How to Rank a League: Calculating Points and Goal Difference, and How to Fill In a Results Grid
Once a round robin is over, organisers often find themselves arguing about what happens when teams finish level on points. This article covers the different points systems, the order of tie-breakers such as goal difference and goals scored, what to watch out for when using head-to-head results, and how to fill in a results grid, with a worked example for 4 teams.
Decide the points system for each competition
League standings are usually decided by awarding points for each match and adding them up. How many points are given depends on the sport and the competition rules, and the three systems below are the most common.
| System | Win | Draw | Loss | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win 3, draw 1, loss 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Common in football and futsal. Rewards a win much more than a draw, which encourages attacking play |
| Win 2, draw 1, loss 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Two draws equal one win. Used in football until the mid-1990s and still seen in local competitions |
| Win 1, draw 0, loss 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Compares wins only. Suits simple rankings in sports without draws (volleyball, table tennis, badminton and so on) |
Whichever system you use, tell the participants before the competition starts. In sports with draws in particular, rankings can swap between the 3-point and 2-point systems. In the match schedule maker you can choose from these three or set your own points for a win, draw and loss, from 0 to 10 each.
Working through an example with 4 teams
Suppose four teams, A, B, C and D, play a round robin with these results: A 2−1 B, C 0−0 D, A 1−1 C, B 3−0 D, A 0−1 D and B 2−2 C. Each team’s record is as follows.
| Team | W | D | L | Scored | Conceded | Goal difference | Points (3/1/0) | Points (2/1/0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 4 | 3 |
| C | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| D | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 4 | 3 |
With win 3, draw 1, loss 0, teams A, B and D are level on 4 points and are separated by goal difference: B (+2), then A (0), then D (−2), with C fourth on 3 points. With win 2, draw 1, loss 0, however, all four teams finish on 3 points. B is first on goal difference; A and C are level on a goal difference of 0 and 3 goals scored, so A is second on wins, C third and D fourth. Team C, which drew every match, finishes fourth or third depending on the system.
How to rank teams that are level on points
How to order teams on the same points is also something to fix in the rules beforehand. The usual criteria are below; compare them from the top and stop as soon as one separates the teams.
- Goal difference: goals scored − goals conceded. A team that won by big margins ranks higher
- Goals scored: if goal difference is also equal, the team that scored more ranks higher
- Head-to-head result: the team that won the match between the tied teams ranks higher
- Number of wins: a team with more wins ranks above one with more draws
- Drawing lots or a play-off: if nothing else separates them, decide by lot, a penalty shoot-out, rock-paper-scissors or similar
The match schedule maker’s table orders teams by points → goal difference → goals scored → wins, and gives the same position if all of these are equal. If your competition puts head-to-head results first, look for tied teams in the table and swap them by hand according to the result of their match.
How to fill in a results grid (crosstable)
A results grid lists the teams down the side and across the top in the same order, and records each result where the row and column meet. Results are written from the point of view of the team in the row: ○ for a win, ● for a loss and △ for a draw. The cells where a team meets itself are crossed out or shaded. The example above looks like this as a results grid.
| A | B | C | D | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | — | ○ 2−1 | △ 1−1 | ● 0−1 | 4 |
| B | ● 1−2 | — | △ 2−2 | ○ 3−0 | 4 |
| C | △ 1−1 | △ 2−2 | — | △ 0−0 | 3 |
| D | ○ 1−0 | ● 0−3 | △ 0−0 | — | 4 |
- Across the diagonal from top left to bottom right, ○ and ● are swapped on the other side. Once you have finished, checking that the grid is symmetrical catches mistakes
- Write the row team’s score first (“2−1” in A’s row, “1−2” in B’s row)
- Adding columns for points, goal difference and position on the right means you don’t need a separate league table
- Write what any extra symbols mean under the grid, for example □ for a walkover win and ■ for a walkover loss
Build the results grid and league table just by entering scores
A handwritten results grid needs two cells filled in for every match, and points and goal difference added up again each time, so mistakes creep in as the number of matches grows. In the match schedule maker, entering both teams’ scores on each match card in the schedule automatically updates the ○●△ in the results grid and the league table with position, played, won, drawn, lost, goals and points.
- 1
Create a round-robin schedule
Enter the names and the number of courts to generate the match order. See how to work out round-robin matches and order for details.
- 2
Choose the points system
Besides win 3/draw 1/loss 0, win 2/draw 1/loss 0 and wins only, you can set your own points.
- 3
Enter the score after each match
Type the scores into the left and right fields and they appear in the results grid and league table straight away. Entries are saved in this device’s browser.
- 4
Print or share the final results
Printing produces the schedule, results grid and league table together. “Copy table” lets you paste them into a spreadsheet to keep a record.
If the top teams in the league go on to a knockout stage, follow how to place seeds and byes in a tournament bracket: list the league winner as seed 1 and the runner-up as seed 2, and the top teams will not meet until the final.
FAQ
- How are league points calculated?
- Multiply the number of wins by the points for a win and the number of draws by the points for a draw, then add them. With win 3, draw 1, loss 0, a team with 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss has 2 × 3 + 1 × 1 = 7 points.
- What is goal difference?
- It is the total goals scored in all matches minus the total goals conceded. A team that scored 6 and conceded 4 has +2. It is often the first thing compared when teams are level on points.
- How are teams on the same points ranked?
- Compare them in the order set out in the competition rules. A common order is goal difference → goals scored → head-to-head → wins → drawing lots. Some competitions put head-to-head first, so tell participants in advance.
- In a results grid, whose result do ○ and ● show?
- They show the result for the team in the row. If the cell in A’s row and B’s column is ○, A beat B, and the cell in B’s row and A’s column is ●. Draws are marked △.
- What if three teams are level on points and each has one win and one loss against the others?
- Head-to-head results alone can’t decide it, so move on to the next criteria, such as goal difference in the matches between the tied teams, or overall goal difference and goals scored. It is safest to also agree how to settle it by lot or a play-off in case nothing else works.
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