The Basics
Matches are played best of 1, 3 or 5 sets. The winner of the set is the player to reach a minimum of eleven points having a margin of two points over their opponent. In 3 and 5 set matches players change ends of the table at the end of each set, in the final set and in single set matches players change ends when one player reaches 6 points.
At the start of the match the referee will toss a coin to determine which player will serve first. Play will be started and stopped by the referee sounding a whistle:
- Single whistle to start or stop
- Double whistle for a goal
- Long whistle when set or match is over
Serves
Each player will serve two times consecutively. When serving the ball must bounce once off the side wall before passing under the centreboard in to your opponents half of the table. The referee must sound the whistle before the player serves and a player must serve within two seconds of the referees whistle.
Dead Ball
If the ball is moving so slowly that in the opinion of the referee that it will not reach a point on the table that a player can play the ball or the player has lost track of the ball, the referee will blow a single whistle and call “dead ball”. The play is resumed with a re-serve.
Warning and Penalties
The referee can issue a warning or penalty anytime during the match. Issued warnings are valid for the whole match. If a player receives a second warning even if it is for a different type of infraction, two penalty points will be awarded to their opponent. types of penalities with warnings include:
- Not playing from behind the table
- Hooking the ball with any finger
- Shoving, excessive or constant moving of the table in a disturbing way
- Scraping the bat in a disturbing way
- Talking during play
- Pushing any part of the body into the goal area from the outside
- Not playing with one foot on the ground
- Any other activity judged by the referee to belong to this category e.g. disturbing the opponent, purposely delaying the game etc
Penalties without warnings. each of these infractions will immediately cause a two point penalty:
- Touching the eye shades/mask without the referees permission
- Mobile phone or other electronic device of a player is making any kind of noise during the match
A full copy of the international Blind Sports Federation Showdown rules can be found on the IBSA website