Table Tennis Competition in France

Table Tennis Competition in France: Ranking System, Points, and Competition Levels

Table tennis in France is governed by the French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT), which has nearly 200,000 members, 17% of whom are women. Additionally, around 3 million people play table tennis occasionally. Competing in France is a real challenge, with a network of nearly 4,000 clubs and many high-level players.

How Does the Point System Work in Competitions?

To compete, players must obtain a license by registering with an affiliated club. Once registered, players earn points during competitions. Here’s a breakdown of how points are earned and lost:

• Winning or losing points: Players typically start with 500 points. Depending on match results, points are added or subtracted.
• Points update: Rankings are updated ten times per year, at the end of each competition month, from September to June.

Criteria for Points and Their Variation

Points are awarded based on several criteria:

• Victory or defeat: Points are gained or lost depending on the match outcome.
• Difference in player levels: A larger ranking gap between players means fewer points gained for the winner, and vice versa.

For example, if a lower-ranked player beats a higher-ranked one, they gain a significant number of points, while the losing player loses many points as well.

The Drift in the Point System

The drift is an annual ranking adjustment. It recalibrates points at the end of the season to ensure fairness and allows for performance comparison across seasons. Drift applies to all players simultaneously but does not affect their ranking, only their total points.

Competition Levels in French Table Tennis

French table tennis competitions are divided into three main series, each with several levels:

• Departmental Series: For players with fewer than 1,300 points, this series includes up to six levels.
• Regional Series: For players with more than 1,300 points, with five levels ranging from pre-national to regional levels 1 to 4.
• National Series: This series hosts the best players and has five levels, including Pro A, Pro B, and national levels 1 to 3.

Examples of Table Tennis Championships

• Pro A Championships: The highest professional team competitions in France, comparable to Ligue 1 in football. It brings together 10 teams playing home-and-away matches.
• French Championships: Held annually for different age groups, these include singles and doubles competitions for men, women, and mixed categories.

Table tennis in France is a thrilling and demanding sport. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, understanding the point system, competition levels, and championships can help you progress in this dynamic discipline.

Featured Image: Table Tennis Competition in France, by Mamba Blades