in specific situations during a serve. Here are the main instances when a let is declared, explained in simple terms:

When is a Let Called?

  • Net Serve:
    • If the ball hits the net during a serve but still lands on the opponent’s side of the table, it is a let. This means the point does not count and needs to be replayed.
  • Receiver Not Ready:
    • If the receiving player or pair is not ready when the serve is delivered, it is considered a let. The point is replayed.
  • Interruption by Officials:
    • If the umpire or assistant umpire interrupts the game for any reason, the point in play is declared a let and must be replayed.

Roles of Match Officials in Table Tennis:

1. Referee

The referee is the highest authority in a table tennis match. Here’s what they do:

  • Overall Responsibility: The referee is in charge of the entire competition, overseeing all matches and ensuring that the event runs smoothly.
  • Rule Enforcement: They make sure that the rules of the game are followed by all players and officials.
  • Dispute Resolution: If there are any disputes or issues that arise during the competition, the referee has the final say in resolving them.
  • Supervision: The referee supervises the umpires and assistant umpires, providing guidance and support as needed.

2. Umpire

The umpire is the official who directly manages a specific match. Their responsibilities include:

  • Match Conduct: The umpire ensures that the match is conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules.
  • Scorekeeping: They keep track of the score and announce it after each point.
  • Service Decisions: The umpire decides if a serve is legal and calls lets or faults as necessary.
  • Timekeeping: They manage the time between games and the duration of the match, ensuring that play proceeds without unnecessary delays.

3. Assistant Umpire

The assistant umpire supports the umpire in managing the match. Their roles include:

  • Line Calls: The assistant umpire helps with making calls on whether the ball has landed in or out of the playing area.
  • Service Monitoring: They assist the umpire in judging the legality of serves, especially in cases where the umpire might not have a clear view.
  • Collaboration: The assistant umpire works closely with the umpire to ensure that all decisions are accurate and fair.

Card in Table tennis:

In table tennis, match officials use cards to manage player behavior and ensure the game is played fairly. Here’s a simple explanation of what the cards mean and their consequences:

Yellow Card

  • A yellow card is shown to players for minor offenses or as a warning. Here’s what happens:
  • First Offense: If a player commits a minor offense, the umpire shows a yellow card as a warning.
  • Second Offense: If the same player commits another offense in the same match, the umpire awards 1 point to the opponent.
  • Further Offenses: For any further offenses by the same player, the umpire awards 2 points to the opponent each time. The umpire will hold up both a yellow and a red card together to indicate this.

Leave a Reply