Runs from April to July. If you would like to participate, please email Ladder Coordinator Malcolm malcolmtlee@gmail.com or text 0771 504 1497.

The purpose of this Tennis Ladder is to provide an enjoyable experience, play lots of different opponents, HAVE FUN and meet other members of the club.

RULES

1. Any paid up member of Stewkley Tennis Club is eligible to compete on the Ladder. There will be 1 Ladder combining all levels of play.
2. The initial sign up due date is 6th April 2021 with challenges starting 10th April 2021. If you wish to put your name on the ladder then contact Ladder Coordinator Malcolm Lee on malcolmtlee@gmail.com or text 07715041497. Everyone's initial placing on the Ladder will be determined by the Ladder Coordinator.
3. Any new player entering the ladder after 10th April 2021 will be an Open Challenger and may have 1 open challenge. This means you can challenge anyone on the list, except other new players that are also listed as an Open Challenger. If you win the open challenge you take over that player's place. If you lose you start at the bottom. Open challengers have 2 weeks to complete the open challenge match or they start at the bottom.
4. After 10th April 2021 you can challenge anyone within 2 places above you. You may not challenge the same player more than once in a 2-week period. A challenged player should offer 3 reasonable days and times for the match within a 2-week period; including at least 2 weekend or weekday evening options if requested by the challenger. No shows, inabilities to play and/or cancelled matches will be defaults.
5. If you are contacted and challenged, please return the call/email as soon as you can, even if you aren't sure yet when you can play, as a courtesy so the challenger knows you got the message. If you try to contact someone for a challenge and you don't hear back within 3 days, contact the Ladder coordinator, who will try to contact them and if they cannot be reached, the challenger will win by default.
6. Players are only required to accept up to 2 challenges in a 2-week period, but may accept more if they so desire. Anyone who is challenged and loses must wait at least 1 week to challenge that same player back. The matches can be played at the club’s courts or any court, either public or private, that both players agree on.
7. If you are challenged, but before the match is played you challenge someone else and win and move up, you must still play the player who challenged you even if you move up to more than 2 places above them.
8. Anyone who is unable to play (out-of-town, injured, holiday etc) MUST inform the Ladder Coordinator so their status can be posted on the Ladder. Their place on the Ladder could move down due to the results of other matches. Anyone who is unable to play does not count as one of the "2 places above you" and can be skipped over. If you fail to report to the Ladder Coordinator that you are unable to play and you are challenged, then the challenger wins by default.
9.  If a match cannot be played due to frost, heavy rain, or snow players should seek to reschedule to a mutually convenient date and notify the ladder coordinator of the delay.
10. Both players should bring a new can of balls for the match (players may mutually agree to use used balls). The winner keeps the unopened can. The loser can keep the balls used in the match.
11. Both players are expected to be on time. Anyone who arrives over 10 minutes late loses by default, unless the other player agrees to still play the match. The warm-up before the match should be limited to 10 minutes.
12. Matches will be best of 3 shortened sets playing to 4 games with tie break only in the 3rd set at 4-4. Players may mutually agree to longer format matches. NOTE: if you run out of time before finishing the match, then scrap the tiebreaker and finish the match another time. This is as long as both players agree. If both players don't agree, then please plan to schedule some time later to finish the 3rd set and try for within 1 week.
13. If the challenger wins, the challenger takes the place of the person challenged and that person moves down 1 place. All players in between those player's original places move down 1 place. If the challenger loses, there is no change in the Ladder.
14. The winning player should report who won and the score as soon as possible by emailing or texting the Ladder coordinator. Current status of the Ladder will be posted on the Ladder Status tab above.
15. The ladder will conclude on 30th July 2021, hopefully to be replaced by an autumn ladder commencing in September.
16. By entering the ladder you agree for your email address and/or phone number to be shared with other ladder members solely for the purpose of arranging matches and conducting administration associated with the ladder.

Please make an effort to call someone and play a challenge match at least once every 2 weeks. The purpose of the ladder is to play, so don't be shy!

Also feel free to contact anyone on the Ladder to play a practice match that doesn't count as a challenge match.

Note: Please keep in mind this intended to be a fun league! If anyone feels like someone is acting in an unsportsmanlike manner, or if you have suggestions for improving the Ladder, contact the Ladder Coordinator. Any disputes will be resolved by the Ladder Coordinator. Also, this Ladder is a work-in-progress and the rules may change.