After seeing a couple of players at the Nationals, I'm wondering if we need a dress code.  If we're trying to improve the image of TT, we need to be aware that poorly dressed players will not attract, but detract from the product and image we are trying project to the public.  Should the tournament refereee be able to red card a player who presents a bad image of our sport?

I really have to disagree with you Mike.  I play for fun and am, even on the best of days "sartorially challenged".  I enjoy the variety of characters and their diverse fashion choices.  I don't think that trying to make everyone conform to a dress code is going to change anyone's mind about the seriousness (or lack thereof) of Table Tennis.  Getting a reputation as a group of easy-going fun-lovers might even work to our advantage.

That being said, aside from a couple comedic outfits, I didn't see anything that I consider out of the ordinary.  Maybe there were some outfits I missed...

Consider that one of the best in the world (JM Saive) rolls his shorts up until they look like a thong...  I like his game, but find his outfit pretty odd.

bes
p.s.  I thought Rob's "Nacho Libre" outfit was a riot.  I tried to get him to yell Na-CHO after winning points, but never saw him do it...

There already IS a dress code (see below, from USATT rules on www.usatt.org) - the problem is that it's not respected nor enforced, thus further reinforcing the "basement / non-athletic / game" character of TT in America, even at official tournaments.
There can certainly be a place for certain "comedic" outfits, but shouldn't the majority of matches be treated as serious sport and require appropriate clothing?

3.02.02 Playing Clothing
3.02.02.01
Playing clothing shall normally
consist of a short-sleeved or
sleeveless shirt and shorts or skirt
or one-part sports outfits, socks and
playing shoes; other garments, such
as part or all of a track suit, shall not
be worn during play except with the
permission of the referee
3.02.02.02
The main color of a shirt, skirt or
shorts, other than sleeves and collar
of a shirt shall be clearly different
from that of the ball in use.
3.02.02.08
The players of a team taking part in
a team match, and players of the
same Association forming a doubles
pair in a World or Olympic Title
Competition, shall be dressed
uniformly, with the possible
exception of socks, shoes and the
number, size, color and design of
advertisements on clothing. Players
of the same Association forming a
doubles pair in other international
competitions may wear clothes of
different manufacturers, if the basic
colors are the same and their
National Association authorizes this
procedure.
3.02.02.09
Opposing players and pairs shall
wear shirts that are of sufficiently
different colors to enable them to be
easily distinguished by spectators.
3.02.02.10
Where opposing players or teams
have a similar shirt and cannot
agree which of them will change,
the decision shall be made by the
umpire by lot.

I couldn't agree with you more. In College Table Tennis competition you will see most players that belong to a club with team uniforms tucked in all in unison with the same colors, etc.

I can't wait for Sheri's idea for ONLY club membership will be taking off, then people will no longer be allowed to join usatt as a single person, but join as part of a club. Wait for it as it is a great idea!

I played Soccer for 14 years and you couldn't get on the field without your team uniform and shirts tucked in (though the end of the game we looked like ragamuffins!:)

I don't think everyone should have to wear $30 Stiga shirts, cool as they may be, and I don't like first time club or tournament players being harassed by the overzealous because they start out wearing blue jeans or a baseball cap to keep hair or sweat from their eyes.

But some of you guys who've been in the sport long enough to know better SHOULD be red carded. Funky t-shirts with holes in them at a club or tournament ? Don't you have any respect for the sport ? Pay how much for your Racket or to enter a tournament but not $5 a pop for a few new dark colored t-shirts at the very least ?

Heck go crazy and buy a few $10 solid color golf shirts and a couple pairs of TT or dark tennis shorts and maybe a $30 warm-up suit at walmart or sears.

Then you complain about prize money or the sports slow growth - or the poor ratio of women to men in the sport ?

I do think leaving it up to the umpires to permit or forbid wearing of otherwise tasteful slacks, warm-ups or a ball-cap especially for rated or seniors events is a questionable delegation of power though, especially for non-spectator oriented courts and matches.

As that guy on the 20-20 news program says - 'give me a break' !

www.RealTableTennis.Com

>How many young people (especially women) do you think thought Rob looked cute or funny.

I think the ratio of young people (especially women) that enjoyed the outfit was higher than old people (especially men).

