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By Larry Hodges
As USA Table Tennis Magazine was about to go to press, the USATT Board of Directors voted to adopt the new ITTF 11-point game rules as of Sept. 1. The motion allows a grace period through Dec. 31 where tournament directors may use either format (11-point or 21-point games). It also states that the U.S. Nationals in December will use 11-point rules. The motion passed was as follows:
"All USATT-sanctioned tournaments played after January 1, 2002, shall follow the ITTF 11-point game rules. From September 1 to December 31, 2001, tournaments may utilize either 11-point or 21-point games, with the number of games per match (best of five, seven, etc.) specified for all the events listed on the entry form. The 2001 USA Table Tennis National Championships shall use 11-point games."
Summary of the new 11-point rules
• Games are to 11 points; you still have to win by 2 points.
• Players alternate serves every two points until deuce (10-all).
• Tournament Directors may decide whether matches shall be best of five, seven, or whatever else they choose (just as they currently decide between best of three or best of five).
• Players may take a one-minute break between games (compared to the current two minutes)
• Players may towel off every six points (compared to the current every five points)
The New Rules
11-Point Games (Sept. 1, 2001 – Now!)
New Service Rule (Sept. 1, 2002 – Next Year)
11-Point Game Rules (effective Sept. 1, 2001)
2.11 A Game
2.11.1 A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
2.12 A Match
2.12.1 A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.
2.13 The Order of Serving, Receiving and Ends
2.13.3 After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequence of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
2.13.6 The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match, and in the last possible game of a double match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.
2.13.7 The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5 points.
2.15 The Expedite System
2.15.1 Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 9 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes play or at any earlier time at the request of both players or pairs.
2.15.3 If the expedite system is introduced, or if a game lasts longer than 10 minutes, all subsequent games of that match shall be played under the expedite system.
3.4.4 Intervals
3.4.4.1 Play shall be continuous throughout a match except that any player is entitled to
3.4.4.1.1 an interval of up to 1 minute between successive games of a match;
3.4.4.1.2 brief intervals for toweling after every 6 points from the start of each game and at the change of ends in the last possible game of a match.
New Service Rule (Effective Sept. 1, 2002)
(The wording was only recently finalized)
The New Rule
2.6.5 When the ball is struck, no part of the body or clothing of the server or his doubles partner shall be within or above the triangular area formed by the net and imaginary lines between the ball and the tops of the net posts, at a height where it could hide the ball from the receiver.
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