AUSTIN TENNIS NET - LADDER RULES
Play
1. The Austin Tennis Net consists of a singles ladder and a doubles ladder. The ladders are broken up into rungs. A typical rung consists of three players, but may contain more, depending on the number of players in the ladder during the round. The only requirement to play in the ladder is to know and abide by the Rules and Code of Tennis as well as the rules of the ladder.
2. Each player in the rung should play two matches within that round. A round normally lasts two and a half weeks. An extension may be granted due to bad weather or a major holiday. A third match may be played if the player is challenged, or issues a challenge. The results from your matches will determine the placement for the next round.
3. The Net Coordinator (aka NetCoord) will post the ladder pairings on the first day of the round. Each player is responsible for checking the web site for their match information, for contacting the other players in their rung, and ensuring that their contact information is correct. Most communication is done through email, although a phone number should be included in the event of difficult communication or the need to cancel a match.
4. Contact with your opponents should be done in a timely manner or you may be defaulted (and ultimately dropped out of the ladder). The actual date, time, and location of the match to be decided between you and your opponent. Please refer to the Contacting Players section for more information.
5. New players, those returning after a break from the ladder, or players advancing more than two rungs may be challenged. Those players are marked with an ‘N’ on the ladder listing. Please refer to the Challenge section for more information.
6. There is no rule 6!
7. Each player is responsible for entering the results by 10:00 a.m. on the day after the round ends. Check the web site in the event of a round getting extended. See Reporting Scores for more information. Failure to enter match scores may prevent you from moving up, and may incur the wrath of the NetCoord!
8. Based on the results, you may advance up in the ladder, move down, or stay. See the Ladder Advancement section for more information.
9. Each match should be best 2 out of 3 sets. A tiebreaker shall decide all sets tied at 6-6, unless previously agreed to by both players. The 3rd set should be played out, with a tiebreaker at 6 games apiece.
10. Alternative scoring methods are acceptable in the event a match needs to be shortened, provided that both players agree (i.e. lighting, time constraints, people waiting for a court, etc). Alternative methods include playing an 18-point tiebreaker (first to ten points, winning by two), no-ad scoring, or short sets where you start at 2-2. The goal is to play tennis, and hopefully the matches are competitive as well.
11. The USTA Rules of Tennis and The Code of Tennis shall apply unless otherwise noted.
12. Matches should begin no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled time. The on-time player may impose USTA time penalties for late players. The late player may also be subject to Penalties. Two forfeits in a round will result in removal from the ladder.
13. Play will consist of two matches per round. Each player will provide a new can of balls during the round. The can should have a ‘USTA approved’ label on it. The player/team listed first for the match is responsible for providing the can.
Ladder Placement:
Initial placement is determined by playing level. Subsequent placement in the ladder is determined by match results. The results from the individual rung are viewed as a whole, and not on an individual player versus player basis. This means you may end up beating one of your opponents and losing to the other, with the one you beat moving up and you moving down. The results from both matches determine the placement for the next round, based on:
1) Most match wins.
2) Best set won/lost percentage.
3) Best game won/lost percentage.
4) Toss of coin.
For placement purposes, a forfeit win counts as 1-0, 1-0 while a forfeit loss is scored as 0-6, 0-6. When entering the score on the web site, the reason for the forfeit should be entered, with two sets awarded to the player receiving the forfeit.
A player that wins both matches by receiving a forfeit and not by playing will probably not move up for the next round – you need to actually play and win to advance.
Results from partial matches will be used when a match can not finish. The person ahead in the set will win the set. Matches played at a tennis center, where you have a limited amount of time, should finish if another court is available (you should plan on playing for at least two hours). Matches that can not finish on the original day can be scheduled to complete on another day if both players are able to. Because there is a limited amount of time for each round and matches are scheduled in advance, finishing a match at a later date is not always practical.
Special Advancement:
The placement of new players is based on their self-ratings. The goal is to have fun, competitive matches. A competitive match is one where both players win more than 4 games (i.e. 6-2, 6-2 would be non-competitive). When both matches in a round are non-competitive, the player may be advanced or demoted more than one rung. Players advancing more than two rungs are subject to being challenged.
Placement Errors:
Any errors in placement should be reported within 24 hours of the ladder being sent out. No changes to the ladder will be made after 24 hours.
Contacting Players
Although the ladder is somewhat informal, it is dependant on the players to contact each other to set up their matches.
The 3/3 Rule: Once the ladder pairings are released, players have 3 days to make initial contact, with three days to respond to the initial contact. If a player has not attempted to contact the other player within these dates, the time and date of the default should be entered with a reason of "no contact". The first incident will result in a warning, with a second incident resulting in removal from the ladder. The person winning through a forfeit may not advance if both matches are forfeited to them.
