Table Tennis Australia Announces Changes to National Rankings System

Table Tennis Australia (TTA) today announced significant changes to the National Rankings System, aiming to enhance fairness, accessibility, and the overall integrity of competitive table tennis in the country. These changes will take effect from 31st January 2025 and are designed to better reflect players' performances in national and international events. 

In response to a request by the TTA Board in October 2023, a Working Group was formed to identify areas for improvement in the National Ranking Regulations (NRR). Since November 2023, the Working Group has been working diligently to develop a new computerised, algorithm-based National Rankings System (NRS) that will not only transform the way rankings are determined, but one that will also enhance accuracy and fairness and ensure the rankings process is efficient and up to date. 

The new automated NRS will generate the National Ranking List (NRL) based on real-time data from tournament results and will be used to determine standings for Junior, Youth, Open and Veterans age categories. This marks a significant step forward in aligning table tennis in Australia with modern technological advancements. 

In September 2024, the TTA Board approved the Working Group’s proposal to begin community consultation. Four consultation sessions were held in October, gathering input from administrators, players, parents, and coaches. These sessions provided a platform for stakeholders to ask questions, offer feedback, and discuss the principles outlined in the NRS White Paper. As a result, several revisions were made to the proposed system based on the feedback received. 

“Moving to an automated ranking system is a game changer for our sport,” said Ms Nicole Adamson, CEO of Table Tennis Australia. “By leveraging technology, we can ensure that the rankings reflect the most accurate and up-to-date information, which will enhance the overall experience for players at all levels. This is just the beginning of our continued efforts to improve the sport’s infrastructure.” 

Former National Champion, Current National Selection Committee Member and TTA Board Member, William Henzell, echoed this sentiment, adding, “I've been part of rankings and selections for many years and I’m confident that the new National Ranking System will ensure fair and transparent processes. The new system removes the complexities and errors that can sometimes arise from manual calculations and gives athletes confidence that their hard work and performances are rewarded.” 

To be eligible for the automated National Rankings System players will need to confirm their Australian citizenship and ensure their TTA membership is paid in full no later than 25 March 2025, this can be done via the TTA Website. The new automated NRS is expected to be fully implemented by this date. The official National Rankings Lists will be published monthly, on the 3rd business day of each month – with the first set of rankings for 2025 to be released on Wednesday 5th February.   
 
Players, coaches, and officials can expect seamless integration into the rankings process, with updates in real time following each competition, from the end of March 2025.  

A sub-committee will be established to ensure feedback from the community can be incorporated as we test and learn throughout the roll out of the process over the next 12 months. Feedback can be provided via admin@tabletennis.org.au  

The related policy and addendums can be viewed here

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