Which format should I choose?
- Round robin: everyone plays everyone, the fairest, but n × (n − 1) / 2 matches.
- Groups then knockout: small round robins, then a bracket for the best of each group. A good compromise for 8 to 32 teams.
- Single elimination: the fastest (n − 1 matches); seeds and byes are placed automatically.
How are ties broken?
By points (win, draw, loss: adjustable), then score difference, then points scored, then head-to-head.
The tournament is kept in your browser; save it to a file to continue on another device.
How to use it
- Enter the participants, one per line (teams or players). The order can serve as seeding, or be shuffled.
- Choose the format: round robin, groups then knockout, or single elimination, with or without return legs and a third-place match.
- Set the logistics: number of courts or pitches, match length, changeover time and start time. The schedule assigns each match a court and a slot.
- Enter scores during the day: standings and the knockout bracket update automatically.
- Print the schedule by time and pitch, the standings and the bracket to display, or export the matches to a spreadsheet (CSV).
How many matches, how long?
- 8 teams, round robin: 8 × 7 / 2 = 28 matches, in 7 rounds of 4. With 2 courts, 15-minute matches and 5-minute changeovers: 14 slots, about 4 h 40.
- 8 teams in 2 groups of 4: 6 matches per group, so 12, then semi-finals and final (plus third place): 15–16 matches, about 2 h 40 on 2 courts.
- 12 teams, single elimination: 11 matches. The bracket is filled to 16 places: the top 4 seeds get a bye in the first round.
Which format for which situation?
- School or club tournament over an afternoon: groups of 3 or 4, then knockout. Everyone plays at least 2 or 3 matches.
- League over several weeks: double round robin, one round per week.
- Little time, many teams: single elimination, possibly with a consolation bracket for first-round losers.
Organiser's tips
- Allow 10–15% extra time for delays and extra time.
- Announce the tie-break rule before the start (points, difference, head-to-head): it avoids arguments.
- Save the tournament to a file to continue on another computer or share it with another referee.
Guide written and checked by Erwan Hautot · updated 5 November 2026.