League Game Scheduling

Scheduling Matrix

We’ve had a shift away from in-person scheduling towards offline scheduling. Here are a couple tips for making that process run smoother:

  1. Make a copy of our Scheduling Matrix for your division
  2. Still print and use our one-page team schedule template (especially if you have more than one team)
  3. Get the list of coaches and team contacts for your division from the league and start an email thread with them to share the link to your division’s version of the Scheduling Matrix and open up communications. 

Season-at-a-Glance Scheduling Aid

We created a printable one-page Season-at-a-Glance scheduling aid that replaces printing a calendar or using a calendar app on your phone or computer. It’s better than a printed or electronic calendar because it puts your entire season on one page (no flipping pages). I suggest that you print it out and set it beside your computer if you’re scheduling at home, or stick it on a clipboard if you’re using it at an in-person scheduling meeting. I think you’ll be glad you did.

BPYSL Scheduling

BPYSL is a self-schedule league. If possible, please try to attend the league scheduling meeting (normally in Dayton at Wright-Patt) with your coach. One person can handle it, but it’s easier with two. Gather any blackout dates before the meeting to avoid any reschedules (tournaments, mainly). 

DL Scheduling

The Developmental League schedules all games at one site per weekend across several weekends during the season. Here’s the schedule for Spring 2020: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y6OOz43UmIaWt4lwrqcHt44leaFuKy7g8-Y_p6dHPJ4/edit#gid=42556660

CPL Scheduling

CPL is a self-schedule league. If possible, please try to attend the league scheduling meeting (normally at the Kolping Center) with your coach. One person can handle it, but it’s easier with two. Gather any blackout dates before the meeting to avoid any reschedules (tournaments, mainly). 

CPL Website

CPL uses a league management system called SportsEngine for schedules, score reporting, and standings.

  1. https://www.cardinalpremier.com/
  2. Click “Sign In” in the top right
  3. Enter your email address and create a new account
  4. Verify using the link sent to your email
  5. Click on your initials in the top right corner
  6. Click on Connect to Site
  7. Click “Join Network with Selected Profiles”

EPL Scheduling

The EPL does self scheduling at a meeting announced by the league.

Self Scheduling Meeting Pro Tips

Pre-covid, most league games were scheduled at pre-season scheduling meetings. As of Spring 2021, we had not returned to in-person meetings and I’m not sure we ever will. These tips apply to those meetings, and some may be relevant for asynchronous scheduling as well.

  1. Arrive early. Often many of the coaches work out dates and times in the 30 minutes before the meeting’s posted start time (or by email the week before)
  2. Print and use the Season-at-a-Glance. It’s great to have one page that you don’t have to flip.
  3. Check to see how many teams are in your division. If there are 7, 8, or 9 teams, the “who to play” decision is normally pretty simple: everyone once. If there are 6, or more than 9, it gets more complicated. Make sure each team decides WHO they’re going to play before everyone tries to figure out WHEN they’re going to play.
  4. Gather any blackout dates beforehand. This would include tourney weekends as well as any dates that you know would be a conflict for your coach or a large chunk of your team.
  5. Before the meeting, make sure you know what tournaments your team will attend. If you’re not sure, ask a club director.
  6. Before the meeting, note any blackout days for tourneys, spring breaks, etc.
  7. Arrive 30 minutes early. A lot of the scheduling takes place before the official meeting starts (some also may occur days before by email).
  8. At the meeting, it helps to have a 2nd person as a runner to go to the field schedule tables.
  9. Schedule the farther away teams first before you and they run out of available weekends/fields. The local teams can usually be squeezed in on a weeknight at Clear Creek.
  10. By playing in Buckeye, we know there will be some travel to Dayton and Columbus. When deciding where to play, don’t be a jerk, but don’t be a pushover either. Propose Clear Creek or Turpin or somewhere else near us as a field first. For Columbus and Dayton teams, a good “halfway” point is Lebanon (:40 from our training field) or Ankeney (1:10)
  11. Let the other team know we are navy or orange and ask the other team what they would like to wear. Saves you the trouble of looking it up or emailing them later.
  12. Consider whether you’d be ok playing 2 games in Columbus or Dayton in a day or weekend as it may come up.
  13. Mention The EPIC Cup (in Oxford in May), but only to people that seem super-cool.