Appreciation   Objectives   Racket Control   Sanction Scheme   Yellow Cards    Training   Conclusion  

As we come to end of another season I am pleased to report that we have had a very good season. At this time of the year many of you will be going away for your annual holiday, be it at home or abroad, on behalf of Leinster Umpires Association I wish you and your family a very happy holiday. The association is grateful to Leinster Branch for their financial support during the last season.

It is my privilege to report back to you some of activities of our association during the last season:

1.1 Irish Table Tennis Umpires Association (ITTUA) would like to thank the Board Directors of Irish Table Tennis Association (ITTA) for their encouragement and help during the last season. A special word of appreciation for Kenneth Strong, the Secretary, who has provided everything that we needed for the smooth functioning of our association. We have been to Ken on numerous occasions and he is always there to provide with the support we needed. The financial assistance from ITTA has been a major factor for our part of our contributions to Table Tennis.

2.1 Our primary objective was to launch the National Umpires Association with a view to provide a regular and efficient service to our Sport. In that regard ITTUA would like to confirm that the Association is well established and functioning.

2.2 Our second objective was to establish a link between our association and the provincial branches with a view to recruit a number of umpires. Although we have been able to establish this link and we are in the process of meaning full discussions, we are still awaiting for a positive outcome. Our assumption is that ‘umpiring’ seems to be the least important factor for the running of table tennis tournaments. On the other hand, we are convinced that presence of ‘umpires’ are very much appreciated by players and tournament organisers.

3.1 In addition to those mentioned above the Association was entrusted with the requirement of Racket Testing for Volatile Compound, as required by the Table Tennis Federation. We would like to report that we have been busy during the 2008/09 season. Altogether, we have attended 19 tournaments, and tested 357 rackets, out of which only 5 of them have failed to pass the test. We are sure that our players are getting the right message.

3.2 In one of the resent article on ITTF web site mentioned that the equipment that we are using are not very sensitive, but, there are more sophisticated machines are available which would detect even the slightest trace of harmful substance.

3.3 Tom Mitchell has been trained recently by ITTF, in Bremen, Germany, as Racket Controller, and we are sure that Tom would bring some new procedures in 2009/10 season.

3.4 Kiron Choudhury has been in Japan for the World Table Tennis Championship in Yokohama, Japan. During the course of his umpiring sessions he also attended seminar for Racket Control.

4.1 Regarding Sanction Scheme the ITTA, in conjunction with ITTUA, published regulations on web site for penalty point system for players and coaches for misbehaviours. The sanction scheme was introduced for a trail period of one year. The representatives of ITTUA met with the ITTA officials during the season and discussed some finer points for adjustments to be implemented in 2009/10 season.

5.1 In 2007/08 the Association started keeping records of Yellow Cards issued to players and coaches for offences that may cause disruption to Sport. We continued on the same line for 2008/09 season. There was an occasion where a player was yellow carded for an offence, but, parent of the player, the player being minor, appealed to ITTA. An appeal committee of 2 International Umpires and another Qualified Umpire heard the appeal and ruled that the ‘Umpire was correct issuing Yellow Card’, but, on the merit of witnesses the ‘Yellow Card would not be counted towards the accumulated total for that season’.

6.1 As regard the training of Association umpires we are happy to report that:
6.2 Joe Finnegan was in Madrid, Spain for the Junior World Table Tennis Championship. During that period Joe attended Advance Umpires Training Course.

6.3 Kiron Choudhury was in Yokohama, Japan for the World Table Tennis Championship.
6.3.1 He attended Advanced Umpires Training Course,
6.3.2 Umpiring for Paralympics Table Tennis and
6.3.3 Seminar for Racket Control.

6.3.4 Tom Mitchell was in Bremen, Germany for training as Racket Controller. This is new position created by ITTF and Tom is one of only a few selected from Europe. In his position Tom could be called in for officiating anywhere in the World.

6.4 It is important to mention here that Wheelchair is a part of Paralympics sport, and Paralympics is under the auspices of ITTF. The ITTF have made the necessary modifications to Rules and Regulations to cater for wheelchair players.

6.5 We have had three sessions of training for National Umpires (NU) examination. We have some candidates for NU, and taken it up with the ITTA for a suitable date for examination.

6.6 Joe Finnegan & Kiron Choudhury were in Wolverhampton, UK for umpiring in the Junior British League.

6.7 Kiron Choudhury was in Denmark for umpiring in ITTF Pro Tour Danish Open.

7.1 The Association urgently needs some more umpires in all provinces. We have to put our resources and energy in this area in the coming season. We have following projects in hand and hoping to complete these assignments in early next season :
7.2 We have three prospective candidates from Ulster. The Ulster branch has been requested to arrange for a suitable place and date for training and examination. The secretary has informed me that he will take it up with the branch in their next meeting and inform me accordingly.

Date : 1^st July 2009.
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