In a Double Header/Different Team division, each team plays two games a week, usually back to back, against two different opponents. Set Games per Week/Team to 2 and 2 Game Configuration to Double Header/Different Team on the division's 1 Configuration page, add one time slot per team on 3 Time Slots, then click Create on 4 Create Schedule. TeamSideline builds these schedules only from saved patterns, so Create works when a pattern matches your teams, games and time slots.
Applies to: Admins and schedulers · All plans · League divisions (Division Type Standard)
Where: Schedules > Leagues & Divisions > (division) > 1 Configuration > Scheduling, then 3 Time Slots and 4 Create Schedule
Step 1: Choose Double Header/Different Team
- Go to Schedules > Leagues & Divisions and click the division's Edit Division icon (pencil) to open 1 Configuration > Scheduling.
- Under Division Schedule Types, make sure Regular is ticked.
- Set Games per Week/Team to 2.
- Set 2 Game Configuration to Double Header/Different Team.
- Choose Games Played/Team. Count both games of each double header: 16 means eight weeks of double headers.
- Set the Day of First Game and the Game Spacing (the time between the start of each game).
- Click Save and Next Step.
- On 2 Teams, add your teams and click Next Step.
What you'll see: "Division configuration updated." This setting doesn't use Game 1 and Game 2 time slots, so saving it changes any Game 2 time slots to Game 1.
Step 2: Add one time slot per team
A time slot holds one game a week. Because every team plays twice, you need as many time slots as teams. 3 Time Slots tells you the number, for example "you will need 6 time slots per week starting [date] for each team to play 2 games per week."
- On 3 Time Slots, click Add Time Slot.
- Choose the Day, Start Time and Location. Tick several locations to add a time slot at each one.
- Optional: move the slider next to the Add button to add several back-to-back start times at once, one Game Spacing apart.
- Click Add. Repeat until you have one time slot per team.
For example, 6 teams on two fields could use both fields at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00. The numbers at the right above the time slot list (2-2-2 in this example) count the time slots at each day and start time. Create uses this layout, the number of teams, Games Played/Team and the number of time slots to find a matching pattern.
Odd number of teams
With an odd number of teams, 3 Time Slots shows an Odd Team Division Configuration section. Choose the For Schedule option that fits your time slots:
| Time slots | For Schedule | Each week |
|---|---|---|
| As many as teams (5 for 5 teams) | All Teams Play Every Week | Every team plays 2 games. |
| One fewer than teams (4 for 5 teams) | All Teams Play Every Week | Two teams play only 1 game. |
| One fewer than teams (4 for 5 teams) | Schedule Byes | One team has a bye. |
Step 3: Create the schedule
- On 4 Create Schedule, click Create.
- Review the games. Each team plays two different opponents each week.
- Make any changes, click Calculate to preview them, then click Calc & Save.
- On Leagues & Divisions, click the division's red eye icon so it turns green and the schedule shows on your site.
What you'll see: "Your schedule has been created and saved for you to review." The message ends with a number in braces that identifies the pattern TeamSideline used.
With the Enhanced plan and up, click Save As Template on a finished schedule to keep its pattern. When another division has the same teams, Games Played/Team, time slots and 2 Game Configuration, click Use Template on its 4 Create Schedule page, choose the template and click Create.
If it doesn't work
- There's no Create button. Create needs at least twice half the number of teams, rounded down, in time slots (6 for 6 teams, 4 for 5 teams), a Day of First Game and at least 2 teams. The first related article lists every requirement.
- Create says a "Double Header schedule for this Division configuration is not available." No saved pattern matches your setup. See the article "Why does it say a Double Header schedule for this Division configuration is not available?" for what to change and for setups that don't need a pattern.
- The 2 Game Configuration list shows "Double Headers (Not enabled.)". Double headers aren't turned on for your organization. They're part of every current plan, so contact TeamSideline support.
- There's no Game field when you add a time slot. That's expected: Double Header/Different Team time slots are all Game 1.
Good to know
- Block A Week isn't offered on 3 Time Slots when teams play 2 games a week.
- 4 Create Schedule doesn't show Same Day Games (SD) warnings for double header divisions.
- TeamSideline support can turn on the Gap Identification and Gap Distribution tables on 4 Create Schedule, which show the wait between each team's two games. Create doesn't move games to close a gap, so if a team's two games must be back to back, move them yourself with Edit Game and click Calc & Save.
- For the same opponent twice in a row, use Double Header/Same Team. It's built automatically and doesn't need a pattern.