League Documents

The official by-laws document contains comprehensive rules and regulations for the Cape Town Table Tennis League 2025 season. This document is essential reading for all participants.

Document Contents:

The by-laws cover all aspects of league operation including:

• General Provisions - League governance and administration
• Membership - Club and player registration requirements
• Team Composition - Player eligibility and team structure
• Match Format - Playing rules and match procedures
• Scoring System - Points allocation and rankings
• Fixtures & Scheduling - Match organization and timing
• Walkovers - Procedures for unplayed matches
• Player Eligibility - Registration and transfer rules
• Disciplinary Matters - Conduct and dispute resolution
• Promotion & Relegation - Division movement criteria

Important: All players, team captains, and club officials must familiarize themselves with these by-laws. The complete document is available for download above.

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1. AFFILIATION

1.1 The Annual Affiliation fee of Clubs and Players shall be as proposed by the CTTT Executive at the Annual General Meeting of the Organisation, and approved by a majority vote.

2. REGISTRATION

2.1 All Clubs, and their Players wishing to participate in League Teams must be in good standing with the organisation, and registered with the CTTT Treasurer, and M & R Secretary, via their Club's League Representative, prior to their participation in the League programme.

2.1.1 All teams shall be registered on the official League Team Entry Form with the names of the players that will compete in those teams. No teams shall be accepted if the players' names are not declared.

2.1.2 Clubs are required to pay the Club, Team and Player Registration IN FULL at the Registration Meeting. Clubs rendering payment directly into CTTT account or via EFT MUST submit a proof of payment together with the registration forms.

2.1.3 A club is permitted to change the status of a member from player to social member only if the said member has not participated in any league fixtures. If a registration fee had been paid for said member then a club may apply for a refund; or the registration fee may be allocated to a new member.

2.2 Notwithstanding the above, subsequent additional Player Registrations will be accepted after the initial Teams have been submitted provided that, the Player is in good standing with the Organisation. The player registration form in addition to an updated league team form must submitted to the M & R Secretary prior to the league participation.

2.2.1 Also that the current League fee is received from the Club by CTTT within 7 days of the player's participation with proof of payment to the M&R Secretary. Failing which, all matches played by the Player will be forfeited {see also clause 2.7}.

2.3 No person, shall play in league matches unless he/she has been registered as a league player by their club.

2.3.1 A player registered as a Social player may only play in tournaments.

2.4 No transfer will be considered by the Executive Committee unless the player concerned is in good standing with his/her club. Also has informed their club of their intention to transfer, and obtained, and completed the Transfer Form, signed and approved by their existing club official, and the official of the club that they intend joining. Then submitted to the CTTT Executive for accreditation prior to participation in the league programme.

2.5 No player shall play in any league match unless he/she has resided seven (7) days in the Cape Town region.

2.6 No player registered outside Cape Town shall be permitted to play in CTTT leagues prior to forwarding a clearance to the CTTT Executive from the previous organisation [see also 2.4 above.]. Also where applicable, the official body of the last Country of participation.

2.7 Any club playing an ineligible player shall forfeit to the opposing team all points in respect of matches in which such player participated and a fine of R200 will be imposed on the club of the defaulting team.

2.8 Registration fees per annum shall be:

2.8.1 Club Affiliation

2.8.2 The category of fees shall be: Senior League: Team Registration, Senior Player, Junior Playing in the Senior League, Player with Disability, Veteran 60 to 70, Veteran 70+. Veterans 70+ shall not be liable for fees Junior League: Team Registration, Junior Player Players registered as "social players" by their club are not liable for registration fees unless subsequently used in the Junior or Senior Leagues; then the difference in player registration will be payable. Players registered in the second round of the season are liable for half of the player registration fees and are subject to clause 2.2.1.

2.8.3 Club, team and player registration fees are to be set at the Annual General Meeting. Subject to proof, players who turn 60 during a season would be deemed to be 60 at the start of the season.

3. LEAGUE COMPETITIONS AND FIXTURES

3.1 Each division shall consist of a maximum of twelve (12) teams, playing each other on a "home and away" basis. Each team shall consist of a maximum of six (6) registered players per team.

3.2 No club may enter more than three (3) teams in any division.

3.3 There shall be promotion/relegation between divisions, the Clubs of the two top teams in each league having the first option of replacing the bottom two teams in the division above, for the following new Season.

