How to Play Tournament Brackets

Competition is the goal of any team or individual participating in a tournament. To format and play tournament brackets is a skill that takes some practice and some calculated outcomes. Well-thought-out tournament brackets provide good competition that is fair to all participants. Tournament organizers must decide on the tournament style, seed the teams or participants appropriately, and provide an adequate number of games for all participants. Some simple considerations can make the tournament a success whether a team is championship caliber or just in need of experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Marking Pen
Show More

Instructions

  1. Selecting Tournament Format

    • 1

      Choose a single elimination format when the participants have been seeded (ranked) from previous won/loss records and the goal is to declare a champion quickly. This works well in contact sports or league championship quests.

    • 2

      Choose a double elimination tournament when there are many participants of different abilities and the ultimate goal is to determine the best team through the tournament itself. This works well in tennis, basketball, and other non-contact sports or individual play.

    • 3

      Choose a round robin format when the goal of the tournament is to play as many competitions as possible. This is used in pre-season tournaments or "play days." The goal is for each participant to play every other participant at least once.

    Seeding the Tournament

    • 4

      Seed the tournament. Seed is another word for rank. Regardless of the format chosen, the brackets need to be seeded to insure the two best participants do not meet in the first competion. The ultimate goal is to have the two best meet in the finals.

    • 5

      Compare win/loss records. This can be for a specified length of time during the year or won/loss records in the tournament. The two best records would be ranked one and two, the next best would be ranked three and four and so forth.

    • 6

      Place the one and two seeds at opposite ends of the tournament. One takes the top line of the top bracket, two takes the bottom line of the bottom bracket. Three takes the top line of the bottom bracket. Four takes the bottom line of the top bracket. Continue seeding and placing teams in this alternating manner.

    Provide Adequate Number of Competitions

    • 7

      Organize the tournament to provide an adequate number of competitions. Double elimination tournaments accomplish this. Double elimination means you must loose twice to be eliminated. This works if there are eight or 16 participants. It insures that all compete at least twice, and can compete more by winning.

    • 8

      Schedule a round robin format. Every one will compete against everyone else at least once. The won/loss record can then be used to seed a single elimination finals tournament.This works well if there are less than eight participants.

    • 9

      Establish pool play. Divide the participants into smaller groups, possibly four in each group. Every one will compete against everyone else in their pool. Pool records will be used to seed a double elimination tournament. This works well if there is more than 16 participants.