Para Table Tennis
In Paralympic table tennis, matches are a best of five or best of seven games. Para table tennis is open to athletes with physical or intellectual impairments.
The six following impairment groups are eligible for Para table tennis.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Motion
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Leg Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference
Short Stature
Athletes with Short Stature have reduced total body length (including head, trunk, and legs) as a results of congenitally or developmentally reduced length of the bones of the upper and lower limbs (and may also have reduced trunk length).
Athletes will not be considered to have Short Stature if their reduced total body length is the result of Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference only.
Examples of an underlying health condition that can lead to Short Stature include achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
Intellectual Impairments
Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment have an Underlying Health Condition causing restriction in general mental functions required to understand and constructively integrate the various mental functions including all cognitive functions and their development over the life span. This impairment must be present before the age of 18.
For more information on Intellectual Impairments, please visit http://www.athleteswithoutlimits.org/eligibility
Entering the Pathway
Reach out to the Staff, opens in a new tabThe first step to getting started in Para table tennis is to become a USATT member. New athletes can register through the USATT Membership Portal.
New athletes interested in competing in Para table tennis are encouraged to reach out to USATT Para Program Director, Jasna Rather at jasna@usatt.org for more information.
Equipment
At minimum, athletes will need the following equipment to begin competing and training in Para table tennis:
- Standard table tennis racket, ball, table (9 feet long, 5 feet wide, 2.5 feet tall), and net
- Competitions and most clubs will provide table equipment
- Class specific equipment such as a competition wheelchair (as necessary)
High Performance
Para National Team Selection Standards, opens in a new tabAfter competing in USATT tournaments, athletes will be given a rating. This rating will increase as the athlete enters more competitions and wins more matches. Visit the USATT website to see recommended ratings for athletes in each class to enter international competitions.
Continue training and competing to raise your rating and work towards Para national team selection
USA Table Tennis does not currently offer national classification. See below for the process of international classification in Para table tennis and the different sport classes in Para table tennis.
International Classification
Para Table Tennis Classification, opens in a new tabThe International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is responsible for governing international classification for Para table tennis.
After submitting the requisite documentation, athletes will be classified at the first international competition they attend. Please visit the ITTF website for more information on international classification.
For intellectual impairments, The USOPC has partnered with Athletes Without Limits for all intellectual impairment classifications. Athletes Without Limits determines whether U.S. athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities are eligible for Paralympic competitions.
Athlete can begin the process for classification for an intellectual impairment through the Athletes Without Limits website.
Classes 1-5
Classes 1-5 are sitting classes where athletes compete in wheelchairs and the severity of the impairment varies where Class 1 includes athletes with the most severe impairments and Class 5 includes athletes with the least severe impairments. Athletes must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for these classes:
- Athlete is not able to walk without support or is not a functional walker with/without support.
- Athlete is not able to functionally step sideways.
- Athlete has an above knee amputation where no more than 1/3 of the leg remains (or similar dysmelia) or athlete has an above knee amputation in one leg and a below knee amputation in the other leg (or similar dysmelia).
Classes 6-11
Athletes in classes 6-10 compete standing where class 6 includes athletes with the most severe impairments and class 10 includes athletes with the least severe, eligible impairments.
- Athletes in these classes have impairments that include but are not limited to: moderate to severe Cerebral Palsy, amputations of one or multiple limbs, short stature, and others.
The class 11 sport class includes athletes with eligible intellectual impairments.
Paralympic table tennis utilizes unique rules that differentiate it from able-bodied table tennis including:
- A player may touch the table with the racket hand to restore his or her balance only after a shot has been played, and if the table does not move.
- Player scores a point if the opposing player touches the table with their free hand.
- Player scores a point if the sitting opponent does not maintain minimum contact (back of the thigh) with their cushion while the ball is in play.
Find a Club
Find a Club, opens in a new tabOnce an athlete has registered to be a USATT member, athletes can find a USATT club near them through the membership portal.
Find a Coach
Find a Coach, opens in a new tabAthletes wanting to compete at the highest levels are encouraged to train with a certified USATT coach. Athletes can view the list of USATT certified coaches through the membership portal after registering.
Events Calendar
ITTF Para Events Calendar, opens in a new tabFind a USATT competition near you on the USATT website to start competing!
Para table tennis specific events can be found on the ITTF Para events calendar.