Para table tennis words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 24 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

Para Table Tennis Committee

One of the ITTF's permanent committees. It approves entry fees and entry closing dates for the World Para Table Tennis Championships, decides the system of play and appoints the three-member jury.

World Para Table Tennis Championships

The ITTF's world title event for para table tennis. It includes at least men's and women's class singles and men's and women's team events. Gold, silver and bronze medals go to the winners, the losing finalists and the winners of the bronze medal play-off.

Sport classes

Sitting classes 1 to 5

A player can be placed in a sitting class only if they cannot walk without support, are not a functional walker, cannot step sideways functionally, or have a single above-knee amputation with a stump no longer than a third of the thigh or one above-knee and one below-knee amputation. Players who meet none of these cannot be allocated a sitting class.

Classes 1 to 3

The sitting classes with poor or no sitting balance. Class 1 has severe reduction of function in the playing arm, with weak grip and no active elbow extension. Class 2 has reduced function in the playing arm, but elbow extension is functional. Class 3 has normal arms with at most slight losses in the playing hand, though the upper trunk may be active. In all three the non-playing arm holds the trunk in position.

Classes 4 and 5

The sitting classes with trunk balance. In class 4 sitting balance is not optimal because the pelvis is poorly anchored, and in class 5 trunk muscles work well, giving pelvic anchorage, and the player bends forward and sideways with a normal curve of the back.

Classes 6 and 7

The most impaired standing classes. Class 6 is severe impairment of legs and arms, for example severe cerebral palsy including the playing arm, amputations of arm and leg, or a player holding the racket handle in the mouth. Class 7 is very severe impairment of the legs, severe impairment of the playing arm, or a combination less severe than class 6.

Classes 8 and 9

The middle standing classes. Class 8 is moderate impairment of the legs, such as one non-functional leg or a single above-knee amputation, or moderate impairment of the playing arm. Class 9 is mild impairment of the legs, such as a single below-knee amputation, or of the playing arm, or severe impairment of the non-playing arm.

Class 10

The least impaired standing class. To be allocated class 10 a player must meet at least one of the minimum impairment criteria. Players with short stature start in class 10, and a player with very mild hypertonia and a normal playing arm may be placed here.

Class 11

The class for players with an intellectual impairment present before the age of 18. Classification has four parts: the minimum impairment criteria (inclusion on the INAS master list and generic computer tests of reasoning, reaction time, visual-spatial ability and working memory), table tennis specific tests, observation during a short match and observation during competition.

Classification terms

Eligible impairments (para table tennis)

Eight physical types, which must be permanent: impaired muscle power, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis and impaired passive range of movement. Intellectual impairment is the ninth, for class 11.

Minimum impairment criteria (para table tennis)

A player must have at least one eligible impairment that meets criteria set in the rules. Because table tennis uses the limbs asymmetrically, the criteria differ by body part: playing arm, non-playing arm, lower limbs and trunk. A leg length difference of more than 7 cm qualifies, and short stature qualifies at a standing height of 140 cm or less for men and 137 cm or less for women.

Playing arm and non-playing arm

The classes treat the racket arm and the other arm differently. A weak grip or a stiff wrist in the playing arm limits a player, while an amputation through the shoulder or a paralysed non-playing arm matters mainly because it affects balance.

Short stature allocation

A player with short stature starts in class 10 and may be placed lower because of other impairments. A single below-knee amputation is normally class 9, but short stature with it is class 8.

Classification appeals (para table tennis)

Appeals on classification go to the ITTF Protest Panel and the Board of Appeal of Classification of the IPC. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has no jurisdiction over para table tennis classification matters.

Laws and play

Service relaxation

The umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where compliance is prevented by a physical disability. Deciding whether to do so is one of the umpire's duties.

The ruleAre serves different in wheelchair table tennis?

Wheelchair let

If the receiver is in a wheelchair because of a physical disability and the service is otherwise correct, the rally is a let if the ball, after touching the receiver's court, returns towards the net or comes to rest on the court, or in singles leaves the court over a sideline after touching it.

Wheelchair doubles order

In doubles where at least one player of a pair is in a wheelchair because of a physical disability, the server serves and the receiver returns, and after that either player of the disabled pair may make returns, not in strict rotation.

Wheelchair points

When both players or pairs are in wheelchairs, a player scores a point if the opponent does not keep minimum contact with the seat or cushion with the back of the thigh when the ball is struck, touches the table with either hand before striking the ball, or lets the footrest or a foot touch the floor during play.

The ruleWhat are the wheelchair rules in table tennis?

Centre line extension

In doubles where the opposing pair includes a wheelchair player, the opponents lose the point if any part of a wheelchair, or a standing player's foot, crosses an imaginary extension of the table's centre line.

Team order of play (para table tennis)

In para table tennis team events the order of play follows the normal best-of-five order (A v X, B v Y, doubles, A v Y, B v X) except that the doubles match may be played last.

Equipment and venue

Table for wheelchair players

The legs of the table must be at least 40 cm from the end line of the table for wheelchair players, so that the chair can get close to the table.

Playing space for wheelchair events

For wheelchair events the playing space may be reduced from the normal 14 m by 7 m by 5 m, but must not be less than 8 m long and 6 m wide. The flooring may be rigid for wheelchair events.

Competition

Para entries and classes

At the World Para Table Tennis Championships an association may enter up to 3 players per class and 1 team per class. Entries may be changed by the referee on the advice of the Chief Classifier.

Para jury

The three-member jury, appointed by the Para Table Tennis Committee, decides appeals within the tournament management committee's jurisdiction and authorises team and classification changes. It meets before the Championships and again to hear appeals against administrative and classification decisions or decisions of the referee. Five international classifiers are invited by the organisers.

All Para table tennis words