Adult Mixed Singles and Doubles Ladders
Our popular mixed ladders for adults are an easy way for new members to arrange games. They are open to players of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Those at the top of the ladder tend to be competitive players, while those towards the bottom are often new to the game and looking for practice and experience. The ladders are included with your membership, and you may start contacting other players to arrange matches from the beginning of May.
Singles Ladder
Men and women compete against each other based on their ranking in the ladder. Your playing ability will determine where you are initially placed in the ladder. The goal is to place players much lower than their expected final position to encourage them to play matches in order to advance. Each season typically begins with close to 100 players enrolled in the Singles Ladder.
Doubles Ladder
Each person may be a member of up to three Doubles teams on the ladder, although most members find that being on one or two teams is more than enough. Pairings may be any combination of male and female players. ie. M-M, F-F, M-F
Format
The format for the KTC Singles and Doubles ladders is a true ladder, with individual rankings for each player/team. The format allows you to play others at your own pace, although a 2-match-per-month minimum* is in place for Singles, and 1-match-per-month per Doubles team. Up-to-date standings are available, either on the KTC website or by contacting a steward. Standings will display the date and time of posting. Online posts of current standings will be made after any match that results in player movement, and there is usually a regular posting done by 9:00pm each evening.
The listing displays ranking, name, day-phone, evening-phone, cell-phone, and email address (all optional, according to each player). Game statistics displayed include: Total number of defences of ranking-positions over entire season, recent (displayed up to 5 days) upward jumps in Ranking, and Highest Attained Ranking during the season, and the number of matches played in the current month when less than the required minimum of 2 for Singles (1 for Doubles).
The recommended match format for the Singles ladder is a pro-set (first to 8, tiebreak at 7-7); best of 3 sets for Doubles. Alternate formats are acceptable, as long as both participants agree to this in advance, but a match must be completed on the same day it is started. If there is not enough time to finish before end of play (eg. within 1 hour for Singles; 2 hours for Doubles), the score stands at the last completed game. In the interest of fair play, you should attempt to finish the match if an open court is available.
Challenges
To move up the ladder, challenges may be made to the 6 active** players (or 4 Doubles teams) listed immediately above you. You may also challenge downward, ANY number of players. The standings will be constantly changing, so refer to the most current listing for those immediately above you, and try to arrange matches within a short timeframe.
Movement occurs when a lower-ranked player defeats a higher-ranked player. Upper movement is limited to the lesser of 6 spots (4 for Doubles), including those listed Temporarily Out, or the spot above the (formerly) higher-ranked player. All scores should be reported to the steward, whether resulting in player-movement or not, as it may have an effect on either participant's total matches for the month. The 15 most-current results are displayed on the first page of the listing.
Example Ladder Setup
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Player 14 can challenge up to Player 7 (as Player 10 is Temporarily Out). If 14 wins, they move to Ranking 8; all players below this new position are moved down by one.
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Player 1 can challenge Player 13 (or further down). If 13 wins, they jump to Ranking 6 (six active ranking-positions)
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Player 12 challenges Player 11 and wins; Player 11 moves to ranking 11, pushing Player 11 to ranking 12.
Ladder play begins on May 1st. Around April 28th, multiple pools in groups of 15, based on rankings from last year-end, as well as new participants, will be used to draw starting-rankings. After this initial draw, new players may be added to a position deemed appropriate. On June 30th, the ladder will be re-shuffled, based on current standings (Pools: 1-10, 11-20, etc.). There will be a final re-shuffle on August 1, based on pools of 5.
A Word about Matches, Challenges, and Fair Play
Matches can often be close, with the final result hinging on one point, and close Singles matches often get nowhere near an 8-X score within the normal booking time. If you have started a game that is wavering between a tied score or a win, try to finish it. However, the players coming onto your court have the ultimate call as to whether they will wait for you to finish that game. Do not request to finish a tie-breaker if you are one or two points into it - they can take too long. Call it a draw! After a close loss, you may want a re-match, but your opponent is not obligated to give you an immediate rematch - there are others to play (although two opponents CAN play each other, as often as they wish).
You are obligated to accept any challenge made from a player who is within 6 (4 for Doubles) positions below you, once the request is made. It does not matter if you subsequently move out of the 6(4)-spot range. If the challenge was made at the time of being within 6(4) spots, it remains valid, no matter what subsequent moves take place within the ladder. Although not always possible to play within short order, you must put them on your ‘to play’ list. Ducking challenges is not permitted, and participants may appeal to the League Coordinator if they feel their request to play someone is being ignored.
Balls: decide amongst yourselves which game balls to use. When in doubt, the challenger should be prepared to supply balls (new or open).
Rain-Outs: if a match is suspended due to rain, the score is official only if one of the players has reached at least 5 games (eg. 5-4 or 5-0). For Doubles, at least 1 set must be completed. Matches are never continued over multiple days. If the minimum score is not reached and a re-match is scheduled, it is a new match, not a continuation of the score. The suspended score may be recorded as such (eg. 4-0 (rainout)), in order for participants to receive credit toward monthly matches played.
No-Shows: if one of the participants does not appear for a scheduled match, it is recorded as ‘Walkover’. No movements are recorded, but the person who appeared receives credit toward total monthly matches played.
* 2 match-per-month minimum: anyone not playing the minimum is dropped from the league. They can then ask to be reinstated, but are then dropped 20 spots below their last standing. Win, lose, or draw, it will be imperative to get your name onto at least 2 scores a month, should you have any real interest in this league.
** You can advise a steward if you wish to be listed as Inactive: 'Temporarily Out' (eg, vacation, injury). No need to provide reason for being listed 'out'. Please be very clear to the steward whether you want out temporarily, or permanently.