Playing in the League
Introduction
This note explains what is involved in playing for the club in Leamington and District Table Tennis Association's league. It is written mainly for young players and their parents, though we hope it will be helpful for others as well.
Leamington's league is a friendly organisation. The season runs from late September to the end of April. This note describes playing in one of the two aside divisions which most new players join and usually play two competitions in the season; one before and one after Christmas. There are also three aside divisions which are generally of a higher standard and play a single competition over the whole season.
The club fields about 15 to 18 teams in the league, depending on the number who want to play. Two aside teams usually consist of three players, two of whom play in any particular match. Each player plays their two opponents and there is also a doubles match, making five individual matches each of which is the best of five games up to 11.
Matches
There is usually one team match a week, on a weekday evening. Players should arrive by 7pm. Two aside matches usually finish before 9pm. (Three aside matches usually finish at 10pm or later). Each team has a fixed venue for its home matches; usually Free Church on a Monday or Wednesday, or Bishops Tachbrook School on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Away matches are played on varying weekday nights at venues in Leamington and the surrounding area.
The league has players of both sexes and all ages from pre teenagers to seventy plus. Many players are juniors. There is no fixed minimum age or standard. Typically, players who have attended Saturday morning sessions for a while have started playing in the league at around age ten or eleven.
Commitments
Members who play in the league need to:-
give a commitment to play one night a week for the season.
be able to cope with losing most of the time at first.
be able to cope with being out till about 9pm once a week.
have transport to matches.
Availability
Each team has a team secretary who arranges a playing rota. Anyone who cannot play on a particular day must tell the team secretary well in advance. It causes considerable inconvenience if this is not done.
Safety of Young Players
For our Saturday morning coaching sessions our policy is to have at least two adults present and parents should not leave children before both adults arrive.
The league is different. Players of all ages are welcome but it is not a children's activity as such. Responsibility for the safety and supervision of young players at matches rests entirely with their parents. They are not in any way in the custody of the league or the club.
Parents should stay and watch their children. (We also encourage parents to play in a team with their children – see below). Some parents do share with others but this is an entirely private arrangement and is obviously only appropriate with those you know well and trust.
We advise parents not to let their child travel alone with an adult. Similarly we advise adults not to offer a lift which would involve travelling alone with a child.
Even older teenagers who regularly go out on their own in the evenings should not be just dropped at the door for matches without checking who is there. Some matches are played in isolated buildings and if there was a misunderstanding, a young player could be left alone in the dark with no means of communication.
Venues do not usually have phones. Players should bring a mobile phone with them for emergencies.
Parent Players
If you would like to play in a team with your child please let the club know when league entries are requested. Some parents have been hesitant at first but having decided to play have thoroughly enjoyed it and in many cases continued long after the child has gone on to other things. We think the reason for parents hesitancy is that they are worried it might be odd to play competitively against children. However adults and children play each other competitively all the time and this is the accepted norm for table tennis which is a family sport.
Conduct
The club has a tradition of good sportsmanship. We ask you to uphold it. There is a simple code of conduct:-
• Always try your best
• Encourage and support your team mates
• Treat opponents and umpires with respect
• Be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.
If anything goes wrong (say you miss some easy shots or think the umpire made a mistake) don't let it upset you. Try to put it out of your mind. Concentrate on the next point. You cannot change what's past but you can still win the match if you do not allow yourself to be distracted.
Compliment good shots by your doubles partner/team mate. This will increase their confidence and help them play at their best.
Dress
Players should wear short sleeved shirts, shorts and gym shoes or lightweight trainers. We do not have a strict dress code but we strongly discourage playing in clothes which are unsuitable for sport, such as jeans, as many people think this discourteous. It is illegal to play in white shirts or shorts (as they clash with the ball). The colour of the club shirt is red. The Club has an agreement with a specialist table tennis company for the official Club shirt, which is a good quality table tennis shirt and will cost (printed) around £17 for smaller sizes and £20 for adult sizes. If players don't wish to buy the official club shirt, any red shirt is quite alright. Players need to have a tracksuit or other overclothes to wear when they are not playing as some venues are quite cold.
Bats
Table tennis bats are expensive and it is essential to get advice before buying one for the first time. Most are supplied by specialist firms by mail order. Bats sold in sports shops are not usually suitable. A typical competition bat costs around £75. This is made up from a wooden blade, which will last indefinitely if looked after and two rubbers, which will need replacing after a season or two. It is possible to start in the lower divisions with a trainer bat costing about £30 but this can turn out to be a false economy if the player wants to have a competition bat soon afterwards.
Club members can get equipment at discounted prices from Tees Sport by going through the Tees Sport Agent at the Club. Please email any enquiries to teesleamington@ntlworld.com
Subscriptions
The subscription for a league player is £40 a year. This replaces the Saturday morning fee, paid each school term by non league players.
Other Points
Each player is expected to score a match or two with help if need be to start with. The home team put the table up and away.
Players are recommended to bring a still drink (water or squash) in a spill proof container.
Conclusion
Almost everyone who starts playing in the league likes it enough to want to play again the following season. If you want to know anything else, please do not hesitate to ask.
Revised September 2006.