What are the roles and responsibilities of table tennis officials?

Answer 1

The top official is the Tournament Referee.

The role of a tournament referee differs widely from one Association to another and from one tournament to another.

At one extreme he or she is involved in every part of the organisation, from drafting the entry form to arranging the finals.

At the other extreme, the referee appears only on the day of the tournament solely to decide any question of rule interpretation.

For each match there is an umpire, whose primary duty is to decide the result of each rally.

He is also required to exercise judgment in applying some laws and regulations, such as deciding whether a rally should be a let because a player's service or return may have been affected by circumstances outside the player's control, or whether a player's behaviour is acceptable.

An assistant umpire is solely responsible for decisions on edge balls at the side of the table nearest to him, and he has the same power as the umpire to decide the legality of a player's service action, whether a player obstructs the ball and some of the conditions for a let.

Answer 2

Table Tennis has an umpire, an assistant umpire, a timekeeper and a stroke counter.

The assistant umpire often also acts as the timekeeper and stroke counter.

For each match there is an umpire, whose primary duty is to decide the result of each rally. Where the umpire is officiating alone, his is the final decision on all questions of fact that arise during a match, including decisions on all edge balls and on all aspects of service.

An assistant umpire is solely responsible for decisions on edge balls at the side of the table nearest to him, and he has the same power as the umpire to decide the legality of a player's service action, whether a player obstructs the ball and some of the conditions for a let.

The timekeeper is required to monitor the duration of practice, of play in a game, of intervals between games and of any authorised suspension of play, and his decision is final on the time that has elapsed.

Stroke counting is required when the expedite system is in operation and the stroke counter's duty is solely to count the return strokes of the receiver and his decision on this question of fact cannot be overruled.

Answer 3

The officials are all volunteers who give up their time to officiate at table tennis events.

There are currently around 150 International Referees, and each country will also have their own referees and umpires.

The top official is the Tournament Referee.

The role of a tournament referee differs widely from one Association to another and from one tournament to another.

For each match there is an umpire, whose primary duty is to decide the result of each rally.

Answer 4

To officiate the game by: Calling Lets and stuff