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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: How long do you have to allow your opponent to "warm-up" before you can force them to start the match?

- submitted by J. E. Barton

A: The usual warm-up time is 2 min. This is a general rule for small tournaments and World Championships. Umpires time the warm-up period and enforce the rule. When there is no umpire, players should be reasonable and play fair. If your opponent is a jerk, there is not much you can do and stay civil.

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