Cape Town Table Tennis — League, Matches & Substitutions (2026)

## 3. League Competitions and Fixtures

**3.1** Each division shall consist of a **maximum of ten (10) teams** playing each other on a 'home and away' basis. Each team shall consist of a maximum of six (6) players per team.

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

**3.3** Promotion/relegation between divisions:

- The **two top teams** in each division will be Promoted.
- The **two bottom teams** will be Relegated for the following new Season.

**3.4** Tiebreaker (equal top/bottom position): 1) Matches won and lost; 2) Games won and lost. If still tied, a 7-match play-off fixture shall decide, using the regular team members — played to a result.

**3.5–3.6** Vacancies in a division may be filled by clubs applying in writing. The M&R Secretary & committee may fill vacancies at their discretion based on known player strength and prior year positions.

**3.7** Acceptance into the Premier division requires clubs to enter and maintain at least one additional team in any other division. Non-compliance results in Premier status review.

**3.8** Should a team fail to fulfil **three (3) consecutive fixtures**, the M&R Secretary shall have authority to withdraw the team and adjust points for all teams in that division.

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## 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.

**4.2–4.4** Teams with foreseen impediments may bring a match forward with opponent agreement — the M&R must be notified before the fixture is played. Venue swap is permitted but 'home/away' notation on the score-card must be retained as per the fixture table.

### Postponement of Fixtures

**4.5** No postponements will be condoned without permission from the M&R Secretary. If condoned, the fixture must be played by the M&R's stipulated date.

**4.6** The League starts the **first week in April** each year. Fixture change requests must be submitted **in writing no less than seven days** in advance.

**4.7–4.9** Scheduled load-shedding: swap venue or use alternative venue. Unscheduled load-shedding: alert M&R immediately; agreed resumption date must not exceed **two weeks** from scheduled date. Scoresheets must be retained; team players remain the same.

**4.10–4.12** Postponements allowed when a team has **two (2) Athletes on National Duty** — must be played within one week of athletes' return. If national callup notice is ≥ 3 weeks before departure, the match must be re-scheduled to an earlier date.

### Match Format

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

**4.14** Before play, opposing captains exchange the order of play for singles. Doubles combinations may be declared just prior to the doubles match without reference to the opposing team's order.

**4.15** Match order:

```
H1 vs V1 · H2 vs V2 · H3 vs V3 · Doubles · H1 vs V2 · H3 vs V1 · H2 vs V3
```

Seven (7) matches total — six (6) singles and one (1) doubles. All matches best of **five (5) games**. Winner is team with majority of matches.

**4.16** Fully completed scorecard must be submitted via social media to the M&R Secretary's captains' group directly after the fixture. **Failure to submit: both clubs fined R150 each.** Deadline: **4pm on Sunday** of the match week.

### League Points

| Result | Fixture Points | Individual Points |
|---|---|---|
| Win | 3 | 3 |
| Loss | 1 | 1 |
| Walkover | 0 | 0 |

### Timing Rules

**4.17** Scheduled start: **19h30**. Away team warm-ups must be completed before 19h30.

**4.18** If a team is delayed and has advised the opposing captain timeously with a valid reason, the start may be agreed to delay — **but not later than 20h30**.

**4.19–4.21** Late arrival without notice: **one (1) match forfeited per completed 15-minute period** from scheduled time; fixture forfeit at 20h30. Fines: R50 per forfeited match, R200 if entire fixture forfeited or no players arrive by 20h30.

**4.22** Partial team arrival: present players start at scheduled time in score-card order. Any match not played by a late player is forfeited to the opposing player — **R50 fine per match** on the defaulting team.

**4.23** Entire team absent: non-defaulting captain completes a walkover card. **R200 fine** on the defaulting team. Two (2) fixture points to non-defaulting team; zero points to defaulting team.

**4.24** Two-player team: forfeits third player's singles matches and the doubles — **R150 fine**. Cannot use either player as H3/V3. A 2-player team CAN win if they win all 4 of their singles matches.

**4.25** The M&R Secretary may award a walkover if both captains agree the defaulting team cannot fulfil. The non-defaulting team need not be at the venue until 20h30 to claim the walkover.

### Substitutions

**4.26** NO Substitutions during match week 1 / 16 / 17 / 18.

**4.27** NO New registrations during match week 16 / 17 / 18.

**4.28** Players may substitute into a higher division up to **five (5) times** — on the sixth match they are tied to that division.

**4.29** Teams may use up to **five (5) substitutions** per season — no more after reaching five.

**4.30** New players may register throughout the season except during week 16 / 17 / 18.

> **NB.** No fines for a two-man team during week 16 / 17 / 18.

**4.31** Where a club has more than one team in a division, a lower-division substitute who subs up is cup-tied to that team and cannot sub for any other team in the same division.

**4.32** A player's first match of the season must be in their registered team.

**4.33** Unregistered/ineligible player: forfeits all points to opposing player/s — **R200 fine** on the defaulting team.

**4.34** A player may play in two Fixtures in a League Week if one is unscheduled or a higher-division sub (not on the same night). Subs must return to their registered team the following league week.

**4.35** Clubs with more than one team in a division may NOT rotate players between those teams.

**4.36** Substitutes must come from a lower division only.