Advise Needed

[IrishCanary]

Can anyone please help? I have played in the Norwich League for 25 years and in the Yarmouth League for nearly 15. Whilst playing in those leages I have not only met my wife, but made some very good friends. Whilst I play a fair standard it has always been a social event for me. My problem is this. The Yarmouth League has become an unaffilated league and the Norwich League have stated they will ban me if I play in Yarmouth again. Because I work in the media my problem is going to be made public. Whilst this will show how dictatorial the ETTA are (I thought closed shops were banned), I don't think it will solve my problem. Has anyone else got a solution?

UPDATE
Having not found a workable solution to my problem, last night myself and my wife (who i met playing tt) decided instead of being annoyed at the ETTA and the Norwich League, its time at the age of 41 to call it a day. Despite pointing out that players like me who have encouraged and coached nephews etc to county championships (my brother my have to take some credit) are the lifeline to local leagues i might aswell bang my head on a brick wall. As i often say its there train set. So rather than my team move leagues i shall rather frustratingly bring my 26 year tt career to an end in may. Very sad, but at least having made the decision i can stop talking about it at matches and enjoy my final 11 matches. Look out for me on the Golf course, Now theres somewhere i really need help

[DaveR]

Just a curiosity question first and foremost, why has Yarmouth become unaffiliated?

The question is asked only so we / i can move towards a solution..........

Keep in touch as i can see the situation is pretty much un acceptable as it is.

Dave

[JKC]

I suspect it is down to finances. League TT would be so much cheaper if we didn't have to pay to send the next batch of failures over to China to train and all over the world to lose tournaments. Some of us who play in many leagues pay the ETTA more than their fair share.

I don't think that reducing fees will get more people into the game though but it might allow some players to afford to play in more leagues.

[IrishCanary]

The Yarmouth league wanted to play up to 21 still

[DaveR]

The 21 up is still something that seems to crop up every now and then and its probably the most rediculous reason to be un affiliated.........cost i can understand as sometimes the cost does spiral when team numbers are low.

There are a few "breakaway" leagues in the country that i know of but none of them can be affiliated as we all know rules are rules and everyone has to abide, whilst i agree there are many political and contraversial reasons to want to breakaway none of them in my humble opinion give any any help and positive support and promotion to younger aspiring players who simply cant play in there own league........that surely is a selfish attitude to have and means ultimately the Yarmouth league will fold when the current players are either not there are not interested anymore.

Development of players and the sport is surely a little higher on the list than the number of points you want to play to, having said all of the above i do agree there are many older players who have had to bite the bullet abd move to the 11 up when they maybe did not want to.............

[IrishCanary]

The 21 up is still something that seems to crop up every now and then and its probably the most rediculous reason to be un affiliated.........cost i can understand as sometimes the cost does spiral when team numbers are low.

There are a few "breakaway" leagues in the country that i know of but none of them can be affiliated as we all know rules are rules and everyone has to abide, whilst i agree there are many political and contraversial reasons to want to breakaway none of them in my humble opinion give any any help and positive support and promotion to younger aspiring players who simply cant play in there own league........that surely is a selfish attitude to have and means ultimately the Yarmouth league will fold when the current players are either not there are not interested anymore.

Development of players and the sport is surely a little higher on the list than the number of points you want to play to, having said all of the above i do agree there are many older players who have had to bite the bullet abd move to the 11 up when they maybe did not want to.............
Dave Surprisingly the Yarmouth league is going from strength to strength and the Norwich league is droping teams. My team who are about to gain promotion to the top flight of the Norwich League plan to pull out at the end of the season and form a new team in Yarmouth. We hope that when the ETTA realise how many teams and players they are losing they will stop enforcing such petty rules and allow players to play in unaffilated leagues like the lawn tennis association does

[SammyBoy]

Can anyone please help? I have played in the Norwich League for 25 years and in the Yarmouth League for nearly 15. Whilst playing in those leages I have not only met my wife, but made some very good friends. Whilst I play a fair standard it has always been a social event for me. My problem is this. The Yarmouth League has become an unaffilated league and the Norwich League have stated they will ban me if I play in Yarmouth again. Because I work in the media my problem is going to be made public. Whilst this will show how dictatorial the ETTA are (I thought closed shops were banned), I don't think it will solve my problem. Has anyone else got a solution?

