RULES OF THE KENT TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

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1          ELIGIBILITY

The League shall be open only to teams entered by Local Leagues affiliated to the Association, and all matches will be conducted under the current laws of Table Tennis and in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the I.T.T.F., and ETTA.

2          ADMINISTRATION

The League shall be administered, as hereinafter provided, by a Kent League Secretary or Secretaries, (herein after referred to as the Secretary) who shall be appointed by the Executive Committee in accordance with Rule 14 of the Rules of the Association.

3          COMPOSITION

The League shall be composed of one open section with players from all ages/genders.

4          MEMBERSHIP

Application for membership of the Kent League shall be made by the last Saturday in August preceding the season. There will be no fee for entering teams. Applications will only be accepted if accompanied by registrations for the minimum number of players required for each team place (three).

5          PLAYERS REGISTRATION

Each League shall register their nominated players in strict order of merit.

Each competing Local League may register additional players with the League Secretary. Each player must be so registered at least two days before competing in any League match and, for the purpose of eligibility of players, each match shall be deemed to take place on the agreed date or on the date on which the match is actually played, whichever is the earlier.

(a)          No Local League may register a player who is not registered in their Local League. No player may be registered for more than one Local League. Players must have played one or more matches in their local league by their Xmas break or will then be barred from playing in the Kent League for their team.

6          TRANSFERS

No Local League may register a player who represented another Local League in the previous season without the prior consent of such other Local League, unless that other Local League has either not entered any teams or the player has not represented it in the League before 31st December or unless the player has moved into the district served by the Local League wishing to register him/ her. All requests for consent herein required shall be addressed in writing to the Hon. Secretary of the other Local League and such consent, if granted, shall be given in writing, in duplicated, to the Hon. Secretary of the Local League wishing to register the player.

(a)          The registration of the player shall be effected by the submission to the Secretary of an email accompanied by the letter of consent.

7          GRADING

If a League has two, or more, teams in any one division, then the first three players (1, 2 & 3) are only eligible for the first team, the next three players (4, 5 & 6) are only eligible for the second and first teams, next three players (7, 8 & 9) are only eligible for the first three teams and so on.

(a)          No player may compete in a team lower than that for which he is nominated without the prior sanction of the Secretary. No player having taken part in two or more matches for a higher team or teams may compete in a lower team without the prior sanction of the Secretary.

(b)          A Local League subsequently registering an additional player or players shall, at the time of registration, nominate each such player for one of its teams, but so that all such subsequent nominations shall accord with the foregoing of this rule as though such subsequent nomination were made at the start of the season. Every player must be nominated for a specific team. The Secretary may refuse to accept any registrations or at any time require a Local League to alter the nominated team or the order of merit of its registered players.

8          DIVISION'S

The composition of the divisions of the Kent League shall be decided by the Secretary prior to the commencement of each season, having due regard to the strength of the nominated players registered in each team entered, and the position of that team in the previous season. No Local League may normally have more than two teams in the first division except with the permission of the Executive Committee, granted only in exceptional circumstances.

(a)          The Secretary shall decide prior to the commencement of each season whether any division will be played in central venues. Otherwise each team in each division shall play every other team in that division once during a season, home-and away in alternative seasons, except that where there are less than six teams in a division, teams shall play one another both home and away in the same season.

(b)          Divisions will consist of teams of a minimum of THREE nominated players with matches consisting of nine sets of singles and one set of doubles (each set being the best of five games to eleven). One point will be awarded to the team winning a set meaning there are ten points on offer.

(c)          In the event of a vacancy or vacancies occurring in any division, other than the lowest division the Secretary may, at their discretion, fill such vacancy or vacancies either by re-electing one, or both, of the teams due to be relegated or by promoting the next highest team or teams from the division below.

9          FIXTURE ARRANGEMENTS

The Secretary will issue a fixture list with potential Sundays in set periods for all matches to be arranged between the teams listed. The fixture dates for all matches should be emailed to the Secretary as soon as is practical after they are agreed and before the first period commences. Should teams not be able to agree a match date then they should contact the Secretary as soon as possible.

Following fixtures being agreed any alteration to a fixture date (hereinafter called "the agreed date") may be made only in the extenuating circumstances as defined from time to time by the Secretary, and then only with the consent of the opposing team.

(a)          Any League having more than one team in a division shall play the match (or matches) between such teams before playing any other match. This rule may be waived by the Secretary if thought appropriate.

10        LEAGUE CONDITIONS

The home team must reconfirm with their opponents the time and venue of each match at least seven days before the agreed date for the playing of the match.

(a)          The home team shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the match, but both home and away teams shall email the result to the Secretary on the official score card within two days of the match being played.

(b)          Before the commencement of each match, both Team Captains shall enter their players names onto the score card who will then play in the order as prescribed on the Official score card. Doubles pairings need not be declared until immediately after the preceding singles set, with additional (registered) players being allowed to play in the doubles set if required.

(c)          The Secretary shall have the power to award points (see Rule 13) in respect of any matches not played in accordance with the foregoing rules. The Secretary may require the offending team to compensate the non-defaulting team for expenses incurred in respect of any un-played match where adequate notice of cancellation was not given by the opposing team.

(d)          A point shall be awarded for each set won.

(e)          If, at the end of the season, two or more teams are equal on points total (including games for and games against) and promotion or relegation remains undecided, then the teams concerned shall take part in play-off matches which shall be arranged by the Secretary. Venues for any play-off matches shall be arranged by the Secretary, who shall have due regard to the area of each team competing. In playoff matches there shall only be nine sets of singles to achieve a result. All players taking part in play-off matches must have played in at least two thirds of all scheduled matches, or as approved by the Secretary.

11        PROTESTS & APPEALS

The Secretary shall have the power to decide all matters upon which these rules are silent. Any team or league not happy with any decision made by the Secretary may appeal that decision to the Executive Committee who will only investigate a complaint if it is reported in writing. No action will be taken on a complaint reported by telephone. Any subsequent decision by the Executive committee shall be final.

12        AWARDED MATCH - Points Chart (RUIB IO.)