Set-Up - Divisions Follow
Creating Divisions
When you create a division for the first time, start by defining the division in full, and then by using the ‘Add Division’ button use the first division as a template for the rest; this brings forward all the division, results and league table set up and saves a lot of time defining them in full for each division.
In subsequent seasons, archive divisions at the end of a season and use the New Season function in the Archive tab to generate the next season. Teams from the previous season are carried forward.
Divisions
By each active division in the list, there are several links. Working from right to left, these are:
Delete – deletes the division and any associated fixtures and results. This function should only be used for items set up as tests or in error. If the division or cup competition is part of a tournament, it needs to be removed from the tournament before it can be deleted. You cannot delete divisions that have fixtures or results associated with them – you must delete those first.
New Season – archives the existing season and generates a new season in one action.
It brings forward the entire division setup – general definitions, results, league table layout and teams. It also allows you, via the number of relegation and promotion places defined in the setup, to replace the relegated and promoted teams in this division with those from other divisions. The default divisions for these moves are those immediately above and below in the list of divisions, so you need to consider that sequence – but they can be over-ridden if required. You can also choose not to use the offered options entirely and update the team list manually.
As can be seen, the New Season option can save a lot of time in setting up divisions for a new season – particularly if you have sequenced your divisions correctly and there are few or no variations to the promotions and relegations defined in the setup. It is highly recommended that you use this option when creating competitions for a new season.
Archive – archives this entry for the division and season so that it no longer appears in the active list.
Edit – allows the administrator to define and maintain the division and related items; see below.
Season – this shows the current league table for the division. All fields are displayed, not just those defined in the division setup (see below).
Order – you can set the order in which the entries in each list of competitions
are displayed on your site by setting these in the desired sequence and then clicking the ‘Save Order’ button.
Division Management
The ‘Edit’ function takes you to eight Division Management tabs.
Division Set Up – this allows the administrator to define basic parameters for the division:
- Name – this was set up when the competition was created and may be edited here.
- Scoring Rules – select Standard or Pairs. If Pairs is selected, enter the Pairs Starting Runs and Dismissal Penalty as positive integers. The dismissal penalty is the value to be subtracted each time a wicket is lost.
- League Type – choose from Limited Overs or Declaration.
- For limited overs games, enter the number of overs.
- Validation Rules – If you have set results validation rules for this division, the name of the schedule will appear. Alternatively, you may select the name of a schedule from the dropdown list to be applied to this division.
- Player Registration Required (see later) – tick this box if players must be registered with your league before they are allowed to play.
- Lock Fixture Info – the fixture date, match start time and ground can be locked to prevent any changes by club administrators.
- Notes – any text entered into this box will appear above the Division Table.
- The next fields to be completed in this section are straightforward – number of teams, times played, innings (per team), number of days, number of teams promoted and relegated, and sponsor information.
Linked Divisions – This is a facility which allows inter-division matches, where teams from Division A can play teams from Division B and the results count towards the team’s position within the league table for their division. To cater for this situation, set up a new Division AB which contains the teams from Division A and Division B that play each other. In the Linked Divisions section click the ‘Add’ button.
In the following example, a new division ‘East & West’ has been created for matches between East Division and West Division.
Select the division that is to be added in the next screen.
Continue until all the required divisions have been added and click the ‘Save’ button.
When a user views the league table from East Division or West Division, it will include the results from the new East & West Division. The format of the table will be the one defined in East Division or West Division.
If a user searches for fixtures or results from East Division or West Division, the results from East & West Division will be included.
Similarly, statistics will include results from East & West Division.
Results Set Up – work through each tab to define the points awarded for each possible outcome for a game in this division; wins and losses, draws and ties, non-results and conceded games; and to choose whether bonus points are used and how they are input.
There is a facility to set up automatic calculation of bonus points, but this may not cover your own league’s requirements so the bonus points may still need to be input manually. We have found that this rarely causes problems, as the clubs within any given league are more than familiar with how many points they have gained during a game.
Search for ‘Bonus Points’ in the Help Guides for more details of how to set up the automatic calculation of bonus points.
Aggregate Results – This section allows an administrator to customise the league tables by combining columns to be displayed.
There is a topic ‘League Table and Widget for Leagues’ in the Help Guides where you will find more details.
League Table Set Up – allows the administrator to format how the league table is displayed on the public side of the site; ranking factors, ranking columns displayed, club name display and sequence of columns are defined here.
Team Management – allows the administrator to select the teams playing in the division for this season. With the introduction of the League Members function, the selection of clubs is restricted to those that are in the League Members list. If the team does not exist within the list for the club, then use Add Team to create the team. The system will indicate when you have reached the number of teams that you defined in Division Set Up.