2023 AUSTRALIAN OPEN VETERANS TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

30th July 2023, NSWVTTA

CONGRATULATIONS
AUSTRALIAN OPEN VETERANS TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
NETBALL ACT STADIUM, ACT
30th September to 7th October 2023

The President and NSW Veterans Committee would like to congratulate you on your selection for the teams to represent New South Wales at the above-mentioned Championships. Teams have been selected in order to achieve the best outcome for New South Wales at this year’s National Championships. Players who have been nominated by NSW for a Presidents team are also commended.

The committee requests that:
-    Everyone confirm their acceptance of this offer by Friday 4th August. 
-    Anyone not wishing to take up the offer should also to email Jennifer – nswvetsttsecretary@gmail.com immediately, so as, a replacement can be arranged.
-    The current version of the NSW team shirts MUST be ordered by Sunday 6th August. 
-    Individual entries close on Friday 18th August.
 

The following matters are brought to your attention: -

Venue:

Games will be played at the Netball ACT Stadium, Northbourne Ave, Lyneham. ACT 2602.

Travel:

Travel arrangements are your own responsibility.  All players should arrive in ACT by Fri 29^th September.

Teams Matches:

Teams’ matches begin at 9 am on Saturday 30^th September through to the finals on Wednesday 4^th October. Mixed Doubles will also be played on Wednesday 4^th October. All singles groups are scheduled for Thursday 5^th October.  Doubles and knock-out singles are scheduled on Friday 6^th  with remaining singles on Saturday 7^th October. 

Team Meeting:

David Clackson has been appointed as NSW Team Manager for this year. David has requested that all players meet at the venue at 4 pm to receive player handouts & team captains’ match sheets and any notified changes. Any player with questions or concerns should seek assistance from the Team Manager. There will be no opening ceremony and we hope to take the NSW team photo at this time. Please have your NSW tracksuit with you. The team practice times will be advised at a later date.

NSW Health Form:

All players are requested to print out and complete the attached “Health Form”. This form is to be used in the case of a medical emergency and will be held in the strictest confidence, for this competition only. The form will remain at the stadium in the tournament manager’s office. The forms will be destroyed at the end of this competition. The completion of this form is optional, however, ALL players are encouraged to complete it, after all, it is your health we are looking after.

NOTE: COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to participate at the 2023 National Veterans Championships; however, all participants are strongly encouraged to have their COVID-19 vaccinations up to date.

Team Entry Fees:

We gratefully acknowledge that the payment of team entry costs will be met by NSW Veterans Table Tennis.

TTNSW Registration:

Before you are eligible to play in the Australian Veterans Championships you must be registered with TTNSW at the National Level of $130. Once the teams have been released your membership will be checked and an automatic upgrade invoice will be generated by Table Tennis NSW – please pay your registration up-grade promptly.  

Individual Online Entry: Individual entries are online at :  https://www.tabletennis.org.au/events/195645/ through Revolutionise. Entries are now OPEN and close on Friday 18^th August. You will be invoiced once entries have closed and the doubles pairings completed. You will be required to pay your individual entry fees by 8^th September. Failure to pay by 8^th September - your entry will be withdrawn.  

Closing Function- Dinner Dance

The closing function at which the National Veterans order of merit & best player awards, will be announced is to be held on Saturday 7^th Oct at the Ainslie Football & Social Club - 52 Wakefield Ave, Ainslie. ACT. 2602. The cost is $66 per person entry via the on-line individual entry form.  

Uniforms:

The NSW uniform consists of a tracksuit and the current primary or secondary team shirt, to be worn with either black or navy-blue shorts or skorts. Players can use their current tracksuit but must have the current version of the team shirt. The primary shirt is sky blue with red swirls and the secondary shirt is sky blue with faded sky-blue stripe. A reminder that all players playing in the same team’s match must wear the same shirt either primary or secondary – Where NSW A teams are playing NSW B teams – one team is to wear the primary strip and the other team is to wear the secondary strip. There is a new NSW tracksuit which can be purchased at a cost of $100. Each player is required to have at a minimum, 1 of each primary & secondary team shirt. The additional shirts are required if players need to move to a different team due to illness, misadventure, or combining of age groups. A uniform package is being offered for $200 which includes a tracksuit, 2 x primary shirts and 2 x secondary team shirts or for president’s nominations – 1 x tracksuit, 1 x primary, 1 x secondary and 2 x president’s shirts.

PLEASE NOTE: The shirts are a small size; I would suggest if in doubt to choose a size larger – these shirts will have your name on the back and cannot be altered or replaced. The tracksuits, however, are large, so if in doubt select a smaller size. The shirts come in kids, women’s & men’s sizes.

NEW players:  For new players you will be invoiced for a uniform package $200 (includes – 1 tracksuit & 4 shirts). Additional shirts ($40 each) or tracksuits ($100) are to be ordered via the link below.

Ordering Uniforms: to Leonie Whiteford – via this link - 2023 NSW Veterans Uniform Order Form

2023 NSW Veterans Teams Uniform Order Form - Table Tennis New South Wales (ttnsw.org.au) or  email to mail@ttnsw.org.au   -  The shirts must be ordered by Sunday 6^th August, as the shirts will take 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. Please ORDER your uniform IMMEDIATELY giving your size and the correct spelling of your name to Leonie Whiteford. Uniforms will be distributed at Vets Challenge on Sunday 24^th September.

