LEAGUE FORMAT
The basic concept of league play is that two teams play a match on a given day. The players of one team pitch against the members of the other team. Wins by individual pitchers count toward their team's win total. As noted earlier, the exact format will depend upon the number of courts and pitchers. The ideal format, assuming adequate facilities, is for one team to place its members on adjacent courts. The opposing team will do likewise and the first round is pitched. After the first round one team's members will move over one court and the second round of games will be pitched. The same procedure is followed until the required number of rounds have been played. A good rule of thumb is to allow 2 to 21/2 hours for all pitching. Four 50-shoe games or the equivalent has been found satisfactory.
Unfortunately there are not always a sufficient number of courts. It then becomes necessary for two teams to compete on a lesser number of courts. Here is how some clubs solve this problem.
- Teams of three on one court, single games - Each member pitches two 40-shoe games against one or more players of the opposing team. If only two members are present (sometimes players sit out a night on a rotating basis) they each pitch three games. If only one is present he pitches all six games. It was in this league that a rule was adopted to penalize a team five points for any player's games pitched in excess of three, to encourage attendance and to discourage a team from fielding only its best player.
- Teams of three on one court, doubles - Essentially the same format as
(A). Partnerships changed after each game or after two games so that (1) everyone pitches the same number of games and (2) teams will not keep its top pitchers together. A variety of scoring methods can be used for this format.
1. 20-shoe doubles - Each player pitches 20 shoes.
2. 50-shoe doubles - One player pitches 24 shoes, the other player 26. In the second game the first player pitches 26 shoes, the other 24. Each game counts for a win, but a player's averages, scores, and handicaps are based on 50 shoes. Each player's handicap in the actual game is one half his 50 shoe handicap.
3. 50-point games, no handicaps used.
- Teams of three or more on two or more courts - Same methods as (A) and (B) above, but two to four players sitting out at any one time.
There are some definite disadvantages, in terms of morale, getting cooled off between games, and so forth, to having more than one extra player per court on each team. If this is a concern in your club, you may want to consider alternative schedules.
- Separate into two divisions, each division pitching on a different day (or at different times the same day) - Plan a playoff between divisional champions to determine the overall champion.
- Form two or more leagues - It may well be that your members will favor more than one format. With two or more leagues each league can establish its own method of play.
Not all clubs choose to utilize the team concept. Some prefer singles (oneman team), doubles (two-man team), or class (tournament-type) play, although the latter is the least effective. Some examples of these formats follow.
- 10 courts, about 20 players, singles - Half the players stay on one court all evening. The other half move one court after each game. 100% handicap, count-all scoring, four 50-shoe games played. The statistician keeps track of who has played who recently and schedules court assignments accordingly. If there are more than 20 players, or an odd number, some players (usually a "mover") will draw a bye in one game. At the end of four rounds all those who had byes will pitch to complete their four games. This format has flexibility in that players need not pitch every week (informing the statistician in advance in appreciated).
- 10 courts, 40 players, singles or doubles play - Play two games simultaneously on the same court (the so-called walking doubles). All four players pitch their shoes before they move to the other end of the court. Decide before the game which end pitches first.
- Class play - The members are classed as in tournament, by ringer or count-all average or by a qualifying score. All competition is within each class. The classes can remain unchanged throughout the season, or everyone reclassed after each complete round. This system is usually illadvised unless the club has a large number of players..Six-man classes about as large as you would want.
- High-low doubles - Players are paired, and the league is balanced, by putting the highest average with the lowest average, 2nd high with 2nd lowest, and so forth. One league uses this system, plays 25-point games, and bases handicaps on the order in the standings. When I st place team plays 4th place team, the 4th place team receives 4 points. While not particularly scientific, it does even up the teams a little. The players are happy, and that is what counts.
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