How to Set Up a Round Robin

Setting up a round robin tournament is much easier than it seems. In a round robin league or tournament, each team plays against one another at least once. The format provides an equitable schedule for each team involved. The round robin format can also be used for a regular season schedule, which can reflect the most accurate seeding for a post-season tournament.

Instructions

    • 1

      Tally the number of teams participating in the event. For leagues with an even amount of teams, subtract one from the total number of teams. This will be the number of rounds in the league schedule. For events with odd-numbered participants, the number of rounds equals the number of teams with each team receiving a "bye" week.

    • 2

      Assign a number to each team participating in the event. Draw a table with the number of weeks going across the paper (i.e. week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, etc.). Underneath week 1, make a schedule for the teams (in a four team league: No. 1 vs. No. 2, No. 3 vs. No. 4).

    • 3

      Repeat the process for the other weeks. Keep the No. 1 team in the same position, and rotate the other teams counter-clockwise each week. For example, in a four team league, week two would be No. 1 vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3. Week 3 would be 1 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 2. In odd-number leagues, but "bye" in the empty space.