By Jasper Wong —

NYTTF/USATT 50 Year Ping Pong Diplomacy Anniversary Team Tournament - November 19th, 2022

Purpose

To promote and commemorate the 50 years anniversary of the Ping Pong Diplomacy, USATT enroute in a multi-city tour of tournaments and events. NYTTF is proud to be the host of the NYC stop of the tour.  The goal of the team tournament is to follow the spirit of the Pingpong Diplomacy to promote diversity, inclusion and equity locally in the NY community.  As we witnessed the recent rise in crime and racism, we want to shout out NO to HATRED and YES to FRIENDSHIP!

Awards

$800 for first place team, $500 for second place team, $300 for third place team.  In addition, one member of the winning team receives a FREE invitation at the 50 Anniversary Ping Pong Diplomacy Gala with Ambassador Huang Ting of China.

Costs and Fees

The entry fee for the league will be $200 per team.  Each team will have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 players.  

Tournament Details

General

1.    Tournament Director: Robert Chen.
2.    Tournament Referee: Edmund Suen.
3.    Venues: NYTTF located at 37-10 Queens Blvd, 2nd Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
4.    Equipment: All equipment must be ITTF or USATT approved. Table Tennis racquets, specifically, table tennis racquet coverings, must be International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) or USA Table Tennis Approved.   The league will modify these rules somewhat to allow flexibility, but it is recommended that all players play with “approved” racquets.   You will find the ITTF or USATT seal of approval on each rubber sheet, with either an ITTF stamp # with the ITTF logo or with a USATT approved logo.
5.    Competition Attire: Dark color shirts and shorts, sneakers.

Logistics

1.     Team Size: There will be a minimum of 3 players and up to 4 players per team.
2.     Round Robin Groups: Each group will consist of 3 to 4 teams.  All teams are CO-ED.
3.     Meets: Each team meet will play 4 singles and 1 double match.  The team that wins 3 out of the 5 matches wins the meet.  Each team picks 3 players to compete.  One will play 2 singles and the other 2 players play one single and one doubles each.
4.     Matches:  All matches will be 3 out of 5 games to 11 points.
5.     Game:  All games are best of 11 (deuce scoring when game is tied at 10).
6.     Playoffs:  Top team from each group will advance to Single Elimination.  The losing team will play at least one more round of conciliation matches against teams from another group.
7.     Roster and Match Score Sheets: Prior to each match, each team is required to fill out a roster sheet on the Pongspace App.
8.     Table Tennis Rules: The league is abiding to the USA Table Tennis Rules and Regulations
9.  Team Match Duration: Each team match is expected to take 2 hours on one table.
10.  Disputes: The umpire of the meet will have final power over the dispute.

COVID Restrictions:

We will be following the NYC COVID restriction this season.

Registration:
Teams can register online: https://forms.gle/L8ZMZCtSDcBSCH4c7

Payment can be sent via Paypal to info@pongspace.com

*(note '50 Year Ping Pong Diplomacy Anniversary' and team name in Paypal memo).  We will be invoicing you before the start of the season.  All payments must be made before the first team meet.

Entering Scores:
Both teams will submit player roster and record scores on https://competition.pongspace.com