December transfer window begins – First time in table tennis history

It’s time for the second transfer window in table tennis.

It will open on Monday, December 11, 2023, and will end on Sunday, December 31, 2023, and is news at the moment, as E.F.O.E.P.A. joins for the first time in its history a second period for transfers within the same season. A decision that was taken in November 2022 is being applied and will be valid from now on.

The second transfer window is added to the summer classic, but it shows a key limitation: As the regulation provides, a sportsman or sportswoman, who competes with one club in one competitive year, cannot wear the jersey of another in the same season.

E.F.O.E.P.A. posted on its website and announcements page (https://shorturl.at/loART) the general instructions for the winter transfer period 2023-24. In the same link there are also the registration-transfer regulations.

The instructions state that “non-Greek citizens have the right to compete in all categories of the Hierarchy Intercollegiate Championships”. Also, that typically the deadline for transfers is Tuesday 02/01/2024. In other words, transfer requests sent by post or courier with a dispatch date of 02/01/2024 will also be accepted. Thereafter, an athlete who has competed in the current season with a team (whether or not transferring in June 2023) may transfer (or re-transfer) in December, but will not be eligible to continue this year’s games with a different jersey.

The federation’s guidelines state, among other things:

“Transfer request

You can find the application at our website address: https://rb.gy/u1x4b

The application must be completely filled out.

It must be stamped by the “hosting” club, where the athlete will be transferred, in both places where a stamp is required.

To be signed by the General Secretary of the host union

It must be signed by the athlete/athlete requesting the transfer and in case the athlete/athlete is a minor, the parent/legal guardian must also co-sign.

2) Terms of participation in the E.F.O.E.P.A. Events.

You can find the application at our website address: http://httf.gr/images/anak/anak_oroi_simmetoxis_conditions2018.pdf

3) One recent, passport-style photograph

4) Fee according to the transfer fee table and visa fee for athlete card.

For a transfer with the union’s consent, all of the above are required and:

1) Union concession. The license is issued by the association from which the athlete transfers (leaves).

The concession letter must be extracted from the minutes of the board meeting of the withdrawing association.

This transcript must clearly state:

the decision of the Board of Directors of the association to grant: free transfer of the athlete, or promising transfer for one (-1-) year, or promising transfer for two (-2-) years, the name of the sportsman/athlete sponsoring the transfer.

Transfer of sportsmen and women from abroad

1) Transfer application which is completed exactly like the application described above

2) Terms of participation in the E.F.O.E.P.A. Events.

You can find the application at our website address: http://httf.gr/images/anak/anak_oroi_simmetoxis_conditions2018.pdf

3) Two (-2-) recent, passport-style photographs

4) Parole according to the table of paroles accompanied by an athlete’s card visa parole.

5) Photocopy of passport. Transferees from an EU country can submit a copy of their identity card (ID) instead of a passport

6) Official document, in English, of the Federation to which the athlete primarily belongs. This document should state that the National Federation allows its sportsman/athlete (name as written in the passport) to compete in the 2023-2024 season in the Greek Championship, and in which Greek team he will compete.

The deadline for transfers

Transfers close on Tuesday 2/1/2024. Transfer applications sent by post or courier with a delivery date of 02/01/2024 will also be accepted. The date of dispatch is indicated by the stamp on the shipping envelope which should be clear and easy to read.

Late applications are rejected.”