2021 Season

Congratulations again to our 2020 champion, Jeremy Pitaniello, who defeated Leo Shiriaev in the Final 6-3, 6-1!

This year we're going to do a trial run at changing things up and moving the ladder to an automated system at Global Tennis Network. This is a free service and I think it will improve some things. If it doesn't work out, we can always change things up again next year.

To sign up, visit this link. Play begins April 15. Bear with me as I might need to adjust some things along the way. I'll reset rankings to match where we ended last year, once we get a bunch of people signed up.

As always, if you know anyone who would be interested in playing this season, please pass along this information.

If you have any questions, please e-mail vttennisladder@gmail.com or text (802) 338-2397.

Have fun & play hard,

Ben Nappi

Vermont Tennis Ladder 2020 Season

Happy summer! The 2020 season schedule has been posted and is set to begin today - Wednesday, May 20.

Tennis courts have reopened after being closed due to the COVID-19 crisis, and we want to ask that all players make sure to follow current guidelines from the Vermont Department of Health, all rules of the courts that you visit, as well as the Tennis Safety COVID-19 recommendations put out by the USTA.

As always, if you know anyone who would be interested in playing this season, please have them contact us at vttennisladder@gmail.com or text (802) 338-2397.

A big congratulations goes out to last seasons champion Justin Pinard, who defended his title against Ben Nappi with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Let's hope that this year we can once again have enough active players to hold both "A" and "B" divisions for playoffs!

If you have any questions, need to report a match score, or would like to be removed from the list this season, please e-mail vttennisladder@gmail.com or text (802) 338-2397.

Have fun & play hard,

Ben Nappi

Vermont Tennis Ladder 2019 Summer Season

Hello! Happy summer (I think?). The season schedule has been posted and a couple names added to the Challengers pool for the 2019 season which is set to start this Friday, May 31st. As always, if you know anyone who would be interested in playing this season, feel free to send them this way.

Before the season kicks off, a hearty congratulations to last seasons champion Justin Pinard! Justin capped an undefeated season with a tight championship match victory 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-2. Justin is the 6th different "A" division champion in 7 years. Who might take it this year?

I also want to thank Ben Nappi for his hard work on the ladder the past few seasons. Keeping this a free, unaffiliated, and casual format always takes hard working and committed individuals like himself.

Again this season, if the participants are available and willing, I'd like to plan another Vermont Ladder Championship event the weekend of August 31st for the "A" and "B" finals with snacks, open court time, doubles, and prizes.

If you have any questions, need to report a match score, or would like to be removed from the list this season, please e-mail me at vttennisladder@gmail.com or text (802) 598 3024.

Have fun, play hard.

Andrew

2018 Begins

Happy summer everyone,

Vermont Tennis Ladder 2018 will begin tomorrow, June 4! The first session will end June 24. Keep in mind that if you are currently on the "Challengers" list, for your first match you may challenge any player up to 15 spots above you. If you do not play your first match within the first two sessions, you must challenge as normal.

Visit the ladder page at vermonttennisladder.blogspot.com to view standings, match results, player contacts, format & rules.

If you have any questions, need to report a match score, or would like to be removed from this list, e-mail vttennisladder@gmail.com. 

See you on the courts!

Ben

Ladder Season 2017 Kickoff

The Vermont Tennis Ladder officially begins this Friday, May 26, 2017 for a supersized Session 1. A big congrats again to last year's A and B champions, Preston Gordon and Teal "Soyru Forall" Scott. Congrats are also due to our runners up David Gold and Sam Laves for their impressive playoff runs. Almost 100 matches were played last season by 32 active players making it the Ladder's most active season to date.

Matt Kim, Bret Findley, and Ben Nappi all reached out to me the end of last season interested in providing some help as the volunteer administrative burden of running the ladder has increased as the numbers have grown. The four of us met last week for the first "VT Ladder Advisory Committee". They will be assisting with the timely posting of scores, cosmetic website improvements, organizing events, rule change discussions and other matters to ensure a smooth ladder experience behind the scenes. A big thank you to them.

