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SPECIFIC
PARKINSON´STABLE TENNIS LAWS.

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1. INTRODUCTION
ITTF Parkinson´s World Table Tennis Championships is an event for players with Parkinson’s disease,
where family members and the public in general are proactively invited to assist. It´s an eagerly
anticipated and historic event that raises awareness of Parkinson’s disease and showcases theimpact of table tennis on a social, mental and physical level thereby generating a better quality oflife for them. It is considered a huge success as it demonstrates community at its best.
It´s an event with more focus on the participation and involvement of all participants, relatives andaccompanying persons to show others an example of what table tennis can do to improve their health.
The Parkinson´s Disease participants normally need to take medications for the treatment of thesymptoms and for the purpose of being able to play the event they need more medication than theregular ones to get through the rigors of a three to four days competition.
Sometimes, this medication it is in different quantity than the one taken regularly, it requires moretime to make an impact or, on the contrary, takes action sooner than expected.
Based on the principle of having all participants in similar conditions and to allow them to compete intheir best possible conditions, we have adjusted and created some specific rules for the Parkinson´sdisease participants to be applied at the ITTF PWTTC.

AB
2. ABBREVIATIONS:
ITTF		

International Table Tennis Federation.

ITTFF

International Table Tennis Federation Foundation.

ITTF Handbook

The latest rules & regulations of the ITTF.

PD		Parkinson´s Disease.

PWTTC		Parkinson´s World Table Tennis Championships.

TTTable Tennis.

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3. MEDICAL TIME-OUT
Additionally to the article 3.4.4.4 of the ITTF Handbook (The referee may allow a suspension ofplay, of the shortest practical duration, and in no circumstances more than 10 minutes, if a player is
temporarily incapacitated by an accident, provided that in the opinion of the referee the suspension is
not likely to be unduly disadvantageous to the opposing player or pair), a player or pair may claim one
medical time-out of up to 30 minutes during an individual match, in case a player is incapacitated tocontinue playing due to the effects of Parkinson’s disease (freezing, the medication wears off, inability tostand, dyskinesia, inability to play due to the onset of uncontrolled movement …). The suspension has tobe authorised by the referee, provided that it is not likely to be unduly disadvantageous to the opposing
player or pair.
Such interval may only be requested when the ball is not in play and does not replace the 1 minutetime-out according to ITTF rule 3.4.4.2.
In an individual event the request for a medical time-out may be made by the player or pair or by thedesignated adviser, in a team event it may be made by the player or pair or by the team captain.
If a player or pair and an adviser or captain disagree whether a time-out is to be taken, the final decision
shall be made by the player or pair in an individual event and by the team captain in a team event.
On receiving a valid request for a medical time-out the umpire shall suspend play and shall hold up awhite card with the hand on the side of the player or pair who requested it; the white card or anotherappropriate marker shall be placed on the court of that player or pair, on the corner closest to theumpire´s table.
The white card or marker shall be removed and play resumed as soon as the player or pair making therequest is ready to continue or at the end of 30 minutes, whichever is the sooner.
This medical time-out will not be allowed if one of the players or pairs has already scored 8 points in thelast possible game of a match.
Play may be interrupted by the umpire to introduce the medical time-out and the umpire shall inform thereferee immediately.
Participants should inform the Referee, before the start of the competition that their therapeutic windows
opened by the medication are short and that they are regularly exposed to medication fluctuations.

4. FREEZING.
In accordance with article 3 of medical time-out.

5. SERVICE RELAXATIONAs described in article 2.6.7 of the ITTF Handbook, exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements
for a correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
The relaxation of rules described in 2.6.1 to 2.6.6 does not imply that the player can intentionally hide
the service or impart spin on the ball during the ball tossing.

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6. FREE HAND ON TABLE
In case the player is showing continuous and clear symptoms of unbalance due to the effects of Parkinson’s
disease, the umpire may waive the application of article 2.10.1.11.
If the opponent player or pair does not trust the bona fide of the player who claims the need of thesupport, he or she can challenge the umpire’s decision and the referee shall decide about it.

7. DOPING CONTROL
According to article 3.2.6 and 3.2.6.1 of the ITTF Handbook, all players participating in international
competitions, including Junior competitions, shall be subject to in-competition testing by the ITTF, theplayer’s National Association and any other Anti-Doping Organisation responsible for testing at acompetition in which they participate.

8. CONTACT US
If you have any suggestions, recommendations or questions, don´t hesitate to contact us at:rmontes@foundation.ittf.com(Ramón ORTEGA-MONTES).

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