Team rankings and weekly opponents are determined by the match results of all teams. Teams generally move up the ladder when they win a match and move down when they lose a match. The number of places a team moves up or down on the ladder is determined automatically by algorithms. There is no manual intervention, except for any necessary resetting of teams following the first week of matches to correct improper initial placement.
- How far up or down a team moves is determined by three factors: 1.) the total points scored by each team in the match; 2.) if the match went two games or three, and; 3.) how the other teams above and below them on the ladder scored.
- A team that wins or loses a match 11-0, 11-0 moves up or down more than a team that wins or loses a match 11-9, 9-11, 11-9. The maximum mathematical move up or down is three positions; however, teams can move up or down more, or not move at all, depending on the movements of the other teams on the ladder.
- Match scores have more the impact on ladder movement compared to simply winning or losing the match. The algorithms are explained below.
Game Score Differential: This is the difference between each team's average points scored per game in the match. Ladder rank improves or decreases for each point. For example, if a team wins or loses by an average of 11 points per game per match (i.e. 11-0, 11-0), its ladder position improves or decreases by the maximum number of ladder positions allotted to the game score differential.
Game Wins: A team that wins or loses in two games moves up or down more ladder positions than a team that wins or loses in three games.
Ladder Movement Calculation: The Game Score Differential and the Game Wins calculation is combined to determine the total Ladder Movement Calculation for each team. This number is applied equally whether teams are playing adjacent ranked teams (i.e. ladder team #3 playing ladder team #4) or non-adjacent ranked teams (i.e. ladder team #3 playing ladder team #5). Teams only play non-adjacent teams to avoid playing duplicate opponents. The Ladder Movement Calculation is applied to a formula based on the current relative ladder positions of the two teams. This methodology provides a weighted result for teams determined by the current ladder position of their opponents, whether they are adjacent or non-adjacent on the ladder.
Total Ladder Movement: Every team's mathematical ranking is calculated after every match, and each team's actual placement on the ladder is determined by every other team's mathematical ranking. For example, a team may lose, and move down the specified number of places, but a team below on the ladder may win and move up into the same place. In such cases, the algorithm arranges teams based on decimal values from highest to lowest. Therefore, a team that individually should move up or down two places can easily move up or down three or more places, or only move up or down one place, or no places, depending on the results of other matches.