Please note some tweaks to the rules in the Format and Rules tab on the website. These are mostly clarifying changes with the exception of the new "VTL Challengers" section of the ladder for new or inactive players. Last season there were a number of complaints that inactive players were ranked higher than new active ones creating a frustrating experience for players new to the ladder. Hopefully this will improve that experience. I have also removed anyone who has not played a match the past two seasons. If you would like to be re-added, let me know. As part of this change, the "One Free Challenge Match" has been modified so that anyone new or inactive from the previous year can play anyone up to fifteen (15) spots up the active player ladder. If you have any questions about the rule changes, please e-mail me, there is still time to make some tweaks before the season starts.

If you have any other questions, would like to join, and/or need to report a match score, e-mail me at vttennisladder@gmail.com. See you on the courts, have fun, play hard.

2016 Championships

Congrats to our 2016 Champions! In two well played finals yesterday at the beautiful Burlington Tennis Club, Preston Gordon d. David Gold 6-1, 6-1 to win the A division and Teal Scott d. Sam Laves 6-3, 6-3 to win the B. Thank you again to all who participated this year.

Ladder Season 2016

The Vermont Tennis Ladder officially begins this Saturday, May 28, 2016. A big congrats to last year's A and B champions, Andy Samara and Dylan Aiken. Congrats are also due to our runner's up Martin Wilde and Andrew Murphy for their impressive playoff runs. While at times it might not have seemed like it to some, over 67 matches were played last season by about 30 active players making it the Ladder's second most active season to date. Additionally, for the first time ever, the Ladder was able to schedule a playoff final's event hosted by the Burlington Tennis Club featuring the A and B championship matches with a small, spirited crowd and snacks. As with the 2014 A championship, due to a photography error, there are no pictures of our champions for the eventual Ladder Hall of Fame. Kinks should be worked out this year (i.e. I now have a camera).

As in prior seasons, due to injuries, summer vacation trips and inactivity, many players are not in the ladder position that necessarily correlates with ability. As a result, there may be a few lop-sided matches early on before rankings adjust. The format is such that if you play matches, within the first month or so you will be surrounded by active players at or very near your level. If you do want to play a lot, in order to ensure scheduling, I recommend a group e-mail to all four individuals in front of you with your availability for the next few weeks. This way, you will stay up even if you can't schedule, and the players that were inactive in front of you will move down, putting you in a new position with other more active players.

Do not forget about the One Free Challenge Match.

If you have any questions, would like to join, and/or need to report a match score, e-mail me at vttennisladder@gmail.com.

Have fun, play hard.

Format: 2016

1. Anyone new to the ladder or didn't make the A or B playoffs last season has "One Free Challenge Match" (OCFM) This means you can challenge up as high as you want in the ladder in your first match. If you win, you take that person's spot and they move down one spot. If you lose you remain at your prior spot. 

2. If you challenge a player and they do not get back to you within four (4) days, cancel within twelve (12) hours of the scheduled match time, or reschedule more than two (2) times (for any reason) you will take their spot as if you have won the match. The result will be recorded as a default win. 

3. Matches can be played at any time or place. Bring a can of balls.

4. Matches must be best 2/3 sets with full third or 2/3 sets with a 10 pt match breaker. It is better to decide about a full third or match breaker before the match begins, but not a rule.

5. Each player must play a minimum of one (1) match every two week session. If you don't play a match at the end of that two week period you will be moved down four (4) spots unless it's a planned absence (travel, injury, etc...) or you have made an effort to challenge three (3) different players and were unsuccessful in the two week period. If you don't play over a four (4) week period you will be moved to the bottom of the ladder.

6. Match scores need to be reported to vttennisladder@gmail.com before you play your next match so the ladder can be adjusted accordingly.

7. Everyone can challenge up to four (4) places in front of themselves. If the #1 player isn't challenged over the course of a two week period and doesn't play they do not move out of #1.

8. If you win a match you will move into your opponents spot, or maintain your position.  If you lose a match you will move down to your opponents position.

9. The ladder ends Sunday, August 2nd. Playoffs will be split into A and B brackets. The top 8 players make the A playoff. Players number 9-16 are in the B playoff. This way we will have an A and B champ, and maximize the number of matches played. The championship matches will attempt to find a common time and place to play the final matches the week after the semi-final round so that fans can attend if interested.

10. You are welcome to play anyone on the ladder anytime, matches won't count that are outside these rules.