Rules and Guidelines

Ladder Rules

• Each week will alternate between even- or odd-number ranked players challenging the slot above them. For example, during an even week, 2 challenges 1, 4 challenges 3, and so on.
• If the challenger wins the match, the two players will exchange positions. Should the challenger lose, both players' standings will remain unchanged.
• Players are required to play their assigned matches within the one week window. Early in the week, the challenger should make initial contact in order to arrange a day and time for the match.
• A player who does not arrange or show up to a match will be removed from the ladder, barring a reasonable explanation. Should both players agree a match is not possible during that week, no change will be made to their standings.
• A player new to the ladder will initially be unranked. Upon challenging and winning a match against a ranked player, s/he will obtain this rank and players will be shifted down accordingly. Should s/he lose, the challenged player will gain a rank and the unranked player will remain unranked.
• The winner of any match should email the match results by Saturday of that week so that standings can be updated. The email should be sent to upennsquashclub@gmail.com and the opponent should be CC'd.
• Ladder rankings will be updated every Sunday night.

Rules of Play

• Matches are best of 5 games. If more than 5 games are played, only the first 5 should be considered in determining the winner.
• Each game is played to 9 points, where only the server may score a point. At a score of 8-8, the server offers the receiver a choice of playing 1 or 2 more points.
• Matches must be played with a standard double-yellow dot ball.
• Non-marking shoes are required.
• Protective eyewear is encouraged and must be worn upon opponent's request.
• Official rules are those of the United States Squash Racquets Association.

Please note a few additional items which are requisite to the success of this play format:

First, ladder matches can and should be competitive, but certainly must always be friendly.

Second, for the ladder to remain dynamic and exciting, it's necessary that everyone play their weekly matches. We've seen ladders that died quickly because players either did not reply to challenges or failed to show up to matches. This is frustrating for the people who want to move up in ranking, or who were simply looking forward to a weekly game. Towards ensuring the success of this play forum, we will be strictly enforcing the no-show/expulsion policy.