Double Ladder Rules

Ladder Periods and Divisions

The Double Ladder is divided into periods, normally lasting approximately one month.

Players are placed in divisions according to playing strength. Each division normally consists of four to seven players.

A match schedule is generated at the beginning of the period. Players rotate partners so that they play with and against different players within their division.

The players are responsible for contacting each other and arranging their matches before the end of the period.

All active players must join the WhatsApp-group for the Doubles Ladder (see link on the ladder page), as that's our main communication channel.

Match Format

Matches are played as best of three sets.

The first team to win two sets wins the match.

Scoring

Each set is played to 15 points.

A team must normally win by at least two points. For example:

• 15–13 is a valid result.
• At 14–14, play continues until one team leads by two points.

However, the set is capped at 21 points. This means that a set can be won 21–20. No set continues beyond 21 points.

Shuttles

Matches are played using Yonex Mavis 2000 shuttlecocks.

The players participating in the match are responsible for providing the shuttlecocks themselves.

Reporting Results

The result should be entered in the app after the match has been completed.

Both teams should confirm that the reported result is correct.

Division Scoring

Standings are based on the number of sets won.

Each set victory gives one point to both players on the winning team.

Examples:

• A team winning 2–0 gives each winning player 2 points. The losing players receive 0 points.
• A team winning 2–1 gives each winning player 2 points. The losing players receive 1 point.

Points are awarded individually. Partners do not remain as a fixed team throughout the period.

Matchresults in this ladder will be included in the doubles rating updates.

Scores are reset when a new ladder period begins. Player ratings are retained.

Tied Players

If two or more players finish with the same number of points, the tie is resolved using the following criteria, in order:

1. Set difference — sets won minus sets lost.
2. Number of match wins
3. Doubles Rating
4. Singles Rating
5. Stable Random Draw

Only matches from the current ladder period are included.

Promotion and Relegation

At the end of the period, the highest-ranked player(s) are promoted to a higher division, while the lowest-ranked player(s) are moved to a lower division.

The exact number of promoted and relegated players may depend on the size and structure of the divisions.

Promotion and relegation positions are provisional until the next period is created. In some cases, such as when new players join the ladder or divisions need to be rebalanced, a player shown in a promotion or relegation position may remain in their current division instead.

Cancelled Matches

A match should be marked as Cancelled when it cannot reasonably be played and no particular team is responsible.

Examples include:

• The players have made reasonable attempts to find a time, but no time works for everyone.
• The sports hall is unexpectedly unavailable.
• Several players are unavailable for reasons outside their control.
• The match cannot be completed before the period ends despite reasonable communication from everyone.

A cancelled match:

• gives no points;
• does not count as a win or loss;
• does not affect player ratings.

Walkovers

A match should be marked as Walkover, or W/O, when the match cannot be played primarily because one player or one team has not fulfilled their responsibility.

Examples include:

• A player repeatedly does not respond to attempts to arrange the match.
• A player cancels repeatedly without making a reasonable effort to find a new time.
• A player does not attend an agreed match without sufficient notice.
• One player is unavailable for the entire period while the other players have made reasonable attempts to arrange the match.

Before reporting a Walkover, the players should make genuine attempts to communicate and arrange or reschedule the match.

A Walkover is recorded as a 2–0 result for the team which were available.

Walkovers do not affect player ratings because no match was played.