Joining the Ladder

  1. New participants to the ladder with be placed at the bottom of the ladder.
  2. A new participant will be allowed an initial challenge of anyone in the ladder.
  3. If the new participant wins the challenge, he/she assumes the rank of the higher-ranked player, who in turn moves down one rank position. All players ranked below will be moved accordingly.
  4. If the new participant loses the match, he/she remains in their position and may challenge a player up to 5 spots above their rank going forward.
      

Scheduling a Match

  1. You may play a challenge match against the same person only once per week.  Any additional matches against the same opponent during that week will not be given any credit for purposes of the challenge ladder.
  2. Ladder participants may challenge a player up to 5 spots above your rank.   
  3. ALL challenge matches must be acknowledged and a good faith effort should be made to schedule the match. In the case that a challenge match request is not acknowledged within 2 weeks of the initial contact, the challenger may ask the Ladder Director to grant a default for the match and adjust the ranking position accordingly.  Players can mutually agree not to play a challenge match, for example due to distance.
  4. The challenger is responsible for reserving court time at a mutually agreed upon site and time. Tennis court or guest fees are to be split evenly between the two players. The challenger must provide a new can of tennis balls for the match.
  5. Players are not required to accept more than one challenge per week. Otherwise, however, members must accept valid challenges from other members, or accept a loss by default.

Match Rules

  1. All tennis matches are best two out of three sets with regular scoring, and a twelve point tiebreaker played at six games each.
  2. If the match is interrupted, the match must resume from the point of the interruption, unless both players mutually agree otherwise. The match should be completed as soon as possible, but not later than one week from the date of the interruption.
  3. The retirement of a player during a challenge match will be recognized as a completed match if the match was started and at least one point played.  The score should be recorded with the player retiring as the loser.
  4. The default (no show) of a scheduled challenge match will be recognized as a played match.   All defaults should be emailed to the Ladder Director and the ladder rankings will be moved accordingly. Only tennis matches specifically set up as challenge matches qualify.

Reporting Scores

To earn ladder points, the winner must e-mail the results to the Ladder Director no later than seven days after play is completed.
 

Ladder Movement & Points

If the lower ranked player wins the match, he/she assumes the rank of the higher-ranked player, who in turn moves down one rank position. All players ranked below will be moved accordingly. If the higher ranked player wins the match, then no changes in ranking occur.
 
Ladder Point System
20 points for winning
5 points for initiating the challenge match
5 points for losing

Prizes

The TPTA Challenge Ladder will run through October 15th, 2009.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three players who have accumulated the most points.
  

Miscellaneous

  1. Any player who is injured or may have circumstances preventing them from accepting challenges, must notify the Ladder Director in order to be “frozen” in his/her current position. The “FROZEN” position is good until the player is ready to compete again.
  2. ALL rules will be interpreted and disputes between players will be settled at the sole discretion of the Ladder Director.