Baseball League Scheduling Using a Management Science Approach
Abstract
The Gardner Kansas Parks and Recreation Department sponsors several
baseball and softball leagues each year. The league coordinator is responsible
for the scheduling of games at the City’s two complexes. The recreational
leagues are scheduled in cooperation with their respective leagues. The
competitive league games, collectively called the Prairie League, are then
scheduled around those games. This process is currently done manually by the
league coordinator.
The purpose of this project is to develop a scientific method for the
scheduling of games in the Prairie League. This method is intended to take into
account conflicts for individual teams as well as preferences that teams may
have regarding the scheduling of their games.
A mathematical model was developed using the seven step modeling
process taught by Dr. Tom Bowlin. (Bowlin 2009) This model was built using
Microsoft Excel and contained over 127,000 variables. An advanced
optimization tool developed by Frontline Systems, Inc. was used to solve the
model.
The optimal solution resulted in a schedule that met all constraints and
satisfied team requests and preferences. With some modification to account for
different individual team preferences and the number of teams, the model could
be used again for future league schedules.
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