Jump to our FAQ edited on 1st January 2026 here.
Thank you to the many ladies who signed up for the Doubles Boxes. The primary objective of the GLTC Box League is to encourage players to have regular competitive matches. The boxes are also an important source of information for selecting players for league teams. All queries about the box league should be directed to the Boxes and Ladders Coordinator or to the Ladies’ Captain. You can find useful information in our FAQs below.
The second rotation of doubles boxes is now live and must be played by March 31st 2026.
The boxes work as follows:
- Each box consists of 5 or 6 pairs.
- There is no particular ranking within the individual boxes themselves. They will automatically rank once games are played and results are entered.
- Each pair must play every other pair in their box before the cutoff date. The cut off date for this round of box matches is March 31st 2026. Do not leave them all to the last minute. If you don’t play you don’t get points and could be relegated.
- Pairs will be awarded 1 point for each match played PLUS 1 point for each set won. In other words, if you win by 2 sets to 1, you will earn 3 points and your opponents will earn 2 points. If you win by 2 sets to 0, you will earn 3 points and your opponents will earn 1 point. A walkover will earn 2 points.
- When all matches are played, the first two pairs in the box will be promoted to the box above and the last two pairs will be demoted to the box below.
- If 2 players are on the same points the system will rank them based on their head to head result i.e. who won the match between them.
- If a pair is not available to play a match after reasonable attempts by their opponents to schedule the match, the pair should award a walkover to their opponents and the opponents will earn 2 points.
- Matches shall be best of 3 sets with the 3rd set being a championship tie-break which is up to 10, leading by 2 points. Games will be played as normal, with deuce and advantage scoring for the first 2 sets. The first 2 sets have a normal tie-break to 7 points at 6 games all.
- Matches must be completed for the results to be entered. If for some reason you do not get to finish your match in the booked time, you will have to organise to finish the match at a later time convenient to all players. (See the FAQ for rules on mid-match retirement).
- Our aim is to have results in the box league reflected on the doubles ladder. The ladder will be updated with the box results on a weekly basis. Double pairs are still welcome to challenge on the ladder as usual.
- Winners of the match are responsible for entering the results on Club Manager. You navigate to Box Leagues on the top toolbar and click on Results and Tables. Here you will be able to enter the results for your box matches.
- When entering the score, the winner’s score is on the left. Even if the winners are the second pair, their score is selected first.
For example 7-5 4-6 7-6. - Players may change partners after each rotation if they wish.
- Players may take a break from boxes if they are injured or otherwise unavailable, and may be reinstated at an appropriate level in a future rotation.
- Please get in contact with members of your box as quickly as possible once a round commences. We will endeavour to avoid extensions of a round unless there are extenuating circumstances.
- It is useful to set up a WhatsApp group with the other members of your box when you have courts booked and your availability is known.
FAQ
When does the box league run?
The box league runs all year round, with different combinations and durations for doubles, mixed doubles, and singles play. You can enter all the box leagues or only the ones relevant to you. Please note that the rankings within each category (e.g., doubles) carry over from one box league to the next, so if you are interested in raising your ranking within the club a good option is to play box league as much as possible.
Who can enter the box league?
All members of GLTC are eligible to register. The standard of play in boxes covers the entire range of league classes (1 to 9) and includes non-league and social tennis players. Similar level players are grouped together. Players can register with or without a partner. Players without a partner will be allocated one if there are enough players available.
What are the benefits of playing box league?
The box league allows you to have regular competitive games with others of a similar or higher standard in the club. This helps you challenge and improve your abilities, which helps the club develop a higher standard of play. The box league is also a chance to get to know other players and to mix and match with different doubles partners if you don’t have a regular partner.
How does box league link to external leagues?
Players who want to play league for GLTC are expected to enter the relevant box league to help with team selection. If you cannot play box league you are less likely to be selected for league and more likely to be asked to sub or play for a lower team. The box leagues and corresponding league selections are as follows:
- Autumn Box League – DLTC Winter League and Spring Charity League
- Winter Box League (singles and doubles) – DLTC Summer League
- Mixed Box League – DLTC Mixed League
- Summer Box League (singles and doubles) – DLTC Senior League, DLTC Floodlight League, and Autumn Charity League
How does the box league link to the club ladders?
