CTA Challenge Ladder Rules
Match Location
Players decide with their opponent when and where the match will be played. When communicating about match location, if specifying a facility versus general area, players should clearly indicate the full facility name, or be clear that you are suggesting an "area" of town. If the challenger chooses a facility where a guest fee will apply, it is recommended that the challenger cover the guest fee. When going to meet an opponent, players should bring phone contact information in case there is a problem.
Challenge Date
When scheduling a match, players should write down the Challenge Date (date of contact), as well as the match date - this is very important. The computer will use the Challenge Date to calculate the points. (Point calculation is described below.) If a match is rescheduled for any reason, the original Challenge Date remains in effect.
Match/Scoring Format
Play will be the best 2 out of 3 sets. However, if players agree prior to the start of the match, a 10-point tiebreak (first to 10 points by 2) can be played in lieu of the 3rd set. If players agree to a tiebreak up front, they cannot change their mind in the middle of the match to play out the third set. The score for a match tiebreak played in lieu of a third set is entered 1.0. The winner is responsible for recording the match scores in the Ladder program.
Balls
Both players must bring new USTA approved tennis balls to the match. One can is opened, and the loser takes home the used balls while the winner takes home the unopened can.
Three Person Doubles Teams
During the season, players on a three person doubles team are interchangeable. Any two of the three players may issue and accept challenges for match play. A three person doubles team that is eligible to participate in the playoffs, must declare which two players will participate for the entire event.
Mixed Doubles Teams
The rating spread between male and female partners cannot be more than one point. For example, a 3.0 and 4.0 can be paired together on a 7.0 team; however, a 3.0 and a 5.0 cannot be paired together on an 8.0 team.
Rescheduling a Match
In the event of inclement weather at the time of the match, the match must be rescheduled. When rescheduling, the challenger is still considered the challenger until the match is played. Any match interrupted by rain, darkness, or being bumped off the court must be played from the point of interruption. Be sure to write down the details of where play halted to avoid any disputes. If players mutually agree not to reschedule the match, the player(s) who accepted the proposal should "unaccept" so the match will be deleted.
Defaults
If a player is more than 15 minutes late for a match or is a "no show," or there is a last minute cancellation (the day of the scheduled match), the match is entered as a default. The player defaulting receives no credit for the match, and the player receiving the default is considered to have won the match (6-0, 6-0).
Emergencies and cancellations will occur. Please give your opponent ample time (1-2 days) if possible to schedule another match. If you need to cancel your match, please reschedule it right away. When canceling please call your opponent instead of sending an email. Some players do not check email frequently and it's important that you are able to confirm receipt of your message.
Retirement
If a player gets injured or experiences a loss of condition during a match and cannot complete the match, the opponent will complete the score by "winning" the rest of the games (do not use the incomplete score and do not check the "default box"). For example: If the score is 4-2 in the first set, in favor of the player who retires, the score would be entered 6-4, 6-0.
End of Season Playoff Tournament
Top finishers on each Ladder will be invited to participate in a Playoff Tournament. Participation criteria and tournament format will be posted prior to the start of the season.
CTA Challenge Ladder Features & Navigation
Activity Generator
Players may play as many times per week as they wish. Players may contact anyone on the ladder, there are no restrictions. Players may accept or decline any challenge. This program is an activity generator, if players choose not to play, they will not receive any points, and therefore, their name will fall on the ladder.
Profile Information
Players can access and update any information in their profile, by clicking "User Profile" next to their name at the top of the screen when in the system. Players are responsible for editing their own profile to be sur3 the contact and rating information is accurate. This is useful if you know that you will be out of town for a long period of time and do not want to receive emails, simply remove your email address.
Use of Email
Email addresses are provided for ease of initiating challenges and contact between opponents. Players only have access to email contacts for players on their Ladder, and should only use those email contacts for arranging Ladder matches.
