1

Revised 01/04/24.

Intramural Table Tennis Rules & Regulaons

These Intramural Table Tennis rules are based on the general rules of table tennis with

modicaons to accommodate all skill levels in intramural compeon.

All rules listed here are in conjuncon with the Intramural Sports Parcipant Handbook. The

Intramural Sports Parcipant Handbook outlines addional rules and policies not found in this

rules supplement.

Players: An ocial team shall consist of one (1) player for singles play and two (2) players for

doubles league. No substuons are allowed for this sport. Any roster changes must take place

before the rst scheduled match.

Game Length: A match will consist of the best two (2) out of three (3) games OR 25-minute

period (with a 5-minute warm-up). When the me limit is called, every game currently

underway should be nished. If the outcome of that game results in a e, the e-break rule

below should be used to determine a winner.

Ocial Game: In the event where a match must be terminated immediately, the match will be

considered ocial if at least one game has been completed. The score will be taken as nal as it

stood on terminaon. If the match has not yet reached one game, it is considered a cancelled

Service: Service should be decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors. Winner serves; loser

decides which side of the net to play on.

The ball shall be placed on the palm of the free hand, which must start at a staonary posion

and above the level of the playing surface. Service shall commence by the server projecng the

ball by hand only, without imparng spin and nearly vercally upward. As the ball is descending,

2

Revised 01/04/24.

it shall be struck so it touches either side of the court. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO TOUCH THE

SERVERS COURT BEFORE TOUCHING THE RECEIVERS COURT. If, in aempng to serve, the

server misses the ball altogether it is a lost point.

At the end of each game, the players shall switch sides. In the deciding game, the players will

switch sides at 5 points.

a) It has touched one court twice consecuvely,

b) It has, except in service, touched each court alternately without having be struck by the

racket intermediately.

c) It has been struck by any player more than once consecuvely.

d) It has touched any player or anything that is worn or carried except the racket or racket

hand below the wrist.

e) On the volley it comes in contact with the racket or racket hand below the wrist.

f) It touches any object other than the net or supports.

Choice of the Order of Play: The choice of ends and the right to be server or receiver in every

The player who served rst in a game shall be the receiver rst in the subsequent game and so

on unl the end of the match.

Denion of a Let: A let is a serve that touches the net while the ball travels across the table.

When a let is declared, the point is re-played.

a) A let is declared if the receiver is not ready to return the service and makes no aempt

to strike at the ball.

3

Revised 01/04/24.

b) The rally is a let if the ball becomes split or otherwise fractured in play.

c) A point is scored by the opponents if:

a. A server fails to make a good service aer 1 aempt.

b. A player fails to make a good return when it is his/her turn to do so.

c. A player, his/her racket, or anything they wear or carries, touches the net or its

Tie-Breaker Rule: In the event of a e due to the me limit, one nal point will be played and

the winner of that point wins the set. The server will be whomever was in line to serve next.