--Rob

Even if we have limited spectators, it still has some impact on players, families, sponsors, news media etc. Who knows, particularly in Vegas, which influential communications, sport or bussiness executive, maybe with curiousity based on a little ping-pong history from his college days, might wander through the hall unknown to us and rightfully judge our potential based on what he sees at what he judges to surely be one of our premier events ?

Does anyone remember the article on our nationals a few years ago in GQ or some other men's magazine ?

While he may have started off with a desire or tendency to find a negative story, about nerdishness in an non-contact, non-mainstream (in USA) sport, some of us didn't disapoint that author either with clueless behavior, dress and ill considered remarks, including some who should know better by now and have reasons to care about the sport's image and future.

I certainly value substance over superficial appearances, but we should improve our weaknesses, especially in areas as easy to remedy as these.

With the exception of a little of the torn-sleves 'bad-boy' image, promoting some fringe behavior by one troubled player, Killerspin has gotten this at least 95% right and it has done the sport lots of good, which I hope more of us will stop undermining for the sake of some personal attention or an excessive need for self-expression or 'freedom' to be a slob or a clown or something.

 

www.RealTableTennis.Com

Thanks Dave, you said it so much better than I did.

There is no way you'll convince me that we have more of an  image problem that runners or cyclists... 

Geez - have you ever seen a gaggle of runners?  Most of them think that goofy hats, short-shorts, tank tops (usually in clashing (if that is possible) pastel colors), and ankle socks are de-rigeur? 

Bikers in their multi-colored spandex make Rob look practically Amish.

What about basketball - slightly more popular in this (and many other) country than TT.  Check out what they wear on the playground.  Go to a city (any city) 3 on 3 tournament.  Notice anything?

In many, if not most parts of the world, only the elite (or richest) in most sports have matching uniforms.   Watch amateur soccer in South America, the Middle East, or Africa.  Not much matching, but hugely popular.  Same with baseball in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and other places. 

Heck, even here in the good ole US of A I vaguely remember playing "shirts and skins".  I don't seem to be suffering greatly from the apparently unimaginable horror of not having "proper" uniforms.  Maybe that explains why dodgeball never made it as a medal sport...

In most indoor soccer leagues - at least in my general area - real uniforms are rare.  Most teams are doing well if they all have "mostly blue", "mostly white", or whatever color tee-shirts.  Mesh target jerseys are frequently required.  There are a heck of a lot more soccer players around here than TT players.  The above seems to be equally true regardless of whether the team is made up of mostly rich kids, or very poor kids.

I can't imagine too many aspiring or potential TT kids quitting due to fashion issues.  I can't imagine many parents - and certainly none that I would miss - worrying about it either.  Either the sport is attractive on its own, or it isn't.  I'd much rather watch good TT, soccer, or baseball without neat uniforms any day than bad - with perfect uniforms (and hair).

I think that a "fashion police attitude" is potentially more of a problem (or at least an indicator of a problem) than "improper" dress.  It didn't take me long to learn that many in the TT community take themselves WAY to seriously.  Getting rid of a lot of the prima donna attitude would do a lot of good.  I think that being more friendly, patient, and understanding with new players would do more for "return business" at most clubs that fancy cloths.  I've dropped in on clubs where I had to nearly assault someone to get pointed in the right direction, and others where I was greeted at the door.  Guess which was more enjoyable?  Guess which ones I can't wait to visit next time I'm in that town? 

Getting a cold shoulder as a somewhat experienced player (little over three years now) is bad enough - and I'm not that shy or sensitive.  Getting that treatment as a total newbie would make almost anyone look for another sport.

Rant over...

bes

>  TT is a sport that deserves special clothing - how many people actually understand that TT shoes exist for a reason and that wearing them allows you to play better? But then again, how many people realize the importance of footwork, and thus athleticism etc.? And how many understand that Stiga makes those $40 wicking jerseys because competitive table tennis makes you sweat a lot?

I've got to say the Boxing boots that I wore were by far the best shoes I've ever played table tennis in on concrete. They were even good for walking where my other table tennis shoes leave my feet and heels sore afterward.

The shorts and top I wore were the same material that Stiga uses in their wicking jerseys. It felt nice to play in.

 

--Rob