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What Is a Ladder?

A ladder is a form of organized play in which players are dynamically ranked based on their performance. A player's position can change each week based on match results.

Unlike a round-robin, a ladder is conducted as a series of individual game days over a multi-week league. Each game day provides players with an opportunity to move up or down the ladder based on their results.

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Key Features of Ladder Play

 

Play Consistency
Players are typically grouped with others of similar skill levels. The goal is to provide competitive and enjoyable play.

 

Dynamic Ranking
A player's ranking can change after each game day.

 

Performance-Based Results
Winning matches generally moves a player up the ladder, while losing matches can move a player down.

 

Rotation and Court Movement
Players normally remain on the same court during a game day and rotate partners within their group.

 

Club Rating and DUPR
Ladder performance has no effect on a player's Club Rating or DUPR.

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Opt-In / Opt-Out

Unlike round robins, registering for a ladder on Court Reserve registers you for the entire ladder season. You are not automatically committed to playing any game day.

Each week you must opt-in if you want to play.

If you opt-in, you are scheduled to play that week.

If you do not opt-in, you will not play that week.

The opt-in window opens 1 week in advance of game day.

If you have opted-in but later cannot play, you must opt-out prior to one hour of scheduled start of play.

 

Important: If you opt-in, you are expected to show up. Failure to show up without opting out may result in removal from the ladder for the remainder of the season.

 

Game Day Procedures

Before You Arrive

Bring your phone to game day with the Court Reserve app downloaded and ready to use.

The app will be used for:

Checking in

Receiving your court assignment

Viewing your partner pairing

Determining serving order

Entering game scores

One player in each group will enter the score for each game.

Check-In

All players must check in 15–30 minutes before the scheduled start of play.

Self-check-in will be available near Court 33 using the Court Reserve app.

An on-site coordinator will be available to assist players and start the game day, including creating groups and matches.

If you have not checked in 15 minutes before your scheduled start time, you will not play.

Who Plays Whom?

Players who have checked in are placed into groups according to their current ladder ranking.

The top four checked-in players are placed in Group 1.

The next four checked-in players are placed in Group 2.

The process continues down the ladder.

Groups may contain 4 or 5 players, depending on the number of players who have checked in and the number of courts available.

Player Advancement

Player advancement is determined by each player's percentage of points won.

Points Won % is calculated as: Points scored ÷ total available points

Switching Sides

Teams switch sides every game after one team reaches:

8 points when playing to 15, or

6 points when playing to 11.

Bad Weather

Because of the possibility of injury, ladder play will be cancelled when the courts are wet.

Wind alone will generally not result in cancellation.

An email will be sent to all players as early as possible if games are cancelled.

No-Shows

If you have opted-in, SHOW UP!

If you cannot play after opting-in, you must opt-out at least 1 hour before scheduled game starts.

A player who opts-in and does not show up without opting out may be removed from the ladder for the remainder of the season.

Ladder Rules

Inactivity

Inactive means that a player is not playing that week.

There is no frozen list. 

Rank

Each player has a rank, which represents their relative position among all players participating in the ladder.

For example, if a player is ranked #5, four players are ranked higher and all remaining players are ranked lower.

Starting Rank for a New Session

Initial placement at the start of a session will be based on the following:

1. Played in the Previous Session*

If you played in the last session, excluding the summer session, your ending rank will be used as your starting rank, adjusted as necessary for new players.

2. Did not play in the Previous Session

If you did not play in the last session (excluding the summer session), you will be placed near the bottom of the cluster of players who did play, with the same Club Rating, sorted first by your summer ranking* and then by your registration date/time.

*Requires a minimum number of games

**Important: **

Until the first game day, initial standings are just date/time registered and will change as standings are changed as above.

Moving Up and Down in Rank

Players are re-ranked each week based on match results and the following rules:

Rule 1 — Passing a Higher-Ranked Player

Within your group, if you outscore a player who is ranked higher than you, you move ahead of that player in the overall ranking.

Rule 2 — Winning Your Group

If you finish first in your group, you move ahead of the player who finishes last in the group immediately above you.

Rule 3 — Finishing Last

If you finish last in your group, you move down one group.

Rule 4 — The #1 Player Must Play

The player ranked #1 must play. If the #1 player does not play, that player will be bumped to #2.

Rule 5 — Inactive Players Cannot Move Above Active Players

An inactive player cannot move above an active player.

When active players lose and move down in rank, inactive players below them may also be pushed down.

This rule is intended to encourage participation and reward active players. An active player is assured that an inactive player below them cannot move above them, regardless of the active player's results.

Appendix A — How to Opt-In

When you register for a ladder on Court Reserve, you are registering for the season, not for a specific game day.

You must complete the opt-in step for each day you want to play.

Using the Court Reserve App

Open the Court Reserve app on your phone.

Log in and verify that the league/game day displayed is the day and time you want to play.

If the correct league is not displayed, use the pull-down arrow under My Leagues to select the appropriate ladder.

When the opt-in window is open, select Opt-In.

Once you are opted-in, the button will change to Opt-Out.

If you later become unable to play, use the Opt-Out button before the applicable deadline.

Always check the date and time carefully before opting-in.