auburn table tennis club

table tennis ladder

guidelines

the club�s ladder has two basic rules:��

1.   you challenge a player higher than you on the ladder.

2.   if you win the challenge match (3 out of 5 games, played to 11 points), you move in to that person�s spot on the ladder, and everyone moves down a rung.� if you lose, you both stay where you are on the ladder.

the details:

i.��������� how do i get on the ladder?

�      the initial ladder will be populated by those club members who email the ladder manager, bill kochenderfer; wkochenderfer@cs.com by january 14, 2008, and let him know you want to be on the ladder.� all we need is your name and a contact e-mail (or telephone if you prefer).� the initial ladder spots will be assigned at random.� this will be posted on the web site by january 16, 2008.

�      after the initial ladder is in place (this will be posted to the web site), then until february 13, 2008, we will permit �unrestricted� challenges by anyone on the ladder or joining the ladder.� this means you can challenge anyone on the ladder to a match.

�      after february 13, 2008, new players to the ladder can challenge anyone in the bottom half of the ladder.� if the challenger wins the match, the challenger takes that rung and everyone moves down one spot.� if the challenger loses the match, the challenger does not get on the ladder; he/she has to challenge somebody else.

�      after february 13, 2008, players already on the ladder can challenge anyone within four rungs of the ladder.� if we need to expand that range, we will.

ii.������� how do i make a challenge?

�      e-mail, call, yell, send a carrier pigeon, put a message in a bottle � whatever it takes to make contact with the person you want to challenge.� this is easy enough on mondays when there is �open� play, but the challenge match can (and should) be played anywhere, anytime (including, if the players agree, as a part of a round robin match on a wednesday).��

iii.������ how do i report the match results?

�      e-mail the match results to bill kochenderfer (wkochenderfer@cs.com).� all we need is the date the match was played, who the players were, and who won.� no need for game or point scores.� photographs optional.� the winner of the match is responsible for reporting the match result.

iv.������ what happens if i can�t get an opponent to accept my challenge?

�      players should endeavor to make and accept lots of challenges.� the objective is to play lots of matches.� if your table tennis objective is focused training (as opposed to match play), then do not sign up for or join the ladder.

�      a challenge properly made (meaning you have challenged a player within four rungs), needs to be accepted and played reasonably promptly.� most of the time, the match can and should be played on the spot.� but it is also fair, for example, for a challenged player to decline a challenge if it is made at the end of a long session of play, and politely ask to play the challenge match the next time the players meet.

�      if you have challenged a player and lost the match, then you do not have the right to challenge that player again for two weeks.

�      if a player is unable or unwilling to accept challenges for 30 days, they will be dropped to the bottom of the ladder; we want to encourage active players and regular match play on the ladder.� if a player does not play a ladder match for 60 days, we will drop them off the list with the presumption that they have moved to another town to play table tennis.

�      if the players within four rungs of you are not readily available to play, let bill kochenderfer know this and if needed we will permit the challenges to be made beyond four rungs.

v.������� are there any special rules for the challenge matches?

�      no.� standard club and usatt rules apply.� best 3 out of 5 games, play to 11 points.� spitting and swearing should be kept to a minimum.�

vi.������ are there trophies, cash awards, frequent flyer miles and other benefits for

playing in or winning the ladder?

�      no.� but the top player in the ladder (we will decide later on how long the ladder play will go before starting over) will get his/her picture taken with the club president.� second place finisher gets his/her picture taken with the club president and the club secretary.� third place finisher has to take the pictures.