Challenge matches will be used as a guide to determine lineups for play. They are not set in stone and competitive lineups may be adjusted at the coach’s discretion. This new challenge system is subject to change throughout the season. Players will be notified of any and all changes.

Challenge matches consist of a best 2 out of 3 sets format.

Matches must be played completely in a single session with exception of weather delays. You may not decide to finish later because you're both tired.

Challenges must be reported to and cleared with either Mr. Davis or Coach Brown before they are valid.

All players are only allowed to challenge anywhere on the ladder 1 time before the end of August.

After school starts players may challenge anyone up to 5 spots above them on the challenge ladder and 3 spots below.

Players who have never been on the ladder may challenge anywhere on the ladder for their first match anytime.

Following any challenge match players must play a match against a different opponent before they may re-challenge a player.

Matches must be played within 5 days of reporting the challenge to the coaches.

Players may only have 1 challenge match standing at a time and may only play 1 challenge match per day.

Challenge match scores should be reported online at www.badgertennis.com by both players to ensure accurate scores. If you don’t report a score you can’t complain if it is wrong.

Challenge matches begin immediately and must be completed by Sunday, September 23rd.

Scoring

• If the winner is the higher ranked player, he or she receives 20 points added to his or her previous point value.

• If the winner is the lower ranked player, his or her previous point value is replaced by the value of his opponent's points - plus 20 points, thus "leap-frogging" his opponent.

• The loser of the match receives 1 point for each game that he wins.

• Players will only receive 10 points for a win by forfeit.

• Players who forfeit a match will lose 10 points.

This ladder design includes the most important feature of a traditional ladder, i.e. when you beat a player you move into a position above him. But unlike a traditional ladder, the loser receives a reward for his effort that is proportional to the performance of that effort. Conceivably, the loser may earn 19 points by losing a three set match in tiebreakers (7-6, 6-7, 7-6).

Ladder rankings are determined entirely by performance, while stimulating play in two important ways.

1. A strong player can move to the top in one match but will surely be passed by others if he or she doesn't keep active. This prevents stagnation in the ladder.

2. A losing effort gets rewarded for performance, but not enough to allow a player to maintain a high position simply by playing a lot of matches, often a problem in point accrual systems. Every losing effort also produces a higher-ranked winner. Winning is rewarded considerably more than just participating.