UPDATE
Having not found a workable solution to my problem, last night myself and my wife (who i met playing tt) decided instead of being annoyed at the ETTA and the Norwich League, its time at the age of 41 to call it a day. Despite pointing out that players like me who have encouraged and coached nephews etc to county championships (my brother my have to take some credit) are the lifeline to local leagues i might aswell bang my head on a brick wall. As i often say its there train set. So rather than my team move leagues i shall rather frustratingly bring my 26 year tt career to an end in may. Very sad, but at least having made the decision i can stop talking about it at matches and enjoy my final 11 matches. Look out for me on the Golf course, Now theres somewhere i really need help

Having read the post by the Canary i was interested to read this article in certain newsletter, the question would be does anyone agree with the comments in the item concerened?


UNAFFILIATED LEAGUES
Looking on the Internet, there are unaffiliated leagues in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Both leagues have excellent websites, both leagues seem to be maintaining their membership and enthusiasm.

As an unaffiliated league, their players cannot play in an affiliated league nor can players from local affiliated leagues play in their leagues. However Great Yarmouth can boost of a player winning honours at an International Veterans Tournament and a youngster winning “Performance of the Day” at the Regional Youth Finals.

They are to be congratulated. Or are they? TTNews congratulated the lady Edna Fletcher upon her success in winning the European Championships Over 80’s in Rotterdam but did not mention that she played in an unaffiliated league!

So what’s their problem? They still play up to twenty-one points. How rebellious and deceitful is that? On the one hand, the ETTA say they cannot affiliate as they are not playing table tennis, that can ONLY be to eleven points. On the other hand, they say that they are playing competitive table tennis.

So the decision upon whether playing up to twenty-one points is table tennis or not is dependant upon which committee Alex Murdoch is sitting! In the ETTA it’s not allowed; but in VETTS it is allowed.

Before anyone else says it, YES we know an ETTA AGM voted that we had to comply with the ITTF Laws that say table tennis must be played up to 11 points.

I am grateful to someone on the English Table Tennis Forum website (www.englishtabletennis.co.uk (http://www.englishtabletennis.co.uk/)) who pointed out that the Laws of Cricket do not specify the number of overs to be bowled in a match.

The cricket leagues decide the number of overs (or days) over which the competitions will be decided. My local cricket league has 100 over matches in the Premier Division, 92 overs in the other divisions whereas there are half-a-dozen Cup Competitions with varying numbers of overs.

So why not let local leagues have the choice? My guess is that most would plump for eleven points, but maybe we could attract some unaffiliated leagues!

[IrishCanary]

Sammyboy
Having spent months trying to win this arguement, i have realised the only way the ETTA will change there mind on this rule is when they have very few members to order about. Hence i am walking away from the sport. Hopefully others will follow.

[Kev]

Personally I think that the Yarmouth league is being pathetic. Good riddance to them as far as I'm concerned.

Of course the ETTA can't allow them to play to 21. The rules of the game (made by the ITTF not the ETTA) state that it has to be played to 11 and the ETTA has to abide by the ITTF laws. Its not a case of the ETTA not allowing them to play to that, they have no say in the decision and rightly so.

Everyone should be pulling together for the long term good of the sport. By disaffiliating the Yarmouth league have proved that they would rather spit their dummy out and take their ball home that do anything like that. Well if that is the sort of people who play tt in Yarmouth who needs them?

[IrishCanary]

Thanks Kev,
I will miss narrow minded people like you

[DaveR]

Lets keep things in perspective guys...................there are various breakaway leagues and if the sport is to continue there must be a common ground to sit on?

