Points are earned through playing matches, which update the ladder positions weekly. The computer recalculates the ladder standings every Sunday night based on the previous week's matches.

While USTA membership isn't required, players with a USTA rating must play at or above their rated level.

Players can compete as often as they like each week with any member on their ladder. Since this program encourages activity, not participating will result in no points, causing your rank to drop. Players can contact anyone on the ladder without restrictions and have the option to accept or decline any challenge.

The Challenge Date is the initial point of contact and is crucial for point calculation. Details on point calculation can be found under Resources in the Main Menu of the website. If a match is rescheduled, the original challenge date remains the same.

The location and time of the match are mutually decided by both players. If you choose to play at your club, inform your opponent in advance about any applicable guest fees. Failure to notify them of a guest fee means you should not expect them to pay upon arrival. Always bring your opponent's contact number in case of any issues.

Matches are played best 2 out of 3 sets. However, if both players agree beforehand, a 10-point tiebreaker (first to 10 points, win by 2) can replace the third set. When reporting a match tiebreak score, enter it as 1-0 rather than the actual tiebreak points. Both players should bring new balls; the loser takes the used balls, and the winner takes the unopened can.

Matches need to be rescheduled in the event of rain or darkness. The original challenger remains the challenger until the match is played. If interrupted by weather or other factors, the match should resume from the point of interruption as soon as possible. Record the current score to avoid disputes.

A forfeit occurs if a player is more than 15 minutes late. The forfeiting player receives no credit, while the other player wins the match (6-0, 6-0) and gets full credit. Mark the Default box on the Match Scores screen in this case. In emergencies or unavoidable cancellations, please notify your opponent 1-2 days in advance to allow them to find another match. If you need to cancel, do so promptly and contact your opponent by phone rather than email. In the event of a last-minute cancellation on the match day, your opponent has the right to claim a forfeit (please offer it). If you fail to show up, you automatically forfeit.

If you are injured during a match and can't continue, your opponent will win the remaining games. Do not use the incomplete score or check the "default box".

If you accept a match proposal with a specified time and location, you must attend, regardless of further confirmation. If you propose a match with specific details and it's accepted, you must show up, or it will be considered a forfeit. If you accept a proposal without a specified location, confirm the details with your opponent. If you decide not to play a match, delete the proposal and inform your opponent if it has been accepted.

If you cannot play during the season and haven't played any matches, you will receive a one-time credit for the next season.

Email addresses are for Grand Strand Tennis Ladder play only and should not be used for non-ladder purposes.

Adhere to THE CODE as outlined by the USTA. All USTA rules apply, but remember these matches are intended for fun, so fair play discretion is encouraged. Players can choose which matches to accept, so please consider this. Refer to USTA's The Code for detailed guidelines. This is an adult league; participants must be at least 18 years old. Grand Strand Tennis Ladder reserves the right to refuse or rescind membership for disruptive behavior or any other reason.

To update any details in your profile, click on “User Profile” next to your name at the top of the screen when logged into the system. You are responsible for maintaining your own profile. If you know you'll be unavailable for an extended period and want to avoid receiving emails, consider temporarily removing your email address. If you've forgotten your password, click on "Forgot your password" on the Log In page, and instructions will be emailed to you.

Email addresses are provided to facilitate challenges and communication between players. If you need to find specific locations or playtime preferences, you can use the “email all contestants” feature, though it’s currently unavailable. When using this feature, remember to specify your division as many players participate in multiple divisions. Email addresses are intended solely for ladder play. The Proposal function might be more useful for finding matches.

At the beginning of the season, all players start at the same ranking of #1. You can begin playing as soon as the ladders are available.

There are various ways to issue a challenge. When you select your division, you'll see the ranking list (ladder) along with one phone number, and by clicking on a player's name, you can email them or view their email address. The challenge button next to each player’s name allows you to send a direct challenge email. The most popular method for challenging players is using the Proposal function—details below.

To propose a match at a specific day and time, click on “Propose Match” (located above the ladder), enter the date, time, and location, and then click “Propose.” This sends an email to all players on the ladder. If you receive a proposal and wish to accept, log into the system, go to the “Proposals” page, and click “accept.” This will notify everyone in the division that the match has been accepted. While emails are sent whenever this function is used, you can disable these notifications by selecting the “No proposal emails” option in your profile. You can still check and accept matches on the proposal board. If you make a proposal, you will be notified via email when it is accepted. It's important to accurately enter the date and time for proposals. For example, if you want to play on March 16 at 9:00 AM, type:3/16 9:00 AM. The year is optional. Avoid using commas, periods, the @ sign, brackets, or parentheses. If no time is specified or entered incorrectly, the system defaults to 12:00 AM.

If you receive an email stating, “you have been challenged to a match,” you can accept or reject the challenge by clicking the link in the email. Challenges can also be found under the “Challenges” page in the system. Upon accepting (or rejecting) a match, an email notification is sent to your opponent. The opponent is then responsible for coordinating the time and place. However, the Proposal function is often more convenient for organizing matches.

When you accept a challenge or proposal, the system automatically logs the match in the “Matches” page. After the match, visit the “Matches” page and click on the player's name in the pending match to enter the scores. If the match was not set up through the system, click on “Add Match” to enter the details manually. You can correct any mistakes in match scores by editing the match entry. In case of duplicate entries, you can delete one. To view match scores, enter the week it was challenged or played. For a broader view, select “all” weeks for a particular player. The quickest way to see all your matches is by clicking “All Mine” at the top of the Matches page. To see recent matches, click on “recently played matches.” If a match included a 10-point tiebreaker, enter that set as “1-0,” not the actual tiebreak score.

The Default box should be checked in the event of a “no show” or if someone cancels on the day of the match. Enter the scores as 6-0, 6-0 and check the box. The maximum points a player can earn from a default is 20 points. If you get injured or retire during a match, your opponent completes the score by “winning” the rest of the match. Do not check the default box in this case.

If lower-ranked: 15 points, plus half of the product of the difference in games won and the difference in rankings (up to 7).

‍If tied or consecutively-ranked: 20 points, plus the difference in games won in sets.

‍If higher-ranked: 10 points, plus the difference in games won in sets.

Game points: Equal to the total games won in all sets, with a maximum of 10 points.

‍Challenger bonus: The challenger earns an extra 2 points.

The maximum points a winner can earn is capped at 50. For defaults, the maximum is 20 points.

Players will determine their division level by self-rating their abilities using the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) outlined below. A player may compete at or above their level (if rated), but not below.

This player is learning to anticipate ball direction, though court coverage may be weak. They can sustain short rallies at a slow pace with players of similar skill.

This player is relatively consistent with medium-paced shots but is not proficient with all strokes. They struggle with directional control, depth, or power execution.

This player has improved stroke reliability and can direct shots moderately but lacks depth and variety. They show more aggressive net play and improved court coverage.

This player has dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides for moderate shots. They can use lobs, overheads, approach shots, and volleys with some success but may lose rallies due to impatience.

This player is beginning to master the use of power and spins, handle pace, has sound footwork, controls shot depth, and starts to adjust their game plan according to opponents. They may tend to over-hit on difficult shots.

This player exhibits good shot anticipation and often has an outstanding shot or attribute that can define their game. They regularly hit winners or force errors on short balls, successfully execute volleys, lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overhead smashes, and maintain good depth and spin on most second serves.