Ladder Dates and Rules for 2025

Round 1:   May 19, 2025 - June 15, 2025
Round 2:   June 16, 2025 - July 13, 2025
Round 3:   July 14, 2025 - August 10, 2025
Round 4:   August 11, 2025 - September 7, 2025

Ladder Format & Rules

Please read this in its entirety BEFORE signing up for a ladder.

The ladders are designed to provide members with the opportunity to play some competitive but fun matches with a variety of players, outside of club time. The format of the ladder rewards not only wins, but also participation. All players will benefit if those joining the ladder commit to participating as fully as possible. If you feel that you cannot make the commitment required to play most of your matches, please refrain from registering.

Here's how the ladders work:

  1. Sign-up: Members sign up by May 16 on this Google Spreadsheet by filling out the singles and/or doubles sheets. You must include info on:
    • Your level of play (NTRP self-rating guide) for the singles ladder. Please give a more accurate "in-range" self-rating. For example, if you feel you are better than 2.5, but have not reached 3.0, you can give a rating of 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, etc. This will make the initial placement into the ladders more meaningful and competitive.
    • You and your partner’s combined level of play for the Doubles Ladder. For example, if you are a 3.1 player and your partner is a 2.9 player, the combined level of play is 6.0. Doubles teams can be men’s, women’s or mixed doubles ones, and they will be grouped according to the combined level of play.
  2. Format: The ladder will be designed as a modified ladder system with 3 or more levels / boxes, depending on the number of players / teams that join. The minimum entries for each ladder to run is 9. Players will be put in order based on their self-rated level of play, and this will determine each player's / team's starting level in the ladder. Each player / team at a given level will play the other 2 players / teams at that level; the match-ups will be posted on the website. Players are responsible for contacting each other to arrange a mutually convenient time and place to play. Each player / team should bring a new can of tennis balls to the match. One can should be used to play the match. At the completion of the match, the winner should receive the unopened can, and the loser should receive the can of used balls.

    (Special thanks to Karen Eddy from False Creek Tennis Club for sharing this incredible ladder format.)
  3. Timeline: The ladder will run from May 19, 2025 - September 7, 2025. Each player / team will have 8 scheduled matches. Players will have 4 weeks to play the 2 matches at their current level and submit the scores via the website.
  4. Matches: All matches will be a super-pro set: first player / team to 10 games, must win by 2 games. If there is a tie at 9-9, a 7-point tiebreak should be played (first to 7 points, must win by 2 points).
    This format has been chosen so that matches will be short enough that you can play outside on public courts (where you may need to rotate off after 30 minutes).
  5. Defaulting: If a player / team defaults on their match, this will count as an automatic loss. A default will be considered to have occurred when:
    • A player / team is unavailable for the whole 4-week play period.
    • A player / team cancels a scheduled match with less than 24 hours' notice to their opponent.
    • A player / team shows up to a scheduled match, late by 15 minutes or more. These rules are flexible if both players / teams are in agreement; however, the nondefaulting player / team has the final say in determining a default.
    The defaulting player / team is responsible for arranging a sub for their match. However, the score of the sub match does not count toward ladder standings. The non-defaulting player / team has the right to decide whether or not they wish to play the sub match.
  6. Scoring: Scores will be entered as the number of games won. If a tiebreak was played, this counts as one game. The winner of the match is responsible for submitting the score via the website.
  7. Movement: At the end of the 4-week period, the scores will be used to move players / teams up or down the ladder as follows:
    • The player / team winning the most number of matches will move up one level in the ladder, the player / team winning the least number of matches will move down one level, and the remaining player / team will stay at the same level. If there is a tie in number of matches won, then head-to-head results will determine movement. If it is still tied, then the number of games won will determine movement.
    • On the top level, only the losing player / team will move down; the other 2 players / teams will remain.
    • If new players/teams are added in later rounds, then an attempt will be made to place them at the most appropriate level.
    • These are only rough movement guidelines and multiple teams can potentially be moved down or up a level in cases where new players/teams enter the next round. Also in cases where a player/team appears to be severely misplaced in the ladder, they may be moved up or down multiple levels.