Pingpong Rules
Rules for MG 2026 Pingpong Tournament
MOPLAH GAMES 2026 - PING PONG TOURNAMENT RULES
TOURNAMENT SPECIFIC RULES
The following rules will be strictly followed so that tournament execution is conducted in a timely manner. We request your cooperation in this matter.
- A player is allowed to play in a single skill level category only. For eg: a player cannot play in kids and adults category.
- Both finalists from the 2025 tournament Men's Doubles Beginner and Intermediate categories will need to move one level up for the 2026 tournament.
- For Men's singles or doubles, a player has the option to move down one category if the player did not go past the league round during the 2025 tournament.
- If a player was a Beginner or Intermediate finalist in 2024 or prior years and did not play until this tournament, then the player should move up 1 category (Rule #2 above).
Skill Assessment:
- There will be a skill assessment team to monitor players and ensure players are playing in the right skill level category. This is only applicable for new players playing in Beginner and Intermediate singles/doubles. An opponent team can raise a complaint to the skill assessment team about a player that they believe is not playing in the right category. If the skill assessment team determines (through their process) that the player is in violation, then all matches played by the singles player or doubles team that includes the player will be invalidated and given as a walkover to the opponent team.
- If a player who played in 2025 and has moved down a category due to Rule #3 above, skill assessment will not be applicable for that player.
- Skill assessment can be called any time during league, Round of 16, QF and Semi Finals. No skill assessment is applicable for finals.
Player Grouping
- Players will be divided into groups. Each group will be assigned a table and all players part of that group should stay next to their table starting from the time of announcement for each category until all their league matches are completed. Your group number will have an associated table number in Playpass.
- Schedule for all matches on a table will be posted next to the table.
- Court Coordinators for each table will not move around searching for players.
- After a match, if the next set of players are not on court within 2 minutes of completion of the previous match, a walkover will be declared and the opponents will be declared winners. If both teams are not on court, then the match will be canceled.
- No gym bags, backpacks or food items are allowed in the table area. These should be kept at your region’s zone in the sitting area.
- Your kids are your responsibility. If any damage is done to property by your kids, parents will be liable to pay the fees to cover those damages. Moplah Games or Waterloo Broncos will not be liable for such charges.
- If a team/player receives a walkover, the team will be awarded a score of 11-0,11-0,11-0.
- For a win in straight sets, a score for the 3rd set will be awarded as 11-X, where X is the lowest score of the losing team.
ESCALATION CHART
If any player or team has a concern, the below escalation process should be followed. Any one other than the Team Captain or MG Rep SHOULD NOT approach the Tournament Control Room for questions or clarifications.
CODE OF CONDUCT
- All players and guests shall engage in respectful and professional communication at all times.
- The use of abusive language, derogatory remarks, name-calling, or any form of verbal harassment directed at any individual is strictly prohibited.
- All players and guests should follow volunteer instructions at all times.
- Do not argue with volunteers, court coordinators or umpires.
- Behavior of all players and guests coming from a region is the responsibility of the region’s captain and MG rep.
- Do not step on the court while a match is in progress. This will result in strict actions against the individual or team.
- Make sure to clean your region’s zone in the sitting area at the end of the tournament.
- Any one other than the Team Captain or MG Rep should not approach the scoring desk for questions or clarifications.
- Strict actions will be taken for any violations including point deduction and invalidating a win.
THE SERVICE
● Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.
● The server shall project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, ensuring it rises at least 16 cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and falls without touching anything before being struck. However, for the Beginner, Ladies, and Kids categories, this rule will be relaxed to foster a supportive and encouraging environment.
● As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her court and then directly touchesthe receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.
● From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind theserver's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry.
● The service starts with the ball resting in the server's hand. Once it has left the hand the serve is "active" and the ball is "in play". Therefore, from the moment the ball leaves your hand, points will be won or lost if either player messes up
A LET
● The rally shall be a let:
● If in service the ball touches the net assembly, provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball isobstructed by the receiver or his or her partner. No limit on the number of faults, the ball hits the net assembly.
● The service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his or her partner attempts to strike the ball
● If failure to make a service or a return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player
● If the play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire
A POINT
● Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point.
● If an opponent fails to make a correct service
● If an opponent fails to make a correct return
● The service starts with the ball resting in the server's hand. Once it has left the hand the serve is "active" and the ball is "in play". Therefore, from the moment the ball leaves your hand, points will be won or lost if either player messes up
● If, after he or she has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by an opponent
● If the ball passes over his or her court or beyond his or her end line without touching his or her court, after being struck by an opponent
● If the ball, after being struck by an opponent, passes through the net or between the net and the net post or between the net and playing surface
● If an opponent obstructs the ball
● If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the first server and first receiver
● The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.
● The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension, and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.” So the posts, clamps, and net are all collectively the net assembly.
● If the ball touches the side of the table at any time, it is "out". The upper surface of the table is known as the playing surface and it includes the 2cm white line along the sides and ends, plus the top edges, but not thevertical sides. Therefore, if the ball hits a white line or a top edge of the playing surface it is "in" (good). But if the ball hits a vertical side, it is "out" (not good). This can be judged by the direction ball coming from andgoing after hitting the edge/side. For us since we don’t have replays, If the umpire cannot make a decision, restart the point again.
A GAME
● A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players or pairs score 10 pointswhen the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. If the score it tied 12-12, then first player/team reaching 13 wins the game.
A MATCH
● A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.
THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS
● The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end.
● When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.
● After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
● In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in subsequentgames of the match, the first server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him or her in the preceding game.
● In doubles, at each change of service, the previous receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.
● The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match and in the lastpossible game of doubles match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.
● The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match andin the last possible game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5 points.
OUT OF ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS
● If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with those players serving and receiving who should be server and receiverrespectively at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning ofthe match and, in doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game during which the error is discovered.
● If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall be interrupted by the umpireas soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with the players at the ends at which they should be at thescore that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.
● In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be reckoned.
MOPLAH GAME SPECIFIC RULES
● League rounds, R16 and QF would be played – Best of 3, Semi-Finals and Finals would be – Best of 5 (time permitting). Exception for Mens Advanced Doubles - All games will be Best of 5.
● Any number of faults caused by a let (touching net assembly) is allowed.
● The maximum points on a given game are limited to 13. If the score reaches 12-12, the first player/team getting to 13 points wins the game.
● No obstruction or handling of the ball is allowed.
● All MG 2025 finalist players/Team will be automatically upgraded to the next level up the category for next year.
● Timeout: Each Player/team can have one timeout per match lasting 45 Seconds.
Qualifying to knockouts
