coaching between points

I think it will really hurt the USATT if they adopt the rule allowing coacing between points.

I am like most of the USATT tournament players who go to most tournaments without a coach.  It's already a disadvantage when my opponents get coaching between games.  Allowing coaching between points would put me at huge disadvantage.  If I know that I won't have a chance winning at tournaments because of all the coaching my opponents get, I will be much less inclined to attend tournaments.  There are now enough leagues out there that I can get my competitive fix without having to go to tournaments.

To change the rules to benefit the 15 or so international players would be a huge mistake by the USATT.  Not would you lose players like me, but you will lose some of the tournaments I support.

We're not even competitive on the international scene anyway.  Coaching between points won't make us any more competitive. 

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Larry Hodges Mon, 09/12/2016 - 18:04

At this point, since the USATT Rules Committee refused to give an opinion when I requested one - they said they have no opinion at this time - it's pretty certain the rule will be adopted, as all ITTF rules are automatically adopted unless the USATT board intervenes. There are no meetings scheduled before Oct. 1, though a teleconference would likely be held if the Rules Committee were to recommend against USATT adopting the rule. Note that it's not just top players who are affected - it's also everyone at the U.S. Open, the North American Teams, and any overseas tournaments. 

mts288 Wed, 09/14/2016 - 01:28

I don't think the North American Teams (if it's the NATT tournament) is part of the ITTF.  There are only 3 or 4 events at the US Open that are ITTF events.  I was at the WTTCA today and they think we shouldn't addopt the rule.

I think this is probably the dumbest rule change in the 20+ years I've been playing.

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Larry Hodges Wed, 09/14/2016 - 01:48

The U.S. Open itself is played under ITTF rules, not individual events. I believe the North American Teams are as well, but will double check on this. If people are against it, they better speak up. I asked the USATT Rules Committee their recommendation, and they said they have no opinion at this time. I doubt if they will have an opinion in the next 2.5 weeks, so the rule will likely be adopted by default. (If USATT does nothing, ITTF rules are adopted automatically.) 

Addendum: Just verified that ITTF rules will be used at the North American Teams, assuming there are any international players, which there will be (from China, Canada, many more). So regardless of what USATT does, ITTF rules will be used at the Teams, the Open, and all continental events and team trials (Olympic and Pan Am Trials, North American Championships).