SETTING UP MATCHES
- Players may issue challenges to any other ladder members. However,
most matches should be against players in your general position on the ladder. It
doesn’t matter that the people at the top of the ladder are much better than you, and
the bottom players much worse.
Because player position at the start of the ladder season, before any matches have been
played, is largely random, use NTRP ratings to choose
appropriate players to challenge. Once matches have been played, players will be arranged
on the ladder according to their results. Both NTRP rating and ladder position can then be
used to select players to challenge.
Tips for playing lots of matches:
1) Don't wait for players to
call or e-mail you. They're all anxiously waiting for you to contact them!
2) Don't wait until the last
minute to try an set up a match. A lot of potential opponents will already
be on the court by then.
3) Contact multiple players.
Send e-mail challenges to 4 or 5 players at a time. This helps ensure that
your playing schedule will match that of at least one other person.
4) If a player doesn't respond
to your challenge don't assume they aren't interested in playing you. It's
more likely that they simply missed/neglected your message or already had
plans. If you receive a challenge but can't
play, it's good courtesy to reply and suggest a possible
alternative time.
- Players must make every effort to make and accept proper challenges
both upward and downward.
- If a challenge cannot be agreed upon with a particular player, try
someone else. Players that repeatedly refuse to accept challenges will automatically fall
to the bottom of the ladder due to inactivity.
- The Pittsburgh Tennis Challenge Ladder doesn't compete with or
replace existing leagues and tournaments. If players participating in these events are
ladder members they should enter their results in the ladder scoring system.
MATCH PLAY
Tip:
It's
a good idea to e-mail a player the day before playing a match to confirm
that you're both on the same page regarding the time and place for the
match. This is particularly important if the match was set up far in
advance.
- The time, day, and location for a match must be mutually agreeable.
- If required, the challenger shall reserve the court.
- Although most matches are played on free public
courts, if there is a charge for court time, it will be split between the two
players. Be sure your opponent is aware of court time charges before you
set up the match or get to the court.
- Both players must bring an unopened can of standard tennis balls to
the match. (No multi-colored or X-out balls, please!) The winner gets (or keeps) the
unopened can.
- If a player shows up for a match
without a can of new tennis balls and looses the match, he must pay the
opponent $3.00. This rule is not open to excuses or
negotiation. It's imposed automatically. The guilty player's opponent does
not need to feel sheepish about enforcing the rule.
- Scoring should be conventional: 2 out of 3 sets, regular scoring with
a 12 point tie breaker (first to 7 points by a 2 point margin) used at 6 games all.
If the ladder match is also part of a league or tournament that uses an alternative
method of scoring (eg. pro set), that method of scoring will be acceptable. However, you and your
partner must agree on a way to convert the match score to the conventional 2 out of 3 set
system used for the ladder. Non-conventional match scores cannot be entered into the
ladder scoring software.
If both players agree, a tie-breaker in the format of their choosing can be used in
place of a third set. However, the score of the tie-breaker must be converted to that of a
conventional set to be accepted by the ladder scoring software.
- Each match must be 2 out of 3
sets, ie the winner is the first player to win 2 sets. No partial matches
can be entered into TennisEngine. No ad-hoc scoring systems are permitted.
If a match can't be played to completion, it must be finished at a
later date.
- If a player is more than 20 minutes late for a match
without a valid reason, their opponent
can declare a default and win the match 6-0, 6-0. It's best to plan to be
at the court at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of your match.
- If a match is interrupted for any reason, it may be continued to
completion at another time agreeable to both players from the point at which it was
suspended. Players should attempt to complete suspended matches before they initiate or accept new
challenges.
- When a player retires from a match for any reason, sufficient games will be added to the set score of the non-defaulting player to complete
the match in their favor. For example, if player A is leading player B 5-0
in the first set and player A defaults due to an injury, player B wins the
match 7-5, 6-0.
- A player is not permitted to
play more than one official ladder match with the same opponent on the
same day. Of course, "off the books" matches can be played but
both players should be clear about which match is the "official"
one that's entered in TennisEngine.
- Unless otherwise stated, all competition will comply with USTA playing rules and the Code of Tennis.
If you can't be bothered to read these, at least to the following:
- If you have any doubts as to whether a ball is out or good, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good. You should not play a let.
- It is your obligation to call all balls on your side
of the court and to help your opponent make calls when the opponent requests it, and to call against yourself (with the exception of a first service) any ball that you clearly see out on your opponent’s side of the net.
- Any “out” or “let” call must be made
as quickly as possible.
- Do not enlist the aid of spectators in making line calls.
