Ladders
Monday, February 19th, 2007
| SCTC Challenge Ladder Rules | |
| 1. Ladder Categories 2. Current Ladder Standings 3. Ladder Periods | |
| Suggestions on Reporting Scores | |
Preamble
All play on any of the SCTC Ladders is governed by the rules and code of conduct of the USTA and by the following SCTC Challenge Ladder Rules. In the case of any conflict, SCTC Challenge Ladder Rules take precedence.
The purpose of the SCTC Ladders is to promote competition that is fair and enjoyable to the participants. Players are expected to follow the rules as they are prescribed. Players, however, always have the option, with the unanimous agreement from all parties involved in a challenge or a match, to modify the rules to accommodate extenuating or unusual circumstances.
Note: all references to “player” in these rules are to be replaced with “team” for Doubles Ladders.
[Please send questions or report scores via email to the Ladder Director.]
The SCTC will maintain separate Ladders in each of the following categories, as activity warrants.
| 1. Open Singles | 2. Men’s Doubles | 3. Women’s Doubles | 4. Mixed Doubles |
There will be only one Ladder for each category, with no classifications within a category.
The previous month’s Ladder activity and match scores will be published in the Club’s newsletter. Challengers in each match will be designated by (c). In addition, the current Ladder ranking will be updated regularly and will be posted in an email update. Ladder rankings will also be published periodically on the Club’s Web Site. The newsletter will not reflect the current standings and will generally be about two weeks out of date.
Each calendar year contains the following 9 Ladder periods, which begin on the first day and end on the last day of the indicated months:
1. January/February
2. March/April
3. May
4. June
5. July
6. August
7. September
8. October
9. November/December
4.1 All Ladder members are required to play a minimum of one challenge match during each and every Ladder period. Failure to do so will result in being dropped from the Ladder.
4.2 Any player dropped from the Ladder for not observing minimum play requirements may rejoin at any time (see Joining a Ladder, Rule 5).
To join a Ladder a player must first contact the Ladder Chairperson. Then a player may challenge any of the six bottom players on a Ladder, with the exceptions noted in 5.1 and 5.2. The two exceptions apply only to Ladders with more than 25 participants.
5.1 A player who has never been a member of a particular Ladder will have three opportunities to challenge anyone on the Ladder with the exception of the top six players.
5.2 A player who has not played on a particular Ladder for a period of one year will have two opportunities to challenge anyone on the Ladder with the exception of the top six players.
5.3 If all “free� challenge matches are lost, the player will be placed at the bottom of the Ladder.
5.4 If a challenge is won, the player is on the Ladder (see Rule 6.6).
5.5 If any “free� challenges remain after a player is on the Ladder the player may use them but only if the matches are played within the current or next Ladder period.
5.6 1/10/00 revision: for the Mixed Doubles Ladder only, a player may form a second team with a different partner.
6.1 A Ladder match must be initiated by the challenger contacting (phone, email or in person) one of the six players directly above his or her current position. Inactive players will not count in determining these six players. Phone or in-person challenges are to occur between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
6.2 The time and location of the match are to be mutually agreed upon. However, from the date of the original contact, no more than 4 days shall pass without establishment of a definite date.
6.2a The match is to be scheduled within 3 weeks of the initial contact.
6.2b Ladder members must be available for matches on weekends. If no weekend times are available within 3 weeks of the initial contact the challenged player must offer at least one weeknight alternative within 3 weeks of the initial contact between the hours of 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
6.2c Players may legitimately decline a match only if all of the following conditions apply: a) they have played 6 matches in two successive Ladder periods; b) at least 2 of the matches were a challenge by a player below them on the Ladder; c) the Ladder Chairperson has been notified and has verified a and b.
6.2d Difficulties in scheduling matches are to be reported to the Ladder Chairperson. A single failure to reply to a challenge as outlined in 6.2 may result in a downgrade of up to 3 ladder steps. Repeated failure to reply to challenges is grounds for being dropped from the Ladder.
6.3 Challenge matches initiated beyond the six-player limit will be void. The challenger will be penalized one position on the Ladder for each violation of this rule.
