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What is a Pyramid competition?

Pyramid competitions are similar to ladders. T hey enable players to challenge each other to a match, the winners move up and the losers move down. T he aim is to get to the top of the Pyramid. T IME 1 season or 1 day AGES 9/10 years-and-above PLAYERS / COURT S 10+ players per pyramid T EAM / INDIVIDUAL Individual SINGLES / DOUBLES Singles OBJECT IVE Competitive

St ruct ure of a Pyramid compet it ion

T he f ollowing are some key tips f or organisers:

COURTS AND PLAYERS

Have as many people or rows on your pyramid but with larger numbers to create Division 1 and Division 2 pyramids, based on player ability.

SCORING
Choose a scoring f ormat. Best of 3 tiebreak sets works well but f or younger players shorter matches should be considered. Players score their own matches. Consider using a shorter scoring f ormat and run the Pyramid in 1 day.

SCORESHEETS
Display the Pyramid on a notice board with name cards that can be moved or a purpose made wooden pyramid with names hung on nails.

ORDER OF PLAY
T he organiser should set a start and f inish date f or the Pyramid, giving at least 3-4 months in time. Eg start on 1 May 2007 and f inish on 1 September 2007. Players must organise with other players to play matches in their own time. Players challenge each other in order to move up the pyramid, they can only challenge 1 row above their position. Players should not ref use a challenge f rom a player below, if players continue to ref use challenges or are unable to play matches remove them f rom the pyramid.

AT THE END
T he player at the top of the Pyramid at the end date is the winner.

ADVANTAGE

Although the purpose is the same as a ladder system, in this system it is possible to place more participants clearly. Because the system of f ers more possibilities to challenge one another it is less likely f or the system to stagnate.

DISADVANTAGE
It is possible that a f airly good player is regularly challenged by a much lesser player Timescale From 2 hours to a whole season. A longer period of time is pref erable. Participants A maximum of 60 players. With a pyramid system the players are placed within a pyramid shape. On every lower line one or more players are placed than on the line above.

ILLUSTRATION
T here are three ways to challenge: 1. You can challenge a person f rom a line above 2. Bef ore challenging someone f rom the line above, you have to win f rom a player in the line you are in 3. You can challenge every player who is placed on the lef t side of you and the players above. When the challenger wins he can take the place of the other person. When placed on the very lef t of the line, only the persons above can be challenged. T his reveals both a horizontal and a vertical shif t.

Adapt ing t he Format

Many f ormats can easily be adapted to suit players e.g. aged 10-and-under, mixed ages, teams and to be a more or less competitive event. To understand more about how to adapt competition to suit to the needs and lif estyles of the player, click here.