- If you call a ball out and then realize it was good, you should correct your call.
- To avoid controversy over the score, the
server should clearly announce the set score (e.g. 5-4) before starting a game and the game score (e.g. thirty-forty) prior to serving each point.
- If the receiver cannot hear the server's announcement of the score, he must ask the server to speak louder. You can't wait until the server believes he has won the game to try to reconstruct the scoring point by point.
- If players cannot agree on the score, they may go back to the last score on which there was agreement and resume play from that point or they may spin a racket.
- Do not stall, sulk, complain, or practice gamesmanship. Try to look like you're having fun, even if you're playing badly. Your opponent does not want to see you looking miserable, at least in a friendly match, and you're likely to play better if you try to present a positive state of mind.
AFTER THE MATCH
- The winner should enter the match results
on TennisEngine.com within twenty four hours of
completing the match.
- The match results and subsequent new rankings will be
computed and displayed immediately.
- To enter match results:
1) Go to TennisEngine.com
and log in with your username and password.
2) At the bottom of the player listing click the "Enter Match" icon.
3) Fill in the form, re-check for accuracy, and click "Enter this Match."
If a match score is entered incorrectly, or is
duplicated, a player cannot correct the error themselves. To make the correction,
send an e-mail to john@pghtennis.com
explaining the error and what change needs to be made. Don't
send e-mail to help@tennisengine.com.
Once a match is entered in TennisEngine it will
not be deleted if one or both players later decide they want the match
"off the books." Players should agree before they set up and
play a match whether it's on the record or just practice.
CHANGING PLAYER STATUS
If a player is unable to play because of injury, illness, or
an extended vacation, they should send an e-mail message indicating this to john@pghtennis.com. They will then be designated as
"inactive" on the ladder. Other players should not submit challenges to inactive
players. When inactive players are able to play, they should send an e-mail notification
and their inactive designation will be removed.
SPORTSMANSHIP
There are very few restrictions for ladder play. However
I recommend that participants not play the same opponent in back-to-back matches. While this
recommendation cannot easily be enforced, it is contrary to the spirit of
ladder participation to play exclusively with only one or two partners. Obviously,
any system can be abused if participants attempt to "beat the system." The
main goal here is to have a good time and reward personal accomplishment with some small
public recognition. Let's have fun!
THE "LOCAL RULES"
Although Tennis in the Burgh and the ladder sponsors will work hard
to make the Pittsburgh Tennis Challenge Ladder as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, we
assume no responsibility for any actual or perceived negative consequences befalling
anyone choosing to participate in the ladder.
All participants agree to relinquish any and all decisions regarding
the operation of the ladder or the awarding of prizes to Tennis in the Burgh and Tennis
Village.
By participating in the ladder you agree to abide by all ladder
rules and procedures posted on the Pittsburgh Tennis Challenge Ladder Web site (ie. the
page you are reading now). Changes in rules will be promptly posted on the Web site but
may not always be communicated to you individually.
We will keep track
of legitimate player complaints. Players that have multiple complaints lodged against them will be
advised. If complaints continue, the player will be disqualified and removed from the
ladder. Player disqualification is at the sole discretion of Tennis in the Burgh and
cannot be challenged or appealed by the disqualified
player. By the time a player is disqualified they will have received ample
warnings. The disqualified player's registration fee will not be refunded.
FYI, no player has ever been disqualified from the Pittsburgh Tennis
Challenge Ladder.
RESOLVING DISPUTES
All players are urged to amicably settle disputes between
themselves.
If this proves impossible, each player should submit via e-mail a description,
no longer than 500 words, of their view of the dispute to: john@pghtennis.com.
This report must be received within 48 hrs of completing the disputed match.
Reports will be automatically forwarded to the other
player for their comments and possible rebuttal.
Tennis in the Burgh's decision in
resolving the dispute will be final and cannot be appealed by either player.
BY JOINING THE LADDER YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING
By registering and playing in the Pittsburgh Tennis
Challenge Ladder, I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages I may have against Tennis in the
Burgh or John Valentich, their agents, successors and assigns for any and all injuries
or losses which may be suffered by me in connection with my participation in the Pittsburgh Tennis Challenge Ladder.
By registering and playing in the Pittsburgh Tennis
Challenge Ladder you relinquish your right to sue John Valentich, Tennis in
the Burgh or Tennis Village for any negative event (perceived or real), even
if it occurs through their negligence or oversight, that might
arise through you participation in the ladder.
Once you have registered for the
ladder your $10 registration fee can't be refunded for any reason.
