Pickleball Ladder Rules
League Format
You will earn points by playing matches, which will alter the ladder positions each week. Each week (Sunday nights) the computer will update the ladder with the matches that were played during the previous week.
Activity Generator
You may play as many times as you wish per week and against any player/team on your ladder. As this program is an activity generator, if you choose not to play, you will not earn any points, and therefore, your ranking will fall on the ladder. You may contact anyone on the ladder —there are no restrictions. You may accept or decline any challenge.
Challenge Date
The Challenge date is the initial point of contact and is used for point calculation. Point Calculation is described in a separate page. If your match is rescheduled for any reason, you would keep the same challenge date.
Location of Match
You and your opponents will decide where and when the match will be played. If you decide to play at your own club, please let your opponent know in advance of any guest fees that may apply. If you don’t inform your opponent of a guest fee, please don’t expect them to pay it upon arrival. When going to meet your opponent, please bring their phone numbers with you in case there is a problem.
Match Play
You will play the best 3 out of 5 games. Each game is played to 11 points (winning by 1). Both players/teams should bring balls to the match.
The player/teams can decide who serves on any fair method by flipping a coin flip or spinning the paddle. Whoever wins the coin toss decides if they want to serve/receive or what side of the court they want to start or defer the decision to their opponent.
Stay on the same side of the court throughout the first game and switch sides for the next game alternating sides until the 5th game (if necessary). In the 5th game, change ends after a player/team gets to 6 points.
At the completion of each match, confirm the match scores with each other. The winning player/team is responsible for entering the match results into the computer as soon as possible.
Rescheduling a Match
A match will need to be rescheduled in case of rain or darkness (if played outdoors). When rescheduling, the challenger is still considered the challenger until the match is played. Any match interrupted by rain, darkness, or being bumped off the court should be played from the point of interruption as soon as you can. Make sure to write down where you left off so there are no disputes.
Forfeits
It is a forfeit if you are more than 15 minutes late for your match. The player/team giving the forfeit receives no credit for the match. The player/team receiving the forfeit is considered to have won the match (11-0, 11-0, 11-0) and receives all credit. The Default box on the Match Scores screen is checked in this case.
We understand that there are emergencies, and cancellations will occur. Please give your opponent ample time (1-2 days) if possible, to get another match—everyone’s time is valuable. If you need to cancel your match, please reschedule it right away. And when canceling, please CALL your opponent instead of sending an email—some players do not check email that often.
If you unaccept a match, you must contact your opponent -- no automatic email is sent. If you don't contact your opponent, and they show up to the match, they win by default.
With any last minute cancellation (less than 24 hours), your opponent has the right to accept a forfeit (please offer it). If they are able to find another match that day, you do not have to give a default. If you are a “no show”, you will automatically give your opponent a forfeit.
Retiring
If you get injured during a match and cannot complete the match, your opponent will complete the score by “winning” the rest of the points. Do not use the incomplete score and do not check the “default box”.
Proposals
If you accept a proposal that has a time and location, you must show up at that location whether it is confirmed by your opponent or not. Likewise, if you put out a proposal with a time and location, and it is accepted, you must show up for the match or it is a forfeit. If you accept a proposal without a location specified, you both must confirm with each other. If you change your mind about playing a match, make sure you delete that proposal (so no one accepts it), and if it has been accepted, make sure to inform your opponent.
Withdrawing
If you get injured or otherwise cannot play during the season without playing any matches, you will receive a one-time credit for the following season.
Email addresses
Email addresses are used for Grand Strand Pickleball Ladder play ONLY — no personal non-ladder purposes are allowed.
Teams
You may have only 2 players on any MEN, WOMEN or MIXED-DOUBLES team.
This is an Adult League. You must be at least 18 years of age to play.
Grand Strand Pickleball Ladder reserves the right to refuse membership or rescind existing membership for disruptive behavior or for any other reason.