Team Rankings

HOA is using a new system to rank teams this year. The rankings will be strictly based on head-to-head results between HOA teams. Since all we are doing is comparing HOA teams on how they match up with each other, we do not take in account any matches against out of region teams.

How the ranking works:
Every team in the region starts out with the same value. As teams win or loose matches, their value will change. The combined value of all the teams you have played against will determine your strength of schedule. The results against the teams will determine what your team's value is.

There will be a constant recalculation going on. If you beat early in the season a team that had a high value, but that team midway season starts loosing a lot of matches, it can have an effect on your ranking (your strenght of schedule will devaluate). It is possible for your value to drop down or go up without playing, if teams you have played before win or loose.

If your team is ranked lower than some teams you beat, think about the teams you lost to. Some of those may be ranked below you and "pull you down".

In this system, every set counts. Tournament directors are required to put in the match from every set played. Playoff matches have a heavier impact on the values than pool matches.

Early  in the year, the effect of a few matches on the rankings can be large. As more data is entered, the actual rankings will become more and more accurate.

We have tested this system for 2 years on our adult teams and are impressed by how good a job it does in determining actual strenght of teams. Once a good amount of results is in the database, we are convinced that it will be a great way to increase the accuracy in seeding teams.

The Math:
Strength of Schedule = the average of the ranking points of all your opponents for all your individual sets
Win/Loss Points = the average points awarded for each of your individual sets. Currently a pool play win is worth 25 points while a pool play loss is worth NEGATIVE 25 points. Similarly, a playoff win or loss is worth 35 points or NEGATIVE 35 points.
Ranking Points = Strength Of Schedule + Win/Loss Points

For Example:
Team Spike-It has played five matches with the following results:
Pool Play against Team Aces: 2-0 (Team Aces has ranking points of 121)
Pool Play against Team Diggers: 1-1 (Team Diggers has ranking points of 131)
Pool Play against Team VballLadies: 1-1 (Team VballLadies has ranking points of 111)
Playoff against Team GetOverIt: 2-0 (Team GetOverIt has ranking points of 123)
Playoff against Team Aces: 1-2 (Team Aces has ranking points of 121)
4-2 in Pool Play Sets and 3-2 in Playoff Sets, 11 sets total
StrengthOfSchedule = (121 + 121 + 131 + 131 + 111 + 111 + 123 + 123 + 121 + 121 + 121) / 11
Win/Loss Points = (4 * 25 - 2 * 25 + 3 * 35 - 2 * 35) / 11
Ranking Points = 121.36 + 7.73 = 129.09