A Basic Table Tennis Rule
The Expedite System
Is there a basic table tennis rule about the length of the game?
What is the Expedite rule? Find out here ...  How long can a game of table tennis last?
What happens if both players keep the ball in play? Can they continue playing forever? Do the rules of table tennis say anything about this? Well, yes, the rules of table tennis do cover this eventuality, and since the change to the 11up scoring system in 2001, there's now a time limit of 10 minutes per game. But before we go any further, let's take a quick look at the history of table tennis to see how we've arrived at this basic table tennis rule ...  In the beginning ...
Although the history of table tennis can be traced as far back as the late 1880s, the game we know today started in the 1920s when Englishman Ivor Montagu and other Europeans formed the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 1926. But it didn't take long before problems started to arise with the basic table tennis rules. Many players had adopted a defensive style of play and their games were taking longer and longer to reach a conclusion. In fact, this caused a major controversy at the 1936 World Championships when the first point in a match between Poland and Rumania lasted for over two hours! So it was quickly decided that there had to be a ...
Time limit on games ... Because games were becoming longer and longer, a basic table tennis rule was created to place a time limit of 20 minutes on games in World Championship events. At the same time, all countries affiliated to the ITTF were asked to pursue measures to discourage their own players from using the defensive tactic of "pushing". So for the start of the 1936/37 table tennis season, we saw the introduction of the ...
Expedite rule The basic table tennis rule at the time (1935) was Law 5 which stated that the player who first scored 21 points was the winner, unless both players had reached 20 points, when a two point lead was required. But for World Championship events, a new rule was added to the laws of the game, over-riding and additional to, Law 5. It said ... Provided that, where a game be unfinished 20 minutes after its commencement, the Umpire shall award the game to the player (or pair) leading, unless the two players (or pairs) shall be at equality, when he shall announce without interrupting play: "Five minutes more - the next point wins" and award the game to the player (or pair) scoring the next point. If no further point shall have been scored, and the score thus remains at equality, after the further five minutes period thus permitted, the Umpire shall terminate the game, awarding it to neither player (or pair). In the case of a game being terminated by the time limit as above, where this is not a deciding game, the match shall continue with the next game.
Also, if a match did not have a clear winner, both players would be disqualified from that event. And, if the event was a team event, each player would also be liable to additional penalties as determined by a disciplinary committee. So, clearly this was a serious issue! However, it was to be another 25 years before further changes were made to the basic table tennis rules. As the situation hadn't improved sufficiently during that time, the 20 minute rule was reduced to 15 minutes and a further restriction was also introduced ...
Expedite rule (version 2) With effect from the start of the 1961/62 table tennis season the following wording was added to Law 5 ... If a game be unfinished 15 minutes after its commencement, the Umpire shall cause the game to be interrupted by declaration of a "let" and the players shall be notified before the next service that the game in progress will proceed under the following rule: The player shall be permitted to hit the ball 12 times excluding the service stroke, and if all such strokes are safely returned by the opponent, one point shall be scored by the opponent. The server for the point interrupted shall serve for the first point after the interruption, and thereafter the service shall alternate after each point whilst this rule is in force. Where, in a match, this rule has been applied in one game, it shall be applied 10 minutes after commencement in each of the subsequent games of the match.
So the new rule was that games would last a maximum of 15 minutes before the expedite rule came into operation. After 15 minutes, the game would be interrupted. It would then restart with the onus effectively placed onto the server to play offensively. This was because the new rule stated that if the receiver made 13 good returns, he would win the point. And, in order to reduce the time taken to play subsequent games, a maximum of only 10 minutes was allowed before the expedite rule was enforced in those games too. But in 1965 this basic table tennis rule was subtly refined ...
Expedite rule (version 3) The 1965 revision applied only to games which were played after the expedite rule had already been enforced in an earlier game. The relevant wording was ... Where, in a match, this rule has been applied in one game it shall be applied 10 minutes after immediately at the commencement in each of the subsequent games of the match.
This meant that once the expedite rule had been used in one game, all subsequent games in a match would use the expedite rule from 0-0. So each player would have one serve each, and if the receiver made 13 good returns, he would win the point. Subsequently, a number of countries suggested that, if both players agreed, the expedite rule should come into force at the start of a match, rather than wait 15 minutes for the inevitable to occur between two defensive style players. However, amending this basic table tennis rule did not receive the approval of the ITTF at that time. The most recent change occurred in 2001 ...
The expedite rule today The expedite rule was amended again when the scoring system changed from 21up to 11up in 2001. Because games would now be shorter, the time limit was reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. So now the basic table tennis rule for how long a game can last is as follows ...
| 2.15 | THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM | | 2.15.01 | Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 9 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes' play or at any earlier time at the request of both players or pairs. | | | | | 2.15.01.01 | If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was interrupted. | | | | | 2.15.01.02 | If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with service by the player who received in the immediately preceding rally. | | | | | 2.15.02 | Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn until the end of the game and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 returns the receiver shall score a point. | | | | | 2.15.03 | Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of the match. |
Want to know more about the rules? ... Take a look at my other pages which explain the rules in more detail.
The basic table tennis rules If you're just starting to play and you need to know the basic table tennis rules, you can find them here ...
The official laws of table tennis The official rules of table tennis are known as The Official Laws of Table Tennis ... so if you need to check the official wording, you can read them here ...
Table tennis terminology Do you know your table tennis terminology or are you confused by your chops, pimples and twiddles? Here's my table tennis glossary ...
Table tennis table dimensions What size is a table tennis table? Do you know what the official rules of table tennis say about the size dimensions of a table tennis table?
Table tennis room size What table tennis room size do you need? It's probably more than you think! Find out here ...
When is the ball in or out? What do the table tennis rules say about the ball hitting the white lines, net or edges of the table? Is the ball in or out? Find out here ...
What is a good return? What do the rules say about what constitutes a good return? Can you use your hand to play a shot? What happens if you touch or move the table? Find out here ...
What do the rules say about your racket? Do you know what the rules say about the size of your racket? Which colours are allowed? When can you change your racket? Is your opponent allowed to examine your racket? Find out here ...
What do the rules say about the serve? The table tennis service is one of the most controversial aspects of the game. Make sure you know the service rules. Read them here ...
What do the rules say about playing doubles? Whether you're playing singles or doubles, the rules of table tennis are essentially the same. However, for doubles play there are a few subtle variations to the rules of table tennis. Read them here ...
What do the rules say about volleying the ball? Do the table tennis rules allow you to volley the ball?
Yes and No ... Let me explain ...
Are players allowed to take breaks during matches? What time limits are specified in the official table tennis rules?
What happens if a player is time-wasting? Find out here ...
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