Generate a team knockout bracket

Use the team knockout bracket when you want to turn an MLP or team division into a seeded elimination bracket. This bracket uses a separate team-specific system from the regular knockout bracket, so the setup options are simpler and the bracket stores each team’s full lineup for every position.

Generate the bracket

1. Open the division in the Admin view.

2. Open the Admin menu.

3. Click Generate Bracket.

4. Enter how many teams to include. You must enter at least 2 teams, and you cannot exceed the total number of parent teams in the division.

5. Choose a seeding method.

6. Review the bracket size preview. If the team count is not a power of 2, the app adds byes to the next bracket size.

7. Generate the bracket.

For example, entering 3 teams creates a 4-team bracket with 1 bye.

Choose a seeding method

The dialog includes two seeding options:

• By standings: Seeds teams from the current division standings. The app uses the division’s sort preferences and tiebreakers to rank teams, then gives the highest seed the easiest path.

• Random order: Places teams in the order they were created. This label says random, but the current behavior follows creation order rather than true randomization.

If you need to understand how standings are built before seeding, review How team standings work.

What the system creates

When you generate the bracket, the system loads all parent teams and their lineup data before it builds the bracket. It checks the latest available round match data so each bracket slot uses the most recent lineup for that team.

• Selects and orders teams based on your seeding choice

• Pads the bracket to the next power of 2 with byes

• Uses standard bracket seed placement to keep top seeds apart

• Auto-advances bye matches through the bracket

• Adds a bronze match when the bracket has a semifinal round

• Creates the team knockout match records that store the parent team, team name, and lineup for each line

This is different from the regular knockout bracket used in pool play and league formats. For regular bracket behavior, see Generating the bracket after Round Robin and How seeding and byes work in bracket formats.

Current limitations

• No group separation logic to avoid same-group first-round matchups

• No pool play completion warning before generation

• No finals-only option for creating only gold and bronze matches

• No UI option to pick teams per group, even though the backend supports it

• No extra admin tools in the team knockout menu beyond Generate Bracket

• No confirmation before replacing an existing team knockout bracket

If you need to adjust team pairings or lineups before you generate the bracket, use Edit team matchups and Edit team lineups by round. To understand when to use this format, see MLP vs. Custom Team Event.