1. The Ladder is open to any players who are members of S&D clubs.

2. There will be an initial Registration period, during which any player from any club can register their participation. Once the Registration period has been completed, entrants will be ranked in order of ability and then the normal Ladder Challenge rules (see below) will apply.

3. A new entrant on the ladder is placed at the bottom. They have 1 free challenge on anyone, anywhere in the ladder. Thereafter, whether successful or not, they are limited as to how far above themselves they may challenge (see below). The free challenge allows new entrants to establish themselves at – or slightly below – the position that they feel they belong.

4. One player may challenge another up to 6 positions above them on the ladder at any time. This does not apply to first-time Challengers who can challenge anyone in the ladder.

5. All matches should be played within 16 days of a challenge being made, otherwise the Challenger wins. The onus is on the Challengee to respond and liaise in order to agree a date and place to play.

6. The Challenger has the choice of venue.

7. Matches will be the best of 3 sets, with a tie-break to 7 played at 6-all in each set. Alternatively, if both players agree the 3rd set may be replaced by a 10-point tie-break.

8. The Winner of each match – or by agreement between the participants, the Loser - should enter the result as soon as possible onto the website.

9. If the Challenger wins, they jump to the position immediately above their opponent. This occurs, irrespective of whether the gap between the 2 players has altered since the original challenge.

10. If the Challengee wins, no movement results.

11. The Winner of a match is immune from being challenged for 2 days. This gives the victor the opportunity to issue a new challenge – a Winner’s "perk".

12. The Loser of a match may not re-challenge the victor for 7 days. This gives other players fair opportunity to challenge either player.

13. The Loser of a match may not issue a challenge to any other player for 2 days. This gives the victor the first opportunity to challenge above and so avoid the possibility of being "leap-frogged" by the Loser.

14. If either party is more than 30 minutes late in attending an agreed match, then the late or non-attender Forfeits the match. See the rule on "Forfeiting", below.

15. If no result has been recorded by two thirds of the way through the challenge period, a reminder is automatically emailed to both players.

16. If no result has been recorded by the end of the challenge period, a warning is automatically sent to record the result within 2 days ("grace period").

17. If no result has been recorded by the end of the grace period, the Challenger automatically wins by Forfeit. In this case, the Challengee will drop one position below the Challenger. The Forfeiter may not issue a challenge to any other player for 2 days.

18. If the Challengee wishes to concede the challenge, they can record this within the challenge and grace period and the match is won by the Challenger by Forfeit. The Challengee will drop one position below the Challenger and may not issue a challenge to any other player for 2 days.

19. If the Challenger wishes to cancel the challenge, they may do so within the challenge and grace period. However, the Challenger may not issue a challenge to any other player for 2 days.

20. A player may choose to "rest" from the ladder at any time. This resting period must then be for a minimum period of 16 days. Following their resting period, they will re-enter the ladder at the bottom and have 1 free challenge, as for a new starter. If, however the player chooses to waive their free first-time challenge, this minimum resting period does not apply.

21. The Challenger must provide four new or good-quality balls for the match.

22. Where a visitor's fee is required, the cost should be shared between the participants. It is hoped that clubs would not impose any restriction on the number of times a visitor can play ladder matches there.

Items in red refer to values which are "tailorable" within the system and may be altered at the discretion of the S&D