vCharlotte Table-Tennis Club (CTTC)

is a non-profit volunteer run affiliate of , the & NGB for table-tennis in USA

Please read the rules below before coming for next Thursday as it makes easier for everyone involved     

1.    Who is eligible to play in the league ?  All CTTC members with valid active membership can play for free.  Other out of town visitors and non-members can also play by paying the nightly fee. USATT  membership is NOT required. though every player will receive a USATT league rating identical but not necessarily equal to the USATT tournament rating, after initial week's play. A player's  USATT League & USATT tournament ratings, though processed using an identical algorithm, are independent and separate and one does not effect the other.  A player is not required to play every week or any minimum number of required weeks etc (However you are required to meet certain attendance criteria to win year end awards. Please refer to Player of the Year section of the website) This is an open flexible league.    

For a new player entering the league , the initial rating is set as follows

(a)   League rating from any other USATT league if available

(b)   If not , current USATT Tournament rating

(c)   If not (an estimated rating -100 points) ,  as you have to earn your way up  

       No player without USATT or Canadian rating ( or World or National Ranking List etc ) in general will be allowed to play in Division 1 on their first visit as it is not fair to regulars and also each player has to earn their way up.  If there is any doubt start with Division 2 or lower definitely not Division 1. If you are a new player without a known rating you should play several matches prior to Thursday to get an idea of your level. 

If there is a tie between two players in league ratings to assign to a division , the Tournament rating of two players is the first tie-breaker. (if one player's rating is league and others tournament, then the league rating player wins the tie-breaker). The next tie breaker is previous week's rating change , if both players have one. Next tie breaker is a coin toss   

2.    All players are assigned according to their current league ratings (or as in item 1) into proper divisions  (except 2 players in each division chosen to move up based on previous weeks results) .

Every player will get to play 5 or 6 matches against players close to his / her skill level and given an opportunity to advance to a higher division for following week (or demoted to a lower division) based on performance that week  

3.    Two players are chosen to move up to a higher division (or stay in top division) for one week, one by "quantity" of wins and another by "quality" of wins. You are assured to move up at least one division but could be more than one division in a week , based on ratings. Your move up is assured for following week only. After that week you will again be placed based on your ratings in whichever division you may fall into. Keep in mind that 2 of 6 spots in  a division are reserved for move ups.  

4.    One  of the two players chosen to move up is the one who had most match points (which is almost same as best win-loss record but not identical , as we try to follow USATT format whenever it makes sense) or "quantity" of wins . A player is assigned 2 points for a win (by play or opponent defaulting) , 1 point for a completed but lost match and zero points for defaulting a match..  If a player wins all his matches in a group of 8  players , then he has 7 times 2 =14 match points.   If a player won 4 matches , lost 2  and defaulted 1, his total match points are  (4x2) +(2x1)+ (1x0) = 10.

5.    At any point there is a tie between two players, head to head result is used as first tie-breaker to break the tie. (USATT Tournament Rule)

6.    Three or more player ties are broken using the following rules in that order .

(a)    Match points , then

(b)    Match win / loss ratio  (NOT game win / loss) ,  then

(c)    Rating change for that week  after processed  then

(d)    Final rating after week results are processed  

In case of ties , if the same player at same time is chosen to go up by one parameter that precedes the down by another parameter except in case of defaults where they always MUST to go down.

     7.  Defaults are not used to calculate ratings changes but is the first parameter applied to demote a player down a division . Even if you win the division on a given Thursday, you will be the first one chosen to move down at least one division (could be more based on your ratings) if you are the only one defaulting in that division. If 2 players default , they will be the first two chosen to go down.  In addition , all defaulting players may have their played losses processed but wins not processed for rating that night if an attempt is identified to avoid playing certain styles or lower rated players to inflate the rating artificially.

Some players have complained that 7 or 8 matches are too many. We end up with 7 or 8 player groups because of too many players and or no shows .  This is unavoidable .

If  I put only 6 players and 1 or 2 players don’t show up, players complain again of too few matches. Also almost all players want to play in the highest possible division but if they don’t make the cut for a higher division, they get extremely upset.  So it is a case of wanting to have the cake and eat it too.