3.4 In the event of two or more teams tying for the top or bottom positions of any division, then the following method will be used to break the tie: 1) Matches won and lost; 2) Games won and lost, to determine which teams are to be promoted and relegated. If a further tie then results, a play-off fixture shall decide the issue using a seven-match score-card and the members of the team must be the regular members of that team. The play-off will be played to a result.

3.5 When formatting the new Season's League programme and there are less than the agreed number of teams in any of the leagues, clubs are allowed to apply with written motivation to fill any vacancy that may arise. The Match & Registration Secretary & committee may, at their discretion fill such a vacancy taking into consideration the motivation for this league position provided it is seen to be appropriate based on the known strength of the players in the team and the prior year's league positions other than those promoted/relegated in terms of clause 3.3.

3.5.1 Provided that the motivation for this League position is seen to be appropriate, based on the known strength of the players in the team, and approved by the Executive.

3.6 Acceptance into the Premier division is subject to clubs entering and maintaining at least one additional team for each Premier team, in any other division. If at any stage the club does not comply with the above requirements, their Premier status will be reviewed by the Executive Committee.

3.7 Should a team fail to fulfil three (3) consecutive fixtures, the Match and Registration Secretary shall have the authority to withdraw the team and to adjust the points scored by all teams in the division involved.

4. MATCHES AND TEAMS

4.1 Clubs shall play all fixtures on the date and at the place set down in the official fixtures of the Organisation.

4.1.1 Notwithstanding the foregoing, club teams with foreseen impediments to their scheduled league fixture, are encouraged to bring their match forward with the agreement of their opponents.

4.1.2 Once a date has been agreed, the M&R is to be notified of the arrangement prior to the Fixture being played.

4.2 Where a Club's premises are not available to them on the home night/day of a league fixture they are entitled to request their opposition to swap to an away fixture provided that if in the first half of the scheduled matches, they will be the home team, in the second half.

4.2.1 However, when this arrangement is made, please ensure that the "home and away" result on the match card is retained as per the fixture table. But noted as a swap under comments.

4.3 Postponement of fixtures: No postponements will be condoned. In the event of serious unforeseen circumstances arising, permission of the Match & Registration Secretary (M&R) must be sought. And if condoned by the M&R, must be played by a date stipulated by the M&R.

4.3.1 In the event of scheduled load shedding, a fixture swap may be arranged, or the home team may provide an alternative venue. Should unscheduled load shedding occur, the M & R Secretary needs to be alerted immediately. Captains may at the time agree on a date whereby the fixture will resume. The agreed date will not exceed two weeks from the fixture date. Scoresheets must be retained. Incomplete matches will be replayed. Complete matches will not be replayed.

4.4 A team shall consist of no more than four (4) players, three (3) of whom shall play two (2) singles matches each, and two (2) of whom shall play one (1) doubles match of which H3 and V3 must be part of.

4.5 Before the start of play, the opposing captains shall hand to each other the order of play for the singles matches and the doubles combinations may be declared just prior to the doubles match being played, without reference to the order of the opposing team, except with the consent of that team's captain. Fixtures must be played according to the following system: H1 vs V1, H2 vs V2, H3 vs V3, Doubles, H1 vs V2, H3 vs V1, H2 vs V3. Each fixture shall consist of seven (7) individual matches consisting of six (6) Singles and one (1) Doubles match. H3 and V3 must be part of the doubles pairs. All matches will be best of five (5) games. The winner of a fixture shall be the team which wins the majority of the matches.

4.6 The result of each fixture shall be noted on the Organisation's current official score card and a legible and fully completed scorecard is to be submitted via social media compatible to the M&R Secretary to the relevant Captains' group directly after the completion of the fixture by both team captains. Failure to submit in time will result in the match being declared null and void and both clubs shall be fined R150 each.

