Running a Ladder: Challenges, Rankings and Rules

A ladder is an ongoing, challenge-based competition where players move up and down a ranked list by winning matches. It runs itself once the rules are set, which makes it ideal for clubs that want continuous play without scheduling every round.

When a ladder is the right format

Choose a ladder when you want a long-running competition that players drive themselves, rather than a single event with fixed rounds. Members challenge each other, play on their own schedule, and the rankings stay live the whole time. It works for singles and doubles across tennis, padel, and pickleball.

If you instead want structured weekly rounds with divisions and promotion or relegation, a multi-week format fits better. See building a league for that path.

Set up the ladder

Create the ladder in the Skedge app or on the web, then configure how challenges work before you invite players.

1. Create the ladder

   Start a new event and choose the ladder format. Give it a clear name, pick the sport, and set singles or doubles.

2. Seed the starting order

   Set the initial ranking. You can seed by known skill, by a qualifying round, or alphabetically and let results sort it out. The starting order only matters for the first few challenges.

3. Set the challenge range

   Decide how far up a player may challenge, for example up to three positions above their own. A tighter range keeps matches close, a wider range lets players climb faster.

4. Set the challenge window

   Choose how long players have to arrange and complete a challenge match once it is issued. A window of about one week is common for club ladders.

5. Invite players

   Share your event code or invite link so players can join. See inviting players and sharing your event code.

How positions swap on a win

The core rule is simple. A player challenges someone ranked above them within the allowed range. They play the match and you, the organizer, enter the result.

• If the challenger wins, the two players swap positions on the ladder.
• If the higher-ranked player wins, the order does not change.

Standings update automatically as soon as you save a result, so the ladder always reflects the latest match.

Keep the ladder active

A ladder only stays interesting if matches keep happening. A few rules help.

• No-response forfeits. If a challenged player does not play within the challenge window, record it as a forfeit so the challenger moves up. This discourages players from ducking challenges to protect a rank.
• One challenge at a time. Limiting each player to one open challenge keeps the picture clear and avoids disputes about who plays whom first.
• Seasons. Run the ladder in seasons. At the end of a season, recognise the top players, then re-seed or reset positions for the next one to keep newer members engaged.

Inactivity and dropouts

When a player leaves mid-season, remove them from the ladder and the players below shift up to close the gap. If someone goes quiet but has not formally left, a no-response forfeit rule handles it without you having to intervene every time.

Next steps

For the strategy behind seeding, challenge ranges, and keeping a ladder healthy over a full season, read the full guide on how to run a tennis ladder. When you are ready to launch, head to get started and create your first ladder.