[Richard Wallace]

I haven't studied algorithms for generating matchlists. Superficially, it seems that repeat alliance partners and/or repeat opponents are more likely to occur

1) as the number of matches is increased -- if the event staff tries to schedule more matches while maintaining a larger minimum interval between appearances of the same team (say four matches off between field appearances) the result is that teams that have been on the field together once will share the field again, probably several times, and

2) as the number of teams is decreased -- for similar reasons.

To allow teams to share the field (as partners or opponents) with a wider variety of other teams, the match list must allow more variability in the interval between appearances of the same team.

It has been proposed here and in previous threads on this topic that, to prevent repeat field partners/opponents, the minimum interval between field appearances should be controlled in minutes rather than matches; i.e., increase the time interval between matches at smaller regionals, and allow more variance in the match interval between field appearances at larger ones. I think a statistical review of repeat field partners/opponents vs. appearance interval might support this proposal, but I don't have the time to do the analysis now. Any volunteers?