2008 ATTA Doubles Ladder Rules

Schedule of Play

The doubles ladder runs from April 10, 2008 until September 29, 2008.   The following table represents “segments” of play, email delivery of tentative ladders, review periods for feedback on results and email of final ladders.

Matches

The standard rules of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) apply to the ladder matches. The usual method of scoring is based on winning two of three sets, with a tie-break at the end of any set that reaches a score of six games each. In the tie-break, the first to win seven points wins the set, but must win by two points.

Required Matches:

1. Each team must play two matches a month.
2. A team has to play one team two above and one team two below their position on the ladder. For the top two teams on the ladder, their required matches are: team number one will play team number two and team number three on the ladder; team number two will play team number one and team number four.  For the lowest two teams on the ladder, their required matches will be: lowest team plays one above and two above; second from last team plays one below and two above.
3. For segment A (April/beginning of May only), play will be only within your division (i.e. all tier 1 teams play only against tier 1 teams; all tier 2 teams play only against tier 2 teams, etc.).  This means that for the first month, each division will follow the rules for required matches for the highest and lowest within their divisions.  After segment A has been completed, all teams will be arranged by total points without regard to division and play will continue for the rest of the ladder season accordingly.
4. Required matches will utilize a “home” court concept.  The “home” court team shall be considered the team who is “higher” on the ladder (i.e., the team on row 10 is “home” court player when scheduling a match against the team on row 12 but “away” when playing a match against the team on row 8).  The team who has the “home” court will decide upon the location of the match and reserve the courts (where possible).  All efforts should be made to come to an agreement as to the location, but the “home” court team has final say.  Both teams should bring balls to the match.  The “home” court team should open a can for the match.  The unopened can of balls (from ‘visitor’) will go to the winner, while the balls used in the match will go to the “losing” team (similar to ALTA and USTA leagues).

Challenge Matches:

1. Only THREE challenge matches may be played and counted for the entire ladder season.
2. Challenge matches are to be against teams within your own level of play.

*Exception: a team who is in a higher division and a team in a lower division can play a challenge match IF the lower division team is above the higher division team on the ladder (i.e., tier 2 and tier 1 teams may play a challenge match if the tier 1 team is below the tier 2 team on the ladder).

3. Challenge matches are counted and scored only after the team has completed their two required matches for each segment.  If only one required match was accomplished in a given segment, then the challenge match (played during that same month) may be alternatively used as the second required match; however, this has to be approved by the ladder chair.
4. Teams are not required to accept a challenge match.
5. The time and location should be mutually agreeable to both teams.
6. Court fees are to be shared and agreeable to both teams.
7. A team can only challenge another team once during the ladder season.

Make-Up Matches:

1. If after you have attempted at least 2 emails and 2 phone calls and allowed at least 4 days to pass without hearing from your required opponent(s) or they have responded and are unable to play due to unforeseen circumstances, you are then able to schedule a make-up match with another team at the same level of play as your original opponent.
2. You must inform the ladder chair of your decision to play another team.
3. If you are making up a match with a team outside your level of play, you must have this match approved by the ladder chair before it is played. Since challenge matches are not allowed outside your level of play, the ladder chair will make sure fair and suitable make-up matches are played. (i.e, if you are a tier 1 team and your required match was to be against a tier 2 team, and you can’t find a tier 1 team to play a make-up match, you may contact the ladder chair and ask to play a tier 2 team in a make-up match by providing the name of the team beforehand).

Reporting Scores

The winner of the match is responsible for reporting the results within 24 hours via the ATTA Web Site or by emailing the Ladder Chair at ladderchair@atta.org. Please provide the following information: Date of the Match, Winner’s Name, Loser’s Name, and Match Scores.  Scores will NOT be recorded if left on the ATTA hotline/phone.

1. When reporting scores, indicate if this is a regular ladder match, make-up match or a challenge match. If reporting a make-up match, please give the name of the original opponent.
2. Matches must be reported by the end of the segment of play as indicated in the table above to be included for that segment.

Additional Information

Tentative Ladder: Two tentative ladders will be distributed each segment as indicated in the table.  Participants have the review period (one week) to review their results and send any corrections to the ladder chair via email.

Returning Teams: Winner of each division/level from last year’s ladder will automatically be moved up to the next level of play.  The ladder chair will also take into consideration results from GLTA tournaments, USTA and ALTA when determining a team’s assigned level.

Default (Forfeiture): If a match is scheduled for a date and time and one of the players does not show up (within 20 min), the match may be defaulted.  If the match was canceled prior to 24 hours of the scheduled match, players will reschedule for another time within that segment of play.  Remember, if two teams can not agree on a time to play during a segment, it does not become a forfeit or default (refer to make-up matches).

Retiring during a match: If for some reason during a match a player must retire (injury, need to leave, etc.), the score should be reported as it stands at the time of the retirement.  When the match is “scored”, the winning team will be awarded all remaining games to calculate the appropriate number of points.  For example, if team A retires while leading 6-2, 2 -3, team B shall be deemed the winner.  The score should be reported as Team B winning 2-6, 3-2 retire.  When the score is input for point calculation, it will be recorded as a win for Team B 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 (i.e., Team B is awarded all remaining games). 

Ladder Inactivity: Any team who fails to meet either of the following criteria will be removed from the ladder (team loses all points accumulated up to that time of inactivity):

1.                   Playing less than the two required matches for two consecutive months.

2.                   Playing no matches for any given month, unless previously approved by the ladder chair. If the ladder chair approves, the ‘excused’ team will be removed from the ladder for the segment and may return during the next available segment with their current accumulated score.

Championships: At the end of the last segment (September 29th), the top four teams in each rating division will be in the playoffs. The top team will play the #4 team, the #2 team will play the #3 team. The winners of those two matches will meet for the championship of their respective playing level.

Joining During the Ladder Season:  A team, who signed up after a segment has started, will be added to the ladder at the beginning of the next segment.  Their beginning point total will be equivalent to the starting ladder point values based on their division.

Scoring System

Each team will begin with a preset number of points based on their rating:

Tier 1:               1250 points

Tier 2:               1000 points

Tier 3:               750 points

Tier 4:               500 points

Required Matches: A total of 100 points will be awarded between the two teams for completion of each required match. Prorating points will be based upon the final score. (i.e., If a team wins 6-0, 6-0 the winner will receive the total 100 points. If a player wins 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, the winner will receive 67 points since they won 66.67% of the games played. The losing player will receive 33 points.)  Rounding decimals will be implemented.

In addition, the winner of each match will receive 75 bonus points. The loser will receive 25 points. If a team defaults (by not showing up within 20 min or by canceling with less than 24 hours notice), a standard total of 125 points will be awarded to the “winner.”  The player who defaulted will receive zero points.

Mixed Team: Mixed Team will get an additional 10 points for a required match win and an additional 5 points for a required match loss.

Women Team: Women Team will get an additional 20 points for a required match win and an additional 10 points for a required match loss.

Challenge Matches: A total of 50 points will be awarded between the two teams for the completion of a challenge match. Prorating points will be based upon the final score. (i.e., If a team wins 6-0, 6-0, the winner will receive the total 50 points. If a team wins 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, the winner will receive 26 points since they won 51% of the games played. Rounding decimals will be implemented.  In addition, the winner of each match will receive 15 bonus points. The loser will receive 5 points. If a team defaults (by not showing up within 20 min or by canceling with less than 24 hours notice), a standard total of 50 points will be awarded to the “winner.”  The team who defaulted will receive zero points.  The same points will be allotted to men, mixed or women teams for challenge matches.