Date of Graduation

5-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Industrial Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Pohl, Edward A.

Abstract

Assigning players to teams is a general dilemma that affects many people every day. Teams are formed in many situations including work environments, school projects, sporting teams, and for general day to day activities. The method used to assign players or members to teams can influence the productivity, efficiency, and the final outcome of the team in question. For this reason, much thought is put into forming a team to meet the specifications of the projects.
Youth sports leagues, specifically Little League baseball leagues, are an integral part of the lives of children and parents in the United States today. Founded in 1939, the Little League Baseball program serves as an outlet for many young children and has become the largest organized youth sports program in the world. The program is active in all 50 states and many countries around the world. The large participation of approximately 180,000 children in the program helps facilitate goals of the Little League program including “espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty … to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes” [1].
Little League and other leagues across the country use many different methods of deciding which participants to assign to which team. A common problem within the league comes from the differing methodology of forming the youth baseball teams. The problem often causes “stacked teams” which causes a large variation between wins and losses in a given season. For example, one team can have an undefeated season while another team may win only one or two games. It is hypothesized that this unequal distribution of team wins and losses is due to the effect of stacked teams.
The best and worst scenario does not foster unity, sportsmanship, or morale among the players or the league as a whole. Winless seasons take the fun out of the sport for many of the players on those teams and may cause some to stop participating in the sport in the future. Through reducing the variation that results from an unequal distribution of wins and losses, the experience of playing Little League baseball would be enhanced for every participant.

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