Tournament Rules

Court Booking & Payment

  • Challengers must coordinate the booking - After contacting the opponent team and agreeing on a date and time, the challenging team is responsible for booking the courts
  • Court fees are shared equally amongst all 4 players and must be settled before getting on the court with the challengers
  • The league does not provide court bookings - teams must arrange and pay directly with their chosen venue
  • Keep your booking confirmation to present on match day

Challenge System

  • Teams can challenge opponents up to 3 ranks above them
  • Challenged teams have 48 hours to accept or reject the challenge
  • If not responded within 48 hours, challenger wins by default and ranks are swapped
  • Once accepted, teams have 7 days to complete the match

Match Format

  • Best of 3 sets format
  • First to 6 games wins a set
  • If tied 6-6, play a tiebreak to 7 points (win by 2)
  • If sets are tied 1-1, play a super tiebreak to 10 points (win by 2)

Ranking System

  • Winner takes the loser's rank, loser drops one position
  • All teams between them shift accordingly
  • Teams locked in challenges cannot be challenged by others

Holiday Mode

  • Teams can activate holiday mode to avoid challenges
  • 2-week grace period with no rank penalties
  • After grace period: 1 rank penalty per week
  • Cannot challenge or be challenged while on holiday

Activity Requirements

  • Minimum 2 matches per month required
  • Inactivity penalty: 3 ranks down if requirement not met
  • Teams on holiday mode are exempt from activity requirements

⚠️ General Match Play Rules (Applies to Both League & Ladder)

🎾 Match Format

  • Best of 3 Sets: First team to win 2 sets wins the match
  • Set Format: First to 6 games wins the set (must win by 2 games if 5-5)
  • Tiebreak at 6-6: Play tiebreak to 7 points (must win by 2)
  • Super Tiebreak (if needed): If sets are 1-1, play super tiebreak to 10 points (must win by 2)
  • Scoring: Traditional tennis scoring (15-30-40-Game)

📅 Court Booking & Scheduling

  • Coordinate Through Dashboard: Use your team dashboard to propose and confirm match times
  • Contact Opponents: Exchange contact info through secure team pages only
  • Book in Advance: Recommended to book courts at least 2-3 days ahead
  • Court Assignment: Most venues assign courts on arrival (bring booking confirmation)
  • Reschedules: Must be approved by admin (limited to 2 per team in league)

📊 Score Submission & Verification

  • Both Teams Must Submit: Each team submits their score through their dashboard
  • Score Format: Enter as "6-4, 6-3" or "6-4, 3-6, 10-8" (your team's score first)
  • Automatic Verification: If both submissions match, match is instantly verified
  • Disputes: If scores don't match, admin will review and make final decision
  • Submit Immediately: Enter scores right after the match while fresh in memory

🏟️ Match Day Procedures

  • Arrive 10 Minutes Early: Allow time for warm-up and court assignment
  • Bring Booking Confirmation: Show venue staff your confirmed booking details
  • Warm-Up: 5 minutes warm-up before starting the match
  • Equipment: Bring your own padel rackets and balls (or coordinate with opponent)
  • Keep Score: Both teams should track score throughout the match

No-Shows & Walkovers

  • Grace Period: Wait 15 minutes past scheduled time before leaving
  • Report No-Show: Submit report through your team dashboard immediately
  • Evidence Required: Take photo of court booking, time-stamped message to opponent
  • Admin Review: Admin will verify and award walkover win if justified
  • Penalties: No-show teams may face rank penalties or disqualification

🤝 Sportsmanship & Conduct

  • Respect Opponents: Shake hands before and after the match
  • Fair Play: Call your own shots honestly, give benefit of doubt on close calls
  • Padel Etiquette: No coaching during points, respect opponent's concentration
  • Line Calls: If in doubt, replay the point
  • Disputes: Resolve calmly and respectfully, escalate to admin if needed
  • Venue Rules: Follow all venue-specific rules and regulations

💬 Contact & Communication

  • Team Dashboard: All opponent contact info available through your secure team page
  • WhatsApp Groups: Join division-specific groups for updates and coordination
  • Response Time: Respond to opponent messages within 24 hours
  • Professional Tone: Keep all communications respectful and professional
  • Admin Support: Contact admin if opponent is unresponsive or difficult to coordinate

📝 Score Entry Examples

✓ Correct Format:

  • "6-4, 6-3" (You won 2-0 in sets)
  • "6-4, 3-6, 10-8" (You won 2-1 with super tiebreak)
  • "7-6, 6-4" (You won 2-0, first set tiebreak)

✗ Incorrect Format:

  • "6-4" (Missing second set)
  • "We won 2 sets to 1" (Use game scores, not set count)
  • "6/4, 6/3" (Use dashes, not slashes)