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Can I run a tournament without the Tournament module? (brackets and pool play with Standard divisions)

  • Updated

Yes, with Standard divisions. Without the Tournament module you can't add a Tournament division, which keeps pools and brackets together, and a bracket's # of Playoff Teams stops at 16. You can still run a bracket-only tournament in one division with manual seeding, or put each pool in its own division and seed a bracket division from them with Manual Across Divisions.

Applies to: Admins and schedulers · All plans (the Tournament module is a paid add-on) · Standard divisions

Where: Schedules > Leagues & Divisions > Add Division, then the division's 1 Configuration > Scheduling, 2 Teams, 3 Time Slots and 4 Create Schedule pages

What the Tournament module adds

Feature Without the Tournament module With it
Tournament division type: pools, Pool Play games, pool standings and brackets seeded from pool places, all in one division Grayed out on Add Division Available
Playoff Type Single Elimination No Consolation, Single Elimination With Semi-Final Consolation, Double Elimination, Best Match - Single Game and Manual Also Single Elimination With Consolation, 2 Game Guarantee, 3 Game Guarantee and Position Rounds
# of Playoff Teams Up to 16. With Playoff Type Manual you add the games yourself, for any number of teams. Up to 32 for single and double elimination, 24 for Single Elimination With Consolation, 26 for 3 Game Guarantee, 20 for Position Rounds, and 48 for Best Match - Single Game; 2 Game Guarantee stays at 16
A regular-season schedule for more than 20 teams Needs the Enhanced, Elite or Enterprise plan Available on any plan
Team Registration Auto Placement: Create new Tournament Division Not offered (Create new Division is) Available

Option 1: A bracket-only tournament in one division

  1. Go to Schedules > Leagues & Divisions and click Add Division. Leave Division Type at Standard, choose the League, fill in the division's name and details, and click Add.
  2. Click the division's Edit Division icon (pencil). Its 1 Configuration > Scheduling page opens.
  3. Under Division Schedule Types, uncheck Regular and check Playoff.
  4. Set Day of First Game to the tournament's first day.
  5. Under Playoff Configurations, choose the Playoff Type and # of Playoff Teams, set Playoff Seed Method to Manual, and click Save.
  6. Add the teams on 2 Teams, and add the game times and fields on 3 Time Slots: at least half as many time slots as # of Playoff Teams.
  7. On 4 Create Schedule > Playoff, click Create. Pick a team for each first-round spot in the Home and Away lists, set each game's Week and Time Slot, and click Calc & Save.

What you'll see: saving 1 Configuration shows "Division configuration updated." with a warning that the Regular Schedule was unchecked. That's expected for a bracket-only division. TeamSideline places the rounds a week apart; to play the bracket in one weekend, move later rounds into the first round's week in later time slots, or use Edit Game in a game's menu to set its day, time and location.

Option 2: Pool play, then a bracket

  1. Use one league for the tournament, and add one Standard division per pool, such as Pool A and Pool B.
  2. Add each pool's teams on its 2 Teams page.
  3. Build each pool's games as that division's regular schedule on 4 Create Schedule. You can also add games one at a time with Add Game, or import games you built elsewhere with Administration > Import Data > Division Schedule Import.
  4. Add one more Standard division for the bracket and set it up as in Option 1, but choose Manual Across Divisions as the Playoff Seed Method. The bracket division doesn't need teams of its own.
  5. On the bracket division's 4 Create Schedule > Playoff, click Create. You can leave the first-round spots at TBD until pool play is scored.
  6. When the pools are done, check each pool division's standings, pick the teams in the first-round Home and Away lists, and click Calc & Save. The lists show every team in your organization's active leagues for the same sport, with its division, league and season.

Bigger fields without the module

  • Run two brackets in one division, such as a gold and a silver bracket, by also checking 2nd Playoff (Enhanced, Elite and Enterprise plans). Each bracket has its own type, team count and seeding.
  • Choose Playoff Type Manual and add every game yourself with Add Game. There's no team limit and no bracket diagram.
  • Split the teams into pool divisions (Option 2) so the bracket stays at 16 teams or fewer.

If it doesn't work

  • Tournament is grayed out in Division Type, with "Disabled options are part of an upgraded package." Your organization doesn't have the Tournament module. Use Standard divisions as above, or ask TeamSideline about adding the module.
  • "You must select Playoff or Practice without a Regular season." Check Playoff when you uncheck Regular.
  • "Review Day of First Game: a valid start date is required." Set Day of First Game, then Save.
  • The # of Playoff Teams list stops at 16, or the Playoff Type you want isn't listed. Those need the Tournament module. See Bigger fields without the module.
  • There's no Create button on 4 Create Schedule > Playoff. The Important Note on the page says what's missing. With manual seeding, check that a Playoff Type is chosen and that 3 Time Slots has at least half as many time slots as # of Playoff Teams. Playoff Type Manual also needs two teams on 2 Teams.
  • A regular schedule for more than 20 teams won't create, and the page says it needs the Tournament module or an upgrade. Split the teams into pools, import the schedule, or build a manual schedule.

Good to know

  • Manual Across Divisions doesn't read the pool standings for you: you choose the bracket teams yourself, so agree on your seeding rules first.
  • A new division is hidden on your public site. After you build its games, click the division's red eye icon on Leagues & Divisions to show it.
  • For a tournament that teams register and pay for, a Team Registration program can place teams straight into a new Standard division with Auto Placement's Create new Division.
  • With the Tournament module, one Tournament division holds the pools, Pool Play games and brackets, and a bracket seeded By Standings fills in from pool places such as 1st (A).

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