Each year, 300+ players participate in the FGTA ladder between May and September. It's a great way to meet new hitting partners and improve your match play.

When you join a ladder, you can challenge other players and they can challenge you. Players schedule each match individually, so you can play at a time and place that fits your schedule. Regular signup rules apply (permit required; one hour of court time per player each day).

There are five singles ladders this year, based on USTA NTRP rating:

2.0 to 3.0 ladder
3.5 ladder
4.0 ladder
4.5+ ladder
Women’s ladder (all levels)

Registration

This year, we’re using Global Tennis Network to manage the ladder. If you don’t have a Global Tennis Network account, you’ll need to sign up before you can join the ladder.

Be sure to read the ladder rules carefully, even if you’ve played the ladder before—there are lots of changes from last year!

The fee for each ladder is $105 for the season. All ladder registrations are final and nonrefundable.

If you have questions or need help with anything, email us at ladder@fortgreenetennis.org.

Ladder Rules

Registration Period

Ladder play begins May 1 and ends September 30.
Returning players will be given starting points based on 2024 ladder end standings:
- 1-16: 2 points
- 17-32: 1 point
All players joining after May 1 will be placed at the bottom of the ladder. Ladder admins may use their discretion on initial positioning as they feel is warranted.

Challenges

You may issue 2 challenges at a time, and you can be challenged by 3 players at a time.
You may challenge up to 15 rungs above and below your position.
When another player challenges you, you have 2 days to accept or decline.
- If you decline the challenge or don’t respond within 2 days, you lose 1 point.
When you accept a challenge, you agree to play within 20 days.
- If a challenge is accepted and not played within 20 days, the player who was challenged will lose 1 point.
When you win a challenge, you get 3 points for beating a higher ranked player or 1 point for beating a lower-ranked player.
If you need to withdraw a challenge, email the ladder admins with your request (but please try to avoid this as much as possible).

Match Play

COURT SIGNUP:
- Ladder matches should be played in Fort Greene Park by default. (If both players agree, they can play at other courts.)
- The challenger is responsible for signing up for the court.
- Regular signup rules apply (NYC Parks tennis permit required; one hour of court time per player each day).
BALLS: The player who was challenged should bring an unopened can of balls.
WARMUP: Please limit your warmup to 10-15 minutes.
SCORING:
- Ladder matches should be played as one regular set (no ad, unless both players agree to play ad).
  - If you choose to play more than one set, both players must agree in advance and must play the match through, even if it requires scheduling additional court time. Use a 10 point tiebreaker in lieu of a full third set.
- You must play for the full hour of court time if the match is not yet complete, and you cannot take more than a one minute break between games.
- The challenge cannot end in a tie. If you are on serve with less than 10 minutes left, you must play a tiebreak on the next even game. Alternatively, if both players agree, you may finish the match another day. Keep in mind that challenges cannot be extended and the player who was challenged will lose a point if the challenge expires.
ENTERING SCORES:
- The winner enters the score.
- You must schedule matches through the Global Tennis Network system. Ladder admins will not enter scores for matches that were arranged outside of the system or matches that were played after a challenge expired.
You must play at least 10 matches to qualify for the tournament in October.

Leaves of Absence

You may take a leave at any time by setting days you’ll be unavailable to play in Global Tennis Network. From the Ladder Menu, click the dashboard link.
If you can’t play for any reason, you will not be able to maintain your position on the ladder.

Administration

Your ladder admins are Alex, Harinee, and Mohammad. Our aim is to keep participation in the ladder fun, friendly and fair. Ladder admins have the right to change rules at any time if we believe it's in the spirit of the ladder. We want players to stay active and engaged. Everybody's busy, but if you ignore challenges or don't make an effort to play, it's a bummer for everyone else. The Fort Greene tennis community is big and passionate. No other ladder in the NYC area comes close to our size. So take this opportunity to play a lot of matches and have fun!