Use the New Member Sign-Up! menu option to the left to register and start playing!
The fee to join is $5.00 per ladder.
News & Announcements - Updated 3/25/08
The new 2008 Ladders are setup and ready for players to renew their membership and for new players to sign-up. Please help get the word out. The more players the better for everyone.
Don't be shy and wait for someone else to challenge you...make a challenge yourself! Everyone wants to play.
Want challenges generated for you automatically? Checkout the Auto-Challenge feature. When set, the system will automatically select a player and send out a Challenge email on your behalf. There are several options you can choose from on how frequently and under what circumstances an Auto-Challenge will be generated. To turn the Auto-Challenge feature ON, Login, select your ladder, select the "Settings" tab on the ladder, choose your options, then save the settings. Important Notice: Please do not use the Auto-Challenge feature if you can’t respond and interact with your opponent as if you generated the challenge yourself.
Please be responsive to all challenges you receive in some manner. Also, please communicate with your opponent well in advance if for some reason you can't make a schedule match or will be late. This is critical for the enjoyment of all players.
Columbia Association 2008 Tournament Schedule: 1. Flag Day: June 5 - 10, 2008 2. Summer Smash: TBD 3. Club Championship: September 3 - 7, 2008 4. Turkey Shootout: November 28 - 30, 2008
Any feedback on the new rules or suggestions on how to improve the ladder are always welcome.
Current Stats & Standings
How It Works 1. The Organization operates 5 ladders currently: a. Men's Open Singles (all levels). b. Men's Open Doubles (all levels). c. Women's Open Singles (all levels). d. Women's Open Doubles (all levels). d. Mixed Open Doubles (all levels).
2. Matches can be played on any public or private court at any school, public park, private club, community facility or backyard court that is within a six(6) mile radius of Columbia Mall and that is in good repair. Matches can but DO NOT have to be played on Columbia Association courts.
3. Players DO NOT need to be a Columbia Association Member or a Howard County resident to join a ladder.
4. The 2006 fee to join is $5 per player per ladder. Players MUST register online via this website.
5. The ladders will be operated from April 15 to October 31 each year.
6. The ladders are all self-administered through this website and email. All players joining must have readily available internet access and email.
7. Each Ladder will be organized as a "pyramid". The top tier, Tier 1, will have only one player in it which will be the current ladder leader. Tier 2 will have the two players in positions 2 & 3 on the ladder, Tier 3 will have the players in positions 4, 5 & 6 on the ladder, Tier 4 will have the players in positions 7, 8, 9, & 10 and so on. Players/teams may challenge any player within their own tier, and the two tiers above them. The only exceptions are that players/teams in position 10 or higher on the ladder (the top 4 tiers) may challenge any person/team to the top of the ladder, regardless of tier. One "Free Challenge" per season is offered to each player on the ladder to make challenge anywhere on the ladder(see Free Challenge Rule).
8. Each player will be required to designate his/her level of play at the time of registration for initial placement on the ladder. Players DO NOT need a USTA rating to join. Self ratings are accepted.
9. To make a challenge, a player comes to this website and logs-in where they can view the names, rankings, match histories and contact information of all members of the ladder. Once an opponent is selected, the challenger initiates an electronic challenge via the website. The electroninc challenge generates an email to all players with the details of the challenge. Any challenge made in accordance with the rules of the ladder must be accepted by the person being challenged and a match scheduled within 10 days, otherwise a forfeit is declared.
10. As soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours but not more than 48 hours) after being challenged, a challenged player must offer two reasonable days, times and locations for the match to be played that are within ten days of the date the challenge was made. The player being challenged will always have the right to designate the match location.
11. All matches will be best two out of three sets. A 7 point tie-breaker (first to 7) is played at six all in a set. If all players agree, but only if all players agree, a 12 point tie-breaker (first to 12) may be played in place of a third set.
12. The player that wins the match is responsible for entering the scores on the website. If the challenger wins, they take the ladder position held by his/her opponent and the opponent drops down one position. All other players are adjusted down accordingly. If the challenger losses the match, no change in ladder position is made for either player.
13. Each player must play one match in each required-play period to retain their current position on the ladder. Lack of play in a period results in being dropped down 5 position on the ladder. Players are always free to climb back up as desired.
14. There is no dispute committee that will arbitrate or rule on disputes resulting from play. Players must resolve all disputes on their own to some fair and agreeable outcome.
This is just a summary of the ladder rules. More detail is contained in the complete Rules of Play that are accessible from a link on this page. All players are strongly encouragd to read the entire rules before scheduling a match.
