How to Decide How Many Teams to Start with

[Angel Zobel-Rodriguez]

Fall leagues are going to start for some sooner than others. In my youth leagues, I'm always faced with the difficult task of guestimating how many new kids will show up *after* week 1. If I add a couple of blind teams at week one, that gives them somewhere to be for week two and later. The downside is that the kids might not materialize and I've got multiple teams bowling vacant teams. I can start the league with the correct amount of teams, and then hope no one comes in week 2 or later. If they do, I will be forced to add teams.

Personally I really, truly hate changing the amount of teams because it always changes the league schedule. Suddenly teams that already bowled each other are facing each other again, and I get an earful.

For any youth coordinators out there, how do you guestimate how many vacancies to build into a league knowing that leagues are rarely full on week one. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to guess better the first time to keep from changing league size midstream?

Thanks in advance!

[Bob Lanouette]

Angel, I've been running the junior leagues (up to over 400 members now) in my center since 1988. I always start my leagues with my 'on hands'; I never build vacant teams into my schedule (except for bye teams). Yes, I often have to add or substract teams early on in the process and even later on; And, Yes, adding teams often causes some teams to play each other again. I never really get an earful, but occasionally some questions. I use the occasion as a 'teaching moment' to explain to the questioner how scheduling works.

I don't really guestimate; we have sign-ups the 2 weekends before we start; I make up my teams from the sign-ups. All previous members are notified that failure to sign-up ahead of time means not starting their season till week 2. I accept registrations on the first day of bowling, but don't place the bowler on a team (unless it's convenient) until week 2. With a full 40-lane center for 3 time slots, the first day is too hectic to deal with latecomers. This process has worked for me. There's really no certainty in youth leagues. Do what works for you. As long as you're up front and fair, most parents and bowlers will understan. If they don't, oh well... can't please them all

Good luck!

[Robert Maes]

The secretary of the youth league that I have been associated with uses short teams with blinds instead of filling all teams. This allows for some expansion without adjusting number of teams.