6.4 A player may not issue a challenge to a player for three weeks from the completion of a Ladder match with that player. Under this rule, a default counts as a completed match.
6.5 The challenger must furnish 3 new (not previously opened) USTA approved tennis balls.
6.6 A challenger who wins a match will advance directly to the position above the opponent.
6.7 If by the time the match is played, the challenger has advanced to a position above the opponent, he or she has challenged, the match will be played as originally scheduled with the original challenger furnishing tennis balls per Rule 6.5. The original challenger must notify the challenged player before the match if their positions have changed from the time of the original challenge. The winner, in reporting the score, must note that the challenger has risen above the challengee and the ‘(c)’ designation required by Rule 2 shall be assigned to the challengee.
6.8. Use of USTA approved oversize tennis balls are allowed as long as it is mutually agreed to by both players. Otherwise standard size balls will be used.
7.1 All challenge matches shall consist of the best 2 of 3 sets. Regular scoring shall be used, unless both players agree to no-ad. A 12-point tiebreak shall be played at 6-games-all.
7.2 When other players are waiting, or it is getting dark, the players may use no-ad for the 3rd set. Or, they may play best 2 of 3 games, or best 2 of 3 tiebreaks, if mutually agreeable. If the 2 of 3 games option is chosen, the 3rd game, if necessary, shall be a 12-point tiebreak.
7.3 There shall be no coaching at any stage of a ladder match.
8.1 Winning players must report match results within 2 days to the Ladder Chairperson. Failure to report the match will result in forfeiture of the match to the opponent.
8.2 Matches may be reported to the Chairperson by either email or the Ladder phone line.
If the scheduled match is rained out, the match shall be rescheduled and played within two weeks. If the match is interrupted by rain or the lights going off, it shall be resumed within two weeks with the score as it was when the match was halted. Players also have the option of starting a 3rd set from inception upon continuation, or consulting the Ladder Chairperson on how to finish.
10.1 Once a match time is established, should a player be unable to play at that time, the match is considered a default, unless the other player is notified 24 hours in advance. In this case the match is to be promptly rescheduled. It is the obligation of the player who requests the postponement to take the initiative to reschedule the match within two weeks. If this player does not reschedule his opponent is entitled to claim a default. Any player consistently rescheduling matches will be removed from the Ladder.
10.2 Failure to appear within 15 minutes of a scheduled match time is a default. The opponent receives credit for a match played and won. The defaulting player receives no credit.
10.3 Once a match has begun, should a player be unable to finish due to an injury or illness, the result is a default with the opponent winning the match and the defaulting player receiving match credit. The score of the games played will be reported, followed by “retired.�
11.1 A player may request inactive status for a cumulative period not to exceed six weeks during any calendar year. Reasons for inactive status may include injury, illness, vacation or scheduling conflicts. A player on inactive status will keep their place on the Ladder.
11.2 Players who will be unable to compete on the Ladder for a period longer than 6 weeks will be dropped from the Ladder.
Players will be removed from the Ladder for repeated rules violations. Players removed from the Ladder may rejoin after a period of one year. Ladder members who cease to be members of the SCTC simultaneously lose their membership on the ladder. If they are reinstated in the SCTC within one year, they shall be reinstated at the bottom of the ladder.
Any disputes arising from Ladder play will be arbitrated by the Ladder Chairperson but will be subject to appeal to the Board of Directors.
Suggestions on Reporting ScoresIt is preferable to report scores by email, with a copy to the opponent.The format for scores via email should be, “<date> - <winner>[(c)] def. <loser>[(c)], <scores>”. For example, if John Smith was challenged by John Doe and won in 3 sets, he would report to the ladder chairman via email as follows:
1/7/01 - John Smith def. John Doe(c), 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
always reporting his set scores first. If John Doe had won in 3 sets, he would report to the ladder chairman via email as follows:
1/7/01 - John Doe(c) def. John Smith, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
For reporting scores via the telephone, the winner should report it as follows, “This is <name>, on <date> I challenged (or was challenged by ) <opponent>, and I won by a score of <score>.”