4.7 Points will be awarded as follows: Win = 2 points, Loss = 1 point, Walkover = 0 points.

4.8 Commencement of league play:

4.8.1 The scheduled time for the commencement of league fixtures shall be 19h30 and there shall be no delays (away teams warm ups are to be prior to 19h30). In the case where a team is unable to be present at the appointed time, and has advised its opposing team's captain timeously of a valid reason for the delay, if accepted by the opposing team's captain and team, they may agree to delay the scheduled start of the fixture by a time that is acceptable to them, but not later than 20h30. (also see 4.8.3)

4.8.2 Should an entire team arrive late without having advised its opponents in terms of the previous paragraph it shall be penalised by forfeiting one (1) match for every completed period of fifteen (15) minutes commencing from the scheduled time, up to a maximum time of 20h30 where-after, the fixture shall be forfeit by the defaulting team. A fine of R50 will be levied on the club of the defaulting team for any match forfeited in this manner. If the entire fixture is forfeited, a fine of R200 will be levied on the club of the defaulting team for any match forfeited in this manner.

4.8.3 In the event of an advised delayed and agreed start time, the fixture will nevertheless be forfeit by the defaulting team if none of their players have not arrived ready to play the fixture by 20h30 and a fine of R200 will be levied on the club of the defaulting team.

4.8.4 Should a team arrive without its full complement of players, those present shall commence play at the scheduled time and play their singles matches in the order of the score-card until the other member/s arrive. Notwithstanding the order of play on the score-card provided that at 20h30 the defaulting team's player is not holding up the continuous playing of the fixture's games to completion. Any matches scheduled but not played by the late player shall be forfeited to the opposing player and fine of R50 per match will be levied on the club of the defaulting player.

4.8.5 Should an entire team not arrive for a scheduled fixture, a walkover match card should be completed by the non-defaulting team captain, indicating the names of the players present at the venue plus a R200 fine to be imposed on the defaulting team. Two (2) fixture points shall be awarded to the non-defaulting team, zero fixture points shall be awarded on the defaulting team.

4.9 If only two (2) members of a team is present, such a team shall forfeit the singles matches which the third player would have played and the doubles match plus a R150 FINE imposed on the defaulting team. The 2-player team cannot use any of the players as H3 or V3.

4.10 A 2-player team is allowed to win the fixture if they win all 4 of their singles matches.

4.11 The M & R Secretary has the discretion on whether or not to award a walkover to the non-defaulting team if both captains are in agreement that the defaulting team is unable to fulfil a team for a scheduled fixture. The non-defaulting team therefore would not need to be at the venue until 8.30pm to claim the walk over.

4.12 A Player may only be used as a substitute for a maximum of 5 times in any higher division team for the season. A player will then automatically be locked in the higher division team that he/she appears again as a substitute and cannot be used as a substitute for the rest of the season.

4.13 A Player may play in two Fixtures in a League Week, providing that one of these is an unscheduled Match or is substituting into a higher division. (But not on the same night).

4.14 Clubs having more than one (1) team in any division may NOT rotate the players in such teams in the same division.

4.15 Substitutes shall be players from a lower division only and consequently where a Club has more than one team in a division, the players in those teams shall not be used as substitutes in that division.

4.16 Where a club has more than one team in a division, a substitute from a lower league will be cup-tied to the team they substitute up in and will not be allowed to be used as a substitute in any additional teams in that same division.

4.17 A player's first match of the season must be in the team that the player was registered in.

4.18 No substitutions are allowed during fixture week 1 and the last 3 fixtures of the season.

4.19 Any unregistered/ineligible player that played for a team will forfeit all his/her points to the opposing player/s and a fine of R200 will be imposed on the club of the defaulting team.

5. KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION

5.1 A knock-out (KO) fixture shall consist of a 7-match scorecard of 6 singles matches and one (1) doubles match, each best of 5 games. Any 2 players of a team can play the doubles match. Fixtures must be played according to the following system: H1 vs V2, H2 vs V1, H3 vs V3, Doubles, H1 vs V1, H3 vs V2, H2 vs V3. The winner of a fixture shall be the team that wins the majority of the matches.

5.2 All KO fixtures are to commence at 7.30pm and are subject to 4.8.1, 4.8.2, 4.8.3, 4.8.4 and 4.8.5

5.3 A team shall consist of 3 players or more but none of these players will be allowed to play in any other KO team.

5.4 If a 3-player team is a player short, a substitute may ONLY be used if the substitute has not played in any KO team at any stage of the competition. The substitute will then be locked in that team for the remainder of the KO competition.

5.5 If a substitute is not available, the team is allowed to play 2 players, forfeiting the matches of the absent third player, and a fine of R150 is imposed.

5.6 A team is allowed to win a KO fixture with only 2 players. The 2-player team cannot use any of the players as H3 or V3.