 So the decision is to continue with 7 or 8 or even 9 player divisions but with the following stipulations

 (a)     You won’t be demoted as a defaulter if you play at least 5 matches. Keep in mind however that you may still end up in a lower divisions the following week based on other parameters such as order of ratings or worst match points or worst ratings loss etc and that is an entirely separate Issue..

(b)     Of the five matches they have to play,  the top two seeds in the division must have played against the lowest two seeds  (#1 vs #7  and  #2 vs #6)  unless the lower seeds agree not to play those matches. It is the responsibility of the  higher seeds , not the lower seeds to find out who are lowest two seeds in the division and play them

(c)     The player with the most match points and most ratings gain will still advance to a higher division . If you don’t play a match remember then you get 0 match points as opposed 1 match point,  if you at least finish a match and lose it.  Again you can’t have the cake and eat it too. Finish all your matches to get the  highest match point total , if you want to move up (as one of the two move ups) . If there is a tie in match points between a player who defaulted and who did NOT default, the first tie-breaker will be that the defaulter loses out (it won’t be head to head win parameter) . 

                                           http://sjcttc.webs.com/league_old/Changes_League_week_18.htm

       8. Of the two players chosen to move up one division, the second player chosen to move up  is the player with most ratings points gain. (which rewards the “quality” of wins as well and not just wins as in match points) even if having a losing match win-loss record. The system is designed to make it easier to move up than down but only slightly.  

9.    Two players are chosen to go down at least one division (can be more) each week in each division. One is based on worst match-points. The other is the one with worst ratings change.  But if the person with worst rating change has a winning match ratio  (greater than 0.500), the go down for this player is cancelled ( The rules to go down are thus lot less stringent except defaulters and in many cases only one player, the player with worst match record goes down). If a player has a positive point gain (1 or more), the go down is cancelled as well.

10.   Go ups are guaranteed for only one week but go downs are remembered forever. If you show up 7 weeks later , you still have to finish serving time in the lower division for at least a week. ( unless you played in the Saturday League to clear this)

11.  Going down a division or more for a week neither means you are stuck in a lower division forever nor guarantees that you are going up a division the following week or vice-versa. If you are not one of 4 players assured to go up or down, you will just be placed in whichever division you may fall to , based on your final rating you have from previous weeks’ results.  

12.   Ratings are not controlled or calculated by SJ or John Pahl. They are calculated by USATT.  

13.    Move downs or move ups are not permanent. Your division may or may not vary from week to week based on who showed up that week and who were chosen to move up and down between divisions. This also assures that you are playing at least a few different (if not all) players each week.  If a bunch of 2300 or 2400 rated visitors showed up , everyone is naturally going to be pushed down a couple of divisions except 2 reserved spots

14.    No one is being given any special favors in division assignments (except to correct errors). If you see players rated below you playing in higher divisions , it is only because they earned it by winning a lower division by match points or via upset “quality” wins and /or maybe because you were sent down for your own poor performance in past week(s) . The system is set up this way to reward any lower rated players who pulls of huge upsets. Therefore, you control your own destiny. If you perform well either by consistency (quantity) of wins or by quality (ratings points gain) of wins, you are assured of moving up to higher divisions.

 15.   All players must be present at the club before 6.35 PM and sign up. 

Latecomers coming in after 6.35 PM without calling may be denied completely a spot that night. Even if included, they must be at least one division or more lower than their rating  (and go downs), so that we are fair to players who showed up on time or pre-signed up. 

No matter what, don't try to rush and get a traffic ticket or have an accident. You don't have to play every week. We would rather have you healthy & in one piece the following week

 16.  Please don't forget to fill out the match sheet. All we need in W or L or DF. If one player defaults just put a DF in his / her horizontal row box & W in horizontal row for person (s)he played against. If both players default just put a DF in horizontal row box for both players.  We don't need game or point scores. The rating system computer does not care about game or point scores, only win / losses. Defaults are ignored for ratings processing but severely effect you by moving you down a division for following week.

 17.  Tables 2,3  must be cleared as soon as Division 1 players are available for starting division 1 .  (See diagram below > Table 1 is near women's room entrance. Table 6 is near office, Table 10 is near men's room . It is like a circle).   Two tables each will be assigned  for top 4 divisions (2 each  among them, as their matches may take longest) . Three tables will be assigned for 2 divisions each for Divisions 3&4 and 5&6 as shown below.   Please do not hog tables but rotate them fairly among players / divisions. Be considerate.

