Odd Team Leagues

[Marauders]

From time to time, there are questions posted regarding leagues with an odd number of teams. Can they be created? Are there limitations? Will the schedule creation tool handle them? I believe it is a good idea to go over a few things regarding this.

The first thing I must say is that leagues with an odd number of teams are tricky because of the mathematics involved with games, the number of teams, the number of byes needed, and other factors. What that means is that mathematics plays a part in the results of a schedule created for an odd number of teams. It does as well for an even number of teams, but there are added variables with odd teams.

Can leagues with odd teams be created? Certainly, but there are combinations of team numbers and schedules that will not work out with an even schedule. Again, this is mathematical, and there is little that can be done to change it. This is especially so if there are less teams than the number of games each team is scheduled to play in a season. Unless one wants a very long schedule, many of these combinations will not work, so there are limitations.

The schedule creation tool can handle odd numbers of team, but if the schedule has the above limitations, the schedule will not come out even for all teams. The scheduler will do its best to handle the numbers, but the numbers have to work in order for the outcome to be even. There are more detailed schedule types that may work, but the scheduler is designed to create basic round robin schedules, so that is something to keep in mind.

It basically comes down to this, if one wants a league with an odd number of teams, one has to take into account the inherent mathematical problems with odd numbers of teams when creating a basic schedule with the same number of games played per team.

Professional leagues do not like to have odd numbers of teams because of this. They understand that having an odd number of teams means that there will be a bye each week and that some schedules just will not work correctly. the NFL had this problem when they fielded 31 teams, and the CFL has had this problem several times when the number of teams in the league changed by just one team.

My advice is to have leagues with even numbers of teams or to at least look ahead to make sure that the schedule works mathematically with the odd number of teams that a league is set up for.

I hope this answers some of the questions regarding this topic.

[redwolf1]

And before anybody asks (though many of you already know of this), here is a terrific tool to help aid in your schedule making ventures (though you will still have to get down and dirty with the schedule editor - though something that would automatically generate a sched based upon some set criteria like the link below and input it into the game would be wonderful...oh JD...):

http://schedules.footballguys.com/


(And IF something like that (suggestion above) would ever be done, I'd sure like it to have the 24 14 2 6 Y Each team plays divisional opponents twice, four conference opponents, and four non-conference opponents option...[;)] )

[jdhalfrack]

(though you will still have to get down and dirty with the schedule editor - oh JD...)

It's on the list... I really want to get that knocked out soon.

But, to reiterate what Marauders said, making leagues with odd teams is not impossible, but you have to be very careful when it comes to scheduling. When I worked on my Madden Franchise League Shrinker* I was in the beginning phases of working on a schedule generator. I never finished it because I was in the middle of that utility around October, which coincidentally enough coincides with when Redwolf stole me and introduced me to this community (haven’t touched a Madden utility since). But, even had I actually finished the utility, I did not allow for leagues that contained teams that were not even numbers because of the big pain in the ass it was to generate schedules.

JD

*The league shrinker was a tool that allowed leagues with less than 32 teams. For those of you who used to play Madden but now play Max FB, you now see how easy it is to play with leagues of any size. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but in order to make a franchise with less than 32 teams work in Madden took quite a bit of ingenious programming. Although, admittedly, it never really worked 100% the way I hoped it would... sigh...

[redwolf1]

ORIGINAL: jdhalfrack


...I never finished it because I was in the middle of that utility around October, which coincidentally enough coincides with when Redwolf stole me and introduced me to this community (haven’t touched a Madden utility since).

Told ya you would like it here. [;)]
You are making a bigger difference over here with a sim still pretty much in it's infancy (but growing and gaining momentum) with a terrific community and dedicated developer. We are all certainly very glad you are here...you never cease to amazing me how you are pretty much learning the programing as you go - you've got a real talent for it!

...now back to topic...

Yes, odd numbers of teams is evil.

[garysorrell]

Agreed. Getting JD over here was a major coup.....which would make redwolf1 the coup leader, which in some countries is punishable by death or other ugly penalties.

Or if the coup is successful, you are given much 'bling' and respected by all.

[David Winter]

contained teams that were not even numbers because of the big pain in the ass it was[is] to generate schedules.

 
Am I allowed to agree with this?? [:)]

[David Winter]

There are software packages that specialize in dealing with all sorts of schedule challenges including odd numbers of teams. Many of those packages are considerably more expensive than the whole Maximum-Football game (and they don't have the cool game play part). There's a reason they're so expensive.. and JD summarized the reason in one sentence

[Marauders]

ORIGINAL: redwolf1

Yes, odd numbers of teams is evil.

Actually is fine for nice small leagues with smaller schedules, but beyond that ...

[VCFL Commish]

Rugby Canada Super League will be going with 7 teams playing 8 games.I took the CIS Canada West Schedule altered it a little.Theres one team playing twice in the first week its my team so I can edit the roster after playing the first game.
Last year we played with 3 teams it worked fine.