1. Tournament Organization
Because there are different types of tournaments, it is important to familiarize yourself with the proper techniques for organizing tournament draws and brackets.

2. Tournament Organization
Three tournament types that are often used in high school intramural and inter-school competitions are:
Round robin
Elimination
Challenge
The format you select will depend on several factors:
The type of activity/game
The number of teams or players
The amount of time available
The facilities available
The equipment available

3. Round-Robin Tournaments
Each player or team gets to play every other player or team at least once
When to Use
If sufficient time and facilities are available
If the number of competitors is small
If you want to determine a true winner as well as rank the other contestants in the best possible manner

4. Round-Robin Tournaments: Procedures
Step 1
Assign numbers to the teams that have entered the tournament
Rotate the numbers counter-clockwise around one number that remains fixed (#1)
The formula for determining the total number of games to be played in a round-robin tournament is N(N – 1) / 2, with N representing the number of teams or participating units in the tournament
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
1 vs. 8
1 vs. 7
1 vs. 6
1 vs. 5
1 vs. 3
1 vs. 2
2 vs. 7
8 vs. 6
7 vs. 5
6 vs. 4
5 vs. 3
4 vs. 2
3 vs. 8
3 vs. 6
2 vs. 5
8 vs. 4
7 vs. 3
6 vs. 2
5 vs. 8
4 vs. 7
4 vs. 5
3 vs. 4
2 vs. 3
8 vs. 2
7 vs. 8
6 vs. 7
5 vs. 6

5. Round-Robin Tournaments: Procedures
Step 2
Draw up a schedule of the time and place for each game to be played
All round-one games take place at 9:00 a.m.
All round-two games take place at 10:00 a.m., and so on
Notice that all the teams are placed on different courts as the tournament progresses
ROUND
TIME
COURT A
COURT B
COURT C
COURT D 1
9:00
1 vs. 8
2 vs. 7
3 vs. 6
4 vs. 5 2
10:00
3 vs. 4
1 vs. 7
8 vs. 6
2 vs. 5 3
11:00
7 vs. 5
8 vs. 4
2 vs. 3
1 vs. 6 4
1:00
6 vs. 4
8 vs. 2
1 vs. 5
7 vs. 3 5
2:00
6 vs. 2
5 vs. 3
1 vs. 4
7 vs. 8 6
3:00
1 vs. 3
6 vs. 7
4 vs. 2
5 vs. 8 7
4:00
3 vs. 8
5 vs. 6
4 vs. 7
1 vs. 2

6. Round-Robin Tournaments: Procedures
Step 3
Draw up and post the tournament score sheet
Note 1: The number of squares on one half of the sheet equals the number of games played in the tournament
Note 2: Game results must be entered in two places (i.e., for each team playing the game). Example: In the first round, 1 beats 8. A W is placed on team one’s line under column 8, and an L is placed on team eight’s line in column 1. Alternatively, actual final scores may be entered (e.g., for team one and for team eight)
TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Points
Place W L

7. Round-Robin Tournaments: Procedures
Tie-breaking strategies:
Number of wins in all games played
Head-to-head win record
Point spread of head-to-toe games
Total point spread over all games played
Play another short game
Coin toss

8. Advantages and Disadvantages of the round-robin tournament
· All teams get to play to the end of the tournament.
· All teams play an equal number of games.
· It’s the fairest way to determine a champion.
· All teams are ranked at the end of the tournament.
· It permits continuous play with maximum use of facilities.
Disadvantages
· Time consuming, especially if there are many teams or limited facilities.
· Can result in ties, necessitating tie-breaking procedures.
· More facilities are required.

9. Elimination Tournaments
Single-elimination tournaments
Consolation tournaments
Modified double-elimination tournaments

10. Single-Elimination Tournaments
Emphasizes the elimination
Half the competitors are eliminated after the first contest
Often the least desirable
When to Use This Type of Tournament
If you have limited time and facilities
If you have many participants
If the goal is to determine one champion only

11. Single-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures
Determine whether the number of entries is an even power of 2
If so, proceed by drawing for position
Winning teams advance to the next round
Half of the teams are eliminated after the first round
Single-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures

12. Single-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures
BYES
If the number of teams entered is not a power of 2
All “free matches” must be placed in the first round
Number of contestants for the second round is an even power of 2
Even number of byes - place half in the top and half in the bottom
Odd number of byes - put the larger number in the
bottom half
Awarded on the basis of a random draw or seeding

13. Single-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures
SEEDING
Keeps the best players/teams from meeting until the end
Prevents top players from being eliminated early
Two top players are placed one at the top and the other at the bottom
Other high players are placed towards the middle and evenly spaced

