Need scheduling formula (1 Viewer)

[dancingbones]

I'm looking for a formula that has our league play a "balanced" schedule. We have 3 divisions, and we play a 13 week regular season with a 3 week playoff structure (3 division winners and 3 wildcards).

Last year we went from a 14 week regular season that worked out perfectly (play every team once, division rivals twice, 3 divisions) to a 13 week schedule (play every team but one once, division rivals twice).

Looking for options to eliminate the imbalance of not facing a team during the regular season.

Options as I see it:

1) go back to 17 week schedule

2) play one double header

3) your solution here!

 

[stlrams]

I've run a league for about 12 years and we have used the doubleheader format after all the bye weeks (Week 11). You play two separate opponents and points count only once since points count as tiebreakers.

 

[dancingbones]

I've run a league for about 12 years and we have used the doubleheader format after all the bye weeks (Week 11). You play two separate opponents and points count only once since points count as tiebreakers.

There is some strong resistance in my league by some owners who argue that this is "unfair" in that having one good/bad week will skew the results in the W/L column.I don't subscribe to that arguement myself, and this is the solution I'm pushing for, but there is some vocal, if misguided, opposition to it.

 

[dancingbones]

Found some great options here!

 

[The Jerk]

Looks like you're all set, but your problem can be solved just be shifting from 3 divisions of 4 teams each to 4 divisions of 3 teams each. Then you take 4 division winners and 2 wild cards just like is done in each conference of the NFL. This gets you down to a 13-week regular season while still playing each team once and division teams twice.

 

[Wingnut]

Looks like you're all set, but your problem can be solved just be shifting from 3 divisions of 4 teams each to 4 divisions of 3 teams each. Then you take 4 division winners and 2 wild cards just like is done in each conference of the NFL. This gets you down to a 13-week regular season while still playing each team once and division teams twice.

This is exactly what my league did this year when we decided to switch from a 14 week season to a 13 week season. A couple of guys didnt really like the new division setup, but they understand thet it had to be done.