The Spring/Summer 2022 Ladder has started.  You may make challenges now.  Be sure to report results using the online form for each match.  These need to be submitted by Sunday of each week.

The Summer 2022 Ladders Will Start Monday, May 9th.  Startup date was May 2nd... delayed by 1 week.

The Fall/Winter 2021-2022 Ladders Have Started as of November 1st.  One week earlier than originally planned.

It is time to register for the Fall/Winter 2021-2022 Ladders.  Go to the registration page to do so.  The ladders will start on November 7th, 2021 and run through April 16, 2022.

The 2021 Summer Tennis Ladders have started.  This website has been updated to show the starting ranks for the various ladders and the contact list is updated.  Make a challenge and enjoy some tennis!

It is time to get ready to play the Summer Ladder.  The winter ladder ends April 18, 2021.  The Summer 2021 Ladder will begin Monday, May 2, 2021. It is time to register.  To register, click here.

The Winter 2020-2021 Ladder begins on Monday October 19th.  You can sign up anytime.  Go here to register.

Time to register for the 2020-2021 Winter Ladder.  To retain your ranking from last summer/winter, you need to register by  Wednesday, October 14th.  Click here to register.  Registrations for the beginning of the season will be accepted up through Friday, October 23rd.  Signing up by then ensures you will be included from the beginning.

You can register anytime, so if you don't make it by Friday October 23rd, that is OK.

Registrations for the Winter Ladder are being accepted.  Click here to register.

Registrations for the Winter 2020 Season Will Be Available Soon ... probably later in September.  A post will be done when the form is available.

The 43rd Annual Sickle Cell Tennis Classic is scheduled to be played August 1-5th 2020.  This year, the tournament will be run from Delcastle Tennis Center.  They will be playing matches on different courts in the area to optimize safety given the Coronavirus.   The tournament has men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. It is a great tournament for a great cause. Proceeds from the tournament will be contributed to the AI DuPont Hospital’s Children Sickle Cell Program.   If interested, go here to read details and register.  Registrations need to be in by July 22, 2020, so hurry and register.

The 2020 Summer season begins June 1st and ends September 6th.  After that, we'll have the tournaments.  More details on that will come in August.  The website is under construction and is being set up so we can begin Monday, June 1st.  All must sign the new disclaimer form (see previous blog entry) before playing on any of the ladders.  All those that have not signed it will be removed from the various ladders by Monday. The assumption at this point is all will sign the disclosure and the site includes all those registered to date.

Safety is imperative to all those that participate on the ladder.   Please select the Covid-19 links on the links page to educate yourself on playing tennis safely.  It is expected that all will honor the recommendations made in these links. Go here to see them.  Let's be safe and have fun.

The disclaimer statement signed when someone joins the ladder has been modified. This form must be signed off before a player is added to the ladder. The language in the disclaimer has been modified as of May 20th, 2020. Anyone that signed up prior to that date will have to fill out the form located here before being added to the ladder. Anyone who fills out the new registration form (effective 5/20/20 will be covered given the new language is included as of that date in the Disclaimer statement. Doubles partners that did not sign up directly because their partner signed them up for the ladder will be required to complete the form before being added to any of the ladders.

Thanks for your understanding as this change is implemented.

It's time to register for the 2020 Summer Tennis Ladders.  At this point, the ladders will open June 1st. This is similar to the timing the USTA is using, so I'm following their lead as well as ideas provided by other experts.  I am thankful to those providing guidance/ideas to me.  The safety of all of you is important to me.  I will reference links in my initial email that will provide ideas on how to play safe tennis.  The links page references web pages which include this information.  I recommend checking them out now.  As we all return to the sport, I ask that common sense and the referenced guidelines be followed for the safety of all involved.  I thank you all for that support in advance.

Sign up immediately to retain your ranking from this past summer/winter.  To retain your ranking you must register by Wednesday, May 27th.  If you sign up after that date, you'll be added to the bottom of the ladder in the order I receive registrations.  I will be merging the rankings from last summer with this past winter's rankings to determine where you will start.

To register, go here

At this point, I will send an email out to all previous players on the ladder in the middle of this month to register for the summer ladder.  As indicated before, I am following the timing based on the USTA.  At this point, they have suspended play through May 31st.  I want to have the ladder ready to go June 1st.  This date may change if the guidance from the USTA changes.

I will also open up the forms on this website for everyone in the middle of May.

If you have any questions/concerns, please email me at tennis@delawaretennisladder.com.

Thanks

Here is a link to a site created by the USTA entitled: "Playing Tennis Safely: Player Tips and Recommendations".  I recommend everyone look this over before playing.  Let's be safe.

Here is the link:

https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/usta-statement-on-safety-of-playing-tennis-during-the-covid-19-v.html

Many are probably wondering what will happen with the Delaware Tennis Ladder given the Covid-19 pandemic.  I expect we will have the ladder running again, however the timeframe will be different from the past.  I've decided to follow the recommendations of the USTA.  My thinking is they know tennis, and they have access to experts in the field to make recommendations based on science and what is best for tennis players.  Currently they have suspended all play until May 31st. This may change as we proceed, so if their recommendations change, so will mine.   My intent is to request registrations two weeks prior to when the USTA recommends play begin.  So, if their date of May 31st remains, I will begin the registration process in the middle of May.  This may change if the USTA changes their recommendations.  All individuals need to follow whatever recommendations come out from the experts and apply them when play begins.  Let's keep it safe for all involved.  We need to respect those recommendations and follow them so all remain healthy.

If you have any questions or want to provide feedback to me, email me at tennis@delawaretennisladder.com.  

Here is a link to the USTA site I'm following to make decisions regarding the ladder:

https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/middlestates/USTAMSCoronavirusUpdate.html

Here is a link to the CDC Coronavirus Website:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Thank you,

Bob Davis