ISTA Ladder

Your club ladder, run for you. Free.

No app to download, no accounts, nobody updating a spreadsheet. Players challenge, play and put the score in - the ladder sorts itself out.

Start your club's ladder →

Free. Just your club's name and yours - players sign themselves up from a link you post.

Try it as a player →

You'll be one of the made-up players, and someone's already challenged you.

See the organiser's screen →

How it works

  1. Everyone gets a link. Post one link in your club's WhatsApp group - each player taps their name and they're in.
  2. They challenge, play and put the score in from their phone.
  3. The ladder moves on its own. Reminders, walkovers and the rules page all look after themselves.

Questions clubs ask

Is it really free? What's the catch?

It's free for the club, every ladder, all the time - no cost, no catch. I'm a tennis coach, and I built it to run the ladders at my own clubs. It works so well that other clubs can use it too.

Do players have to download an app or make an account?

No. Each player gets their own link. They tap it, and that's their page - no app, no password, no account. They can pop it on their home screen so it opens like an app.

How do players get their link?

You post one link in your club's WhatsApp group (or email it). Each player taps their name and puts their mobile in, and their own page opens. Or the organiser can send each player their link directly.

What if someone isn't on WhatsApp?

That's fine. The link opens in any phone or computer browser, and you can send it by text or email instead.

Can we keep our own rules?

Yes. How many places up you can challenge, how long to answer, what happens if nobody plays, wildcards, how matches are scored - the organiser switches each rule on or off and the rules page updates itself. If you have rules written down, send them and we'll set them up for you.

We already run a ladder on paper, a spreadsheet or WhatsApp. Can you move it across?

Yes - that's the easiest start. Send us your current ladder in order (copy and paste is fine) and your rules, and we'll build it exactly as it is today.

Who runs it day to day?

The ladder mostly runs itself: players challenge, play and put the score in, and it moves. Your organiser gets their own private link to add or move players, call a match off or settle a disputed score, and print a QR poster for the clubhouse.

What happens if someone won't answer a challenge, or never plays?

Challenges have a time limit. The challenger can send a reminder from the app, and if there's still no answer it can count as a walkover. Players who never play can slip down. All of it is a rule you can switch on or off.

What if two players disagree about a score?

Either of them can query it, and the organiser settles it in a tap.

Singles, doubles, box leagues, padel, pickleball?

All of them: singles ladders, doubles ladders in pairs, box leagues where partners rotate, and padel and pickleball too. Pickleball is scored in points - games to 11, 15 or 21 - and nobody needs a DUPR account.

What about juniors?

A parent or the club adds them, using a parent's mobile. We only hold a junior's name, place and results - nothing else.

What about GDPR?

We hold the least we need: names, places, results, and a mobile only if a player adds it. Numbers are never public. Your club stays in control of its players' details and we look after them for you, under a written club data agreement your committee can read and print.

Can we try it before involving the committee?

Yes. Lots of clubs start with 4-6 friends as a trial. If it works, it becomes the club ladder - same link, nothing to redo.

Can we stop at any time?

Yes. Tell us and we take it down; every player's number is deleted straight away. Players can also take themselves off from their own page.

Get your ladder

Set it up yourself - type your club's name and yours. You get a link to post in your club's WhatsApp group, and players sign themselves up.

Start your club's ladder

Or send us your current ladder and we'll build it for you, exactly as it is today.

Anything else?

I'm Ian, an LTA Level 4 coach. I run the coaching at three clubs and built ISTA Ladder to run our own ladders. Ask me anything - I'll get back to you.

Privacy · GDPR for clubs · Demo ladder
ISTA Ladder · admin@nationaltennis.co.uk · 07443 764460