23:57
Faizan
Little League baseball programs are available for boys and girls to play from the ages of 5 through 18. The 5 year-olds start playing tee-ball, while the 18 year-olds have graduated to the full baseball diamond used by the professionals. In every league, someone is given the task of creating a game schedule. To create the Little League schedule, you just need some simple facts about the teams involved in the Little League.
Determine the number of teams that will be in the Little League. Scheduling with an even number of teams will be easier, as an odd number of teams means one team will always be not playing. According to Little League rules, each team should have between 12 and 15 players. The league should strive to place an equal number on each team.
Decide how many games you want to play within the league. In order to qualify for tournament play, a Little League team must play at least 12 games. So if your league is planning on forming an all-star team to compete in the regional and state tournaments, this minimum requirement must be met.
Decide how many times you want each team to play each other within the league. This number should give you a result of greater than 12 when it is multiplied so that you can qualify for tournament play. Remember to subtract one from the total because a team cannot play themselves. For instance if the league has eight teams and you would like them to all play three times, that gives you a result of 15. (8-1) x 3 = 21.
Find field locations that accommodate the number of games to be played at once. Many Little League games are scheduled during the work week in the spring and early summer. Because of this, the scheduler must be mindful of when the sun sets so that games can be completed. This means that it behooves the scheduler to find one field for each game. If this can't be done, using the same field with back to back games scheduled on the weekend is often the next best option.
Assign each team a letter as you create the master schedule on paper. Next, list these teams in two columns with the match-ups listed. For an eight-team league, the letters would be lettered A through H. Assign team A to play B, C to play D, E to play F and G to play H. For the next set of games, list the teams in two columns again, however this times move the G team to the top of their column and push the rest of the column down one place. So G plays B, A plays D, C plays F and E plays H. Continue changing the order until all teams have been scheduled against each other. Then repeat this pattern by the amount of times you want each team to play each other. Also be sure to assign a "home" and "away" team equally throughout the schedule.
Spread the schedule out over the days of the week your league is holding games. For an eight-team league that holds games Monday, Wednesday and Friday, this would create a seven-week schedule if they all played each other three times. Place the dates next each column. In a third column for each, add the field location for the given game. Allow for rain dates on the off days when games are not scheduled.
Determine the number of teams that will be in the Little League. Scheduling with an even number of teams will be easier, as an odd number of teams means one team will always be not playing. According to Little League rules, each team should have between 12 and 15 players. The league should strive to place an equal number on each team.
Decide how many games you want to play within the league. In order to qualify for tournament play, a Little League team must play at least 12 games. So if your league is planning on forming an all-star team to compete in the regional and state tournaments, this minimum requirement must be met.
Decide how many times you want each team to play each other within the league. This number should give you a result of greater than 12 when it is multiplied so that you can qualify for tournament play. Remember to subtract one from the total because a team cannot play themselves. For instance if the league has eight teams and you would like them to all play three times, that gives you a result of 15. (8-1) x 3 = 21.
Find field locations that accommodate the number of games to be played at once. Many Little League games are scheduled during the work week in the spring and early summer. Because of this, the scheduler must be mindful of when the sun sets so that games can be completed. This means that it behooves the scheduler to find one field for each game. If this can't be done, using the same field with back to back games scheduled on the weekend is often the next best option.
Assign each team a letter as you create the master schedule on paper. Next, list these teams in two columns with the match-ups listed. For an eight-team league, the letters would be lettered A through H. Assign team A to play B, C to play D, E to play F and G to play H. For the next set of games, list the teams in two columns again, however this times move the G team to the top of their column and push the rest of the column down one place. So G plays B, A plays D, C plays F and E plays H. Continue changing the order until all teams have been scheduled against each other. Then repeat this pattern by the amount of times you want each team to play each other. Also be sure to assign a "home" and "away" team equally throughout the schedule.
Spread the schedule out over the days of the week your league is holding games. For an eight-team league that holds games Monday, Wednesday and Friday, this would create a seven-week schedule if they all played each other three times. Place the dates next each column. In a third column for each, add the field location for the given game. Allow for rain dates on the off days when games are not scheduled.
