How to Set the Table in MLS

The first Major League Soccer (MLS) season began in 1996 and featured 10 teams. In 2011 there will be 18 teams, including two from Canada. The teams are divided into two conferences --- East and West. All 18 teams will play each other twice. Teams qualify from the league to a playoff, the winner of which is named the season's champion. Like all league-based sports, setting the table, which ranks teams based on their results, is an essential part of displaying how well a team is doing. Setting the MLS table, even when split into two conferences, is relatively easy.

Instructions

1

Gather the names of the teams taking part in the new season. These will be divided into two conferences. Research who is in the Western Conference and who is in the Eastern Conference. List the teams alphabetically.

2

Open two spreadsheet files. Save one as "Western Conference" and one as "Eastern Conference."

3

Make each table 10 columns wide. The number of rows will equal the number of teams, plus one. The top row is reserved for the names of each column. Those columns should read (with shortened versions in parentheses) from left to right:

A. Position (POS)

B. Club

C. Points (PTS)

D. Games Won (W)

E. Games Lost (L)

F. Games Tied (T)

G. Goals For (GF)

H. Goals Against (GA)

I. Goal Difference (GD)

4

Insert the teams in alphabetical order for each conference into column B and write their position in column A. Set all other records to zero.

5

When each team plays a game, adjust its statistics in the table. For example, if Toronto FC play one game and win it 4-1, then the table will read:

1. Toronto FC. 3. 1. 1. 0. 0. 4. 1. +3.

Use a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to denote whether a team has a positive or negative goal difference.

6

To adjust the position of each team, highlight columns B through I and the rows with team names, click on "Data," then select "Sort." First sort the teams by column C: sort on "values," and "largest to smallest." This way, the team with the most points will be at the top. If two teams have the same points, highlight the rows with the tied teams then sort by column I. If they are still the same, then sort them by column G, and finally, sort them alphabetically using column B.