Team tennis is set up as a weekly league in which a number of teams play each other.
Depending on the league played teams may consist of up to 8 players with various
ranking levels.

If you are interested in playing team tennis, but cannot make a weekly commitment,
you can play as a substitute. If a regular player cannot make it one week, he
or she will call a substitute of roughly the same ability to take his or her place
that week.

LATA offers 2 "Ranking Day" weekends a year, which are held 2 to 3 weeks before
team tennis starts. Facilities are reserved in Los Angeles for this event.
Members who wish to play team tennis and do not have a LATA ranking, must be
ranked to participate in team tennis. LATA rankings are as follows…

• Challenge Ladder:
  The Challenge Ladder provides an alternative to team tennis and is an excellent
  arena for players who wish to improve their level of tennis. Generally, 150 – 250
  members of all levels sign up for the ladder each year.
  
  
  The challenge ladder runs from January 15 to November 15 of each year. The cost is
  $20 before May 27^th and $10 thereafter. Players may join anytime throughout the year
  by either:
  
  
  
  Non-Members
  
  • Pay the $20 fee ($10 after May 27^st)
    along with the membership application

  
  
  Current Members
  
  • Send a request to join the ladder to: LATA
    Membership (see address below) throughout the year
              with the check for
    the applicable fee.

  
  

  Once you’ve paid your ladder fees, your name will appear on the on-line Ladder
  Directory, which enables ladder members to contact each other to set up challenge
  matches. Only after a ladder player has played their first match will their name
  appear on the Ladder Rankings Page.
  
  

  Challenge Ladder matches use regular best 2 out of 3 set scoring. Matches are
  played at a time and place mutually convenient to both players. Points are
  accrued for the winner, the challenger and the loser and players beating a player
  ranked above them will take their place on the ladder, the loser moving down one
  place. Players record their match scores on-line under the Ladder Matches tab.
  The challenger provides the balls; court fees are split between the players.
  
  

  The Challenge Ladder also runs a number of promotional contests throughout the
  year to encourage ladder play among the members. Cash prizes are awarded in June
  and November for ladder members accruing the most points. For the last couple of
  years, a Challenge Ladder Tournament with a structured draw based on players tier
  levels has been offered with cash prizes awarded for first, second and third
  place finishes.

   
  
  
  • Tournaments:
    LATA sponsors three full-fledged tournaments each year. We hold our club championships in June,
    which is played by LATA members only. We also produce two national tournaments each year, the first
    being the LA Open, held over Easter weekend; and the Centre Court Championships. In addition, our members play in tournaments throughout the United States and
    internationally that are organized by other clubs that make up the National Gay and Lesbian Tennis
    Alliance (GLTA).
    
    
    In addition, we hold a number of less formal "tournaments" throughout the year,
    that are intended more as social activities than as competitive events.
    
    
    LATA also takes part in the "Cal Cup" competition, in which the top players
    from the Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego gay and lesbian leagues
    compete. In 2002, the Pac Cup was formed for players whose level of tennis is
    below that of Cal Cup players. Generally Cal Cup is inteded for Open and Advanced
    players, where Pac Cup is for intermediate level tennis players. Only LATA members
    may participate as Los Angeles players.  
    
    
    • Social Events:
      LATA sponsors many social activities throughout the year, including tournament draw
      parties and fundraising events, culminating in our annual Holiday Party. We also
      hold periodic mini-tournaments that are intended more as social events than
      competitive activities.  
      
      
      • Newsletter:
        LATA publishes a monthly newsletter, THE SCORE, which lists upcoming activities,
        event updates and contains other useful information and entertaining items geared
        towards our membership.  The newsletter is posted online in the "Members Only" section
        and is a downloadable PDF file. The newsletter accepts advertising from members and
        non-members.  
        
        
        • Fees:
          Members pay a base membership fee each year, and then pay an
          additional fee for each activity selected. Applications cannot be accepted by
          email, because the waiver must be signed and the application must be
          accompanied by your entry fee.  
          
          
          
          
          
          
          

          Annual Rates
          Membership	$45 per year ($25 for members who join after May 27)
          Team Tennis	Rates vary, check the application forms
          Challenge Ladder	$20 per year  ($10 for members who join after May 27)
          Tournaments	Rates vary, check the application forms