Browsing: Rules

November 17, 2025 | Eamonn Hall

The Team Handicap Cup in the Burnham & District Table Tennis Winter League has been dominated over recent years by the methodical and talented Cold Norton B team. With new rules and structure in place for this season would this command be threatened in any way? It would appear not.

Despite rule changes to provide the lesser handicapped teams with some extra points on the board, hot favourites Cold Norton B stormed to a traditional whitewash victory over the hapless Blackwater B trio in their Round of 16 knockout match. â€œ5-0 to the Norton Boys†was the cry from the expectant crowd as the Cold Norton trio of Ian Wall (-18), Sam Lowman (-18), and Captain Dan Anderson (-12) went about their business.

Ian Wall & Sam Lowman in action

Despite the overall scoreline the games were all very close and the Blackwater trio of Louis Gunn (-2), Pete Mortensen (-2), and Roger Slade (-1) certainly made the hotshots work for their victory. Both doubles went to long deciding sets, with the opening match setting the tone for the evening with Lowman and Anderson coming though 26-24 in the decider against Gunn & Slade.

The singles were all won in straight sets but each leg saw the Blackwater team with over 15 points on the board with Cold Norton just having the focus and talent edge come the business end.

Last yearâ€s runners-up Blackwater A also progressed to the quarter-final stage courtesy of a 5-2 win over St Lawrence A with Neil Freeman (-6) in a starring role remaining unbeaten across his three matches. All the singles were won in straight sets with the only St Lawrence point coming from Nigel Brand (+12) against Alan Scammell (-3).

Division 3â€s Blackwater F grabbed the headlines with an unexpected 6-3 triumph against top Division 1 team Cold Norton A. Unfortunately, Cold Norton were short a player so Blackwater had a 4-0 start but still had to get past Duncan Taylor (-20), and Steve Maltby (-9).

Both David McHattie (+9) and Anne Brewer (+11) were able to use their head starts to great effect against Maltby for their actual wins, but none of the Blackwater team could muster the patience to outsmart Taylor. McHattie at least took a leg and forced Taylor into an energy sapping deciding leg but it was not to be.

Blackwater C are the most in-form team across the league and look to be a dangerous Handicap team. In a very closely matched encounter with Woodham D the Blackwater team somehow found themselves 4-2 down with just three matches to play as Jean Chasmer (+6) had dominated for Woodham with three wins already.

With four of the first six matches going to a deciding set the Blackwater team also had the clock against them – so a quick huddle, a change of tactics, and out they came firing on all cylinders as Peter Davenport (+1) ended the Chasmer unbeaten run, and then Gary Smith (0) outfoxed Chris Crooks (+2), and the final winner takes all doubles saw Smith and Andrea Alleyne (+3) outhit Chasmer and Simon Thomas (+4) just as the closing bell was clanging! Blackwater C are definitely a team to watch in this competition.

Woodham B often do well in the cup and their campaign this season got off to a good start with a hard-fought 5-1 victory over Cold Norton D. The sole cold Norton victory saw Terry Hyland (-3) keep his nerve against the hard-hitting Sanjay Saptarshi (-14) for a three-set victory that went to 24-22 in the decider. There were two further three-setters but Woodhamâ€s other players Graham Briggs (-6) and Peter Harverson (-6) kept their nerves to come through unbeaten all evening.

In a long evening at Maldon the Cold Norton E trio took eight matches to finally get the better of a stubborn Maldon C side. No player remained unbeaten but Cold Nortonâ€s Tony Forster (-6) was very effective winning three of his four matches including the important final match against Dawn Baldry (-7).

Another talented handicap team from Cold Norton showed their mettle as they triumphed in both three setters where Forster bested Chris Ravenhill (0), and Oscar Wyman (+4) came out on top against Brian Riedling (-2).

Cold Norton C completed the triple threat from the Cold Norton Club in the quarters as they overcame the strong resistance from Blackwater E to post a 5-2 victory. Neil Want (-11) did the most damage for the Cold Norton crew as he won all three of his matches as he overcame the handicaps of both Deb Ginn (+5) and Kath Little (+9) – who knew he had so much patience?

Wantâ€s display was very much needed as the Blackwater team took an early 2-1 lead winning the opening doubles and then Phil ‘Wild†West (+8) posted a very long and hard fought three-set win over Arron Chandler (-14). But that was it and the Cold Norton trio were not found Wanting in the remaining games as they heartlessly rattled off four wins on the bounce for a place in the next round.

In the final match of the round of 16, Mapledene hosted Woodham D and they got off to a flying start winning the opening three matches. As the early bath beckoned Woodham pulled the plug with Alan Dadswell (-2) overcoming the Bill Smith (-4) challenge to put a Woodham point on the board, and then the fun began and there was no time for a bath whatsoever as we hit final set mayhem.

Woodham pairing Tim Pulham (-5) and Scott Perry (-5) won the next doubles 21-17 in the decider, and then Smith found redemption following his earlier loss by taking Perry to a final leg and winning out 21-17. It was very late in the evening by now and Mapledene needed just one more win to progress. The next singles saw Woodhamâ€s Dadswell take the opening leg against Lin Roff (-6), but Roff fought back with a 21-17 second leg to tie up the match. It took a while for Roff to catch up the handicap in the final leg but once she did she was able to secure and maintain the lead for a 21-16 win for a game, set, and overall match declaration.

Cold Norton have three teams in the quarter-finals and look to have the handicap bit between their teeth for this one. Next round is played week of 15 December.

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By Thierry Verviers

The concept is simple: mixed teams (men and women). But the real revolution is in the scoring system.

Each match—whether singles or doubles—is played best-of-three (first to 2 games). But the team encounter doesnâ€t end after three match wins. Instead, it stops the moment one team reaches 8 total games won.

