A multiobjective mathematical model to form the best team at sports clubs: team harmony and player performance objectives

Purpose Team coaches of sports clubs are highly concerned when forming the best team to win the upcoming match at the stage before that particular game. Even if a team squad is comprising of a limited number of players, the combination of them makes a complicated problem with a huge number of possible line-ups. This study aims to build a mathematical model to solve this problem with the objectives of maximum player performance and team harmony. Design/methodology/approach This paper proposes a novel approach of a multiobjective mathematical model on team harmony and player performance. Two objectives are chosen as these are the most important perspectives that define the best team. The model outputs are nondominated solutions of these two objectives. Findings These solutions are displayed to the team coach to decide the best team according to strategical, psychological and conditional preferences of him/her. A real-life example is demonstrated to show the model validity and interpretation of the results by using the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution on a volleyball team formation problem. Originality/value This paper proposes a multiobjective mathematical model on team harmony and player performance to solve the team coach’s hard and complicated problem.