Tennis ladder rules template, version 1.0, 2026-10-01
From Deuce Ladder: https://www.deuceladder.com/guides/tennis-ladder-rules-template
Replace every square-bracket fill-in before you publish.

[CLUB NAME] SINGLES LADDER RULES
Version [1.0], adopted [DATE] by [COMMITTEE OR ORGANIZER]

1. PURPOSE AND ELIGIBILITY
1.1 The ladder gives members regular singles matches against players near
    their level.
1.2 It is open to [members in good standing of CLUB NAME / anyone who plays
    at COURT LOCATION], aged [18] or over.
1.3 The ladder is run by [ORGANIZER NAME], contact [EMAIL OR PHONE].

2. LEVEL BANDS
2.1 The ladder has [one band / these bands: BAND NAMES AND LEVELS].
2.2 A player may move to the band above by [beating a player in the bottom
    five rungs of that band / organizer decision].

3. JOINING AND FIRST PLACEMENT
3.1 New players are placed by the organizer from their declared level.
3.2 Each new player gets one unrestricted challenge to any rung in their band.
    A win moves you as in clause 12.2. A loss leaves you where you were placed.

4. CHALLENGE RANGE
4.1 You may challenge any player up to [5] rungs above you.
4.2 You may not challenge down.
4.3 You may have [one] open challenge at a time, sent or received.
4.4 You may not challenge the same player again within [14] days.

5. RESPONSE WINDOW
5.1 A challenged player must reply within [48 hours] and accept or decline.
    A decline is allowed only for injury, a declared absence (clause 11)
    or [OTHER REASONS].
5.2 No reply within that time is a walkover under clause 10.

6. PLAY WINDOW AND SCHEDULING
6.1 An accepted challenge must be played within [14] days.
6.2 The challenged player offers at least [three] dates, including one
    evening or weekend.
6.3 The challenger books and pays for the court and brings a new can of
    balls, unless both players agree otherwise.
6.4 If the window runs out with no match and no fault on either side, the
    challenge lapses with no result.

7. MATCH FORMAT
7.1 Matches are best of three tiebreak sets.
7.2 By agreement before play, a match tiebreak to 10 may replace the third set.
7.3 Any other format must be agreed before the first point and reported with
    the score.

8. REPORTING AND CONFIRMING SCORES
8.1 The winner reports the score within [24 hours] to [WHERE].
8.2 The loser confirms it within [48 hours]. A score not disputed in that
    time stands.
8.3 The organizer rejects any score that is impossible in the format played.

9. DISPUTES
9.1 On court, players follow the USTA's The Code. Line calls belong to the
    player on that side, and any doubt goes to the opponent.
9.2 Off court, the organizer decides disputes within [7] days, after
    hearing both players.
9.3 One appeal is allowed, to [COMMITTEE]. Its decision is final.

10. WALKOVERS AND FORFEITS
10.1 A walkover is awarded to the other player when a player:
     a) does not reply within the response window;
     b) refuses [three] offered dates without offering one;
     c) fails to arrive within [15] minutes of an agreed start; or
     d) cancels an agreed match with less than [4 hours] notice.
10.2 The winner of a walkover moves as if they had won the match.
10.3 Walkovers are recorded separately and do not count as played matches.
10.4 A player who concedes [three] walkovers in [90] days may be removed
     from the ladder by the organizer.

11. ABSENCE AND INACTIVITY
11.1 You may declare an absence of up to [21] days by telling the organizer
     first. While absent you cannot be challenged and you keep your rung.
11.2 You cannot start an absence with a challenge open.
11.3 A player with no played match in [30] days drops [one] rung, and one
     more for each further [30] days.
11.4 After [180] days without a played match, a player is removed.

12. SEASONS, STANDINGS AND PLAYOFFS
12.1 The season runs from [START DATE] to [END DATE].
12.2 If a challenger wins, they take the loser's rung and everyone between
     moves down one. If the challenger loses, nothing changes.
12.3 The current standings are published at [WHERE], updated within
     [48 hours] of each result.
12.4 The top [8] players with at least [8] played matches qualify for a
     playoff on [DATES].

13. CONDUCT
13.1 Matches follow the ITF Rules of Tennis and the USTA's The Code.
13.2 Warm-up lasts no more than [10] minutes.
13.3 Abuse, cheating, or a falsified score can lead to removal from the
     ladder by the organizer.
13.4 The organizer may change these rules between seasons only, with
     [14] days' notice to players.