What does that change?
Everything.

There are no more dead rubbers. Every game counts. Winning 2–1 versus 2–0 immediately impacts the overall score. This keeps the tension high from the first serve to the final point.

For coaches, this is a laboratory.

This is where weâ€ll see what truly works. Coaches must manage players differently. A best-of-3 specialist—someone who starts strong and fast—becomes crucial.

Weâ€ll also get a preview of the best serve/receive patterns and short-game strategies (2–3 shots), because every point is decisive. This format is pedagogical gold for building our training plans.

Itâ€s also worth noting: this is the format selected for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. What happens in Chengdu is the blueprint for the next four years.

The heavy hitters will be there. This is one to watch closely.

More information:
– Player List Announced for ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu (ITTF)
– Tickets for ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu Go on Sale This Week (ITTF)
– ITTF Mixed Team World Cup Chengdu 2025 – Tournament Hub (ITTF)
– ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2024: Format (best-of-3 / 8 games) – International Table Tennis Federation

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The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., is where the sport’s legends live forever.

But how do those legends make it to Cooperstown in the first place? There are two ways:

Players can be elected to the Hall of Fame via the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot or via an Era Committee ballot.

With the 2026 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot set to be released Monday, here is everything you need to know about Hall of Fame voting.

Who is eligible to cast a BBWAA ballot?

Only active and honorary members of the Baseball Writers†Association of America who have been active baseball writers for at least 10 years are eligible to vote. They must have been active as baseball writers and members of the BBWAA for at least 10 years before the date of the election in which they are voting.

In 2024, 394 BBWAA members cast a Hall of Fame ballot.

How often does the BBWAA vote on Hall of Fame candidates?

The BBWAA, which has been electing players to the Hall of Fame since 1936, has been voting on each new class of candidates annually since 1966.

Which players are eligible for the BBWAA ballot?

Any player who played in at least 10 Major League seasons and ended their MLB playing career at least five calendar years before the next election is eligible to be placed on that year’s ballot.

For example, pitcher Cole Hamels made his big league debut in 2006 and participated in 15 seasons, last playing in 2020. Thus, he is an eligible first-year candidate for the 2026 BBWAA ballot.

Who decides which players make the final ballot?

The most recent BBWAA ballots have included 25-30 players, so not every player who had a 10-plus-year career and has been retired for at least five years can be put on the ballot. The final say lies with a BBWAA-appointed screening committee consisting of baseball writers. It’s a six-member committee, and an eligible first-time candidate makes it on the ballot if they are nominated by any two of the six members.

Those ballot newcomers are joined by any player who received a vote on at least 5% of ballots cast in the previous election.

What are the voting procedures?

Ballots are mailed to each BBWAA elector during the latter half of November. An elector can vote for as few as zero and as many as 10 players on their ballot. Each elector must then sign their ballot and return it by Dec. 31 for it to be counted. The voting results of the BBWAA ballot for the Class of 2026 will be announced Jan. 20 on MLB Network.

How many votes are required for a player to be elected to the Hall of Fame or remain on the ballot?

Players who didn’t receive the amount of votes necessary for election must receive at least 5% of the vote in order to remain on the ballot. Any player who receives a vote on fewer than 5% ballots cast will no longer be considered by the BBWAA for the Hall of Fame.

How long can players remain on the BBWAA ballot?

Players can remain on the ballot for 10 years, assuming they receive at least 5% of the vote each year. If a player isn’t elected after 10 years on the ballot, they will no longer be considered by the BBWAA for the Hall of Fame.

How many players have been elected to the Hall of Fame via the BBWAA ballot?

The BBWAA has elected 137 players to the Hall, as of 2025.

Which player received the highest percentage of votes on the BBWAA ballot?

ERA COMMITTEE BALLOT VOTING

What are the Era Committees?

Formerly known as the Veterans Committee, the Era Committees consider retired Major League players who are no longer eligible for Hall of Fame election by the BBWAA, along with managers, umpires and executives.

There are three Era Committee ballots:

There are 16 members on each committee, consisting of Hall of Famers, current and former MLB executives, media members and historians. The committee members change each year.

How often does an Era Committee vote on Hall of Fame Candidates?

The Era Committees rotate on a three-year cycle, with one ballot being considered each year.

Who decides which players make the final ballot?

The Historical Overview Committee, which is appointed by the BBWAA, serves as the screening committee, consisting of 10-12 representatives. It identifies eight candidates for each year’s Era Committee ballot.

Who is on this year’s Era Committee Ballot?

The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee player ballot is up for consideration this year. The eight Hall candidates on the ballot are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela.

What are the voting procedures?

For 2025, the Contemporary Era Committee will meet on Dec. 7 at baseballâ€s Winter Meetings in Orlando to consider this year’s eight candidates. Each committee member may vote for as few as zero and as many as three of the eight candidates on the ballot. The voting results will be announced live that night on MLB Network at 7:30 ET.

How many votes are required for a player to be elected to the Hall of Fame or remain on the ballot?

Candidates who receive a vote on 12 of the 16 ballots cast (75%) are elected to the Hall of Fame and are included in the following year’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown. Per a 2025 rule change, any candidate on an Era Committee ballot who does not receive at least five votes from the 16-member committee will not be eligible to be placed back on that ballot in its next three-year cycle. But a candidate can return to an Era Committee ballot after skipping one cycle.

For example, if one of the candidates on the 2025 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee player ballot receives fewer than 5 votes, they wouldn’t be eligible for the next such ballot in 2028. However, they would be eligible to be placed back on that ballot in 2031.

Any candidate who receives fewer than five votes on multiple Era Committee ballots will no longer be eligible for future consideration.

How many players have been elected to the Hall of Fame via an Era Committee ballot?

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