All formats › Pickleball & Tennis Ladders

Pickleball & tennis ladder software — challenge ladders that run themselves

A ladder league without the spreadsheet or the group chat. Players join the ladder, challenge the players above them, and report results from their phones — the ladder reorders itself after every confirmed match.

I'm an operator — keep me posted

Live today on Contender OS. No staff work. No paperwork.

What it is

A pickleball or tennis ladder lives or dies on bookkeeping: who sits on which rung, which challenges are open, and who actually won. Contender OS keeps all of it. Players join at the bottom rung and challenge up within a set range. The other player accepts or declines, they play, and the result is reported and confirmed on the platform's confirm-and-dispute pattern. A confirmed challenger win takes the defender's rung and shifts everyone between down one. Challenges expire on the venue's clock, and a photo-backed result left unconfirmed settles by the published automatic rule — disputed results are never auto-resolved.

How the ladder runs

STEPThe ladder opensStaff open a pickleball or tennis ladder for the venue; players join from their phones and take the bottom rung.

STEPPlayers challenge upA player challenges anyone within range above them — three rungs by default. One open challenge at a time keeps the ladder moving.

STEPThey play and reportEither player reports the result, with a photo if they have one; the other player confirms, and the ladder updates on the spot.

STEPThe top rung is the titleStandings are public all season; when staff close the ladder, the player holding rung one is the champion.

What's built in

Challenge ladders for pickleball and tennis — one ordered ladder per venue and sport, on open-ended seasons.
Configurable challenge range — how many rungs up a player can reach (1–10), plus challenge expiry and open-challenge limits.
Confirm-and-dispute reporting — results apply when the other player confirms; disputes freeze for staff and are never auto-resolved.
Rung takeover — a confirmed challenger win moves the challenger onto the defender's rung and shifts the players between down one.
Automatic expiry and settlement — stale challenges expire; a lone photo-backed report settles by the published automatic rule, and one without a photo voids.
Public ladder page — rungs in order with wins and losses, and a champion banner when the ladder closes.

Who it's for

Built for pickleball and tennis clubs, rec centers, and venues running ladder leagues — anywhere the ladder currently lives in a spreadsheet, a binder, or one person's text messages.

Pricing

Contender OS — $99/mo per venue runs this format with the full system. Early venues can lock the Founding Operator rate of $59/mo for 12 months with the first season free. Prefer a season at a time? 6 weeks for $149 or 12 weeks for $249. Brackets-only starts at $39/mo with Bracket Box. Full details on the pricing section.

Questions

How does a ladder league work on Contender OS?

Players join the ladder at the bottom rung and challenge players above them within the configured range — three rungs by default. The challenged player accepts or declines; after they play, either player reports the result and the other confirms it. A confirmed challenger win takes the defender's rung. When the ladder closes, the player on rung one is the champion.

What does it cost?

Contender OS is $99/mo per venue for the full system, or $59/mo locked for 12 months on the Founding Operator rate with your first season free. Season passes run $149 for 6 weeks or $249 for 12 weeks, and the brackets-only Bracket Box tier is $39/mo. One flat price per venue — no per-player fees on the monthly plans.

What does my venue need?

Courts, and players with phones. The ladder, the challenges, and the standings all live in the system — no app install for players, and no spreadsheet for staff.

How do challenges and results settle?

Challenges expire after the venue's set window — seven days by default. A reported result applies the moment the other player confirms it; a dispute freezes the match for staff to settle. A lone report backed by a photo settles by the published automatic rule; without a photo it voids.

Also runs on Contender OS

One system for every league night in the building.

Arcade leagues Pinball Bowling leagues Rack sports — darts, pool & cornhole Trivia Night Karaoke Night TCG store leagues Skee-ball leagues Music Bingo Softball leagues Basketball leagues Contender OS — all formats

Operators: get on the list

Contender OS is in live league play now with its founding operator, the National Arcade Championship. Outside operators come next. Tell us about your room and your league, and you'll hear from us as seats open.