5.7 A team that uses a player that has played in another KO team will forfeit the matches of that player and will be fined a fee of R200.

5.8 Captains shall toss for Home or Away.

5.9 The first team to win 4 matches determines a result, and the match may at this point be terminated. The complete fixture may be played at the discretion of both teams.

5.10 Both teams shall have a match balls and a net available.

5.11 A club's designated league team A, B, C, etc shall be the same team for the knockout. The fourth and/or fifth players of those teams may be used, only in those teams, in subsequent rounds of the KO competition.

5.12 The matches must be played strictly in the sequence as on the scorecard. No player must play all his matches in a row.

5.13 All players are Cup-Tied to the knock-out team that they are registered in. They may at no stage play in any other knock-out team.

5.14 The first round losers of all divisions shall play in a Plate Competition.

5.15 All score-cards shall be submitted to the relevant captain's WhatsApp group directly after the fixture has been completed.

6. TOURNAMENTS

6.1 No open tournaments results shall be taken for the purpose of grading without the sanction of the Executive Committee.

6.2 Seeding for all CT Closed tournaments shall be in accordance with the CTTT current official grading list.

6.3 Seeding for all CT Open & open tournaments shall be in accordance with the most recent and highest level official grading list available.

6.4 Clubs shall be held responsible for the non-payment of entry fees of their members.

6.5 Entries for tournaments shall be forwarded to the organising officials by no later than the closing date as stipulated on their entry form. Late entries may be accepted after the closing date at the discretion of the tournament organisers. However, if accepted, a "Late Entry Fee" will apply.

6.6 Where entries have been forwarded in advance, doubles partners shall not be changed post the start of the draw for entries unless in the circumstance of absence of one of the players, who may only be replaced by a player not originally drawn in the event.

6.7 For junior, veteran and super-veteran events, competitors may not be older or younger, respectively, than the ages laid down by the South African Table Tennis Board.

6.8 The Executive Committee may appoint a Management Committee for tournaments under the auspices of the CTTT; this committee of three (3) members which shall include the tournament organiser as convenor is to adjudicate in any dispute not involving the laws of table tennis, which might arise during the tournament. The decision of the Judicial Committee shall be final.

6.9 A referee and deputy referee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for the Cape Town Open Championships and any other tournament they may consider necessary, to rule in respect of the laws of table tennis and any ruling given by them shall be final.

6.10 Clubs shall submit their open tournament dates at the registration meeting. There shall not be more than one open club championship in any one week.

7. COLOURS AND UNIFORMS

7.1 Players shall play league matches in their Club Colours which shall be registered with CTTT.

7.2 Where a club has registered more than one colour, every member of the team is to be dressed in the same combination of the registered colours.

7.3 Players in individual competitions shall wear dress in accordance with the regulations laid down by the SATTB and the ITTF. Advertising on playing uniforms shall conform to the regulations laid down by the SATTB and the ITTF.

8. EQUIPMENT

8.1 Only balls approved by the ITTF shall be used in league matches and open championships.

9. PENALTIES AND FINES

9.1 Fines for the offences will be levied:

9.2 Should any affiliated Club or Association fail to pay its annual fee by the date stipulated on the account, or fail to submit a written application for financial relief before the date on which the account is due, or fail to make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee for payment of its fee by an amended due date, the Treasurer shall give such Club or Association ten (10) days' notice to pay, apply for relief or make arrangements for an amended due date. Should any affiliated Club or Association fail to respond to such notice it shall be automatically suspended until outstanding liabilities are satisfied. The Executive Committee shall have no further discretion in the matter and the Secretary shall advise the Club or Association in writing of its suspension and all other members of the position. No application for membership for any subsequent season by such Club or Association shall be considered until the outstanding fee has been paid in full.

9.3 Clubs, which fail to attend Meetings, shall be fined in accordance with the following schedule:

9.3.1 Annual General Meetings R300

9.3.2 Failure to attend the Annual General Meeting will incur In addition to the above, an extra 50% of the club and team registration fees payable before or at the Affiliation and Registration meeting (refer to 2.8.2).

9.3.3 Other General Meetings R200

9.4 Any player who does not play in his/her club colours in league and knockout fixtures shall be fined R50 for every occasion that he/she transgressors. The player's club will be invoiced and the club must recover the money from the player.