Aydın Tiryaki (2025)

Category: Dynamic Fixture Model (DFM) Technical Series Subject: Adapting a Performance and Fairness-Based League Management Algorithm to Variable Team Sizes

In leagues with 22 or 14 teams, dividing the competition into 4 or 6 groups—as described in previous articles—is either extremely difficult or mathematically impossible. Consequently, the DFM is implemented in these structures by dividing the league into two distinct blocks.

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I. BLOCK MANAGEMENT AND RESERVED WEEK STRATEGY IN 14-TEAM LEAGUES

In this fourth installment of the DFM series, we scale the “two-group” structure (successfully applied to 10-team leagues) to larger 14-team configurations. The primary challenge in a 14-team model is the odd-number issue created by two groups of seven. DFM overcomes this through “Block” terminology and a hybrid “Reserved Week” structure.

1. Block Structure and Initial Codes

The model begins the second half of the season by dividing teams into two main blocks based on their first-half standings. In a 14-team structure, the term “Block” is utilized to represent the administrative weight of these divisions.

• Block A (Upper Block): Teams that finished the first round between 1st and 7th place. (Codes: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7)
• Block B (Lower Block): Teams that finished the first round between 8th and 14th place. (Codes: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7)

2. Stage I: Cross-Block Series (Weeks 1-6)

During the first six weeks of the second half, teams face opponents from the opposite block. This is where the DFM’s strategic “Reserved Week” is implemented.

• Reserved Week: The matches A1-B1, A2-B2, A3-B3, A4-B4, A5-B5, A6-B6, and A7-B7 are NOT played during the first 6 weeks.
• Operation: Over this period, each team plays against 6 different opponents from the opposite block (excluding their reserved opponent). This ensures no team has a “BYE” week.

3. Dynamic Rearrangement: “y” Notation

Standings at the end of Week 6 (combining the first half and Stage 1 performance) determine the teams’ paths for the remainder of the season. Each block is re-ranked internally. To avoid character confusion in digital environments, the lowercase “y” (new/yeni) notation is used.

• Current Block A: Ay1, Ay2, Ay3, Ay4, Ay5, Ay6, Ay7
• Current Block B: By1, By2, By3, By4, By5, By6, By7

4. Phase II: Hybrid Intra-Block Cycle (Weeks 7-12)

Starting from Week 7, teams begin intra-block competition. In blocks of 7 teams, one team per week would normally remain idle. DFM utilizes the “Hidden Matches” from Stage 1 to fill these slots.

• Standby Team Execution: Each week, the team that is scheduled for a “bye” within its block instead plays its “Hidden Match” against its original reserved opponent from the opposite block (determined by their original codes).
• Example: In Week 7, the team with the original code A1 (regardless of its current AyX rank) plays against its hidden opponent B1. The remaining 6 teams in Block A play Ay-Ay matches among themselves.
• Result: By the end of Week 12, every team completes all matches against both the opposing block and its own block in a perfect round-robin format without replays.

5. FINAL Week: Resolving the Season (Week 13)

The DFM-14 carries the excitement to the final week by pitting the most successful teams against each other.

• Summit: Ay1 vs Ay2 (Championship or Leadership decider)
• Relegation Battle: By6 vs By7 (Survival or Qualifying match)

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II. 11+11 BLOCKS AND DYNAMIC LOOPING IN 22-TEAM LEAGUES

A 22-team league is one of the most challenging to manage. While traditional systems require a massive 42-week calendar, the DFM compresses the second half into a 21-week marathon by updating the “7+7” discipline to an “11+11” structure.

1. Block Structure (Blocks A and B)

The 22 teams are divided into two major blocks based on first-half performance:

• Block A (11 Teams): Numbered A1 through A11 (Summit Block).
• Block B (11 Teams): Numbered B1 through B11 (Classification Block).

2. Stage I: Cross-Block Series (Weeks 1-10)

Each team plays against opponents from the opposing block.

• Reserved Week: Matches A1-B1 through A11-B11 are reserved by the system and not played during the first 10 weeks.
• Operation: Teams complete crossover matches with the 10 opponents other than their specific hidden rival.

3. Intermediate Stop: Updating with “y” Notation

Standings are updated at the end of Week 10. Rankings within blocks are rearranged according to current performance using the internet-compatible notation:

• New Block A: Ay1, Ay2 … Ay11
• New Block B: By1, By2 … By11

4. Phase II: Hybrid Internal Cycle (Weeks 11-20)

In blocks of 11 teams, one team has a “free slot” each week. This slot is used to play the “Hidden Match” owed from Stage 1.

• The Cycle: Each week, team “A” plays against opponent “B” based on their original codes. The remaining 10 teams in each block play 5 intra-block matches (Ay-Ay and By-By).
• By the end of Week 20: Every team has played 10 opponents in its own block and 11 in the opposing block (21 matches total).

5. Final Week: THE GRAND FINALE (Week 21)

Week 21 is transformed into a “Finals Season”:

• Block A: Ay1 vs Ay2 (The showdown between the two primary title contenders).
• Block B: By10 vs By11 (The decisive match between the bottom two teams).

Aydın Tiryaki
Ankara, December 22, 2025