How to Create a Round-Robin Schedule

Round-robin tournaments are designed so that each team or individual plays every other team or individual in the tournament once. This lets entrants play in many more matches than they would in single-elimination tournaments. Round-robin systems also reduce the role of luck. Many English and continental European soccer championships use round-robin setups. Making a round-robin schedule, though, is trickier than designing a single-elimination tournament bracket.

Instructions

  1. Create a Round-Robin Schedule By Hand

    • 1

      Determine the number of matches or games you will need for each team to play every other team. Use the simple formula n(n-1)/2, where “n” equals the number of teams in the tournament. If you have 14 teams, for instance, multiply 14 by 13 and divide by two. You'll need 91 matches to complete the tournament. If you have an odd number of teams, add a “ghost” team. When a team is scheduled to play the ghost team, it'll get a “bye.” You will need n-1 rounds to complete the tournament. With 14 teams, you will have 13 rounds with seven games each. These games can all take place at the same time if you have sufficient facilities.

    • 2

      Determine the opponents for each round. Write the numbers one through n (number of teams) in two equal rows, with the numbers increasing in order in the first row, then decreasing in the second. So, if you have 14 teams, you'll list the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the first row, and 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, and 8 in the second. Include a number for your ghost team to make an even number of teams if necessary. Pair the teams that line up with each other: 1 and 14, 2 and 13, 3 and 12; and so on.

    • 3

      Pair up teams for the remaining rounds by keeping the number 1 fixed and rotating the rest of the numbers one step over in a clockwise direction. In the second round, your two rows will read: 1, 14, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the first row, and 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7 in the second row. Pair teams the same way you did in the first round. Now you'll have 1 and 13, 14 and 12, 2 and 11, and so on. Continue rotating the numbers in a clockwise direction into you return almost to the original formation. You will have scheduled each team’s opponent for every round.

    Create a Round-Robin Schedule Using Online Tools

    • 4

      Go to an online round-robin scheduler, such as that at teamopolis.com.

    • 5

      Enter your tournament’s name and select “Round Robin” or “Double Round Robin.” In a Double Round Robin, each team plays each other team twice.

    • 6

      Enter the number of teams entering your tournament, and, if you wish, their names and locations.

    • 7

      Click “Generate” to create your tournament schedule.