Which tournament format should you choose?
League (round robin)
Every team plays every other team once. It’s the fairest format, but the number of matches climbs fast: 6 teams = 15 matches, 8 teams = 28 matches. Ideal for up to 6 or 8 teams.
Groups then knockout stage
Teams are split into groups that play a round robin, then the best of each group meet in a knockout stage. It’s the classic format for football, basketball or pétanque tournaments with 8, 12 or 16 teams.
Single elimination (knockout)
The loser of each match is out: quick, but some teams may only play once. If the number of teams isn’t a power of 2 (4, 8, 16…), some teams get a bye in the first round.
How are ties broken?
Teams are ranked on points (win 3, draw 1, loss 0 by default), then goal (or point) difference, then goals scored.
Frequently asked questions
How many groups for 12 teams?
3 groups of 4 or 4 groups of 3. With 2 teams qualifying per group, you get quarter-finals or semi-finals.
Does it work for pétanque or padel?
Yes, for any sport or game: untick “draw possible” if your sport has no draws.
Where are the scores saved?
Only in your browser. You’ll find your tournament again when you come back to the page on the same device.
See also : Round robin · Knockout
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