WILMINGTON TENNIS LADDER RULES

Enrollment and Free Challenge (FC)

• 1. Ladder play is open to all members (18 years and older) as soon as the secretary receives their application and fee.  You can then start making your matches.  A players position depends on his/her standing at the end of the previous season, provided they register by June 30th.  Play begins on August 1st and ends on January 15th. 
  

• 2. Members obtain their position on the ladder by exercising one of the following options:
  

A. By holding last years position

B. By using their one Free Challenge per season per ladder (you have all season to exercise your Free Challenge)

• 3. If you FC in and play your match within the last 10 days of the month, you need only one match that month,.  Every other month requires the two-match minimum.  When making a FC, call/email someone on the ladder of your choice and set up a match no more than 2 weeks in advance.  They call/email the ladder captain of that ladder and register the match.  When registering a match make sure you leave your name and phone number and that of your partner (if applicable) along with the date (not day) and whether the match is an up, down or free challenge. The winner of the match reports the win to the captain.  If you lose your free challenge you will be dropped to below the last player/team within your USTA rating. 
  

• 4. For doubles teams, both players must pay the ladder fee before the team will be allowed to play any matches.  Teams that are holding their position from last year may do so with one partner paying by the deadline, but the team will not be allowed to play until both players have paid.  If both players have not paid their fee at the end of the first month of play, they will be dropped 7 positions.  If both players have not paid by the end of the second month of play, they will be dropped from the ladder and will have to use their free challenge if the wish to play.  Only one doubles partner per ladder. 
  

Ladder Matches

• 1. To play, call/email someone on the ladder who is in your range of 7 up and 7 down and set up a match no more than 2 weeks in advance.  Required play is 2 matches per month (1 up and 1 down) You may play two downs in a month to satisfy the 2 match minimum, but never 2 ups.  The month of December and the partial month of January will be considered one month, therefore only two matches will be required in this time period. The last 3 players on the lowest ladders do not have to play a down unless called from below.  Please try to keep your ups and downs as close as possible (ex: if you play 5 matches in a month, 3 ups and 2 downs are acceptable).  A free challenge match is considered an up match for the player exercising the FC and considered a down match for the player being challenged.  You must play the minimum of two matches per month, or you will drop 7 positions on the ladder.  If you only play two matches a month, you must play two different players/teams.
  

• 2. You may challenge any player within your range of 14 players/teams (7 up and 7 down).  The ladders will be updated on the website, but you may want to check with the captain for your range of 14.  After you have arranged a match, you must register it with the captain.  Call/email both ladder captains when challenging from the A1 to the A2 ladder and vice versa. 
  

• 3. The player looking for the match is responsible  for registering it.  Failure to do so will deny him/her/team credit for the match.  However the opponent will receive all credit, unless the match is a free challenge, the credit will go to both players/teams.
  

• 4. The winner of the ladder match is responsible for reporting the win to the captain within 3 days.  Failure to do so will deny him/her/team credit for the match.  However, the opponent will receive all credit.  The winner assumes the position of the defeated player/team and the defeated player/team drops one position.  If the player/team in the higher position wins, both players keep their previous positions.
  

• 5. If a captain receives a call/email that a player/team is trying to challenge you, and you do not respond to that challenge, you will not be allowed to register another match until you arrange a match with that player/team.
  

• 6. There are only 2 legitimate reasons to cancel or reschedule a registered match:  Rain or the temperature or wind chill temperature is below 32 degrees (players/teams option)
  

• 7. Any match interrupted by rain, darkness, or being bumped off the court must be played from the point of interruption withing 10 days. 
  

• 8. If you are inactive on the ladder for 2 consecutive months (unless you have notified your captain) your name will be removed from the ladder.  If you have not exercised your free challenge, you may free challenge back in at any future point during the season.  If you have exercised your free challenge, you may contact the captain and resume play from the bottom of the ladder. 
  

Forfeits

• 1. It is a forfeit if you are 15 minutes late for your match.
  

• 2. Even if you have played 2 matches early in the month, you must accept a match within 2 weeks if you have no unplayed matches registered with your captain.  Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.  Call/email your captain if you are injured or going out of town; this would excuse you from playing more than 2 matches.
  

• 3. The player giving the forfeit receives no credit for the match.  The player receiving the forfeit is considered to have won the match and receives all credit. 
  

Court Rules

• 1. Any dispute not covered by WTL rules will be settled by USTA rules and/or WTL Officers.
  

• 2. The player with the higher position has the choice of court and the responsibilty of court reservations.
  

• 3. The best 2 out of 3 sets with a 12-point tiebreak used at 6-6 in the third set determines the winner/winners.  However, if all players mutually agree, a tiebreak can be played in lieu of the 3rd set.  Also, if all players agree, you may also play an 8 game pro-set for the match, using a tiebreak at 8-8.
  

• 4. Both players/teams bring new balls to the match.  Balls must be USTA approved.  One can is opened, the loser takes home the used balls and the winner takes home the unopened can.  If you mutually agree to play with used balls, no new balls are exchanged.
  

• 5. Unsportsman like conduct will not be tolerated - members who have multiple complaints may be removed from the ladder by the WTL Officers.
  

Playoff Tournament Rules

• 1. End of the year tournament will be at Echo Farms Country Club the last weekend in January.
  

• 2. Top 4 players/teams on A1 ladders (each category) will qualify.
  

• 3. Tournament format will be 8 game pro-sets.
  

• 4. #1 will play #4 and #2 will play #3 in the first round (semi-finals) and the Winners of the semi-finals will play for 1st and 2nd position during the end of the year tournament on January 26th.
  

• 5. Players unavailable for playoffs must notify the president and the #5 player(s) will move into playoff position.  The unavailble player(s) from the top 4 will move down to the 5th position.
  

• 6. You must have a minimum of 10 matches in order to be eligible for the playoffs.  The month of December and the partial month of January will be considered one month and therefore, only 2 matches will be required in this time period.
  

Wilmington Tennis Ladder