Table tennis (recreational sport)
Table tennis is not only practiced as a competitive sport, but often also as a leisure sport with modified rules. The term "ping-pong" is often used in recreational sports. Some of the recreational sports games - such as B. the Kaiserspiel - are also used in children's training for competitive sports.
Recreational games
Concentricity
A variant especially popular with children with at least three (better: five to ten, or more) players is Chinese , also called Ringelpietz , Runde , Mäxle or Mühle , in Austria Rundgangerl , Lauferl , Raser , Rennerts or Ringerl . At least two players stand on one side of the table, one can stay on the other. After a player has made his stroke without a mistake, he runs to the other side and lines up here to make another stroke. Anyone who makes a mistake is eliminated. If only two players are left, the game is played normally up to three. But first the ball is thrown in and played for service. The winner of this "Um die" may make the first serve or choose the half of the table. The winner receives one point crown (which he can use to avoid being eliminated in the event of a mistake). Then everyone starts again. In the end, the one who has the most unused points (crowns) wins. School children often play similar games without a racket and / or with larger balls (mostly tennis, but also basketball or football), but according to the same rules and using a table tennis table. The larger balls also have the advantage that they can also be played in the wind.
Since the game system and the "crowns" mean that good players get more playing time and thus more experience and thus become even better, there are variants in which placing the crowns is not possible or is limited to one crown per game and the player, whoever is eliminated first receives a “bonus life” for the next round.
English
For three players there is a variant that is a mixture between singles and doubles. The player who plays alone on his side of the table may play alone until he makes a mistake. Then it changes counter-clockwise. You only collect points as declarer. This variant is known as English . Due to the constant change of doubles partners and opponents, this game variant has the opportunity to promote the team skills of the players both athletically and socially.
In Germany this is often played with "school yard rules", according to which the player who plays alone is only allowed to serve from his seventh point. However, this is often only an optional rule, the single player then has no right to the serve, but has to "fight for" it by trying to grab the ball in front of the opposing team. However, if he still has less than seven points, the team player in front always serves.
In contrast to doubles, the alternating game of the two team players is not necessarily required in English. The interpretation depends on a decision made before the start of the game. Usually one of these rules is used:
- The double rule applies, the team players must play the ball strictly in turns.
- The center line of your own half of the table is seen as the limit, each player takes the balls on his side.
- There are no restrictions on the right to play.
A very fast rule is that the serve does not only take place when all players are in their positions, but as soon as possible after the error of the individual player. The new individual player can take the ball with him to his half of the table if he is allowed to serve himself or must leave it in the opponent's half of the table (usually directly on the net) if he has less than 7 points. With this rule, it is possible that, due to many consecutive errors and a fast serve, almost a round trip like in Chinese is created.
In order to encourage the players to think along and to count the points correctly, there is a rule that can result in a significant deduction of points for a player if not observed. This means that every player has to announce this immediately by clearly mentioning a "keyword" when they reach a certain number of points. If this does not happen before the next serve or if the other players report legitimate doubts about the clear perception of the keyword, the player loses five points.
| score | Keyword (male / female) |
|---|---|
| 10 | Prince Princess |
| 20th | King Queen |
| 30th | Emperor / Empress |
When a player reaches his 10th point, he should immediately indicate that he is now a “prince”, while a player should announce his new status as “king” when he reaches his 20th point. If you miss this, you have to continue playing with only 5 or 15 points and pay attention to the clear mention of the keyword the next time you reach the corresponding number of points.
In the first example, the player would lose his right to serve and only regain it with his 7th point.
A typical game runs up to the score of 33 points. The final spurt of the game is usually initiated with the first appointment of an "emperor".
German
For at least three players there is another variant that is very similar to Chinese . Each player receives a certain number of points (usually 10) at the start of the game. The actual game now runs like the Chinese game, but a player is not immediately eliminated if he makes a mistake, but gets one of his points deducted. If a player has lost all points in this way, he must loudly announce this with the words “I am swimming” to draw the attention of the other players to his situation. He must not make any more mistakes, otherwise he will be eliminated. Some school yard rules then specify that a player who has been eliminated must put his stick on a freely selectable place on the table as a hindrance for the rest of the players.
Clubs discarded in this way give the game an additional tactical moment as the game progresses. The rest of the players will try to hit such a club, which may deflect the ball in an unexpected direction. The more clubs that have been placed on the table, the greater the loss of points caused by the remaining players, so that the players who are eliminated first do not have to wait too long for a new stake. In the initial point allocation, younger or less experienced players can also be given a higher number of points, which enables a good balance of playing time between experienced and inexperienced players.
If there are only two players left, they now downplay their remaining points. Depending on the rules, the player who currently has fewer points may serve. If the number of points is equal, the ball is thrown in and first played for service or the right to serve is changed. Here, too, the players should announce when they run out of points and "swim".
Terrain table tennis
Various objects (beverage cans, tools, light bulbs, etc.) are randomly distributed on the table tennis table. Then the game is played according to normal rules, which means that a stroke is considered lawful if it touches one of the objects before or after contact with the plate or just the plate. The balls bouncing off the distributed objects often provide a humorous element, as they behave completely incalculable.
Training games
Imperial game
The Kaiserspiel is a popular form of training in table tennis.
Any number (at least four) players play against each other. The games are played simultaneously on different tables set up side by side. At the beginning, an emperor table and a beggar table (sometimes also a loser table ) are determined, both of which must be at the ends of the row of tables. The participating players then split up in pairs on the available tables. If the number of players is more than twice the number of tables, some players sit out initially. Then the tables are played on points. When a previously agreed goal has been achieved (for example: a set has ended at a table or a certain time unit has ended) the player who determines this or the trainer calls "stop" and all games are ended with the current score, except those that are tied at the time. These games continue to be played until a winner is determined. The respective winner at the table moves one table further towards the Kaiser table, the respective loser one table towards the beggar table. The winner of the emperor table remains at his table and is the new emperor, the loser of the beggar table may sit out to allow one of the previously missing players to enter the game. Then the games start again. This process is repeated until the available time has expired.
Especially in youth training, the Kaiserspiel is often used to use the punching techniques practiced in the previous training unit in a manner similar to a competition. This can be done, for example, in such a way that the player descending from the Kaiser table may only play forehand topspin and the player ascending from the beggar table may only answer with a block ball (of course, all other combinations are also possible). In addition, the Kaiserspiel is suitable for getting away from rigid and (mentally) strenuous training and using fun game variants ( penholder , ping-pong, playing with the other hand, playing without a bat, 'Headi' game, etc.) some fun and To let distraction come.
The advantage (in some situations also the disadvantage) of the Kaiserspiel is that after a while the players play against each other with approximately the same skill level. If the coach wants to compensate for the disadvantage and ensure that the stronger players play more often against the weaker ones, he can simply change direction at a certain point and declare the imperial table to be the beggar's table. The stronger players then have to fight their way back to the imperial table.
Half-table game
As an emergency solution (too many players / too few tables), the game at half the table has a concentration and precision-enhancing effect. Four players are playing at a table with two balls. Each player only has one half of the table available. The game can be played in parallel or diagonally. Ball collisions occur more often with the diagonal variant. The players learn
- to place the ball accurately and
- Not to be distracted by ambient noise or peripheral movements (audience / table next to you).
More training games
- Topspin game
- Balloon game
- Service King
- Partner board
- marathon
- Power game
- 7-point transfer game
- two-handed table tennis
- Black and white game
Web links
- Description of the German Table Tennis Association (accessed on October 8, 2012)