Grading FAQs

How does the TTV Premier League grade me?

The Competition Manager uses 2 main determinants to decide where you should be: Ratings Central and Prior Season Performance. Your individual rating gives us an understanding of your range of levels and what we should expect of your performance at a numerical level. However, whilst mathematical modeling is a good indicator, it shouldn't be used as 'law' so for teams that are of a relatively even standard, we use Prior Season Performance Data to disaggregate. E.g. Your team might have an average rating of 1280 and another is 1275. We might look at 1275 more favorably purely because they finished 3rd on the ladder last season compared to the 1280 team that finished 6th. 

I am unhappy with the Division I have been put in, how can I change this?

There are a number of reasons why you might be in a lower division. However, the number one reason is probably due to the new entrants in the competition pushing everyone downwards. However, your effective relative position has been protected if I numbered all teams from best to worst but it might just be the cut-offs I have mean that you are in a lower division. However, if you are MUCH better than the division you have been cut into, then we will try to find appropriate solutions to keep you in the right division. 

Another reason why you might be in a lower division is dependent on how you entered the Premier League. If you have entered with a bunch of friends of varying standards as compared to a team of relatively similar standards, then it could affect your team's average rating. E.g. A team of 1330/1240/1270 has an average rating of 1280 compared to a team that is 1300/1290/1280 which has an average rating of 1290. The team's strength is what I look at as this is a team competition, not an individual competition. 

If you are unhappy that your team has let you down then perhaps you might need to decide what is more important, do I play with friends or should I enter as an individual? If you enter as an individual then you are at risk of not being put in a team with people you want to be with, you might be put into a team with more than 3 players and thus have to rotate weekly or you may not even end up in your desired division. 

The grading is biased and unfair, I want to appeal my allocation!

It is not biased and unfair. It is very objective. We used numerical data to make objective decisions and only when needed to make a split then we might use some discretion based on our knowledge of the divisions.

In addition, we are not the sole decision-makers of the grades. Each draft draw or final fixture must be ticked off by the TTV Premier League Pennant Committee before publication. So in effect, there are 4 heads working on these and making decisions. 

You may appeal your allocation and in fact, we welcome it - especially when it is a draft draw. We are happy to clarify our position and provide you with the methodology behind what we do. If you are unhappy with our explanations then you may take it to the Pennant Committee for their discretion. We are all not perfect and all we want to do is make this the best pennant competition in Inner City Metropolitan Melbourne. 

What is a draft draw???

A draft draw is an opportunity for players to see where they may end up as things stand at the present moment. New teams or players may enter the fray with a week left before the final confirmation. It is also an opportunity for players to air any concerns they may have about anything related to the gradings. Of course, We recognise we are not perfect and mistakes occur hence we want to make sure things are perfect before Round 1. 

The Final Fixture however is something that shouldn't be appealed against as everyone has had a week to peruse the draft draw and make decisions from there. If you haven't made the time to air your concerns then given the amount of effort we have put into these, then it is bad luck. 

I'm withdrawing, I will see you next season.

It is sad that it has come to this. we do want to make it known that we spend tireless, thankless hours working on this pennant and we are sorry that you feel a particular way towards your standard. It does dishearten us every single time a player objects to their division allocation as it seems to indicate a lack of trust in us and what we do for the Premier League. We only have good intentions and with a growing and stronger pennant season by season, it is only natural that we all must face the trials and tribulations that come with it. 

We cannot guarantee that if you come back next season you will be in your desired division. As we said, everyone's relative position in the pennant is protected. It's just where the cut-offs are determined by the division. The thing that could change this opinion is that if you rack up Ratings Central points and increase your standard. 

Can you please illustrate how the cut-offs work?

Because we run a 10 week season, the best format is 6 teams per division. Division 1 and Division 7 are a bit more special since only players of a certain level can really be in those divisions. However, we have provided an illustration below showing what happens when new teams come into the pennant: 

A final remark that we would like to make is that we don't seek to be unfair or dishonest in what we do. We certainly hope we are not unapproachable and we will respect others' opinions and be happy to discuss in any way, shape, or form. We just ask for an open-minded approach and we will be happy to give you the answers that you seek. In terms of a solution to the inherent problems, We are happy to explore all different options and put them to the wider pennant community before enacting upon it. For us and the Pennant Committee, it is about the spirit of the competition as a whole and not the whims of a particular player or team. We are all bigger than that.