Take the Rules Quiz!
Paul Kovac	See if you can Stump the Ump... E-mail questions to Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire. Please note: Questions which have answers that are easily found by consulting the rules may not merit a reply.

Q: In a recent club tournament match that my son played, his opponenent yelled loudly whenever he won a point. This became distracting and annoying as the match progessed. Was this unsporting behaviour? How should my son have handled this situation? There was an umpire present at the tournament, but not for this match.

- submitted by Harry Foxwell

A: At USATT sanctioned tournaments, all players can ask that the referee assign an umpire to their match. While the Rules of TT do not explicitly prohibit manifestation of enthusiasm about one's own performance, if too loud it can be distracting to the opponent. The rule protects players in such situations. After one rally played at those conditions, your son should have approached the referee and ask that an umpire be assigned to his match. It would be then at the umpire's discretion to decide whether the player's behavior was such that a warning should be given. If so, at the next occasion your son should be allowed to score a penalty point.

You will be a much happier player and observer of Table Tennis when you know the rules. Contact Margaret Smith at the USATT headquarters (1-719-578-4583), do yourself a favor, and buy a copy of the ITTF Rule Book, newest edition.

- answered by Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire