What is a ladder tournament?
The Ladder is "up and down the river". Players start in order of rating. Every round, neighbours on the ladder play each other: #1 v #2, #3 v #4 and so on. If the lower-ranked player wins, they swap places. Winners climb and losers drop, so by the end everyone is playing people at their level.
How many matches? Neighbours on the ladder play each round, for 1–10 rounds that you set at setup.
How to run a ladder in the app
- Select players. The starting order is by rating.
- Set the number of rounds (1–10).
- Each round, neighbours play. If the lower-ranked side wins, they swap places.
- The boundaries between courts shift each round, so you meet new opponents.
- With an odd number, the lowest-ranked player who has had the fewest byes sits out.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Everyone ends up playing people at their level
- Simple and motivating: win and you move up
- Can be paused and picked up in another session
Watch out for
- Early rounds depend on the starting ratings
Best for
- King-of-the-court and up-and-down-the-river nights
- Mixed-ability club sessions
- Events that run over more than one session
Organiser tips
- Doubles work too: neighbouring pairs on the ladder form the teams.
- Combine it with Seasons to keep a league table across club nights.
Popular sports for ladder
Pickleball tournaments, Padel tournaments, Tennis tournaments, Badminton tournaments, Squash tournaments.
Ladder FAQ
Do players challenge each other?
No. There are no challenges. Neighbours on the ladder play automatically each round.
Can a ladder run over several nights?
Yes. Ladder tournaments can be paused and resumed across sessions.