14. Single Elimination Tournament for 13 Teams with 4 Seeded Entries
The top 3 seeded players have a bye in the first round
No team receives more than one bye
Single Elimination Tournament for 13 Teams with 4 Seeded Entries

15. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Single-Elimination Tournament
· It takes a short time to determine a champion.
· It is a good option when facilities are limited.
· It is suitable for a large number of entries.
· It is easy to organize.
Disadvantages
· The eventual winner is not always the best entrant.
· The defeated finalist is not always second best.
· Teams/players who could benefit most from more playing experience don’t get the opportunity to play.
· Except for the first game, players don’t know their game times.
· It does not provide much competition for some teams.

16. Consolation Tournaments
No teams are eliminated in the first round
1st-round winners move towards the right side and play other winners
1st-round losers move towards the left side and play other 1st-round losers
Half the teams are eliminated in the second round
From the second round on, a loss eliminates the team
Champion and a consolation champion are determined
Consolation Tournaments

17. Consolation Tournaments: Procedures
All losers in the 1st round (as well as those who lose in the 2nd round after receiving a 1st round bye) play single-elimination tournament
When to Use
When adequate time and facilities are available
When teams or players have to travel long distances
Consolation Tournaments: Procedures

18. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Consolation Elimination Tournament
Each entry plays at least twice before elimination.
A strong entry eliminated by the champion early in the tournament may continue.
It generates greater player interest.
Disadvantages
Running the tournament is more time consuming.
A first-round loss eliminates the opportunity to play in the tournament championship game.
More games are involved, causing a potential space problem when there is a large number of entries.
Except for the first game, teams don’t know their game times.

19. Modified Double-Elimination Tournaments
Each entry is assured of playing at least two contests
1st-round loss does not lead to elimination
Results in the selection of a more deserving winner
When to Use
If you have a more time or not enough entries for single-elimination
If teams have traveled a great distance

20. Modified Double-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures
After the first round, half the winning & losing teams move to the right and half to the left
Second-round game puts winning team against team with one loss
Teams losing in the second and subsequent rounds are eliminated
The championship game is played between the last remaining teams on the right and left sides
Modified Double-Elimination Tournaments: Procedures

21. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Modified Double-Elimination Tournament
A player or team is guaranteed two games.
A team that gets off to a slow start is not immediately eliminated
It determines the most deserving winner. The final could be between two undefeated teams or between an undefeated team and a team that had one loss in the first round.
Disadvantages
Except for the first game, teams don’t know their game times.
The tournament takes longer to run than a single-elimination tournament.
It emphasizes elimination.

22. Challenge Tournaments
Carried out by the players independently
Many varieties:
Ladder
Target
Spiderweb
Pyramid
When to Use This Type of Tournament
Singles or doubles
Competitions that:
Have no set schedule
Run over a lengthy time period
Involve any number of players

23. Challenge Tournaments: Ladder Procedures
Place contestants’ names on cards
Draw the cards out of a hat
Placing cards in the order drawn from the top

24. Challenge Tournaments: Procedures
Once the ladder has been set up, the following rules govern the play:
A standard criterion defines a win
Players advance by challenging and defeating a competitor or by default
A competitor can challenge players only one or two places above
If a challenger wins, he or she trades card positions
Challenges must be played in the order they are made
Recent contestants cannot play each other until >1 game later
A defender must play within three days or default
The player at the top at the end of a specified time period is the winner

25. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Ladder Challenge Tournament
· Competition can be carried out independently by the entrants without the presence of the tournament director or sports administrator.
· It affords competition between contestants of near-equal ability.
· No one is eliminated, thus play is continuous for all contestants.
Disadvantages
· Over a period of time, players often end up competing against the same people.
· Over a period of time, it can become less exciting.

26. Challenge Tournament Examples

27. Pyramid Legion Darts Tournament
· Challenge anyone one or two levels above you. If you win, trade places.
· Play your way to the top of the pyramid!
· Prize: Free round for you and 10 friends
· Final day: May 1

28. Spiderweb Arm Wrestling Tournament
· Challenge anyone closer to the centre of the web.
· Bouts must be performed at the special table at the bar and must be witnessed.
· Winner’s name will be engraved on a plaque.
· Time limit: June 1

29. Target Squash Tournament
· Sign up by Wednesday, April 7.
· Challenge anyone one ring closer to the bull’s-eye.
· Prize: A Two Brothers’ $40 gift certificate
· Closing date: April 30, 9:00 p.m.