The rankings are math plain and simple. When the number of games increase for every team, the accuracy of the rankings also increases. Unlike college basketball and football polls that are based on subjective criteria including votes by coaches and the media, these rankings don't care about your feelings or what club owns what team. It's math. But keep on believing there is funny business if it makes you feel better.
Nothing in the ranking calculation favors one club over another. However, if you don't think there are ways to "game" the rankings, you are clearly new here. Two clubs (one LI and one NJ) are known to manipulate schedules so they will look better in rankings. (And before anyone asks, the LI club is NOT 91)
By manipulate schedules, do you mean set yourself up to "play better teams" or cherry pick to "play worse teams" because it's who you play that matters. If you are in lower divisions in tournaments and play worse teams, your ranking will reflect that especially since there is a 10 goal cap on being "rewarded" for a bad win. If you are in better divisions and play better teams, your rankings will also reflect that. Not new here, I have a 2025, 2026 and 2029 daughter so spare me the patronizing. Play harder teams, get rewarded if you beat them or keep the game close. And the opposite is true as well. It's math.
No, you manipulate the schedule by playing teams ranked 20-40 who you can blowout as opposed to getting blown out by top 5 teams.
For instance, right down YJ Duswalt has a rating of 89, while Eagle Stix has a rating of 97.
There are many teams who would blow out YJ Duswalt by 8-10 goals and get 97-99 points, but would likely lose to Eagle Stix and end up with points in low 90s.
The key is to find good teams you can blow out while avoid top 5 teams who will dominate you. (Now if you care about player development, you probably want to take the opposite strategy).