Presidents Players:

Table Tennis Australia has standardised the President players playing shirt and President players are required to purchase 2 x new President’s shirts. Once players have been confirmed by Table Tennis Australia as being selected for a President’s team, TTA will send an email asking for your shirt size.  

Proof of Age:

If you have not already produced your driver’s licence or passport to the executive over the past few months then please ensure you do so at the next teams challenge and have the sighting recorded in the Proof of Age Register (see Ian Finlay).

Captaincy:

Congratulations to those players named as team captains. It is the captain’s responsibility to select the team in collaboration with team members. Each captain will receive all the match sheets for the week. The sheets will be handed to the team Manager at the Managers meeting. It is the captain’s responsibility to complete and return each sheet 40 minutes prior to the commencement of the scheduled teams match (you may complete sheets as early as possible). The priority for A team captains is to win matches for NSW. For the B team captains, the focus is on equitable access to games for all players while still trying to win the match.

Regulations & Etiquette for all players:

We have many new players, representing NSW Veterans for the first time. These issues are highlighted:

1. Team match sheets are to be submitted 40 mins. prior to the scheduled match. Please liaise with your team captain on the team selection and arrival times.
2. All players are to be on the team bench for all matches.
3. Only your own team players are permitted to be on the team bench & give instructions during team matches.
4. All players MUST wear the same team shirt & only NSW tracksuits to be worn during team matches.
5. During any match, once you and your racket enter the playing area, neither are permitted to leave the playing area. At the end of each game, rackets MUST remain on the table and under no circumstances are permitted to be swapped to a different racket.
6. At any stage during the week the referee may request rackets for testing. Please note only ITTF approved rubbers are permitted. The properties of the rubber are not permitted to be altered in any way. Any damaged rubber is not be acceptable.  Any rubbers not complying, will not be permitted to be used, this includes chunks out of the rubber or the rubber not reaching the outline of the blade or missing pimples. If you are unsure whether your racket or rubber is legal – please check with Ian Finlay or Stephen Gillespie at the next veterans challenge match.
7. Correct protocols during matches: please acknowledge a net or edge and it is unsportsman like for the bench to clap nets or edges. At the end of the match a COVID shake with your opponent, the umpire and the opposition coach is expected. For individual matches it is your responsibility to check that the score sheet is completed correctly.
8. When umpiring, please call out the score as well as turning over the number on the score counter.
9. Please use the towel boxes provided for your towel and not drape your towel or clothing over either the barrier or table. No water bottles are allowed on the court.
10. During individual events – only one coach is permitted – whoever commences the coaching is the only one permitted to finish the coaching.
11. Players are NOT permitted to wipe their hand on any part of the table or to pour water on the floor. These breaches may result in penalty points. You may use a sponge with water on it only.  

Accommodation:

Accommodation arrangements are your own responsibility. The NSW Veterans Committee has booked the Manuka Park Serviced Apartments 1 Oxley St. Griffith. ACT 2603.

The team accommodation booked is:

9 nights Fri 29 Sept to – Sun 8 Oct

• 8 x 1 bedroom Twin Apartments    – 1 x QS & 1 x single bed. Room cost = $1980
• 8 x 1 bedroom Double Apartments – 1 x QS bed only              Room cost = $1980  

All apartments have full kitchens, washer & dryer, lounge & separate bathroom. The accommodation is booked from check-in on Friday – 29^th September to check-out on Sunday 8^th October.   

There are limited rooms available due to school holidays & Floriade being on during these dates. Please advise your requirements ASAP.

Any alternate bookings will need to be managed by yourself. You may need to consider either Motel or Hotel style bookings.

There are rooms available at the Pinnacle Apartments:  They have 1,2 & 3 bedroom apartments.

Please note this venue has NO lift – the apartments are on - ground, level 1 and level 2.

The address is 11 Ovens St. Griffith. ACT 2603. Phone: 02 6239 9799

The 2 x bedroom apartments are available for the period - Friday 29 September to Sunday 8 October 2023. The cost of the 2 x bedroom apartments are $409 per night.

To book the team accommodation, please advise Leonie. The full cost as stated above MUST be paid to Ian Finlay by the Veterans Challenge Day on 27 August at Olympic Park.

Payment by cash (correct money please), cheque (made out to NSW Veterans Table Tennis) or direct debit with receipt. (Commonwealth Bank BSB 062-207 Acc No 10402498) Ian needs the receipt for auditing purposes.

PLEASE INFORM LEONIE ASAP IF YOU REQUIRE TEAM ACCOMMODATION at Manuka Park.  Email: mail@ttnsw.org.au

If any player does not wish to take up this offer of representing NSW at the 2023 Nationals Championships, they should contact Jennifer as soon as possible so a replacement can be arranged.  Jennifer Aduckiewicz nswvetsttsecretary@gmail.com Mobile 0408291942

PAYMENTS:

 Individual entry – to Table Tennis Australia – on-line – entry deadline 18^th August & payment deadline is 8^th September.

Membership upgrade: to Table Tennis NSW – upgrade invoice will be generated.

Team Uniforms: to Table Tennis NSW – on-line invoice will be generated.

Accommodation – Team accommodation to be paid to Ian by 27 August

Once again, congratulations on being chosen to represent NSW in the 2023 National Veterans Championships. We hope you enjoy the competition and we look forward to celebrating both NSW Team and Individual performances.

Yours sincerely

Jennifer Aduckiewicz

Secretary NSW Veterans Table Tennis Committee