2008 ATTA Singles Ladder Rules

Schedule of Play

The singles ladder runs from March 5, 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 member must play two matches a month.
2. A member has to play one member two above and one member two below their position on the ladder. For the top two players on the ladder, their required matches are: player number one will play player number two and player number three on the ladder; player number two will play player number one and player number four.  For the lowest two players on the ladder, their required matches will be: lowest player plays one above and two above; second from last player plays one below and two above.
3. For the first segment (March/beginning of April only), play will be only within your division (i.e. all Open players play only against Open players; all 4.0 players play only against 4.0 players, 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 the first segment has been completed, all players 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 player shall be considered the person who is “higher” on the ladder (i.e., the player on row 10 is “home” court player when scheduling a match against the player on row 12 but “away” when playing a match against the player on row 8).  The player 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 player has final say.  Both players should bring balls to the match.  The “home” court player 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” player (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 players within your own level of play.

*Exception: a player who is in a higher division and a player in a lower division can play a challenge match IF the lower division player is above the higher division player on the ladder (i.e., a 3.5 player and a 4.0 player may play a challenge match if the 4.0 player is below the 3.5 player on the ladder).

3. Challenge matches are counted and scored only after the player has completed his/her 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. Players are not required to accept a challenge match.
5. The time and location should be mutually agreeable to both players.
6. Court fees are to be shared and agreeable to both players.
7. A player can only challenge another player 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 or they have responded and are unable to play due to unforeseen circumstances, you are then able to schedule a make-up match with someone at the same level of play as your original opponent.
2. You must inform the ladder chair of your decision to play someone else.
3. If you are making up a match with a player 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 an Open player and your required match was to be against a 4.0 level player, and you can’t find an Open level player to play a make-up match, you may contact the ladder chair and ask to play a 4.0 player in a make-up match by providing the name of the player 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.

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 Players: 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 player’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 people 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 player will be awarded all remaining games to calculate the appropriate number of points.  For example, if player A retires while leading 6-2, 2 -3, player B shall be deemed the winner.  The score should be reported as Player B winning 2-6, 3-2 retire.  When the score is input for point calculation, it will be recorded as a win for Player B 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 (i.e., Player B is awarded all remaining games). 

Ladder Inactivity: Any player who fails to meet either of the following criteria will be removed from the ladder (player 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’ player will be removed from the ladder for the segment and may return during the next available segment with his/her current accumulated score.

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

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

Scoring System

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

Open:               2000 points

 4.25:                1750 points

4.0:                1500 points

3.5:                1000 points

3.0:                  500 points

Required Matches: A total of 100 points will be awarded between the two players for completion of each required match. Prorating points will be based upon the final score. (i.e., If a player 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 he/she 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 player 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.

Challenge Matches: A total of 50 points will be awarded between the two players for the completion of a challenge match. Prorating points will be based upon the final score. (i.e., If a player wins 6-0, 6-0, the winner will receive the total 50 points. If a player wins 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, the winner will receive 26 points since he/she 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 player 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 player who defaulted will receive zero points.