AACTA LADDER 101

A primer for the new ladder player

 

 

Congratulations! You have decided to join the AACTA ladder.  You will now meet lots of new tennis players, challenge your game and have fun.  What a great opportunity!

 

If you are new to the ladder, getting your first challenge can seem like a hard task.  It really is not and only takes an email or a phone call.  Each participant has their name, email and phone number listed on the ladder.  You can also find this information under player profile. If you are not yet on the ladder, you follow the same process, playing onto the ladder for your first match.

 

To set up your first match.

 

Choose a person on the ladder who you would like to play.  It could be someone you know or the next player up or someone who is playing a lot (once the ladder is underway).  For your first challenge you click on the person you want to challenge and their email will show up.  The email address can be clicked or pasted into the email.  If challenging on the doubles ladder, include both partners and your partner in the email.  The email asking for the challenge should go like this:

 

Subject Line:  AACTA (insert ladder name e.g. Junior Singles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles) Challenge

 

Hi (Player’s name),

 

I am interested in challenging you on the AACTA Junior Ladder.  I am available to play on the following days:  Tuesday, Jun 3 after 4 PM, Thursday, Jun 5 after 6PM, and all day Saturday (6/7) and Sunday (6/8) this weekend.  I live in Severna Park.  Please let me know if any of these dates work for you or if you have other dates you can play.

 

You can also contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX but email is best.

 

Thanks.

Your name

 

If you receive a challenge, you should try to get back to the player in a day or two.

 

A sample response might go like this:

 

Hi (Player’s name),

 

Tuesday at 6 or Saturday after 1PM would work for me.  Sunday I am going to Hershey Park.  I live near Truxton Park so Annapolis High School is an in between location.  

 

Let me know which day is best for you.

 

XXX-XXX-XXXX

 

Thanks

Your name

 

OR

 

Hi (Player’s name),

 

I am going to be gone all week.  How about next Tuesday, Jun 10 at 6PM at Truxton Park?  

 

XXX-XXX-XXXX

 

Thanks

Your name

 

Confirm the Match.

 

Once you and your opponent have confirmed the match, you just need to show up and play.  If you are the challenger, you provide a new can of balls.  It is always a good idea to send a reminder about the match the day before just in case something comes up.

 

For AACTA play, 2 out of 3 sets are encouraged.  If you want to play a 10 point tiebreak in lieu of a third set, you may, but both parties need to agree to that game format before the match starts.

 

The match is started as any other with a spin of the racquet (challenged player gets the call).

 

Once the match is won, you should confirm the score with your opponent. The winner is responsible for recording the scores.   Recording the score is very easy.  Under ladders on the website, you go to Enter Match Results.  This will take you to a screen that looks like the one below. 

 

 

First type in the date played.  This is important as you must play a match every two months or fall 2 positions.  You select the winner’s name from the drop down screen and the opponent’s name from the other drop down screen.  The score is filled in with the winners games scores listed first.  The submit button is selected and then you wait a few seconds.  Your scores are then entered. 

 

 

 

 

If you were the challenger and won, you will automatically be moved up the ladder to the position above the person you beat.  Your wins and losses are tallied automatically.    

 

If you are playing onto the ladder, you need to send an email to John Wehner at annearundeltennis@comcast.net with your scores and who you played on what date and your telephone number.  He will enter the data for the first match and then you can follow the automated process above for any matches played.

 

And the process starts again.  You may ask multiple people for a match at the same time (not in the same email).  This way, someone is usually available.  We recommend that you have no more than 3 requests out at one time.  An example:  On June 1, you send an email to three people asking for a match.  One can’t play for the next week (but you can schedule with him for the week after), one can play on Tuesday and the other can play on Thursday.  You need to be prepared to take the match if the challenged player says they can play.

 

In order for the ladder to be successful, we need you to play. So try to play at least 2-3 times per month.  You can challenge the same person or different people.  Tennis is a practice game and this is a good way to get practice and variety.  Good luck and have fun!