I was reading a set of rules for an event that is happening soon, just to make sure the tie-breakers were consistent with the rules. Instead of the fairly standard points, head-to-head, goal differential, goals against, goals for, penalty kicks I was accosted by this complicated set of bonus points based on the GD being a particular spread and then the GD would be applied bonus points….
Arrgghh!! Stop the insanity on these arbitrary and creative tie-breakers. We all understand that the purpose of these complicated tie-breaking rules is to avoid the dreaded shoot-outs at the end of pool play, but this creative math that is different at almost every tournament is making it more difficult for software to support your rules.
Our advice: Simplify and standardize. Take a look around at other tournaments in your target market and try to standardize your tie-breakers so that they will be less confusing for the coaches AND PARENTS. Coaches can do the math easily, but parents don’t — and won’t — do the math. They just want to know who’s first, second, etc. And, there are a lot more parents than there are tournament directors at the event! You may also find that by simplify and standardizing, there will be fewer challenges to your math ability outside your HQ. You may also want to take more time in attracting and seeding teams to ensure ties (draws for the soccer purists) don’t happen.
STATE ASSOCIATIONS and US SOCCER: Mandate a standardized tie-breaking formula. Tournaments will become more and more of your members activities in the next several years and it is in your best interest to standardize NOW when the number of events in manageable. And, while you are at it, you may also want to take a look at standardizing the rules as well.