TABLE TENNIS

Physical Education Department GRADES 5 – 7

 

Table Tennis

 

History of Table Tennis

 

Table Tennis or Ping Pong likely began as a social hobby in England toward the end of the 1800´s. Dining-room tables and balls of cork made up some of the early equipment that was used. These early pioneers may have referred to their sport as gossima,

flim-flam, or ping-pong. Around the turn of the century, the game underwent a few changes in England. One person introduced a celluloid ball to the game, while another added pimpled rubber to the wooden paddle. The recreational game lost some of its popularity until various groups around Europe revived it as "table tennis" in the 1920s. The International Table Tennis Association (ITTF) was formed in 1926. The sport soon spread to Japan and other Asian nations. The Japanese dominated the sport for much of the 50s and 60s, however the Chinese soon closed the gap. China alone dominated the sport for much of the 60´s and 70´s, but after Table Tennis became an Olympic event in the 1980´s, other nations such as Sweden and South Korea have joined the top ranks.

 

Object of the Game

2 players or doubles teams try to be the first to reach a score of 21. Points are scored and lost according to the system laid out in "Scoring." Matches are generally played in best 2-of-3 or 3-of-5 series.

Starting

Choosing Sides

  • Players and teams should use a coin toss, number throw, or similar method to decide who serves first.
  • The team that wins the coin toss may choose to serve or recieve first, and at which end of the table they prefer to start.
  • After each game, teams/players alternate ends.

Serving

  • The server is the player who starts the game by putting the ball into play.
  • Stand at your end of the table holding the ball in the palm of your free hand.
  • Throw the ball straight up in the air. As it falls, hit it so it makes one bounce on your half of the table and lands on the other side.
  • If the serve skims the net, it is a let, and the server must serve again.
  • If it touches the net and lands on the floor, the server loses the point.
  • If the serve hits the net, the server loses the point.
  • The server is active until five points have been scored (combined points of both sides).
  • Players or teams alternate serving every five points.
  • Because the game must be won by 2 points, at 20 to 20, players/teams alternate serving after each point.

Game Play

The two sides volley the ball back and forth to each other, limiting bounces to one per side and alternating serving every five points.

  • The ball may not bounce twice on the receiver's side of the table.
  • The ball may be hit only once on a return.
  • If the return touches the net and goes over, it is a let and play continues.
  • If the ball is hit into the net, the player loses a point.
  • If the return goes over the net but misses the table, the player loses a point.
  • A returning ball that touches the edge of the table on the opponent's side is legal, and very difficult to return. Should the ball hit the side of the table top, however, it is not considered an edge ball and does not count.
  • It is legal to hit the ball around the side of the net to land it on your opponent's side.

Scoring

Player earns one point:

  • If your opponent fails to return an in-bounds shot. Edge shots, shots that land inside the white line, and shots that touch the white line are considered in-bounds.
  • If you hit the ball off the table but it lands on your opponent's paddle before it touches the floor or wall. This may seem odd, but this rule is designed to prevent volley play.
  •  

Player loses one point:

  • If you miss the ball.
  • If you hit the ball into the net, including the top of the net, and it lands on your side of the table.
  • If you hit the ball so the first bounce hits the floor or the wall.
  • If you hit the ball before it bounces on your side of the table. No volley is allowed.
  • If the ball bounces twice on your side of the table before you hit it.
  • If you move the table or touch the net during play.

Table Tennis Rules

The ping pong table shall be in surface rectangular, 274 cm. (9 ft.) in length, 152.5 cm. (5 ft.) in width. It shall be supported so that its upper surface, termed the playing surface, shall lie in a horizontal plane 76 cm. (2 ft. 6 in.) above the floor. It shall be made of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23 cm. (8 3/4 in.) when a standard ball is dropped from a height of 30 cm. (12 in.) above the surface. The ping pong table playing surface shall be dark colored and matt, with a white line 2 cm. (3/4 inch) wide along each edge. The lines along the 152.5 cm. (5 ft.) edges or ends shall be termed end lines, and they shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. The lines along the 274 cm. (9 ft.) edges or sides shall be termed side lines.

 

 

 
 
 
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