23. If players follow guidelines above , league should finish easily by 9.15 PM  for lower divisions and little later for other higher divisions and no need for any confusion. We try to make everyone happy but league is just not meant for everyone for various personal or other reasons. 

24.  Details of how the Division assignments every week.  >>>

It is not really that complex. Estimate number of players present. Usually the trend had been 7 person groups (6 matches / player)

You make a quick hand made list ordering players by combining the lists of current League , Tournament & (Estimated rating -100) players signed up for that Thursday.

You start from the top of the rating list.  Assign the two players who won division last week & those came up from Division 2 previous week. That is 4 players.  That leaves room for 2.  Take the top 2 by rating and see if any of them have to serve time in lower divisions. If so put them in highest next division they can be allowed in. Then continue with list and complete division 1 and send these 7 players to the tables 2, 3   and have them kick out players at those tables IMMEDIATELY and start league play (Do not buy excuses about finishing a game or a match etc.....the league has precedence & must start ASAP) .  

Now do the division 2 just like Division 1.  There is a slight difference as 2 players come down & 2 came up. You only put down name of 2 that came up first (The players that came down from Division 1 may keep going down in divisions based on ratings.....we do not know yet. A player with 1500 rating may have been in Division 1 but came down and may get pushed down to Division 4 or 5) .  Now continue with list of 5 players more in rating order unless they were to serve time in divisions 3 or below.. Send these 7 players to tables 7 & 8 and have them kick out players at those tables IMMEDIATELY and start league play (Do not buy excuses about finishing a game or a match etc.....the league has precedence & must start ASAP) .  

Continue with other divisions just as you did with Division 2.  Always reserve 2 spots for players that came up (there may sometimes 1 or none left , as they may have ended in higher divisions and that is fine). Complete the Division 3  groupings & send these  Division 3 players to Tables 1,9 & 10 and have them kick out players at those tables IMMEDIATELY and start league play (Do not buy excuses about finishing a game or a match etc.....the league has precedence & must start ASAP) .  

Complete the Division 4  groupings and send them to tables 4,5 and 6

Complete the Division 5  groupings and send them to tables 1,9 and 10. The Division 5 players should get all 3 tables 4, 5 & 6 next and cycle repeats in general. No strict enforcements but don't hog the tables and the players waited the longest should start next.

Finish Division 6 and send them to tables 4,5, and 6 to start. The Division 6 players should get all 3 tables 4 ,5 & 6 next and cycle repeats in general. No strict enforcements but don't hog the tables and the players waited the longest should start next.

25.  Please start demanding that your opponent serve properly. Some common examples of illegal serves are  quick serving,  not tossing the ball 6 inches,  not tossing at all but dropping the ball, cupping the ball in your hand  and not starting with the ball in stationary position in flat palm of your hand, hiding the ball with body, the toss is not near vertical (more than about 10 degree angle), having the free hand and ball inside the table while contacting the ball and on and on.  But don't do it as gamesmanship to disrupt your opponent or to cheat but only to ensure that your opponent serves properly. We want CTTC players to serve correctly in tournaments without problems.  Keep also in mind that 6 inches is not exactly a tall distance and to get an visual idea, it is only the height of the net !!

26. You are only allowed a warm-up time of 2 minutes before a match. All matches 3 out of 5

27.  It is the responsibility of all players that the match sheet is correctly filled out. This is true especially if you win a match but is not one match sheet. Then , your win is ignored because the admin assumes this is an unplayed match and your hard-earned win is ignored. So make sure your wins are recorded correctly and if there is a dispute , settle it with opponents before you go home and ensure the match sheet is correct. If have left the premises and if your opponent marks a win against you, though you may have won, I will still go by what is marked. So make sure BEFORE you leave that you entered the correct results. I strongly recommend always using step 28 below to avoid potential disputes but it is optional .

