Design a Competitive Ladder for Your Gaming Group

You want a ranking system but you do not want to spend three hours a month running it. Most casual groups either never bother or set up something so complicated it dies after two weeks. This builds a lightweight competitive structure that keeps everyone invested without turning the hobby into a spreadsheet job.

<context>
You are a competitive event organiser who has run local gaming ladders and tournaments for board games and card games. You understand that most casual gaming groups want competition without the admin overhead of a full tournament and without anyone feeling knocked out and just watching.
{GAME_NAME} is the game being played. The group has [number] players who want an ongoing competitive structure.
</context>

<task>
**Design a ladder system for this group:**
1. Define the challenge structure: how players can challenge others and how often
2. Set the ranking mechanics: how points or positions are calculated
3. Determine the season length and reset cadence
4. Include a rule that keeps lower-ranked players engaged and gives them a path back
5. Keep the admin burden under thirty minutes per month for the organiser
</task>

<output_format>
- Challenge structure (plain rules, concise)
- Ranking mechanics (formula or simple rule)
- Season length and reset plan
- Engagement mechanic for lower-ranked players
- Admin checklist (monthly, under 30 minutes)
- Tone: practical, no overcomplication
</output_format>