Making League Schedules

Schedule making in sports leagues can be taken for granted, but it is essentially what the whole organization is based around. Without a proper schedule, a league can devolve into chaos, making it important to properly prepare before the schedule making and to remain prepared while the scheduled events are underway. The more decisive the scheduling, the smoother the league will run.

  1. Pre-Schedule Planning

    • Any schedule will be easier to make when you know as many details as possible. Information you will need to know includes the number of teams, the time period over which games can be scheduled, the daily availability of facilities, and the time of day during which games could be played.

      Make a careful list of these controls, then consider how many games need to be played. The league will have a set number of games for each team to play, so it is your responsibility to ensure that each team is scheduled to play the correct number of games. Know if it is possible for that number of games to be played, and that the number of teams is locked in.

    Making the Schedule

    • Compared to what comes before and after, actually making the schedule should be the easiest part of the process. With the right amount of preparation and the proper information, it will be no more difficult than filling in the blanks.

      First, try scheduling the games without any teams, then fill the empty slots with each opponent. This may help you to keep track of the match-ups more easily, and prevent you from overlapping teams on the schedule.

      Be aware of how many times each team will play each other. You want to spread out the games between any two teams - it may even be a good idea to rotate games. For example, if there are four teams and a 12-game schedule, each team will play the other four times. You could set up a schedule where any given team plays another team once every three games.

    The Schedule is Set, Now What?

    • Your work is not done when it comes time for games to be played. Inevitably, there will be conflicts and unforeseen circumstances that will either delay games, or postpone them outright. How you handle these situations is vital toward ensuring the league will run smoothly. Know the league rules, and be careful not to schedule more than one event at a given time and place.

      If games need to be rescheduled, attempt to work with both teams in deciding upon a makeup date, but do not be afraid to use authority in scheduling games if difficulties arise.