28. Sometimes there may be issues between players such as forgetting to keep game scores. If you foresee this , it is the responsibility of both players to record the score at end of each game. Enter 11 in the horizontal box of winning player and the losing score in other player's box. At the end of the match , also enter W & L. This will avoid any confusion if you cannot keep game scores. Sometimes a player may not intend to cheat but may genuinely forget game scores in the heat of the battle. This will lessen potential disputes. 

          http://sjcttc.webs.com/serve.htm

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Subj:- From SJ about  league latecomers

I cannot read your mind. I understand many of you have to hurry from work or may be stuck in traffic etc. but you have to be at the club in person by 6.35 PM Thursday or call before 6.15 PM . We no longer have such things as pre-signups or members/non-members etc,to make the process consistent for all involved

  If   you won't know till the last minutes and / or on the way, then call the League Phone 704-336-9075 before 6.15 PM to let me know you are on the way, so I can put you  in the proper division.. Add this number to your cell phone NOW ...........not when you are driving 60 MPH and look for it on your tiny internet phone  :)    

Absolutely no texting (SMS). The League phone is an OLD fashioned analog landline (not digital)  and do not text the League Admin either

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Another issue players get confused is why they don't get to play in a higher division or are suddenly are in a lower division despite higher rating. To start with,  you may have ended up in a lower division because you were even a few minutes late as explained above.  But other reason is that , as you can see there are only 3 spots open in top division & usually taken up by 1900 or above players. But even 1300 players have made it up to top division (even John Pahl made it to top division last week  LOL   )  by "quality wins"  .  You can move up two ways, by quantity of wins (match win / loss aka match points) or by quality of wins (by beating higher rated players / huge upsets). . So there is opportunity for everyone to play a few matches against better / best players but don’t just expect me to put you in the top division because you were high rated 10 years ago or you think you have a sexy playing style or are a legend in your own mind.

You will also move down a division if you had a bad week. This also can be by quantity of wins or quality of wins as well , but I have made rules to move down lot less stringent (except defaulters)  so that players won’t be banished such as when they have a winning match ratio etc. The system is designed make it easier to move up than down. So if you still don’t make it to higher divisions, you should worry about improving your own level of play and nothing else.

Also don’t forget the fact that that even if you are not pre-assigned to move up or down by previous week’s results, you may still move way up or way down (couple of divisions) , based on your final rating at the end of previous week & depending on how heavy or lite the player turnout for a particular night is. If there is a heavy player turnout (& also say 4 out of town visitors rated 2200) , then even 1900 players may end up in division 3 or 4.

There is no such thing as to getting to “STAY” in a given division for following week. Nobody gets to “STAY” in any given division (The two Division 1 winners also actually move UP but end up staying because no place more to move up.).  Every single player moves up or down between divisions based on different methods and you may simply end up in the same division as last week because the process coincidentally put there…that is all.   Division winners and losers always move up or down.  Rest of the players also may move up or down divisions based on current final ratings as well.  Just because you were not chosen to move up or down FIRST does not mean you get to “STAY” in any given division because you could be still pulled up or pushed down by one or more divisions depending on pool of players present for a given night and based on your final ratings.  If three or four 2200-2000  level players showed up, everyone is going to be pushed down one or two divisions, ONLY except for reserved spots for those who moved up. On the flip side if lots of 1900 and 1800 players did not show up, everyone gets pulled up a few divisions (though this rarely happens in our league due to consistently high turnout across the ratings spectrum) .  So if you played in Division 2 this week  and was not one of the 4 players chosen to move up or down, it still does not mean you get to “stay” in Division 2 the following week. Don’t be shocked if you get  pushed down to Division 5 if lots more players rated much higher than you showed up that night.  Also the 2 players chosen to move down first will also go down with you to Division 5 if their ratings are also low enough in that order………..this is also the reason why you may also move up or down more than one division based on your ratings even if you are one of the 4 chosen to move up or down……..for example if you were in Division 2 this week and were chosen as one of the 2 to move down, that does not guarantee you that you will be in Division 3 the following week because you move down “at least” one division not “exactly” one division and you could end up in Division 7 if your rating is low enough. Same logic for moving UP.  You move up “at least” one division not “EXACTLY” one division and could be more. You could be in Division 5 this week and could be in Division 2 next week if your rating is high enough.  

PS :-  STAYing in any division can be “arranged” privately between you and me however. I can send you my Caymen & Swiss secret bank codes for deposits if you are interested.

There were some other rules updates after July 2009 

They are listed in webpage below if not above 

http://sjcttc.webs.com/league_old/Changes_League_week_18.htm