FREE PING PONG FUN July 31 and Aug 1: 13th "FORREST GUMP MEMORIAL" TABLE TENNIS GET TOGETHER

PING PONG FUN FOR ALL July 31 and August 1 IN HELENA.
o o ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME
o o JOIN US IN PING PONG FESTIVAL FUN IN TWO FREE TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS FOR PLAYERS OF ALL LEVELS AND AGES IN HELENA
Players of all levels and ages who love
table tennis/ping pong are welcome,.
INCLUDING those who have not played for a long time.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth
divisions and other divisions for beginners
Hosted by the Helena Table Tennis Club
Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church,
400 S Oakes in Helena.
o o FREE.
o o ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME TO JOIN IN PING PONG FESTIVAL FUN.
o o Players of ALL levels and ages who love table tennis/ping pong are welcome.
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those needing them.
REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026... DETAILS BELOW.
>>> Questions? Contact Tournament Director Frank Kromkowski at 406-443-0843 or [email protected]

SPONSORS:
>> Helena Table Tennis Club https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
>>Paddle Palace of Portland, Oregon https://www.paddlepalace.com/Aboutus.asp , https://paddlepalaceclub.com/team/

>>> August 1: 13th HELENA FORREST GUMP MEMORIAL TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT. Saturday, August 1, 2026 -- Starting at 9 am.
The August 1 tournament is free and open to all.
Players from anywhere and of all levels and ages who love
table tennis/ping pong are welcome.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth
divisions and other divisions for beginners and for those
who have not played for a long time.
August 1 arrival time/player sign-in: Please arrive by 8:30am on 8/1/26 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 9am.

Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S Oakes in Helena.
>>> July 31: Helena-Area-Players-Only Table Tennis Tournament Friday, July 31, 2026 -- Starting at 5 pm
The July 31 tournament is free and is only for Helena-
area-players -- with players of all ages and levels
welcome.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth
divisions and other divisions for beginners and for those
who have not played for a long time.
July 31 arrival time/player sign-in: Please arrive by 4:30pm 7/31 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 5pm.
Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S Oakes in Helena.

REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026 ... You can find the Registration Form below.
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those who need them. Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S Oakes in Helena.
>>> Questions? Contact Tournament Director Frank
Kromkowski -406-443-0843 or [email protected]
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those who need
them.
SPONSORS:
Helena Table Tennis Club https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
Paddle Palace of Portland, Oregon https://www.paddlepalace.com/Aboutus.asp , https://paddlepalaceclub.com/team/
>>> August 1: 13th Helena Forrest Gump Memorial Table Tennis Tournament. Saturday, August 1, 2026 -- Starting at 9 am.
The August 1 tournament is free and open to all.
Players from anywhere and of all levels and ages who love
table tennis/ping pong are welcome.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth
divisions and other divisions for beginners and for those
who have not played for a long time.
Arrival time/player sign-in on August 1: Please arrive by 8:30am on 8/1/26 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 9am.
Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S Oakes in Helena.
>>> July 31: Helena-Area-Players-Only Table Tennis Tournament Friday, July 31, 2026 -- Starting at 5 pm
The July 31 tournament is free and is only for Helena-area-
players -- with players of all ages and levels welcome.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth
divisions and other divisions for beginners and for those
who have not played for a long time.
Arrival time/player sign-in on July 31: Please arrive by 4:30pm 7/31 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 5pm.
Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church, 400 S Oakes in Helena.

REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026 ... You can find the Registration Form below.
>>> >>> To SIGN UP/REGISTER to play (for either July 31 or August 1 or both), complete the registration form below. There four easy ways to do this:
… (1) Send the completed registration form to the following e-mail address: [email protected]
… OR (2) If you don't have access to email, mail it via the US Postal Service to: Helena Table Tennis Club, c/o Frank Kromkowski, 1207 Hauser, Helena, MT 59601-2134.
… OR (3) Send your registration form info via Facebook message to HTTC at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
… OR (4) Call HTTC Tournament Director Frank Kromkowski of the Helena Table Tennis Club at 406-443-0843
Registration Form for July 31 AND/OR August 1:
NAME: _____________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:
____________________ ________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________________
PHONE: .. __________________________
DATE OF BIRTH (NEEDED FOR AGE-RELATED DIVISIONS):
___________________________
I want to play in
____ the July 31 Helena-area players only tournament
____ the August 1 Forrest Gump tournament
I want to play in the following tournament Groups/Divisions ...
... Check all that apply.
__ MEN'S SINGLES DIVISION
__ WOMEN’S SINGLES DIVISION
__ YOUTH DIVISION… Ages: __ 8-11, __ 12-15, __15-18, __ 19-20
__ “BEGINNER’S” DIVISION
__ “CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I LAST PLAYED” DIVISION
__ DOUBLES DIVISION
Doubles Partner’s Name and Phone Number:
___________________________________________________________
_____ I do not have a doubles partner. Help me find one.
______________________________________________________________________
TOURNAMENT PROCESS AND RULES FOR AUGUST 1 & JULY 31:
The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those who need them.
o o To assure health and safety: All persons experiencing physical symptoms possibly related to COVID‐19 (including coughing or fever over 100 degrees F, difficulty breathing and other common COVID symptoms) are prohibited from entering the tournament area…
>>> The 13th Forrest Gump Table Tennis Tournament in Helena will be held Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Matches start at 9am August 1. The site will be open for practice/warm-up at 8am. There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and other divisions.
The site will be open for practice/warm-up at 7am August 1.
Arrival time and player sign-in on Saturday, August 1: Please arrive by 8:30 am to sign in, so we can begin right at 9am.
>>> Helena-Area-Players-Only Table Tennis Tournament will be held Friday, July 31, 2026.
Matches start at 5pm July 31. The site will be open for practice/warm-up at 4pm. There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and other divisions.
Arrival time and player sign-in on Friday, July 31: Please arrive by 4:30pm to sign in, so we can begin right at 5pm.
o o Entries in the July 31 and August 1 tournaments will be sorted by the HTTC's Tournament Directors into separate Divisions A, B, C and D for tournament match play – The sorting will be based on preliminary Round-Robin play (where everyone plays everyone else). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Preliminary Round-Robin matches (to determine placement in the A, B, C and D competition Divisions) will start at 9am on August 1 -- and will start at 5pm on July 31.
To start the tournament, players will be sorted into Round-Robin groups (with everyone playing everyone in each Round-Robin group).
Use of Round-Robin play is intended to maximize the number of possible matches you can play in the tournament and assure fair placement in the A, B, C and D competition Divisions. These Preliminary Round Robin Men's matches are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two games is the winner of the match).
We will set up preliminary Preliminary Round-Robin groups of 3 or 4 players (for the Men’s and the Women’s Division), with the first-place finisher advancing to Division A, 2nd place to Division B, 3rd place to Division C and 4th place to Division D.
o o Women's Singles Division: Preliminary Round matches (to establish Women's Division A, B, C and D tournament groupings) start at 5pm Friday 7/31 and at 9 am Saturday 8/1, with a Preliminary Round round-robin format (in which everyone plays everyone).
These Preliminary Round Robin Women's matches (and ALL matches) are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two is the winner of the match). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Men's Singles Division: Preliminary Round matches (to establish Divisions A,B. C and D tournament groupings). Preliminary Round-Robin Play starts at 5pm July 31 and 9am August 1.,
These Preliminary Round Robin Men's matches are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two games is the winner of the match). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Doubles Division: The Doubles Division will begin when the singles tournaments are completed – or earlier if tables are available. >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Youth Division: Age groups (Round-Robin: Everyone plays everyone): __ 8-11, __ 12-15, __15-18, __19-20
>>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o There are two special divisions to help everyone feel welcome and compete fairly:
>> “BEGINNER’S” DIVISION – those who are just starting out, just learning the game.
>> “CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I LAST PLAYED” DIVISION – “old-timers” wanting to come back and have some fun.
Equipment and rules:
o o Five tables are available for the tournament.
o o All matches are best of three (i.e., the first player to win two games is the winner of the match). >>> This could be changed to best of five depending on the number of players registered to play.
o o Three-star Nittaku competition-level balls will be used: New, unused 40+mm 3-star balls will be provided by co-sponsor Paddle Palace of Portland.
o o Referees (from among the tournament players) will be provided for all matches.
All matches will have referees as scorekeepers. The referee will announce the score after each point, before the next serve.
The loser of a match must remain at the table and keep score and serve as the referee for the subsequent match.
Referees will return the match results to the Tournament Director on index cards provided for each match.
Referee's decisions are final concerning disputed plays. Referees may consult, as needed, with the Tournament Director for clarification of rules.
o o Players are reminded to respect each other and to respect the equipment/tables -- refrain from leaning on the table or hitting the table with your racket and refrain from wiping your hands on the table.
o o Players are encouraged to remember that a tournament is a friendly competition not a war.
We encourage you wish each other luck as you begin -- as is the beautiful custom at the famous South Bend Table Tennis --
https://southbendtabletennis.com/
o o USA Table Tennis rules will apply: https://www.usatt.org/rules-of-table-tennis
• Games are played to 11 points, A player must win by 2 points.
• Each player gets 2 serves, alternating between players. A player does not have to win specifically off their own serve in order to win a point.
• If a game ties at 10-10, a player must win by 2 points. In this situation, players serve one serve each, alternating.
Legal Serving Rules:
• You must throw the ball up straight, from a flat palm, at least 6 inches (16cm)
• Your toss and service contact must be behind the table surface (not over)
• You cannot hide the ball with any part of your body during service, from the ball toss, to contact with the raquet.
• If the ball hits the net during service and lands on the table on the opponent’s side, a "let serve" (“play it over’) is called by the Referee (and the point is replayed). There is no limit or point deductions for let serves.
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