The formulas
Each team plays every other team exactly once. The total is the number of unordered pairs, which is n choose 2. An odd field needs one extra round because one team sits out each round.
Quick reference
| Teams | Rounds | Matches per round | Total matches | Matches per team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 5 |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 6 |
| 8 | 7 | 4 | 28 | 7 |
| 9 | 9 | 4 | 36 | 8 |
| 10 | 9 | 5 | 45 | 9 |
The circle method
The circle method builds the schedule without repeats:
- Fix team 1 in place.
- Arrange the other teams around it.
- Pair the top half of the list with the bottom half.
- Rotate the non-fixed teams one position each round.
- Repeat for n − 1 rounds (even field) or n rounds (odd field).
With an odd field, add a dummy “bye” entry so the list is even. Whichever team is paired with the dummy sits out that round.
Worked example: 6 teams
Using the circle method with teams 1–6:
| Round | Matches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4 |
| 2 | 1 v 5, 6 v 4, 2 v 3 |
| 3 | 1 v 4, 5 v 3, 6 v 2 |
| 4 | 1 v 3, 4 v 2, 5 v 6 |
| 5 | 1 v 2, 3 v 6, 4 v 5 |
Every pair appears once. There are 5 rounds × 3 matches = 15 matches, and each team plays 5 games.
Odd field example: 5 teams
Five teams need 5 rounds. Each round has 2 matches and one bye. The total is 10 matches, and each team plays 4 games.
Time estimate
If one match takes m minutes and only one match runs at a time, the wall-clock estimate is:
With c courts running in parallel, divide by c (assuming matches can be distributed evenly). The TourneyDraw schedule generator uses the one-match-at-a-time estimate and lets you change the minutes per match.
Standings and tiebreaks
A basic round robin table tracks wins and losses. The TourneyDraw standings sort by wins, then fewest losses, then seed. It does not impose a points system or head-to-head rule; use your league's rules if you need those tiebreaks.