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AACTA Ladder Rules

UPDATED: July 2007

Our tennis ladders, begun in the year of AACTA's founding in 1967, have grown steadily as one of our most popular competitive programs. Prizes are awarded at the annual meeting in November to players who have achieved the top position in each category. AACTA members in good standing are eligible to challenge on to the ladders, subject to the rules set forth below, which are the responsibility of every ladder player to understand, refer to, and abide by.

An incidental purpose of the ladders is to provide guidance, among other data as available, for tournament chairmen in making seedings and league team captains in determining relative strengths of team members.

A. THE LADDER - HOW IT WORKS

A.1. THE SIX LADDERS IN CURRENT USE ARE:

Open Singles
Women's Singles
Over 45 Open Singles
Over 45 Women's Singles
Women's Doubles
Mixed Doubles


Ladder standings are maintained by the Ladder Chairperson and are arranged as an ever-expanding triangle (as demonstrated above). Current standings are reported in every newsletter, with rows indicated by lines between certain numbers. The ladder season for challenge matches runs from April 1 to October 31 with standings at the end of the season carried over to the beginning of the next. A new doubles combination cannot carry over a number formerly held by either partner.

A.2. GETTING ON THE LADDER

	a) New players or teams will appear on the ladder only after they have played a challenge match (i.e., not a forfeit match) and have had scores reported. To get on any ladder, any position other than #1 may be challenged. On the Open Singles Ladder only, players occupying positions #2-12 have the right to refuse a new entrant challenge. Rule A.3.a applies if the challenger wins. If he loses, the new player/team enters at the bottom of the ladder.
	b) All ladder players must have a phone number in the directory or give one to the Ladder Chairperson.
	c) A ladder player does not have to make challenges in April and October, but must accept those he receives.
	d) From May 1 through September 30, all players or teams must play at least one match per month; failure to do so will drop the player or team to the first position on the second row below the row formerly occupied. Two successive penalties will drop the player or team from the ladder.
	e) The #1 player or team of each ladder will not be penalized in the event that they receive no challenges in a given month.

A.3. CHANGES IN LADDER STANDINGS are made:

	a) When a challenger wins a match; he/she takes the ladder number of the defeated opponent, and the loser and all others between him and the challenger's old number then drop one place. If a challenger loses, no change takes place.
	b) A ladder victory is achieved either by wining two normally scored sets with a 12-point tiebreaker in use in any set reaching 6-6, or by receiving a default or a forfeit.
	c) When a DEFAULT may be claimed because the opponent is unable to complete a match in progress; and the score is reported at that point.
	d) When a FORFEIT may be claimed because the opponent does not appear by 20 minutes after the agreed starting time; however, a player may accept his opponent's excuse for tardiness and waive the forfeit. A forfeit may also be claimed if a challenged player/team cannot offer a match within the time specified by rule C-1.
	e) Any default or forfeit claim should be reported to the ladder chairperson, who will fully investigate the circumstances with each player/team, review them with the board if necessary, and advise the disposition of the matter within two weeks time.

A.4. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE LADDER (Permanent or Temporary):

	*Permanent*
	a) Any player moving from the area or wishing to terminate ladder play should notify the Ladder Chairperson.
	b) Players not renewing AACTA membership by April 30 will be automatically dropped from the ladder.
	*Temporary*
	a) Any player, unable by reason of illness, vacation, etc., to accept a challenge within a period of 8 days (singles) or 10 days (doubles) shall forfeit the match challenged and drop according to Rule A.3.a, or notify the ladder chairperson for removal from the ladder(s). Reinstatement is ensued upon completion of a challenge match according to rule A.2.a. Ladder position will be preserved when a player is removed from the ladder. Although the player will not show on the ladder, their position will still be subject the normal changes in the ladder as consequence of other matches played and the monthly inactive penalties

