whilst schedule

[rkirschbaum]

 :-/  I am trying to develop a whilst schedule for  mixed doubles where 12 people are playing during each round.

I only need 4 rounds and have been trying to set up a schedule where no 4 people are on the court at the same time.  It would be better if spouses do not play together but not an absolute factor. Can you help figure this out. I have been working with little success for some time.

I realize that a full schedule is not possible but I only need four rounds.

Thank You, Bob

[Ian Wakeling]

The full spouse avoiding schedule, if it existed, would have 5 rounds.  So I am thinking that a four round schedule may also be impossible, otherwise it could be completed into the full schedule by constructing a round from the missing partnerships and opponent pairs.  The only way I can see of testing this would be to use computer search to try to find 3 or 4 round schedules and I don't have any suitable program to test this.  

Ian.

[rkirschbaum]

Ian,
Can 4 rounds be set up with the same 4 people never on the same court if spouses are playing with or against each other?