Paper Title
ITTF Experiment – The New Longer-Reach Table Tennis Team Format

Abstract
In 2003, an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) experiment on the new longer-reach team format that was carried out in Nigeria. A series of tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of the longer-reach table on Nigerian players’ skill performances, fitness, technical and tactical abilities as well as the visibility of rallies in the new team play format as compared to conventional team play. Eight three-hour physical conditioning and skill training sessions involving 11 senior, six junior players and four cadets were held in Lagos, Nigeria. The players’ fitness levels were also assessed using standardised test battery, including upper body strength, leg power, muscular endurance and aerobic capacity. The skill training programme included service and returns, push play/chop, counter hit drive, loop/top-spin drive, smash, counter loop drive and block shot. A new size of table (Width: 2.74m; length: 5.05m and height: 76cm) was used for the experiment. This was achieved by placing two conventional tables sideways, each table now forming one half of the new size. The former length of the conventional table now becomes the width of this new table. This means that what the new team format requires is an adaptation of two conventional tables. The still waters area gap is fixed at 1.0m on either side of the net whose length is now 2.74m, plus 0.32m for net extension. For cadet and junior players, optimum gaps of 0.70m and 1m, respectively, i.e. 0.35m and 0.5m on either sides of the net, were adopted after a series of tests. New competition rules including the order of service were designed for the team play format in which a game is played out of 18 points. Service is delivered diagonally from the left half of the table. Each player serves thrice in succession to all three members of the opposing team before the right to serve is transferred to the team which last received service. A 40mm ball which weighed 2.7g was used for the experiment. The players played three sets of trial matches on round-robin basis. Based on the findings it was concluded that: 1. The longer reach team play format promoted more participation because a total of six players competed in a match at once. It was easier for spectators to understand the new playing format as a team event because all members of a team could compete together in a match. The new rules and scoring procedure are also easy to follow. 2. The wider playing surface promoted more visible rallies. 3. Players’ athletic ability was also enhanced because of the preponderance of footwork skills and increased power of stroke execution. 4. Trickery in service delivery was minimised because of the longer distance the ball travelled from one half of the table to the other. This increased reliance on skill and stroke techniques thereby minimising over-dependence on advancement in rubber technology, which enhances the technical characteristics of service delivery.