If you have never played in a tennis ladder before, it is a great way for new players to get started. Here are the basics... No matter where you start on the ladder, after a period of time you will end up playing games with people of similar ability. If you improve, you are likely to go up the ladder but you will then be playing against harder opponents.

If you wish to take a break from the ladder (e.g. you are away for 6 months) then you can do so by clicking on 'take a break' from the admin page (you need to be logged in to access this page).

Newly registered players will be added to the bottom of the ladder but will get one chance to challenge anyone on the list and place themselves where they think they belong.

When you are ready to make a challenge, go to the rankings page (you must be logged in first). Then click on the player you wish to challenge and follow the instructions. The ladder rules are listed below.

1. You may challenge a player up to 3 positions above you on the ladder at any time. This does not apply to first-time challengers who can challenge anyone on the ladder.

2. All games should be played within 17 days of a challenge being made (unless there are extenuating circumstances) otherwise the challenger wins.

3. If either party is more than 30 minutes late in attending an agreed match, then the late or non attender loses the match.

4. If you make a successful challenge you jump above the person you beat. Therefore you may jump up to 3 positions at a time.

5. It will be best of 3 sets as standard, with a tie-break on all sets.

6. If no result has been recorded by two thirds of the way through the challenge period, a reminder is emailed to both parties.

7. If no result has been recorded by the end of the challenge period, a warning is sent to record the result within a few days 'grace period'.

8. If no result has been recorded by the end of the grace period, the challenger automatically wins.

9. If the challenger wishes to cancel the challenge, they may do so within the challenge and grace period with no consequences.

10. If the challenged person (challengee) wishes to forfeit the challenge, they can record this within the challenge and grace period and the game is won by the challenger by forfeit.

11. **NEW** To prevent players to continually challenge other players and give everyone a chance to challenge, a "challenger blackout period" is imposed. If you were the challenger in your last match and this match was played less than this blackout period, then you are prevented to challenge anyone until this period has elapsed. Currently, this period is set to 2 days.

12. **NEW** Also, a re-challenge blackout period is imposed to prevent two players to keep challenging each other, no matter who the last winner was. This period is currently set to 7 days.