B. THE CHALLENGER - Rights, Restrictions, and Duties

	1. Once on any ladder, any position may be challenged at any time.
	2. Matches between players of similar ability are encouraged. To this end, a challenged player (on the Open Singles Ladder only), who is more than 3 rungs (groupings) higher than the challenger has the right to refuse the challenge. No one within the 3 rung range has the right to refuse unless they already have a down match scheduled, in which case, they must provide the name of the player and the date of the scheduled match. Please note, vacations, injuries, and up matches are NOT an acceptable excuse for refusal. Players unavailable for a challenge should seek a temporary removal (see rule A.3.) or grant a forfeit.
	3. The challenger must furnish USTA-approved balls for the match. New balls will be used unless both parties agree otherwise.
	4. Matches played in AACTA tournaments and league competition may also be counted as ladder matches, provided both parties agree and report it as a ladder challenge.

C. THE CHALLENGED PLAYER - Rights, Restrictions, and Duties

	1. At the time a challenge is received, the challenged player offers a date, time and place for the match within the next 8 days (singles ladder) or 10 days (doubles ladder.) A challenged player may refuse a challenge only if one of these 3 conditions apply: (1) the challenger has already lost to the challenged player less than 30 days prior (2) the challenger is more than 3 rungs (groupings) below the challenged player (3) the challenged player already has a down match scheduled, in which case, the name of the player and date of the match must be provided.
	2. Unless any of the 3 conditions stated above (C.1.) apply, refusal to accept a challenge within the 8 days (10 days doubles) may be considered by the challenger as grounds for a forfeit claim. Moreover, unreturned phone or e-mail messages within the 8 day (10 day doubles) challenge period (after several attempts by the challenger) also constitute grounds for forfeit. A challenger seeking a forfeit shall notify the ladder chairperson.
	3. When challenged by a working player, the challenged player must offer a date and time outside working hours.
	4. A challenged player may, but is not required to, accept more than one "down match" per ladder at a time. A challenged player who refuses a challenge because of a pending "down match", must provide the name and date of the pending "down match" to the second challenger.
	5. A player or team may not refuse a challenge on the excuse of already having a "down match" scheduled on another ladder.
	6. Matches shall be played on any outdoor court specified by the challenged player within Anne Arundel County unless another location is fully acceptable to all parties.

D. THE WINNER & LOSER - Rights, Restrictions, and Duties

	1. The winner has the right to refuse a re-challenge for up to 30 days.
	2. The winner should report the results of the match on line (www.aacta.com) or to the Ladder Chairperson within 48 hours.

E. BAD WEATHER - How it Affects a Challenge

	1. If excessive cold, wind, or rain, prevent the playing of a match within the 8-day challenge period (10 days doubles), then a new 4-day extension automatically begins.
	2. Matches which are halted because of bad weather, crowded courts, or darkness must be completed within the challenge period or 4 days after.
	3. An interrupted match is always continued from the score, set, game, and point at which it was interrupted.

F. GENERAL

1. It may happen that after a challenge has been made and before the match can be played, the ladder positions of the two players change in such a way that the distances between them do not conform to Rule B-2. The challenge is still binding, provided it was made and accepted when the players' positions did conform to Rule B-2. Both players should check the ladder standings posted on the web the day the challenge is made to ensure conformity to Rule B-2. It behooves the challenger to print a copy of the standings in case either player's position changes, and legality of the match is questioned. It is the responsibility of both players to check the standings and make sure the match is legal before it is played. A match played in good faith stands.

2. A challenger who has moved up the ladder since his standing was posted may continue to make challenges within the limits and assumptions of Rule B-2 based on his new standing. Conversely, a player who has made a major advance and is than challenged from a position no longer within the limits of B-2 should tell his challenger of his new position; but, if it has not been posted on the web, cannot decline the challenge.

G. LADDER AWARDS

	1. #1 must play a minimum of five matches to be eligible for a trophy.
	2. To qualify for the best win/loss record, the player or team must have played at least ten matches, two of which have been "up" challenges, and have a winning record (i.e., more wins than loses).
	3. To qualify for the most matches played or most challenges accepted, a player/team must have played at least 10 matches.
	4. In the event that no player or team qualifies, no trophy will be given. An exception may be made in the case of a former #1 player or team who has not had sufficient opportunity to challenge up.