The question i always ask is why would or do a group, league or league want to "break away" ...........

[Kev]

Thanks Kev,
I will miss narrow minded people like you


I'm narrow minded?!! Oh the irony!

Come on Dave, where's the fun in sitting on the fence?!

[IrishCanary]

Kev
I think Dave is right, this site is a forum for sport, so when you put Good Riddence to me as well as the people of the yarmouth league, it makes it personal. No need.

[Jose]

Watching the Badminton Championships last week - felt rather nostalgic because they now score to 21 up. You must admit that sometimes the tt games are rather short and best of 7 for international events is a bit much. Best of 3 or at most 5 good long games are far more enjoyable to watch, I feel anyhow. You don't generally see the player behind working to catch up anymore. Perhaps it's a good idea that some leagues are still playing to 21 so that the sport does not completely lose its basic rules. I could go on and on ...

[DaveR]

Its very difficult to say a yes or a no to which scoring system i like or dislike, as the relevant factor is that the system that has been adopted is the one we use.......11 up for now, now is it ok for other breakaway leagues to use the 21 system and remain unaffiliated..............obviously yes but the polotics behind this will roll and roll as we all have opinions and yes should all voice them as this is exactly what debate and discussion is all about ...................now have i sat on the fence .......not me and as many know me i rarely sit on the fence and usually crticised for saying how i feel.

My views are simple on this the sport needs to move on but the only way we can move on is to sing from the same book and unfortuntely some may have to change. The bottom line is most people dont dislike the rules but mainly dislike change being imposed upon them.

Ill say it again move the debate to the reasons and not the personal, things are achieved by co-operation and team work.

[Kev]

In a sport with hundreds of millions of people worldwide everyone isn't going to get their own way though. Its just not possible. I'm not hugely keen on 11 up myself but I realise that there was a fair process to get it in and now its here its the rules of the game.

Why is it some sort of terrible personal insult to be happy to be rid of people who are holding the sport back?! We all know them, the whingers who say that everything was better before and everything is getting worse all of the time. In table tennis we just have more than our fair share, that's all! I guess that probably has something to do with the average age of the people playing table tennis.

[DaveR]

I have always believed in if the sport (any sport) adopts a new ruling then we will follow, this has to be the way forward as if we dont the sport will be held back.....even though some may dislike the rule or changes adopted.

Everything being better than it is now

and

we seem to have more than our fair share of whingers

Believe me Table Tennis has about the same as any other sport , im slightly older (only slightly!) and played a lot of sports and yes seen a lot of what you have metioned although i'm careful how i use the paint brush, given all older and average age players maybe somewat different to the shining example you have given.

On a new note why is the average age higher than ever before...........i think the reasons maybe slightly more complex than you have stated, with more distractions and less commitment to one particular sport where if they dont become instantly successful the person tends to try something else and as we all know to be good or even average at any given sport takes work and lots of it. The influx and retention of new players leading to lower average ages is very complex with many many reasons influencing the outcome.

[IrishCanary]

Kev
I am not giving up the sport because i am unhappy to play 11 up. I am given it up because the ETTA wont let me play in an unaffiliated league. Having played at all stages over my 26 years, i have never been a whinger. I do not like been told what i can or can not do in my spare time. Thats the wifes job. Whilst you say good riddence to me, how many more players do you say it to before you have no local leagues left. Correct me if i am wrong, but are numbers still dropping in local leagues in the country.

[Kev]

You're absolutely right IrishCanary the numbers are still dropping in local leagues and this is still very bad for the sport. Also, in spite of my rather harsh first post I can see your point and I can see why you are upset, but nice concilliatory posts tend not to see many responces or very heated debates! I would still argue that I can see why the ETTA cannot allow people to play in these unaffiliated leagues which have chosen not to follow the laws of the game (as they currently are).

