Singles Tennis Ladder

Once again the VTA will be offering our very popular singles tennis ladder for the  winter. Playing on the ladder in great way to stay in shape, meet new friends and hitting partners and a way to improve your singles game. All members all eligible to join the singles ladder.

Please open an account here and look for Vancouver Tennis Association

Questions? Contact the Ladder Coordinator at ladder@vtatennis.ca

UNDER CONSTRUCTIONS FROM HERE AND BELOW

For detailed information about the Current Ladder Session, as well as past Ladder results,  please visit the Members Only section (you must be a current member of the VTA).

The Basics

All players  are going to be in one pool.  You can challenge any other player in the ladder for a match.  If you want to challenge someone about your own level you can look for someone who is in the same play night as you.

Your ladder score is the average of your last 4 ladder matches.  You will get points based on your average score, your opponent’s average score, whether you win or lose, and if you beat or take a set from a higher ranked opponent.  The full set of rules is detailed below and is also on the second tab (at bottom) of the ladder sheet.

After playing a ladder match, the winner (usually) should enter it into the ladder score reporting form above:

It is not necessary to be the best tennis player in the ladder in order to win the ladder.  What’s important is that you play lots of matches and record lots of wins.  Playing people of your own ability can get you lots of points.  But if you do get lots of points, then you will become plump, juicy prey for other players to boost their points!!

The Rules

A player may challenge any other player on the ladder

Challenges must be accepted within 2 weeks

A player may play the same opponent only once in one session of the ladder (1 month)

Times of illness and absence from Vancouver can be used to extend the 2-week deadline

Repeatedly ill players should consider taking a leave of absence from the ladder

If a match is not played by the deadline despite “reasonable” attempts to schedule, the challenger is deemed to have won the match

If there is a dispute, “reasonable” will be determined by the ladder coordinator

Match format can be any that the players agree on. Normal format is best 2 of 3 sets.

If a time-based format is used (e.g. 90 min), winner is winner of most games; unless sets have been split, then leader in 3rd set wins.

Examples: A leads B 6-2, 3-4 when time ends. A wins 9 games to 6

A leads B 6-4, 1-4 when time ends. B wins 8 games to 7

A leads B 6-4, 0-6, 2-0 when time ends. A wins because leading in 3rd set

Point Scoring:

A player’s rank value is determined by the average of their last 4 results

After every match, a winner’s new result is the greater of:

1. their own pre-match rank value + 50

2. their opponent’s pre-match rank value + 150

After every match, a loser’s new result is the lesser of:

1. their own pre-match rank value +10

2. their opponent’s pre-match rank value +10

If the loser wins a set against a higher ranked opponent, the loser’s result gains an additional 50

So why change the ladder from previous formats?  We liked the old format because it allowed people to play others about their own level and produced a winner in each group every month… lots of winners!  But there were complaints from some players that they were always playing the same people, or that they got stuck in a group where no one wanted to play.

We’re hoping the new format allows people to play more matches if they want to, and to play a greater diversity of players.  Also, in the old format sometimes players were put into a group in which they were really at the wrong level – the new format should prevent that since we’re all going to be one big happy family singing kum-ba-ya!!

Please do not hesitate to provide me any feedback.  We need to know if this format is working and how you like it.  Then we can decide whether to continue with it or go back to the old format.

I encourage you to play lots of matches and have fun.  And for those who overachieve, there is a trophy at the end of the year engraved with the name of the overall winner of the summer ladder.
Ladder Coordinator

Etiquette

– Exercise common courtesy by returning phone calls and emails promptly
– Arrive with a fresh can of tennis balls and agree on handling of court fees/ball costs
– If you become injured or are temporarily out of town, inform your fellow players
– Play frequently, it’s better to have several shorter format matches than only one 3 set marathon during a single session