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Ranking Rules

Updated September 22, 2012
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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 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 scenarios mentioned above will be scrutinized and additional factors, such as points won against common opponents, will be reviewed to determine the higher seed.

VARSITY PROXIMITY MATCHES

Each season, a varsity team should play the two varsity teams above them and the two varsity teams below them in final team rankings of the prior season (referred to as “Proximity Matches”). Proximity Matches should be played during the regular season and should not be played during conference championships or post-season play.

For example, if a varsity team is ranked 10th in the final ranking of the season, the closest varsity teams ahead of them were ranked 7th and 9th, and the closest varsity teams below them were ranked 11th and 12th, the next season they should play those four teams.

If a varsity team does not have two opponents on either side of the rankings, they should play four varsity opponents in immediate proximity in the final team rankings of the prior season. For example, the top-ranked varsity team should play the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranked teams, while the 2nd ranked team should play the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranked teams.

If matches are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances (weather, national emergency, etc.) every effort needs to be made reschedule the match. The affected teams should contact the Executive Administrator with the date of the rescheduled match within 48 hours of the cancellation.

A varsity team that is unable to play its Proximity Matches may be unable to justify appeals of their ranking position due to insufficient match data.

Club teams should strive to abide by this rule.

ELIGIBLE/RECOGNIZED TEAMS

One team per school is eligible for CSA membership and ranking. If a school has both a varsity and a club team, only the varsity squad is the officially recognized team and may represent the school in CSA sanctioned events. The club team may play exhibition matches against CSA member teams; however, the results will not count as a CSA recognized match and the match will not count towards the CSA member schools’ six match minimum for entry into the Men’s National Team Championships or the Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup). The match will not count for rankings.

In addition, teams may only be composed of players from the same school. A team composed of players from multiple schools is ineligible to compete in official CSA matches.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

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

  • Women’s team rankings will be published every other week during the fall and every week during the winter;
  • Men’s team rankings will be published every other week during the fall and every week during the winter; and
  • Men’s and Women’s individual rankings will be published on a periodic basis.

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

SEASON ENDING RANKINGS

The results of the National Team Championships will determine the final team rankings of the season. Failure to compete in the National Team Championships will result in a team’s removal from the final team rankings of the season.

TEAM RANKING BY DIVISION

The CSA is made up of varsity teams from schools belonging to different NCAA divisions. Several times per season, the CSA will publish a subset of rankings based on NCAA divisions.

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, the Executive Administrator of the College Squash Association 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 no later than 24 hours after the match. For matches or tournament/round robin events at a neutral site, the winning team is responsible for submitting the scores to US Squash’s Ranking System within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match. Tournament/round robin organizers are strongly encouraged to have a computer available for CSA coaches to enter results at their events.

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.

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Updated on September 3, 2012

Updated on January 19, 2011