There’s a heated battle going on in the Premier League because Man City is being forced to play three important games all within a week. Each of these games requires significant travel from one location to another.

It’s a problem for Man City certainly, but there’s a deeper issue going on here that crosses into almost every sport and every age group. We’re asking people to play far too much and it’s hurting almost everyone.

The Schedule

In the case of Man City, they must play at three different locations in the span of week during a crucial part of their schedule. They’ve asked for some help from the league but thus far, no relief is coming.

It’s fairly obvious that this schedule is not going to allow the team to produce their best play in every game, that the players will be tired.

Other Sports

This problem of too many games in too little time is not unique to Man City. The NCAA is now going to expand their college basketball playoffs, March Madness to 76 teams. They likewise continue to expand on the college football playoff schedule.

Major League baseball’s postseason included two teams in 1968. It’s almost impossible to believe that is true, but it is. Playoffs in hockey, basketball, football, and other professional sports in the United States continue to expand also. The regular season schedule gets longer and more grueling as well. Players are exhausted and need to take games off which causes its own problems.

The season in tennis and golf is grueling and playing in even close to all the events is all but impossible. In chess the schedule is getting so bad that major events are being held concurrently, limiting players to one or another.

We now have Travel Teams in youth sports where kids younger than ten travel all over the country playing games pretty much year round.

This many games creates a worse product. They result in injuries and burn-out. Star players sit out games and fans who come to those games are disappointed.

Why all these Games

I need not explain the reason for the enormous increase in scheduling demands on players and coaches. Moolah. There is more revenue to be squeezed out of the fans at the expense of the players.

Solutions

I have a solution but it ain’t gonna happen. Stop being greedy pricks. Make less money and make the games better for the players and better for the fans. Shorten the season, allow fewer teams into the playoffs.

Tom Liberman