Following the announcement of lockdown 3.0 on January 4, here is a summary of what this means for our competitions structure.
Sanctioned Events & National Events
All Table Tennis England competitions and events are unable to take place during lockdown
1* events will be able to restart when Government advice and restrictions allow us to revert to Stage IV of the ‘ready to return’ pathway’. This includes events scheduled on the events calendar. The next Government review of tiers is scheduled for February 15.
2*, 3* and 4* events remain dependent on Table Tennis England moving to Stage V of the ‘ready to return’ pathway’, and on Government restrictions.
National Events remain dependent on Table Tennis England moving to Stage V of the ‘ready to return’ pathway’, and on Government restrictions, and subject to our cancellation and refund policy. This includes the Cadet & Junior Nationals, U10-13 Nationals, U12 and Junior National Cups, and the London and Gloucester Grands Prix.
For an up-to-date list of scheduled and cancelled events this season, please refer to the published Events Calendar 20/21.
Local leagues cannot take place at this time.
Because of these cancellations and changes to the calendar, Table Tennis England has decided to offer refunds to players who purchased Compete Plus membership (formerly Player Licence) for the 2020/21 season in anticipation of competing at these events.
Refunds are offered on the ‘Plus’ portion of their membership fee (£22 for adults and £11 for under-18s), in line with our published cancellation and refund policy. Details of how to claim can be found below.
How to apply for a refund
A refund is not automatic. This is because many of our members have told us they wish to support the sport by paying their Compete Plus membership fee even though coronavirus restrictions may limit or prevent opportunities to play.
The membership fees we receive help fund an incredible amount of important work at grassroots level – work which has continued throughout the pandemic. They also help us unlock other funds. In fact, for every £1 of membership fee income we receive, we invest an additional £2 in Sport England funding supporting grassroots table tennis.
You can find out more about how your affiliation fees benefit you and the sport as a whole by clicking here.
We recognise that, in these times of uncertainty, many members would prefer a refund. Anyone with Compete Plus membership can ask for a refund on the difference between Compete and Compete Plus membership, amounting to £22 for adults and £11 for under-18s.
How you request a refund depends how you paid.
If you paid via a club, league or by cheque payment you will need to download and complete the refund request form.
If you are on auto-renewal or paid by card over the phone, simply click the button below to let us know, filling in your name, TTID number and email address. It should take less than a minute to submit your request. Click here to request a refund to your card
Please note, for the 2020/21 season, players who compete in any National Championships or National Cup, or at the London or Gloucester Grand Prix later next spring, will be able to do so with Compete membership and will NOT need to upgrade (or re-upgrade) to Compete Plus. Entry into any 2*, 3* or 4* events which take place will also be permitted with Compete membership.
Any players who wish to compete abroad during the season ending July 31, 2021, WILL need to retain Compete Plus membership in order to retain valid insurance cover. This may include talent pathway players playing in foreign leagues and ITTF events; VETTS players; senior players playing in foreign leagues and ITTF events; and para players playing in foreign leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens if I don’t request a refund?
If you do not request a refund, you will remain as a Compete Plus member for the remainder of the season, and your membership fees will help towards supporting our sport.
How do I request a refund?
If you paid via a club, league or by cheque payment you will need to complete the refund request form. If you paid by card or are on auto-renew, simply click on the red button in the section above and fill in a few details and our customer service team will do the rest.
How long will it take to process my refund?
We aim to process all requests within 7 working days but this may take longer depending on how busy our team is – please keep an eye on your email inbox for confirmation.
Why are you not refunding Compete Plus members automatically?
Many of our members have told us they wish to support the sport by paying their fees regardless of the coronavirus restrictions. Therefore, we are asking members to make the choice for themselves and let us know if they wish to receive a refund.
What if I am on auto-renewal?
If you apply for a refund, we will need to cancel your auto renewal in order to process your request. If you wish to continue to auto-renew from the 2021/22 season, you will need to set this up again when you renew.
Will I need to upgrade again to Compete Plus membership if I am able to compete at the London or Gloucester Grand Prix, or in any National Championships or National Cup?
No, Compete membership will be accepted for these competitions for the 2020/21 season.
Will I need to upgrade again to Compete Plus membership if I am able to compete at sanctioned 2*, 3* or 4* events which may take place?
No, Compete membership will be accepted for these competitions for the 2020/21 season.
What if I play (or am scheduled to play) in an overseas league or competition?
You WILL need to retain Compete Plus membership in order for your insurance cover to remain valid.
I have Compete membership – do I qualify for a refund?
There are no plans to refund Compete members. Local Leagues and 1* events have been able to resume as from 01 September at Stage 4 of the Ready to Return pathway and in line with Ready to Return guidance. Entrants to national events at Stage 5, normally requiring Compete Plus membership, will also be able to do so with Compete membership for the remainder of the season.
Can I roll my membership into the 2021/22 season?
We are not offering this option, as it is difficult to plan that far in advance under current circumstances.