Expert: Skip Ward - 4/17/2006

Question
Skip, I'm league secretary/president for 80 golfers/40 teams total, divided into 2 separate divsions. I am just now finalizing total number of players, but believe I will have 20 teams in each division; but I might end up with 22 teams in each division.  Is there an easy way to figure out the scheduling, such as a matrix, so that all teams play one another over the next 18 weeks (I understand that with ony playing 18 weeks each team would not play 4 of the teams.  

Answer
Dear Tom, thanks for the question.  Unfortunately I don't have a system/matrix to reference for that many teams.  Something that you might consider, (of course, this may not be possible, knowing very little about your group) since you have 18 weeks of play, you could go with 4 divisions of 10 teams, and every team would play each other twice, totaling 18 matches. I suppose you could then have the divisions winners playoff time permitting.  Sorry I couldn't help more. On another note, there is a downloadable program online at: www.allprosoftware.com/ls/ which handles virtually all aspects of league play including scheduling.  It's not cheap, but might prove a good investment for your group.  Good luck and remember,

Love the game,
skipper