I am surprised you can't see the ETTA's point of view and why they can't allow you to play in a league which doesn'y follow the laws of the game as they are now to be honest.

Having said all of that I do think that really local leagues are the past for the sport and that the Premier Clubs, in which participation is increasing, are the furute. I also think that the strength in depth of junior players is far better than it was when I was a junior. So its not all bad!

[MK Chris]

Personally (and my view may be slightly different, as I only played up to 21 for a couple of seasons), I think up to 21 had unimportant points and up to 11 eradicates that; you can't string people along any more, in the knowledge they won't catch up because every point is important.

[IrishCanary]

Kev,
I was not a fan of maggie thatcher, but nearly 30 years ago she got rid of the closed shop. Whilst i am happy to be banned from championships/county games etc. I can not see why the ETTA would not allow me to play in an unaffiliated league as well as club tt in an affiliated league. I consider the ETTA are operating a closed shop. Surely if i was playing in both i could influence the unaffiliated league to return to the fold.
As for numbers falling i was the youngest of three brothers playing the game when i started. I helped coach two nephews to county standard and met my wife playing club tt. None of these now play. And now i have given up they are unlikely to want to return.

[DaveR]

You're absolutely right IrishCanary the numbers are still dropping in local leagues and this is still very bad for the sport. Also, in spite of my rather harsh first post I can see your point and I can see why you are upset, but nice concilliatory posts tend not to see many responces or very heated debates! I would still argue that I can see why the ETTA cannot allow people to play in these unaffiliated leagues which have chosen not to follow the laws of the game (as they currently are).

I am surprised you can't see the ETTA's point of view and why they can't allow you to play in a league which doesn'y follow the laws of the game as they are now to be honest.

Having said all of that I do think that really local leagues are the past for the sport and that the Premier Clubs, in which participation is increasing, are the furute. I also think that the strength in depth of junior players is far better than it was when I was a junior. So its not all bad!

Thats why we love the debates...........good strong points argued with good strong responses...........

I actually think the whole process of scoring system to any new rule changes will always cause some sort of upset, im one of the wingers !

Seriously though i can see the points raised here but willl always follow the ETTA as its the only way i can move with the sport legally or at least within the circuit. The ETTA has its critics and rightly so in some areas as money seems to be wasted on certain things that are irrelevant and not ploughed into those which are needed but thats another debate.

Leave that one to Kev he can rattle a few cages !:taz:

[Kev]

Kev,
I was not a fan of maggie thatcher, but nearly 30 years ago she got rid of the closed shop. Whilst i am happy to be banned from championships/county games etc. I can not see why the ETTA would not allow me to play in an unaffiliated league as well as club tt in an affiliated league. I consider the ETTA are operating a closed shop. Surely if i was playing in both i could influence the unaffiliated league to return to the fold.
As for numbers falling i was the youngest of three brothers playing the game when i started. I helped coach two nephews to county standard and met my wife playing club tt. None of these now play. And now i have given up they are unlikely to want to return.


If they allowed you to play in it they would be in some sense legitimising its existance and they can't afford to do that as other leagues may follow suit if they seemed to be a soft touch.

[MickM]

It will always be difficult if not impossible to keep all the players happy, maybe more so in pockets where some are content with their own age and happy with 21, which i suppose is'nt a problem providing they enjoy it and do not compete in any other areas or leagues.

[JacksonM]

The rules of table tennis now state that you play to 11. Its ridiculous that a league still wants to play to 21 in the first place. What would be interesting would be to establish the average age of players in that league. My guess is it won't be far off 60!!!! What a great advert to Table Tennis a sport that struggles to attract interest in UK!!!! What do you tell the kids? Oh we play to 21 but the rest of the country plays to 11?
I could understand it in the first or maybe even second season but now is surely time to move on.

