What's the ropey ladder?

There’s an easy way to make friends and improve your skills in sports like golf, pool, squash, tennis, badminton, table tennis, table football and racquetball. It’s called the ropey ladder system, an automated on-line service where you list up, get rated, arrange matches by email and report results to update player standings.

One nice thing about joining the ropey ladder is there are no charges. Playing in a ladder is absolutely free and it’s an excellent way to find new opponents to play.

I’m not sure how ropey ladder started but I suspect it has roots in England. Squash is a sport that has used the ladder system in local clubs, like the Manila Boat Club, the Manila Polo Club and the Alabang Country Club, for years. Players are classified by the club pro and ranked in a ladder from top to bottom. Anyone may challenge another to get ahead in the ladder.

“Ropey ladder sports ladders are simple, traditional sports ladders,” says ropeyladder.com. “No ratings systems or complicated ranking. You challenge a player above you on the ladder and if you beat them, you move above them, it’s as simple as that. You challenge other players to a match, on-line, at the click of a button. Then, you arrange the details of the match, like time and venue, by email. You enter the results of your matches with a few lines of commentary. Winning challengers are automatically moved up. To keep the ladder moving, challenges are automatically forfeit after two weeks.”

Relzbach president Bob Bachmann of And1 fame is spearheading a ropey ladder system for squash and he calls it the National Squash Ladder Challenge. So far, he’s recruited close to 30 players and more are signing up by the day.

“Registered participants will independently organize matches at mutually agreed convenient times on any day of the week at the Makati Sports Club or on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Manila Polo Club,” says Bachmann. “However, if you prefer to play your match at any of the other clubs, feel free to do so. Hire your own ref (or not) and bring your own ball. Remember to log in and report your results on the site afterwards. Play it cool, honest and safe.”

Bachmann solicited the assistance of national squash coach Jaime Ortua to rank the participants in the ladder based on their skill and past results in competitions.

At the Makati Sports Club the other night, several ladder matches were played and no referees were used. The players were self-regulated, with the honor system at work. Bachmann and Ortua were at the gallery observing the action.

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“The ropey ladder is a website that automates sports ladders,” says Bachmann. “It allows you to challenge players, enter results, get contact details and view player histories, all on-line at the click of a button. Playing on a ladder is free and registration is easy.”

Bachmann has invited several squash players to join the ladder. His wish list includes Duane Santos, George Gordon, Nico Paradies, Gerry Apolinario, Gil Coscolluela, J. C. Chavanon, Dondi Verano, Franco Limjuco, Miko Lim, Dr. Red Roces, Alfie Reyes, Dino Aldeguer, Francis Sebastian, Patrice Diaz, Margot Garcia, Neny Montinola, Omy Yaptinchay and Ricky Espiritu. The list is expanding exponentially as the news spreads about how easy and fun it is to join.

The Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) is solidly behind the effort to promote the sport. One of the popular SRAP regular events is the Celebrity Cup, now on its third year with board member Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez as chief organizer. The recent Celebrity Cup brought in high-profile businessmen, fashion icons, event producers, pro basketball players, media personalities and socialites to participate in a four-team tournament at the Palms Country Club. Among the participants were Ernie Lopez, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Manuel Legarda, Jerry Codiñera, Anthony Suntay, Gem Padilla, Angel Jacob, Apples Aberin, Robbie Carmona, Grace Molina and Dickie Bachmann.

Squash was recently ranked as the healthiest sport by Forbes Magazine based on such factors are injury risk, calorie burn rate and physiological impact. The others in the healthiest sports “ladder” are, in order, rowing, rock climbing, swimming, cross-country skiing, basketball, cycling, running, modern pentathlon and boxing.

The idea is to find a sport where you can enjoy the maximum benefits of a healthy and fit lifestyle.

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“While racking up several miles on the nearby track or jogging may be great for cardiorespiratory health, it does nothing for the upper body and can wreak havoc upon joints,” said Forbes. “Weight training may promote muscular strength but it has a limited effect on the most important muscle of all, the heart. And while swimming seems to be everyone’s ideal activity for the total body workout, it won’t melt many calories without hard-won and proper technique and is worthless for anyone who lacks ready access to a pool.”

Forbes said the preferred sport is squash. “Thirty minutes on the squash court provides an impressive cardiorespiratory workout,” Forbes continued. “Extended rallies and almost constant running builds muscular strength and endurance in the lower body while lunges, twists and turns increase flexibility in the back and abdomen.”

Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut) squash coach Paul Assaiante said, “For people just getting into the game, it’s almost too much to sustain but once you get there, squash is tremendous.”

Forbes pointed out that there is a difference between being healthy and staying fit. “Health has to do with reducing the risk of disease while fitness is about maximizing the four basic physiological components – cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility,” said Forbes. “You can be healthy without being hit and vice versa. But while the out-of-shape middle managers you see huffing and puffing toward the departure gate may be able to reach their life expectancy, they’re going to be a helluva lot less comfortable getting there than those who strive to main peak physical condition along the way.”

If you haven’t tried squash, why not give it a shot? There are about 50 courts all over the country and the SRAP plans to put up a public facility at the Rizal Memorial complex soon. And once you’re playing, you might want to check out Bachmann’s ropey ladder site.