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RobinX: A three-field classification and unified data format for round-robin sports timetabling

Author

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  • Van Bulck, David
  • Goossens, Dries
  • Schönberger, Jörn
  • Guajardo, Mario

Abstract

Sports timetabling problems are combinatorial optimization problems which consist of creating a timetable that defines against whom, when, and where teams play games. In the literature, sports timetabling problems have been reported featuring a wide variety of constraints and objectives. This variety makes it challenging to identify the relevant set of papers for a given sports timetabling problem. Moreover, the lack of a generally accepted data format makes that problem instances and their solutions are rarely shared. Consequently, it is hard to assess algorithmic performance since solution methods are often tested on just one or two specific instances. To mitigate these issues, this paper presents RobinX, a three-field notation to describe a sports timetabling problem by means of the tournament format, the constraints in use, and the objective. We use this notation to classify sports timetabling problems presented in the operations research literature during the last five decades. Moreover, RobinX contains xml-based file templates to store problem instances and their solutions and presents an online platform that offers three useful tools. First, a query tool assists users to select the relevant set of papers for a given timetabling problem. Second, the online platform provides access to an xml data repository that contains real-life problem instances from different countries and sports. Finally, the website enables users to interact with a free and open-source C++-library to read and write xml files and to validate and evaluate encoded instances and solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Van Bulck, David & Goossens, Dries & Schönberger, Jörn & Guajardo, Mario, 2020. "RobinX: A three-field classification and unified data format for round-robin sports timetabling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 280(2), pages 568-580.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:280:y:2020:i:2:p:568-580
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2019.07.023
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yi, Xiajie & Goossens, Dries & Nobibon, Fabrice Talla, 2020. "Proactive and reactive strategies for football league timetabling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 282(2), pages 772-785.
    2. Ceschia, Sara & Di Gaspero, Luca & Schaerf, Andrea, 2023. "Educational timetabling: Problems, benchmarks, and state-of-the-art results," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(1), pages 1-18.
    3. Smith Zachary J. & Bickel J. Eric, 2023. "A roster construction decision tool for MLS expansion teams," Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, De Gruyter, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Bergantiños, Gustavo & Moreno-Ternero, Juan D., 2022. "Monotonicity in sharing the revenues from broadcasting sports leagues," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 297(1), pages 338-346.
    5. Van Bulck, David & Goossens, Dries, 2023. "The international timetabling competition on sports timetabling (ITC2021)," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(3), pages 1249-1267.
    6. David Van Bulck & Dries Goossens, 2022. "Optimizing rest times and differences in games played: an iterative two-phase approach," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 261-271, June.
    7. Roberto Maria Rosati & Matteo Petris & Luca Di Gaspero & Andrea Schaerf, 2022. "Multi-neighborhood simulated annealing for the sports timetabling competition ITC2021," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 301-319, June.
    8. Martin Mariusz Lester, 2022. "Pseudo-Boolean optimisation for RobinX sports timetabling," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 287-299, June.
    9. Guajardo, Mario & Krumer, Alex, 2023. "Format and schedule proposals for a FIFA World Cup with 12 four-team groups," Discussion Papers 2023/2, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    10. Li, Miao & Davari, Morteza & Goossens, Dries, 2023. "Multi-league sports scheduling with different leagues sizes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(1), pages 313-327.
    11. Jakee, Keith & Kenneally, Martin & Dineen, Declan, 2022. "Scheduling slots and league objectives: An empirical analysis of Australia’s AFL," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 359-371.
    12. Christian Ackermann & Felix Hahne & Julia Rieck, 2022. "Matching and Scheduling of Student-Company-Talks for a University IT-Speed Dating Event," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 1-29, September.
    13. Van Bulck, David & Goossens, Dries, 2023. "A traditional Benders’ approach to sports timetabling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(2), pages 813-826.
    14. Guillermo Durán, 2021. "Sports scheduling and other topics in sports analytics: a survey with special reference to Latin America," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 29(1), pages 125-155, April.
    15. Dries Goossens & Jeroen Beliën, 2023. "Teaching Integer Programming by Scheduling the Belgian Soccer League," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 164-172, May.
    16. George H. G. Fonseca & Túlio A. M. Toffolo, 2022. "A fix-and-optimize heuristic for the ITC2021 sports timetabling problem," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 273-286, June.
    17. Roel Lambers & Dries Goossens & Frits C. R. Spieksma, 2023. "The flexibility of home away pattern sets," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 413-423, October.
    18. Xiajie Yi & Dries Goossens, 2023. "Strategies for dealing with uncertainty in time-relaxed sports timetabling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 320(1), pages 473-492, January.
    19. Goller, Daniel & Krumer, Alex, 2020. "Let's meet as usual: Do games played on non-frequent days differ? Evidence from top European soccer leagues," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 286(2), pages 740-754.
    20. Guillermo Durán & Mario Guajardo & Facundo Gutiérrez & Javier Marenco & Denis Sauré & Gonzalo Zamorano, 2021. "Scheduling the Main Professional Football League of Argentina," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 51(5), pages 361-372, September.
    21. David Van Bulck & Dries Goossens & Jo¨rn Scho¨nberger & Mario Guajardo, 2020. "An Instance Data Repository for the Round-robin Sports Timetabling Problem," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 45(2), pages 184-200, May.

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