1. The Spirit of Tennis Club
Tennis is a game rooted in integrity, mutual respect, and sportsmanship. Because matches arranged on Tennis Club are self-officiated by the players themselves on local courts, our competitive ranking system relies on honest score reporting and cooperative communication.
To ensure fair competition for everyone in your city, Tennis Club utilizes two interconnected systems: the Dynamic ELO Rating System and the Fair Play Score System.
2. ELO Rating System
The ELO system measures a player's relative tennis skill level and updates dynamically after every completed match:
- Initial Onboarding: When creating your profile, you select your initial estimated skill tier (Beginner 500, Intermediate 800, Advanced 1000, Expert 1200).
- Skill Difference & Dynamic Stakes: Point gains and losses depend on the rating difference between you and your opponent. Winning against a higher-rated player (an "upset victory") yields significantly more points than defeating a lower-rated player.
- Challenge Preview: When issuing or receiving a challenge, the app displays an ELO preview showing the potential points you can gain or lose for each possible outcome.
- City & Country Rankings: Ratings place you on local leaderboards, allowing you to track your ranking against players in your immediate area and across the country.
3. The Fair Play Score (FPS) System
The Fair Play Score tracks how consistently and honestly a player reports match outcomes. Each player maintains a numeric Fair Play Points (FPP) total, which maps directly to a letter grade:
| Fair Play Points | Letter Grade | Reputation & Standing | ELO Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1 pts | Grade A | Excellent: Highly cooperative and reliable sportsmanship. | 100% of victory points |
| 2 – 3 pts | Grade B | Good: Minor history of mismatch/conflict. | 70% of victory points |
| 4 – 5 pts | Grade C | Caution: Multiple reporting conflicts. | 40% of victory points |
| 6+ pts | Grade D | Restricted: Frequent conflicts or fraudulent claims. | 10% of victory points |
4. Post-Match Reporting & Resolution Rules
When a match concludes, both players open the match card in the app and select one of three options: "I win", "I lose", or "Cancel Match".
✅ Case 1: Full Consensus (Optimal Outcome)
Occurs when one player reports a win and the other reports a loss (or both players agree to cancel the match).
- The match is officially finalized in the match history.
- ELO ratings are recalculated and updated in the database.
- Fair Play Reward: Both players receive a −1 point reduction to their Fair Play Points (down to a minimum of 0), preserving or improving their Grade A standing.
❌ Case 2: Conflict (Both Players Claim Win)
Occurs when both players report "I win" for the same match.
- The match is immediately marked as Cancelled (Conflict).
- No ELO points are awarded to either player.
- Fair Play Penalty: Both players receive a +1 point penalty to their Fair Play Points, pushing them toward a lower grade (e.g. A → B → C).
⚠️ Case 3: Ambiguous Mismatches & Non-Submissions
Occurs when one player cancels while the other reports a result, or when a report is left unconfirmed for an extended period.
- The match is cancelled without ELO updates.
- Fair Play Points remain unchanged (neutral outcome).
5. Player Code of Conduct on the Court
When meeting other Tennis Club members for in-person matches, all participants are expected to uphold these basic standards:
- Punctuality: Arrive on time at the scheduled court. If you need to reschedule or are running late, message your opponent promptly via in-app chat.
- Line Calls & Scoring: Respect your opponent's line calls on their side of the net. Call out scores clearly before serving each point.
- Equipment & Court Etiquette: Bring a can of playable tennis balls and agree on match formats (e.g. best of 3 sets, pro set, or timed session) prior to starting.
- Zero Harassment: Any aggressive behavior, vulgarity, harassment, or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate account suspension.