A school tournament for 12 classes in 4 lessons
A school tournament for 12 classes fits into two gyms or two courts within four lessons: three groups of four, 8-minute matches and play-offs for the top two of each group make 24 matches and 1 h 58 min of play. kdovede builds the schedule, works out the standings and shows them on the gym projector and on parents' phones.
Updated
Scenario: 12 classes, 2 courts, 4 lessons
Four lessons are 180 minutes, a little more with breaks. Take off a quarter of an hour for assembly and a quarter of an hour for the awards, and roughly two and a half hours of play remain. A 8-minute match with 2 minutes to swap teams gives a 10-minute slot; in two gyms two matches run at once.
| Format | Matches | Per team | Duration | Within 4 lessons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round robin, 12 classes in one table11 matches per class, no final | 66 | 11 | 5 h 28 min | Does not fit |
| 2 groups of 6, semi-finals, third place and finalTop 2 of each group go through | 34 | 5 | 2 h 48 min | Tight |
| 3 groups of 4, play-offs for the best sixTop 2 of each group go through; group winners skip the first round | 24 | 3 | 1 h 58 min | Fits |
Round robin does not come close: 66 matches take 5 h 28 min. Two groups of six with play-offs (34 matches, 2 h 48 min) fit with no margin. Three groups of four with play-offs for the top two (24 matches, 1 h 58 min) leave time for assembly, awards and one delay. Other numbers are a moment's work in the tournament calculator.
Recommended format: groups and finals
Three groups of four mean every class plays at least 3 matches, even if it finishes last in its group. For a school tournament that matters more than the perfect fairness of a bracket: nobody is done after one match. The schedule for 4 teams has 3 rounds of 2 matches, so the groups alternate neatly between two gyms.
Six teams go through: the group winners skip the first play-off round, the runners-up play for a place among them. Then come the semi-finals, the third-place match and the final. If time is short, let only the group winners through and play a final round-robin group for places 1 to 3; kdovede supports final groups seeded by group position.
On equal points, head-to-head counts first and then goal difference; the exact order and a sample rule for the regulations are in the tie-breakers guide. Short matches often end in draws, so plan penalties or shoot-outs only for the play-offs.
Checklist for teachers
- Entering classes: a list of names (6A, 6B…) is enough, player rosters are not needed. Add a class colour or logo only if you want to.
- Referees: older pupils or pupils who are not playing at that moment. One per court, plus a scorer with a phone.
- Table on the projector: the hall screen is the tournament page for a TV or projector. It cycles through live matches, upcoming matches and standings; nothing needs installing.
- Parents and pupils on their phones: the tournament page opens from a QR code with no account and no app. Anyone can follow their class as their team in the app.
- Printing: the schedule by court and time on the gym door, a poster with a QR code on the noticeboard.
- Awards: the final order is calculated automatically; add awards such as best player or fair play and reveal them one by one on the projector.
- Connection: without wifi, mobile data is enough. Recording scores needs a connection; without one you add the score once you are back online.
What to use kdovede for and how
Account and preparation are free
Create an account by e-mail or with Google, enter the classes, two courts and a playing session that follows the timetable, and let the schedule build itself. Everything before publishing is free, including a preview of the tournament page.
Publishing is paid
You pay once per tournament, only when you release the page, the screen and the QR poster. A school with tournaments all year can take a Club Season. Prices are on the pricing page; the invoice can be made out to the school.
Scoring from a phone
Colleagues you invite into the school's account record scores, each on their own court. Standings, progression and the bracket update immediately.
Screen and messages
The projector shows live scores and standings; messages from the organiser announce a delayed start or the awards to parents in the app too.
School FAQ
Do pupils and parents need an account or an app?
- No. The tournament page opens in a browser from a QR code or a link. The iPhone and Android app is an extra for those who want to follow their class and receive messages from the organiser.
How do I run categories, say lower and upper school?
- Create a separate tournament for each category; enter the courts and playing sessions in each. Categories then have their own standings, bracket and page, and you switch between them on the projector.
What if a group match ends in a draw?
- In the group a draw is worth a point; in the play-offs penalties or a shoot-out decide, depending on the sport. On equal points, head-to-head counts first and then goal difference.
What does it cost the school?
- Preparation costs nothing. You pay only to publish a single tournament, or for an annual Club Season if the school runs tournaments repeatedly. Prices are on the pricing page.
Can we manage without a printer and without wifi?
- Yes. The schedule and standings are on the projector and on phones; printing is only a supplement. Recording scores needs a connection, and mobile data is enough.
Set up a school tournament
Classes, two courts and the timetable take a few minutes to enter. Preparation is free; you pay only to publish.
Try it for free