Orlando’s Unique Pickleball Ladder System: Pickleball’s versatility allows communities to get creative with how they organize play. Whether it’s through open play, a paddle system, or challenge courts, each venue has its flavor. At the ClearOne Sports Centre in Orlando, Florida, organizer Lisa Fareed has introduced a unique approach she calls a “loosely run ladder” system to structure games.
A Flexible Ladder Approach
Lisa Fareed’s system diverges from the rigidity of a traditional ladder format.
“I call it a loosely run ladder because there’s a constant rotating mix of players that come and go weekly. We can’t always do a strict ladder, so it’s more organized play that resembles a ladder system. Basically, you come in and you’re assigned to a court with your same kind of level. You stay on the court for three hours and you rotate with each partner. You play a regular set of five games, and then you play five rally scoring.” – (Lisa Fareed)
Players are grouped by skill level and assigned to courts, where they stay for a set three-hour period. Over that time, they rotate partners and play five standard games, followed by five games using rally scoring. This ensures that every player gets ample court time, with the added twist of having one player sit out each game in a rotation of five.
Earning the Spot on Pickleball Court
Each game rewards players with points, and those scores determine whether they’ll move to a higher-level court, stay on their current court, or drop to a lower-level court next time. Lisa Fareed explained how this dynamic plays out:
“At every game, players get a total number of points. At the end of the day, you look at your scores and your court position will be changed to a higher or lower-level court, or stay the same next time you play based off your points.” – (Lisa Fareed)
This pickleball system offers a motivating structure for pickleball players to improve, knowing that moving up the ladder is based on their performance, not just arbitrary matchups.
For newcomers, self-rating is a requirement, but Lisa Fareed has built in a system of checks and balances. If a player underestimates their skill level, they’ll soon find themselves bumped up. If they overestimate, they’ll be moved down accordingly.
“For us, the players who come here are always changing. We have some consistent locals, but we have a lot of seasonal people that come and go. With this system, it’s nice to have a set court and not have to worry about an open play or paddle system.” – (Lisa Fareed)
Reducing Stress, Guaranteeing Playtime
Lisa Fareed’s loose ladder system alleviates common concerns.
“You don’t have to stress about who you’re going to get paired with if you’re not at similar levels. And you don’t have to worry about sitting out every other game. In this system, you get consistent play for three hours.” – (Lisa Fareed)
This approach works well, especially at ClearOne Sports Centre, which experiences a mix of local and seasonal players. Regular attendees benefit from the consistent structure, while visitors can easily slot into the system without feeling outmatched.
View this post on Instagram
A Better Pickleball Experience
Lisa Fareed’s innovative system balances skill levels, guarantees court time, and removes the stress of uneven matchups.
As pickleball continues to evolve, systems like this will likely become more common, offering a more enjoyable experience for players of all levels.
News in Brief: Orlando’s Unique Pickleball Ladder System
The ClearOne Sports Centre in Orlando, Florida, has adopted a unique “loosely run ladder” system for pickleball play. Organized by Lisa Fareed, this system assigns players to courts based on skill levels, allowing for three hours of consistent play.
Players rotate partners, and their performance determines their future court assignments. This system has been successful in reducing the stress of uneven matches while giving players ample court time. With a blend of local and seasonal players, this flexible approach has proven beneficial for regulars and newcomers.
ALSO READ: Understanding Pickleball Rules: A Beginner’s Guide to Learn Pickleball Secrets
