How many matches, how long?
Enter the number of teams, pitches and the match length. The calculator works out the number of matches and how long the tournament takes, and shows a round-by-round schedule for round robin.
Updated
All teams play in one group, everyone against everyone. Whoever has the most points after all matches wins.
An estimate without a lunch break or the awards. It assumes no team plays two matches at once and all pitches are used at the same time.
Round robin schedule for 8 teams
Rounds follow Berger tables: every pair meets exactly once and no team plays twice in a round.
- Round 1
- Team 1 – Team 8
- Team 2 – Team 7
- Team 3 – Team 6
- Team 4 – Team 5
- Round 2
- Team 7 – Team 1
- Team 8 – Team 6
- Team 2 – Team 5
- Team 3 – Team 4
- Round 3
- Team 1 – Team 6
- Team 7 – Team 5
- Team 8 – Team 4
- Team 2 – Team 3
- Round 4
- Team 5 – Team 1
- Team 6 – Team 4
- Team 7 – Team 3
- Team 8 – Team 2
- Round 5
- Team 1 – Team 4
- Team 5 – Team 3
- Team 6 – Team 2
- Team 7 – Team 8
- Round 6
- Team 3 – Team 1
- Team 4 – Team 2
- Team 5 – Team 8
- Team 6 – Team 7
- Round 7
- Team 1 – Team 2
- Team 3 – Team 8
- Team 4 – Team 7
- Team 5 – Team 6
How many matches in a round robin
The number of matches is n × (n − 1) / 2, where n is the number of teams. Each team plays n − 1 matches. With an even number of teams there are n − 1 rounds; with an odd number there are n rounds and one team sits out each round.
Three worked examples
Worked out exactly like the calculator: from the first match to the end of the last, with no lunch break or awards.
How long does a round robin for 8 teams take on 2 pitches?
- 8 teams in a round robin play 28 matches, 7 per team. On 2 pitches with 10-minute matches and 5-minute breaks that is 14 slots and 3 h 25 min.
How many matches are there for 12 teams in 3 groups plus a knockout?
- 12 teams in 3 groups of 4, top 2 from each into a knockout with a third-place match: 24 matches (18 in the groups, 6 in the knockout), every team plays at least 3. On 2 pitches with 15-minute matches and 5-minute breaks it takes 3 h 55 min.
How long does a tournament for 16 teams in 4 groups take on 4 pitches?
- 16 teams in 4 groups of 4, top 2 from each into a knockout with a third-place match: 32 matches (24 in the groups, 8 in the knockout), every team plays at least 3. On 4 pitches with 15-minute matches and 5-minute breaks it takes 2 h 55 min.
Choosing a format
Up to 6 teams: round robin
Everyone plays everyone and the standings are fair. With 6 teams that's 15 matches, about eight slots on two pitches.
7 to 16 teams: groups and knockout
A full round robin would take too long. Two to four groups of 3 to 5 teams plus a knockout for the best keeps it to one day, and every team still plays at least two to four matches.
More teams or little time: knockout
The fastest format, but half the teams are out after one match. Works well as a second stage after groups, or when there are many teams and few pitches.
Let kdovede build the schedule
Add teams, pitches and times, and kdovede builds a clash-free schedule with breaks between a team's matches. Then record results from your phone and the standings update on their own.
Try it for free