Saturday, September 4, 2010

Ranking Rules

| Print | Updated August 29, 2010
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Ranking teams and individual players is one of the most challenging tasks of the College Squash Association (CSA) . While the CSA makes every attempt to rank teams and players fairly and accurately, unique situations like ties inevitably arise that complicate the ranking process.

In recent years, the CSA has relied on computer software to assist in ranking players, but it has ranked teams manually. The CSA uses the following criteria when evaluating teams and players:

  • Head-to-head competition
    • In situations where teams or players split two or more matches, the most recent winner should receive the higher rank. For example, if “A” and “B” play three times during the season, and “A” wins the first two matches but “B” wins the third, most recent match, “B” should receive the higher rank.
  • Results of competition against common opponents
  • Strength of schedule
  • Number of appearances
    • If teams or individuals are of similar rank, the team or individual that has played the most matches should be ranked higher.  For example, “A” and “B” are considered of similar rank; however, “A” has played 10 matches and “B” has played 20 matches,  “B” should receive the higher rank.
    • Teams must compete a minimum of six times against a variety of opponents to be ranked at the end of the regular season.

Occasionally, there are three or more teams or players that tie in the rankings.  Below is an example of a CSA tie-breaking scenerio:

  • “A” defeated “B” 6-3
  • “B” defeated “C” 5-4
  • “C” defeated “A” 5-4

In the situation above, the individual matches won are used to break the tie: 1. “A” (6+4 = 10); 2. “C” (4+5=9); and 3. “B” (5+3=8).

Below is another example of a tiebreaking scenario:

  • “A” defeated “B” 5-4
  • “B” defeated “C” 5-4
  • “C” defeated “A” 5-4

In this situation, all three teams remain tied with 9 wins. The CSA will examine the records of common opponents in an attempt to break the tie.  It may also examine the rankings throughout the season to assist in breaking the tie. In tiebreaking situations, if requested, the Ranking Committee must provide to coaches the rationale used.

If two teams are tied entering team championships, the two teams should be placed in brackets where they will face each other in a particular round of the event. On some occasions, however, it is not possible to place teams in brackets where they will face each other, as in situations where one team would enter a higher draw and the other team would enter a lower draw when the tie is broken.  In this scenario, all of the criteria and tiebreaking scenerios mentioned above will be scrutinized and additional factors, such as points won against common opponents, will be reviewed to determine the higher seed.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

The CSA will publish rankings throughout the season (October through March):

  • Women’s team rankings will be published on the first and third Tuesday of each month during the fall and every Tuesday during the winter;
  • Men’s team rankings will be published on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the fall and every Tuesday during the winter; and
  • Men’s and Women’s individual rankings will be published on first of each month.

The publication schedule may be adjusted, if needed, throughout the season.

APPEALS

Preliminary rankings will be distributed to coaches at least one day prior to publication.  Appeals of rankings must be made to the MCSA or WCSA Ranking Committee Chairs within 24 hours of distribution.

If an agreement cannot be reached prior to the scheduled publication of the rankings or at the request of the Ranking Committee, a co-editor of the College Squash Association’s website will make the final independent determination of the appealed ranking.

COACHES’ OBLIGATIONS

The home team is responsible for submitting the results of matches to US Squash’s Ranking System as soon as possible after the match, but no later than the end of the day.  For matches held at a neutral site, the winning team is responsible for submitting the results. If the coach or member institution is unable to submit the results to US Squash’s Ranking System for technical or logistical reasons, they must contact the chair of the MCSA or WCSA Ranking Subcommittee. Failure to submit scores within the allotted time period will result in penalties.

Coaches are strongly encouraged to have their teams play as competitive a schedule as possible to help improve the accuracy of the rankings.