The ladder is divided up into 3 tiers. Tier 1 is for players designated as Open/A level. Tier 2 is for players designated as B level. Tier 3 is for players designated C level.

Eligibility for Participation:

1. Players must be current with their SDTF dues to participate on the Grand Prix Singles Ladder.
   
2. If a players’ membership lapses, the Membership Chair will notify the participant of his/her lapse in membership and will allow the participant to bring their membership dues current. Failure by a member to bring his/her dues current by the end of the trimester will result in removal from the ladder.
3. Any player removed from the ladder will lose their ladder position and must challenge to get back onto the ladder.

New players joining the Ladder:

1. Anyone wishing to join the ladder may do so without issuing a challenge prior to midnight, February 12, 2010 by notifying the Ladder Chair at ladder@sdtf.org.
   
2. A player wishing to join the ladder once play has begun on February 15, 2010 can challenge at any position they wish on the tier commensurate with their level of play. If a player is listed in the SDTF roster as a “B” player, they can challenge at any position on Tier 2 of the ladder.
3. If the challenger wins, he/she takes that position and the loser moves down 1 spot, as would any other affected player(s) below them.
4. If the challenger loses, he/she goes to the bottom of the next tier on the ladder. A Tier 1 challenger who loses will go to the bottom of Tier 2. A Tier 2 or 3 challenger who loses will go to the bottom of Tier 3.

Players already on the Ladder:

1. A player may challenge up to 6 spots above his/her current ladder position but no more than 3 spots up on a higher tier..
   
2. If the challenger wins, he/she takes that position and the loser moves down 1 spot, as would any other affected player(s) below them.
3. If the challenger loses, he/she stays in his/her spot.

Issuing Challenges:

1. A challenger can issue a challenge by contacting the challengee via phone, email, or in person. All ladder participants should ensure that his/her contact information is current on the SDTF Membership Contact List.
   
2. A player cannot issue or accept more than one challenge at the same time. An issued or accepted challenge must be played before other challenges can be issued or accepted.
3. A player cannot issue or accept a challenge match against the same person in succession, without 7 days having passed.
4. A challengee must respond to a challenger within 48 hours; otherwise the challenger may report a default. No exemptions will be given for injuries. If a player is unable to play a challenge due to injury, the challenger may report a default. Both parties are responsible for facilitating efficient communication; each ladder participant should ensure that his/her contact information on the SDTF Membership Contact List is current. The ladder chair and rules chair may confer on any controversial situations, and THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION IS FINAL.
5. A challenge issued to a player who has moved or otherwise doesn’t want to be part of the ladder will result in the removal of said player from the ladder. No default may be taken by the challenger.
6. Both the challenger and the challengee will, in good faith and sportsmanship, work to schedule challenge matches.
7. The challenger will provide a new can of tennis balls for the match.

Accepting Challenges:

1. A challengee must respond to a challenger within 48 hours; otherwise the challenger may report a default. No exemptions will be given for injuries. If a player is unable to play a challenge due to injury, the challenger may report a default. Both parties are responsible for facilitating efficient communication; each ladder participant should ensure that his/her contact information on the SDTF Membership Contact List is current. The ladder chair and rules chair may confer on any controversial situations, and THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION IS FINAL.
   
2. It is the challengee's responsibility to notify the challenger if the two are no longer within 6 spots of each other when a challenge is issued. The Ladder Chair will not accept challenge scores for matches if the two players were not within 6 spots of each other at the time of the match.

Exceptions to Issuing and Accepting Challenges:

1. The players in positions 1 - 6 on the ladder may challenge 10 spots below their spot to give them an equal opportunity to gain Grand Prix points.
   
2. If the challenger wins, there is no change in the line-up.
3. If the challenger loses, he/she takes the position right below the winner.

Injuries and Travel:

1. No exemptions will be given for injuries. If a player is unable to play a challenge due to injury, the challenger may report a default.
   
2. No exemptions will be given for travel. If a player is unable to play a challenge due to business or personal travel, the challenger may report a default.
3. Any player deemed to be abusing the above rules in order to maintain ladder position shall be dropped from the ladder.