Our aim is to have results in the box league reflected on the doubles and singles ladders. The ladders will be updated with the box results after each box league has completed. Players are still welcome to challenge on the ladder as usual.
Can I withdraw from the box league or skip one of the box leagues?
You can withdraw from playing box league at any time for any reason. If you withdraw after the league begins then you must give walkovers to all opponents in your box whom you haven’t played (for system processing reasons). You can enter, re-enter, or skip any box league (entry is voluntary). However, league players are expected to play the relevant box league for selection (see above).
Can I change my doubles partner?
You can nominate or request a new doubles partner for any box league. New partnerships will be entered at the same level as the highest ranked player from the previous box league (which may mean some players move up to match their new partner’s level) or at a level deemed appropriate by the selection committee if neither player entered the previous box league. If you do not have a partner you will be allocated one if there are enough players. If the box league has already started you can only change your partner if you have not yet played any matches.
What happens if we are unable to play our game?
In the case where a game cannot be played, a Walkover may be awarded:
- If a doubles team has offered at least 3 dates to play, and the opponent has refused to play these dates, and has not offered any alternative dates.
- If a player is more than 15 minutes late.
- If a match has been firmly set up but is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.
When a pair award a walkover to their opponents, the opponents will earn 2 match points.
What happens if we are unable to complete our match?
If one pair has to retire due to injury, their opponents should record a win by either 2 sets to 0, or 2 sets to 1, depending on the score. If the retirement happened in the first set, the set score should be recorded as 6-x, or 7-5, or 7-6 (where x is the number of games won by the retiring pair) and the second set score is 6-0. If the retirement happened in the second set, the actual first set score is recorded and the second set score is recorded as 6-x, or 7-5, or 7-6. If the match ended at one set all, then the third set must also be recorded as 7-6. If the retirement happened in the third set, then the set score is 7-6. N.B. The retiring pair will earn at least 1 point and possibly 2 points if they win a set.
If there is no time to complete the match, then the pairs should endeavour to reschedule the completion of the match. If that is not possible, one pair can agree to a Retirement subject to scoring rules above, or one pair can award a Walkover, or both pairs can agree not to play at all in which case neither pair will receive any points.
What happens when players are unavailable?
It is always a possibility that at any point someone in your box may no longer be available to play whether it be due to injury, family circumstances, etc. Matches previously played by those players will still stand.
If players withdraw from the box league or are no longer available to play they must award a walkover to all opponents in their box who they have not yet played. The walkovers must be requested by the opponents. Walkovers are not automatically assigned by the organisers.
If one player in a doubles pair withdraws before they play any matches they may be replaced for the duration of the box league with a substitute partner with permission from the Box League Organiser or Ladies’ Captain.
What happens if we don’t play any box matches?
If you choose not to play any box matches or withdraw from the box league after it has started, you will be demoted to the box below for the next rotation (e.g., you will move from Box D to Box E). This will give you the opportunity to make your way back into the higher box you did not play. It is also fair because it does not prevent players who have earned your spot from moving up from below you (i.e., you cannot hold your place across subsequent box leagues by not playing).
How will the next box league rankings be decided?
The system is automatically configured so that the top players from each box have the next highest box as their target. In each subsequent box league, promotions (movement to higher boxes) will be honoured. However, demotions might not occur in some cases when the size of boxes changes (see below).
The size of boxes may alter from league to league, because of the following reasons:
- A pair withdraws
- Partnerships change (for example, when a pair splits and are joined by new partners so one pair becomes two pairs with the same ranking)
- Boxes are made larger (or smaller) to honour promotions, when the list of players has changed because of reasons 1 or 2.
When new partnerships form, players will be entered at the level of the highest ranked partner (if one or both players were previously in the box league), or will be ranked according to selection committee evaluation (if both players are new to box league).
In summary, new boxes may not correspond exactly to previous boxes. Ultimately there will be new players in every box which will offer you new challenges and fun.
Enjoy your games and if you want to play more, remember you can always challenge other players directly on the ladder! Most importantly, we hope everyone enjoys the boxes and gets to know more people across the club.
Here’s to great rallies and good fun — enjoy your tennis!
Jenny, Steffi, Catherine, Catriona & Livy
Your GLTC Ladies Committee
