Here's how the ratings are calculated:

Returning teams will begin the next season with their rating from the previous season.  New teams to TVP start at the mid range of whatever level tournament they play in.

The ranges are as follows:

• Rec: 0-99
• B: 100-199
• BB: 200-299
• A: 300-399
• AA: 400-499
• Open: 500-599

The rating you receive each tournament is calculated as follows:

• The baseline score is the mid-range of the level of play (i.e. for BB the scores are ±250)
• The number of teams in the tournament is the biggest factor in the range of possible points scored
  • Fewer teams = less points
  • More teams = more points
• The season rating of all the teams playing in the tournament is taken into account (averaged) to determine the strength of the tournament
  • Playing in tournaments with lots of strong teams gains you more points (if your team plays poorly in this tournament you will not lose as many points either)
• If any of the lower places are not played out then the scores for those places are averaged and applied to each team in that range
  • For instance, in most tournaments 3rd and 4th are not determined thus both teams will receive an average of the 3rd and 4th place points

Your teams rating is then averaged to give a season rating. This seasonal rating is used to determine seeding in tournaments and also a very good indicator as to what level your team should be playing at.

This formula is by no means perfect but one huge benefit is that it is not subjective (no one at The Volley Project can influence the score). We considered taking into account many other factors but the formula became overly complex - this is a relatively straight forward formula that we have decided gives a good indicator as to the level of your team.

We are considering applying this formula to each individual player. This would give a better indication of a "teams" rating for each tournament. Every team needs subs from time to time - using individual ratings each "teams" rating would be calculated based on the roster that day not some arbitrary team name that you decide to call yourself that day. If your team decides to get subs from a different level (higher or lower) this would effect your team's rating that day. If the sub(s) are strong enough they could actual rate your team out of the level of the tournament that day. The Volley Project won't disqualify you from playing but we may ask that you play at a higher level in the future. This would also discourage higher level player from playing in lower level tournaments as it would effect your overall rating as well.