[Leeston]

Hi Peeps !
A very interesting debate. Post the transition to the new scoring method, I feel that the game has somewhat deviated too much away from a "game of chess" to more of a "game of chance". A couple of lucky shots, an edge and two lost points are you are well behind. Perhaps 11 was too much ? Would 15 have been a better half way house ?............just a thought. Change is going to happen - but its amazing to see how the racket and rubbers are not targeted with the same focus. How many other sports are out there that can enable a player to use 200+ rubbers, with different sponges, with different combination, with 200+ blade types. Perhaps a simplistic view, but hey, adds to the debate.

[DaveR]

i agree leeston and why are the blades, rubbers and other enhancing equipment not targetted ..........retorical i here you say dollars !

The final line is the game is tinkered with far to many times and things will inevitablly move on but we need to move with it, sometimes unfortuntely in a direction we not feel is correct at the time but change is change and the game of chance is getting even more chancier !

[Kev]

Dave; have you suddenly become American?! What are these dollars you speak of?

Leeston; is the variability in the equipment and playing styles not something that makes our sport unique? Would it not be far duller without them?

[DaveR]

Dave; have you suddenly become American?! What are these dollars you speak of?

Leeston; is the variability in the equipment and playing styles not something that makes our sport unique? Would it not be far duller without them?

Semantics !

Currency is always the same and makes the world go around so the type is irrelevant.

The sport is unique and i actually agree the variation of rubbers does make it even more interesting to PLAY against, this maybe different from a viewing perspective with many strange and wierd things happening to the ball which to the untrained eye seems rediculous and not worth watching.

Moving into Leestons comments on rubbers etc, i am in favour of all variation as probably most players are so why do we ban glue is this not some variation also ? Please do not come back with the health reason as this is proven now to be irrelevant with the ITTF now saying they wish ALL glues to be outlawed, this now cannot be dressed up in health issues given the new glues are water based with no VC's so the bottom line is this. The ITTF want or will stop any glueing at all other than to stick the rubber to the blade initially as from whenever they happen to post the rule, this is deviating radically from their initial stance which was for health and safety issues surrounding a certain player/s. So rubbers can be tinkered, tampered and tailored for any reason in the world (within guidelines) but no glue ? why? because they dont want it anymore not for any other reason.

The variaton in the game is great but lets keep the goalposts in the same place, then we all know whats going on.

[Kev]

You're right Dave they've obviously decided they're sick of glue and tried to ban it in an underhand way by using the health and safety smokescreen. When the manufacturers managed to still find a way of making glues which complied with the new rules we suddenly found out their real reason for imposing the ban. The whole thing smells, and not of glue!

Still, look on the bright side. At least not having to buy glue every few months might save me some money! Unless I have to buy rubbers more frequently to make up for it...

[Moggy]

.......where some are content with their own age and happy with 21, which i suppose is'nt a problem providing they enjoy it and do not compete in any other areas or leagues.

Jump back up the thread a bit, and taking MickM to task (Sorry Mick:covereyes:) why should it be a problem to play in leagues with different scoring regimes? - apart from because the ETTA 'says so'. I've compared TT to footy in another thread and I'll do the same here.

Footballers can play five a side in one league and then the same day / week play 11 a side with no issues. You just play according to the rules at the time.

[Moggy]

The rules of table tennis now state that you play to 11. Its ridiculous that a league still wants to play to 21 in the first place. What would be interesting would be to establish the average age of players in that league. My guess is it won't be far off 60!!!! What a great advert to Table Tennis a sport that struggles to attract interest in UK!!!! What do you tell the kids? Oh we play to 21 but the rest of the country plays to 11?
I could understand it in the first or maybe even second season but now is surely time to move on.

Back tracking again (sorry)....

Whist I'm not against 11pts (I actually voted for it when our league debated it), my thoughts are as follows:


I could understand it in the first or maybe even second season but now is surely time to move on.

Yes, we are several years down the line, and we are now in a better position to evaluate the pros and cons of 11/21pts. At the time 11pts was sold to us as a must to give our youngsters a chance of competing Internationally / Nationally. A very strong argument, but one I believe to be wrong.