Email
Sometimes "blanket" emails are helpful in communicating play time and location preferences. Players can click on "email everyone" and send an email to the entire Ladder. Please identify your Ladder (i.e. Women’s 3.5 Singles), as many players participate in multiple Ladders. Also, provide first and last name, as email addresses do not always identify. Some players prefer to use the Proposal function as a way to arrange matches.
Proposing a Match or Issuing a Challenge
Proposing a match to everyone on the Ladder: If players have a certain day/time/location they wish to play, they should click on "Propose match time" (at the top of the Ladder ranking page). Enter the date, time and location, then click "Propose." This will generate an email to all players on the Ladder. Emails will be sent anytime players use this function, however, players can disable this function by checking the "No proposal emails" box in their profile. Players would then use the proposal page to check and accept matches. When a player issues a proposal, they will receive an email when the proposal is accepted even if they have disabled the Proposal email function. It is very important to enter the Proposal day/time accurately. Following is an example of what to enter for a proposal to play on March 15th at 10:00am: 3/15 10:00am. The year is optional. Do not use commas, periods, @ sign, brackets, or parentheses. If no time is specified, the system will default to 12:00am. If no "am" or "pm" is specified, the default is "am."
Issuing a challenge to an individual player on the Ladder: If players would like to issue a challenge to an individual player on the ladder, click the "challenge" button to the left of the player’s name. No date, time or location is entered when challenging an individual player. Once that player "accepts" the challenge (in the Challenge Ladder program), you will be notified by email. Use the contact information provided to initiate communication and set up the details for your match.
Receiving and Accepting Proposals and Challenges
Accepting Proposals: When someone on the ladder has issued a "Proposal," everyone receives a challenge email. If you would like to accept this proposal, go into the system, (you can through the email link) and click on the "Proposals" option and then click "Accept" by the proposed match. Once this occurs, everyone on the ladder will see that this match was accepted.
Accepting Challenges: When receiving an email saying, "you have been challenged to a match," click on the appropriate link in the email to accept or reject the challenge. These challenges are listed in the system on the "Challenges" page. Once players "accept" a challenge, an email is sent to the opponent notifying that the challenge has been accepted. It is the challenger’s responsibility to then initiate communications to confirm date, time and location.
Entering Match Scores
By choosing "Accept" for a Challenge or a Proposal, the pending match will automatically be listed on the "Matches" page. When a match is complete, go to the "Matches" page and click on a player in that pending match to enter the scores. If a 10 point tiebreak was played in lieu of a 3rd set, the score is entered as "1-0," NOT the actual point score of the tiebreak. If match scores are posted incorrectly, players can go into the match to make the change. If there are duplicate matches, players can delete one.
Viewing Match Scores
To view match scores, enter either the week in which it was challenged or played. Sometimes it's easiest to just select "all" weeks for a particular player. The easiest way to see all of the matches you have played is to click on "All Mine" at the top of the "Matches" page. You can also click on "Recently played matches" to see all the matches played recently.
How Points Are Calculated
Players’ rankings at the Challenge Date are used to calculate points. For example, if a Challenge Date is set for week 3 and the match is not played until week 4, the points are calculated based on the players’ ranking during week 3. If a match is rescheduled for any reason, the original Challenge Date remains in effect for point calculations.
Rankings are adjusted weekly, on Monday morning.
The point system has been designed to encourage activity by awarding points to both the winner and the loser. The challenger receives an additional 2 points. The number of points received by either player for a match is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
Winner Points (WP)
- A lower ranked player receives 15 points for beating a higher ranked player, plus points using the following formula: (Difference in games in sets won) x (Difference in ranking up to 10) / 2 (plus 2 additional points if the challenger)
- A tied or consecutively ranked player receives 20 points, plus points for difference in games in sets won (plus 2 additional points if the challenger)
- A higher ranked player receives 10 points for beating a lower ranked player, plus points for difference in games in sets won (plus 2 additional points if the challenger)
Loser Points (LP)
- The loser receives points equaling the number of games won in all sets, up to a maximum of 10 points (plus 2 additional points if the challenger)