• It must include the sports of table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis
• Equal weight must be given to each sport
• Every point counts

Games in all sports are played with table tennis scoring, 11-up or 21-up , with 2 serves alternating. In International competitions sets are played to 21 points with a match usually taking an hour.

Typically, the ‘play for your place’ (progressive knockout) system is used to give players an equal number of matches. In a knockout draw of 32, all players play 5 matches until they achieve a place of 1st to 32nd place. The UK tournament circuit events are typically banded from Class A down to Class C or D. Doubles classes in men’s, women’s & mixed also exist, with partners competing as doubles in all the sports except squash where they play half a singles set each.

What is the Standard Like?

Currently, to be the racketlon world champion county standard in all four sports would suffice. It is very common for example for a good club table tennis player to be able to beat most of the World Top Ten (in racketlon) at table tennis.

Thus it is a sport very much geared towards fun and enjoyment and a new challenge for racket sport enthusiasts. It is very common for players to enter tournaments while only principally having one strength. There are few players in the whole of the UK who would be good club players in all sports. Most players have weaknesses and ordinarily if you regularly play one racket sport and dabble with the other racket sports, you should be competitive.

It is surprising how fast you can pick up the sports and also how transferable skills are to the other sports. Many new enthusiasts find they have a racketlon flair, either having or establishing a second strong sport. This typifies the racketlon spirit as many enthusiasts are only regularly able to practice one sport, yet still on the day compete alongside top players from other racket sports. With a good competitive spirit, racketlon can prove an exciting challenge and there is no question it improves your fitness.

The Future Development of Racketlon

The International Racketlon Federation (FIR) overseas the sport & has promoted the setting up of national bodies. In recent years a world tour with monthly events, mainly in Europe and Canada, has developed.

The UK has a now well established UK tour also with monthly events. Around the world other national tours exist, along with satellite events in countries from the USA to Hong Kong. National ranking systems exist in many countries & a world ranking system also exists. Internationally, team championships are well established & in some countries, racket clubs have developed inter-club competitions.

National & International junior events are flourishing & the sport is seeing renewed interest from those tasked with ’racket development’ in the club and schools environment.

In the UK university students have started to take to racketlon in ever greater numbers. Racketlon has been a ’best kept secret’ for a number of years, but now with signs of real grass roots interest it is seen as set to take off!
 

Racketlon Website Links

Official Website of the International Racketlon Federation:
www.racketlon.net

Internet Home of International Racketlon since 2001:
www.racketlon.com

'Official Homepage of the English Racketlon Association
www.englishracketlon.org

Official Homepage of the British Racketlon Federation:
www.racketlon.co.uk

Enter events at www.activeeurope.com

Or contact
racketlon@vodafone.net
for more information

English Open
2008

World Open 2007