The majority of players today have started out with 21pts, and moved to 11pt without any problems - did we see players unable to cope? Players are quite capable of playing both systems - and should be allowed to depending on what their local league decides.
What percentage of players in each league play in county standard matches (or above) - I expect its quite small - and the ETTA forces the majority to a restricted scoring system.

The fact this is still debated indicates all is not right - was there similar debate 20 years ago about playing 21pts?

I believe both systems have a place, with 21pts available at grass root league level. Games were more enjoyable then.............(showing my age :tomato:)

[Roger]

The Yarmouth league obviously don't have the future of the game at heart. Yes, the law says 11 up. However, they could do the following as the Bury league does (Greater Manchester).

League matches are played in 11 up and cup matches in 21. That's allowed because it's handicapped.

[Powerhouse]

The Yarmouth league obviously don't have the future of the game at heart. Yes, the law says 11 up. However, they could do the following as the Bury league does (Greater Manchester).

League matches are played in 11 up and cup matches in 21. That's allowed because it's handicapped.

With Roger on this one, Yarmouth must conform if the future of Table Tennis is to be sustained within and externally of Their own league. There are many rules or conditions we all dislike, such as the 11up rule but the arguments and debates are just that with playing and promoting the sport being more important than that.

We all as players would do well to remember that if we don't embrace the sport then it will as many other sports do become invisible and dissapear to the dungeons and tea rooms one again.

[DaveR]

You're right Dave they've obviously decided they're sick of glue and tried to ban it in an underhand way by using the health and safety smokescreen. When the manufacturers managed to still find a way of making glues which complied with the new rules we suddenly found out their real reason for imposing the ban. The whole thing smells, and not of glue!

Still, look on the bright side. At least not having to buy glue every few months might save me some money! Unless I have to buy rubbers more frequently to make up for it...


It seems any "Tuners" will be outlawed from September, from the information that seems to be around at the moment. I have mailed the ITTF and await some sort of reply but we can more or less assume that any glue/ tuners will not be allowed for no reason other than the ITTF wish it to be this way. Other inovative issues from them will no doubt follow and wishy washy data to support this tboot.

[Loopy]

The ITTF will from September ban all tuners and anything to accelerate the rubbers performance other than the normal initial adhesive application to apply the rubber the racket. Pretty clear and consise but did the manufacturer's know of this, and if so are they talking it lying down given they have made a fortune already?

The question is open but the answer is a foregone conclusion.

[Roger]

Its a shame to give up just because of 11up and whatever...

[DaveR]

Agreed its a shame to give up when the sport is something you love ?

Not something i would do .

[Moggy]

The ITTF will from September ban all tuners and anything to accelerate the rubbers performance other than the normal initial adhesive application to apply the rubber the racket. Pretty clear and consise but did the manufacturer's know of this, and if so are they talking it lying down given they have made a fortune already?

The question is open but the answer is a foregone conclusion.

Does this apply to pre-tuned rubbers?

If not, you still could have players buying new ones every 3 months (I think the effect only lasts that long) which works out £10 per month. Still cheap compared to other sports.

What about rubber cleaners, ie. spinmax or even soap and water :shok:.

[Kev]

Jump back up the thread a bit, and taking MickM to task (Sorry Mick:covereyes:) why should it be a problem to play in leagues with different scoring regimes?

United we stand, divided we fall.

It seems any "Tuners" will be outlawed from September, from the information that seems to be around at the moment. I have mailed the ITTF and await some sort of reply but we can more or less assume that any glue/ tuners will not be allowed for no reason other than the ITTF wish it to be this way. Other inovative issues from them will no doubt follow and wishy washy data to support this tboot.

Did the ETTA get to vote on this? Surely the way the ITTF works they had to have a vote. If so, what did they do on our behalf?

[Moggy]

United we stand, divided we fall.

It is the 11pt ruling causing the division.... players playing in 11pt leagues are not banned from 21pt leagues.

