How to Calculate The Number of Games Behind in the Standings

Sports leagues often use "games behind" as a statistic to determine how many times in a row a team would have to defeat the first-place team to catch them in the standings. Unless the two teams are playing each other, they move up or down a half game for each win or loss. For example, if a team is 2.5 games behind the first-place team and wins a game against another opponent, they move half a game closer -- to two games behind. If the first-place team also wins, they regain the half game, returning the other team to 2.5 games behind. But if the first-place team loses, its lead shrinks to 1.5 games.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find the the won-and-lost record of the first-place team and any other team. For example, the first-place team has a record of 50 wins and 17 losses, while another team has 45 wins and 25 losses.

    • 2

      Subtract the trailing team's wins from the leading team's wins. In the example, 50 minus 45 equals five.

    • 3

      Subtract the leading team's losses from the other team's losses. In the example, 25 minus 17 equals eight.

    • 4

      Add together the two differences. In the example, five plus eight equals 13.

    • 5

      Divide the sum of the difference by two. In the example, 13 divided by two equals 6.5 games behind. A half game occurs when one team plays and the other has a day off.