1. REGISTRATION PROCESS & INITIAL RANKINGS – Interested in signing-up for a ladder? Just click Join a Ladder, enter your information, create a log-in and password and pay the registration fee. At this point you can move to your ladder page or join another ladder. You may play in as many regions as you like on singles, doubles and/or mixed doubles ladders.
2. RANKINGS – After registering you will be ranked on the ladder(s) you register for. These rankings occur chronologically in order of registration; in other words, the earlier you sign-up, the higher your initial ranking.
3. CHALLENGING – You may challenge a player ranked one or two spots above you. If you win your match you take the place of the person you defeated. Once you log in, your ladder(s) will appear and you may click on the user name of the player you would like to challenge. You may now issue your challenge and specify the place and time of the match. An email will be sent to the player being challenged who may accept, decline or modify the challenge.
4. IF YOU ARE CHALLENGED – If you are challenged you will receive the challenge email from thetennisladder.com and then you have three options:
a. ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE – Click on the Accept Challenge link in the email to accept the challenge. You have 48 hours from the moment you are challenged to respond and 72 hours from the moment you are challenged to play the match.
b. MODIFY THE CHALLENGE – Instead of accepting the challenge, click on the Modify Challenge link in the email to propose a different time and/or location for the match. As the person being challenged, you have the responsibility to find an acceptable match time and location within 72 hours from the moment you are challenged or else you will forfeit the match and your opponent will take your place on the ladder.
c. DECLINE THE CHALLENGE – Instead of accepting or modifying the challenge, you may click on the Decline Challenge link in the email and forfeit the match. This is the option you should choose if you cannot accept the challenge due to illness, vacation, busy schedule, etc. Although you forfeit matches you decline, this process will keep the ladder moving and allow players to participate in more matches. This option is also the default if you do not respond to a challenge within 48 hours.
ACTION |
TIME PERIOD |
| CHALLENGE ISSUED |
CLOCK BEGINS TICKING |
| ACCEPT CHALLENGE |
WITHIN 48 HOURS OF CHALLENGE |
| PLAY MATCH |
WITHIN 72 HOURS OF CHALLENGE |
| REPORT SCORES (WINNER REPORTS) |
WITHIN 72 HOURS OF CHALLENGE |
| ISSUE NEXT CHALLENGE |
ANY TIME AFTER THE SCORE IS ENTERED |
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5. MATCH RULES –
a. BEST TWO OUT OF THREE SETS – All challenge matches must be played in the best two out of three sets format with a seven-point tiebreaker played if any set is tied at 6-6. Players will spin a racquet or flip a coin to determine the initial serve or side of the court.
b. RULES – The Rules of Tennis will apply to all challenge matches so please become familiar with such rules. These rules may be found at www.usta.com.
6. AFTER EVERY MATCH – After every challenge match, the winner must report the score on thetennisladder.com by logging in and clicking on the Report Score link located on your ladder page. Scores must be entered within 72 hours of the challenge being issued or else the players will remain in the same ladder positions. Both players may challenge immediately after any match scores are reported but not before.
7. EQUIPMENT, COURTS & WEATHER – The player being challenged is responsible for bringing at least three tennis balls to the match. Additionally, both players must supply their own tennis equipment (racquet, tennis shoes, water, etc.). Both players are responsible for finding tennis courts and paying all required court fees (if applicable). If inclement weather does not permit a match to be played over the entire 72 hour challenge period, log in and click the Inclement Weather link and, by doing so, the players will remain in the same ladder positions.
8. LADDER SEASONS – Each tennis ladder will be three months in length and you may register and begin playing at any time during any particular season.
SEASON |
LADDER START DATE |
LADDER END DATE |
| SPRING |
MARCH 1 |
MAY 31 |
| SUMMER |
JUNE 1 |
AUGUST 31 |
| FALL |
SEPTEMBER 1 |
NOVEMBER 30 |
| WINTER |
DECEMBER 1 |
FEBRUARY 28 |
9. PRIZES – Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each ladder category.
10. REFUND POLICY – No refunds are permitted once you have registered and paid for any tennis ladder. This policy will remain in effect regardless of how many matches you have played during the particular ladder season. Additionally, you are not guaranteed any specific number of matches per ladder season as this depends entirely upon the discretion of the players issuing the challenges. However, please keep in mind that players refusing challenges or otherwise missing matches will automatically drop down the ladder and this should provide you will a greater number of matches.
11. TENNIS LADDER BASICS –
a. WHAT IS A TENNIS LADDER – A tennis ladder is a way for local tennis enthusiasts to meet and play matches with other similarly skilled players at mutually convenient times and locations.
b. TYPES OF LADDERS – Our ladders come in two forms: Public and Private.
PUBLIC LADDERS Open to anyone
PRIVATE LADDERS Open by invitation only – these ladders require a password
c. LADDER CATEGORIES –
MEN’S SINGLES
MEN’S DOUBLES |
Open to all male participants |
WOMEN’S SINGLES
WOMEN’S DOUBLES |
Open to all female participants |
| MIXED DOUBLES |
Teams consist of one woman and one man |
OLDER ADULT MEN’S SINGLES
OLDER ADULT MEN’S DOUBLES
OLDER ADULT WOMEN’S SINGLES
OLDER ADULT WOMEN’S DOUBLES
OLDER ADULT MIXED DOUBLES |
Special ladders for players over 55 years old |
YOUTH BOY’S SINGLES
YOUTH BOY’S DOUBLES
YOUTH GIRL’S DOUBLES
YOUTH GIRL’S DOUBLES |
Special ladders for players aged 15-18 |
d. ABILITY LEVELS – these levels are merely guidelines and players may register for any ladder where they feel their ability level will make them competitive.
BEGINNER Equivalent to a USTA ranking of 2.5
ADVANCED BEGINNER Equivalent to a USTA ranking of 3.0
INTERMEDIATE Equivalent to a USTA ranking of 3.5
ADVANCED Equivalent to a USTA ranking of 4.0 and higher
Players can sign up for different ability levels in different categories but cannot sign up for two different levels in any one category. For example, a player may not play on both Advanced Beginner and Intermediate singles ladders within the same region but may play on Advanced Beginner Doubles and Intermediate singles ladders within the same region.
e. OLDER ADULT LADDERS – players aged 55 or older may register for the Older Adult Tennis Ladders. The ability levels on this ladder are equivalent to the Adult Ladder levels. Older adults may also register for an Adult Ladder but not a Youth Ladder.
f. YOUTH LADDER – children between the ages of 15 and 18 may register for the Youth Tennis Ladders. The ability levels on this ladder are equivalent to the Adult Ladder levels. Youth may also register for an Adult Ladder but not an Older Adult ladder. |
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