I can understand the original reason and the need to make leagues adopt 11pts, but is it now such a problem to allow TT to be played in all its forms? - and let us support all the numerous formats, i.e. 11pt, 21pt, hardbat etc? As all we are trying to do is play Table Tennis.

[Kev]

I can understand the original reason and the need to make leagues adopt 11pts, but is it now such a problem to allow TT to be played in all its forms? - and let us support all the numerous formats, i.e. 11pt, 21pt, hardbat etc? As all we are trying to do is play Table Tennis.


Table tennis only has one form. The game is played to 11 points. People who play to anything else are no longer playing table tennis.

Hard bats are fine in the rules.

I honestly don't see how its possible to hate the game so much to 11 and love it to 21. I probably prefer 21 but it just seems so petty now to even be talking about this. People need to grow up.

[IrishCanary]

Its a shame to give up just because of 11up and whatever...
I am not giving up because i dont want to play 11 up, i am giving up because i wont have the ETTA/Norwich league tell me what i can and cant do in my time off. thgats my wife's job

[IrishCanary]

It is the 11pt ruling causing the division.... players playing in 11pt leagues are not banned from 21pt leagues.

I can understand the original reason and the need to make leagues adopt 11pts, but is it now such a problem to allow TT to be played in all its forms? - and let us support all the numerous formats, i.e. 11pt, 21pt, hardbat etc? As all we are trying to do is play Table Tennis.
That is all i ever wanted to do, However having spent the last 20 years or so supporting my local league, i will walk away in two weeks time a bitter man, and certainly not have a positive word to say about the ETTA/Norwich League.
As i said to Dave R its there train set, and you will never change there views, i have tried

[SammyBoy]

We need to sometimes make sacrafices, but i do feel you have a valid point. The only thing would be to really make your point felt to the ETTA which as i see you have done so, there onwards i feel you must push on and enjoy the sport you love if indeed you do.

[Roger]

We need to sometimes make sacrafices, but i do feel you have a valid point. The only thing would be to really make your point felt to the ETTA which as i see you have done so, there onwards i feel you must push on and enjoy the sport you love if indeed you do.

Dont give up. there are rules everywhere in this world. some we like and some we dont. i think that sometimes we are overruled in a lot on instances,,, Our government does that well... That does not mean we don't carry on with our life... Carry on with table tennis...

May be the etta does go too far... I don't know... However, I believe they do try their best to take tablle tennis further... lets support them...

[Loopy]

Roger is quite right here, never give in and support the sport in any capicity you possibly can. The ETTA do things like us all at times, a little not quite perfect but the body needs supporting regardless of their shortfalls, be positive with the emphasis on putting your complaint into words and action but also playing and supporting the sport at any opportunity you have.

[IrishCanary]

Roger is quite right here, never give in and support the sport in any capicity you possibly can. The ETTA do things like us all at times, a little not quite perfect but the body needs supporting regardless of their shortfalls, be positive with the emphasis on putting your complaint into words and action but also playing and supporting the sport at any opportunity you have.
I have made my feelings known to the ETTA via Alex Murdoch. As i work in TV, they were not even bothered about my sport department making a story out of this. They wont change. All i wanted to do was play in the Norwich League (affiliated) one night a week and the Yarmouth league (unaffiliated) on another night. So whilst i agree that we all have to abide by rules, i think this one is stupid and rather than continue my fight against the Etta (which is like hitting your head against a wall) i will move on. Me leaving the game will make no odds whatsoever, but i was always stand up for what i think is right. Who knows in 20 years time i might be a top golfer and glad i made the switch.
The professional who is teaching me at the mo, said i played like Tiger. Unfortunatly it was Tony the Tiger not woods

[TheMoose]

Hey you might become a professional golfer but would you get as much fun !

As they say it spoils a good walk !

[IrishCanary]

Hey you might become a professional golfer but would you get as much fun !