People are expected to read their email and respond promptly, players should not have to call if another player fails to respond to email. If players do not respond to email, they can be defaulted under the 3/3 rule. If a player doesn't read email frequently, they should make sure they know when the next round comes out and at least make initial contact by email to tell the other players the best way to contact them. The date range of each round is posted on the site home page.
WITHDRAWALS: To avoid being penalized, a player should withdraw from the ladder before the next round starts, so that the other players can rely on playing two matches. To withdraw from the ladder, go to the 'change status' page and un-check the ladder box. When you are ready to play again, go to the 'change status' page and check the box for the ladder you wish to re-join. Failure to do so will most likely incite the wrath of the NetCoord.
NO-SHOW: A no-show shows lack of responsibility and will not be tolerated. A warning will be issued after the 1st no-show, with removal from the ladder after the 2nd. An appeal can be made for extenuating circumstances.
CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations made within 72 hours of the match should be confirmed with the other player. If an email is sent out, a response should be received. Otherwise a phone call should be made to ensure that the other party knows about the cancellation. Email is handy in setting up the matches, but can not always be relied upon when you have to cancel. A cancellation within 24 hours will result in an automatic forfeit of the match. You may request to reschedule the match, but given the time constraints it will rest on the person receiving the forfeit to decide on rescheduling.
FORFEITS: A player that forfeits both matches in a round will be removed from the ladder for the following round. Players that request reinstatement and are approved will be added back to the ladder, with a demotion of at least two rungs (one for losing both matches and one as a penalty).
Reporting Scores
Scores should be reported by entering them in on the web site. Both players should enter/verify their scores as soon as possible and no later than 10:00am on the day after the round ends. Scores not reported by the deadline will be determined as forfeits for both players. Please follow the standard match score format, with the score listed from the winner’s view:
Joe beat Tom 6-4, 6-3
Terry beat Frank 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Tiebreakers should list the tiebreak score in parentheses:
Kim beat Kerry 6-2, 6-7(9), 7-6(0)
Where Kim won the match, lost the 2nd set tiebreaker 11-9 and won the 3rd set tiebreaker 7-0.
A tiebreaker in lieu of a 3rd set as:
Leroy beat Larry 1-6, 6-1, 1-0(4)
Where a 3rd set tiebreaker was played, and the score was 10-4.
When a match is forfeited, the reason for the forfeit should be entered with the person receiving the forfeit awarded two sets. Reasons for a forfeit include ‘no contact’, ‘unavailable’, ‘injured’, and ‘illness’.
Penalties
Penalties will be assessed as follows:
First incident: a warning will be issued.
Second incident: a demotion of at least two rungs and/or removal from the ladder for six months.
Third incident: removal from the ladder.
An appeal to the ‘committee’ may be made if there are extenuating circumstances. The ‘committee’ is made up of seven ladder players that have played on the ladder for more than one year and are deemed to be a nice guy or gal. They are chosen for a term of three months. Their purpose is to act as a judge for matters that require impartiality and to advise the NetCoord as needed. The decision made by each member is their own, and not subject to coercion or the wrath of the NetCoord.
Challenges:
New players, those players returning after a break, and players advanced more than two rungs are susceptible to being challenged by a player below them. The ladder listing shows the placements for the round, and those players with an ‘N’ in the rung column can be challenged.
Special rules include:
A player can only be challenged once a round.
You may only challenge players from 3 to 15 rungs above you.
The Challenge link will be activated four days after the round starts.
The Challenge link will stay active up to three days before the round ends.
Challenges are on a first come, first served basis.
The challenger supplies the can of tennis balls.
A player may be challenged only once per round.
To issue a challenge, go to the 'Issue Challenge' link from the Singles Ladder menu. A match record will be added to and appear on your 'my matches' page.
A player that is challenged and refuses to play will be demoted an extra rung in the next round, and, that player may be challenged the next round.
Players that are marked as being challengeable may also issue a challenge, but will need to play their other matches in order to have the results determine the next round placements.
Results from challenge match as well as the regular matches will be used in determining placements for the next round.
Miscellaneous:
The ladders and information supplied are for personal use only. Any other use may result in warnings, removal from the group, and litigation.
The NetCoord is John Kitchens. Please limit ladder questions to email. DO NOT CALL. The email address is . The web site can be found at http://www.austintennisnet.org and will contain all information pertaining to the ladders.
7/29/2003
10/30/2003 – modified/simplified and added 3/3 rule
2/14/2005 – modified for the web
3/7/2005 - modified entering results example to the web format
6/14/2005 - minor wording changes
10/17/2005 Withdrawal wording change
2/24/2006 – added No-Show, Cancellation, Withdrawal, and Forfeits rules.
6/12/2006 – reworded, added challenge changes, forfeit scoring.