A round robin tournament is one where every entrant plays every other entrant. This round robin generator builds the full round robin schedule from your list, round by round, and adds a results grid you can print and fill in. It suits a pickleball round robin, a tennis or table tennis club night, a chess club, or any group that wants everyone to get plenty of games.
How the schedule is built
The generator uses the circle method. Picture the entrants in two rows facing each other. One entrant stays fixed while the others rotate one step around the circle after each round. Every rotation produces a fresh set of pairings, and after enough rotations everyone has met everyone once. With 6 players, round one pairs 1 with 6, 2 with 5, and 3 with 4, and the later rounds come from the rotation.
Games in total are n times (n minus 1), divided by 2. With an even number of entrants there are n minus 1 rounds and everybody plays every round.
| Players | Rounds | Games per round | Total games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| 8 | 7 | 4 | 28 |
| 10 | 9 | 5 | 45 |
| 12 | 11 | 6 | 66 |
Odd numbers and byes
With an odd number of players, someone has to sit out each round. There are n rounds, and one entrant has a bye in each. The schedule shows this as a "Sits out" line under the round. Five players, for example, play 5 rounds of 2 games, and every player rests exactly once.
Single or double round robin
A double round robin plays every pairing twice, with home and away swapped. It doubles both the rounds and the games, so 6 players would play 10 rounds and 30 games. Use it when you have plenty of time or when the home advantage matters, such as a side with a better court.
Courts and fields
Enter the number of courts, from 1 to 16, and each round's games are labeled Court 1, Court 2, and so on. If a round has more games than courts, the games are split into waves. Eight players on 2 courts play four games per round, so each round runs as two waves. For pickleball, tennis, or table tennis, this saves the organizer from re-reading the sheet every ten minutes.
Agree on tiebreakers first
Ties on wins are common, so decide the tiebreakers before the first game. Typical choices are head-to-head result, then point difference, then points scored. Write them on the sheet so nobody argues later. The wins and losses column on the printout makes final standings quick to total.
Using the printed schedule
The printout lists each round with its games, the court for each game, and the player who sits out when the count is odd. Below it is a crosstable: a grid with every entrant down the side and across the top, so you can write each score where the two players meet. A wins and losses column at the end makes the standings quick to total. Hang the sheet where players can check their next opponent, and cross off each round as it finishes. The schedule is saved in this browser, and Copy link reopens the same schedule on another device.
Round robin or bracket?
Pick round robin for small groups where everyone should play a lot. Past 10 or 12 players the game count climbs quickly, since 12 players need 66 games. For larger fields, or when you need a result in one afternoon, a single elimination bracket is faster. You can also open the bracket maker to build the knockout stage that follows.
Frequently asked questions
What is a round robin tournament?
It is a format where every entrant plays every other entrant once. The winner is usually the entrant with the most wins. It gives everyone the same number of games, apart from byes when the count is odd.
How many games are in a round robin?
The total is n times (n minus 1) divided by 2. Eight players play 28 games, and ten players play 45.
What happens with an odd number of players?
One player sits out each round, which is shown as a Sits out line. With 5 players there are 5 rounds of 2 games, and each player rests once.
How do I schedule a pickleball round robin?
Enter the players, set the number of courts, and the generator labels each game with a court. If there are more games than courts in a round, they are split into waves.
What is a double round robin?
A double round robin plays every pairing twice, with home and away swapped. That doubles the rounds and the total games.
Can I print the schedule and a results sheet?
Yes. Use Print / Save PDF for landscape pages with the schedule, then a blank results grid with a wins and losses column on its own page. Copy link shares the same schedule.
Is the random order fair?
The Random option shuffles your names with your browser's cryptographic random number generator before the schedule is built. Each shuffle gives a new order.