As they say it spoils a good walk !
But i can play where i like

[DaveR]

lol good answer, however the exitement is not as exhilarating !

[IrishCanary]

lol good answer, however the exitement is not as exhilarating !
No true but at least i get 4 solid hours worth of competition play rather than knocked out in the group stages first thing, scoring all day waiting for wife to finish, then driving 4 hours home to Norwich. Plus whilst i practice my tt and play each week (for two more weeks) i know i can do the shots, where as golf at the moment is very exciting when that 1 in 10 shot goes close.

[DaveR]

Very true............sometimes the exitement of learning a sport is more entertaining, although i still personally prefer the quicker sports.........just preference though!

[IrishCanary]

Very true............sometimes the exitement of learning a sport is more entertaining, although i still personally prefer the quicker sports.........just preference though!
i have loved tt for years and had thousands of hours pleasure and excitement from it, met my wife playing for the same team and also met many people who i now consider to be good friends. For the last 6 months i have tried to fight this rule, but have finally given up. That left me with a choice, do i leave the sport i have promoted and enjoyed for years or do i not stand up for what i think is right. I have to stand up for what i think is right, i am sure if not golf then another sport will fill the gap

[Kev]

Your act of martyrdom will not go unnoticed I'm sure Canary. Certainly not in your own head anyway!

[DaveR]

another sport cant fill the gap of our famous TT !

No way !

ps Joking aside here i could never do that even if i hated and disagreed with the ETTA as i will always put the sport top of my list and someday .........well things may change

[IrishCanary]

Your act of martyrdom will not go unnoticed I'm sure Canary. Certainly not in your own head anyway!
Kev
You noticed it, thats all that counts
Have fun with the ETTA

[DaveR]

Hey we notice and especially listen which is more that can be said from the ETTA sometimes !

I think an ongoing battle could be worth pursuing but never let these things become your lifes work as sport enjoyment is paramount in whatever sport is chosen by any one of us.

[Roger]

I wanted to add this:

You despise the etta because they won't let you play in a non affiliated league.
Remember the good things:

You met your wife.
Plenty of good memories

The positive is that you could still play and promote the game

To me the real culprit is the non affiliated league... not the etta.

Tennis is another thing alltogether. They have at the moment much more media coverage and son on so comparing what they do with TT might not be appropriate...

[MK Chris]

While we're on about table tennis in comparison to other sports.. I'd like to add this, which was part of a discussion I had earlier on this evening. I play in a middle to lower division in the local league, yet I could enter a tournament and play against Wang Liqin, if that was my wish (and the draw went in that way.) There's no other sport (that I know of) that you can do that with; you can't enter a tennis tournament and play Roger Federer, nor can you enter a snooker tournament and play Ronnie.

[Roger]

While we're on about table tennis in comparison to other sports.. I'd like to add this, which was part of a discussion I had earlier on this evening. I play in a middle to lower division in the local league, yet I could enter a tournament and play against Wang Liqin, if that was my wish (and the draw went in that way.) There's no other sport (that I know of) that you can do that with; you can't enter a tennis tournament and play Roger Federer, nor can you enter a snooker tournament and play Ronnie.

I cant remember who asked the advice in the first place but i would say Look at what table tennis can bring to you and not what it cannot bring to you...

[DaveR]

I agree with MK on this. The original poster was Irish Canary on the matter of not being able to play when the Great Yarmouth league is un-affiliated, which i still firmly believe they could get special dispensation if they really wished to do son and of course seriously wished to play. The point on playing table tennis in general is a good one, with not many sports allowing the entry against players a top level from players who are at a middle or lower level.

The whole sport is solely down to the individual to put his or her own stamp on, by putting as much or as little in some cases work into the sport. Some players like to feel comfortable within the league they are in with no aspirations to do anything else, this is certainly not wrong and deffinitely something as someone gets older may wish to do. The only thing i would say is to play and support the sport fro future young players as if we do not the whole structure will no doubt fal apart.