Round Robin (Set Partners) Walkthrough

This walkthrough covers the complete end-to-end workflow for running a Round Robin (Set Partners) event in Good Game Sports—from creating the event through pool play, and optionally adding a playoff bracket. Use this as your single reference for the entire lifecycle of this format.

What is Round Robin (Set Partners)?

Round Robin (Set Partners) is a format where teams play round robin pool matches, with the option to add a playoff bracket afterward. Teams register as fixed pairs (set partners) and keep the same partner throughout the event. In the app, you can choose either Round Robin (Set Partner) or Round Robin to Single Elimination or Round Robin to Double Elimination or Round Robin to Compass in the format dropdown.

The playoff bracket is optional. You can run the event as round robin only (pool play determines final standings), or add a knockout bracket after pool play for a playoff finish.

Key characteristics:

• Teams register as fixed pairs (set partners stay together the entire event)

• Pool play determines standings and seeds the bracket (if you add one)

• Top teams can advance to a playoff bracket (optional)

• Multiple bracket types available: single elimination, double elimination, or compass

This format works well when you want guaranteed games for all teams (via pool play) plus an optional playoff finish. It's ideal for competitive club events, fundraisers, and tournaments where seeding matters.

Step 1: Create the Event from Your Club Page

You have two paths to create a Round Robin (Set Partners) event:

Option A: Create from CourtReserve (Recommended for CourtReserve Clubs)

If your club uses CourtReserve for registrations, create the event from there so player signups stay synced automatically.

Prerequisites:

• Club owner access in Good Game Sports

• CourtReserve admin access

• CourtReserve plan with API access (Scale or Enterprise)

If CourtReserve isn't connected yet, connect CourtReserve first.

Creation steps:

1. From the Good Game Sports dashboard, go to Manage Club

2. Navigate to CourtReserve Events

3. Find your event in the list (events sync from 2 days past to 100 days future)

4. Click + Create Event on GGS next to your event

5. In the Create GGS Event dialog:

   • Event Type: Choose Tournament, League, or Single Day Event

   • Type: Choose Doubles (teams register as pairs)

   • Format: Select Round Robin (Set Partner) or Round Robin to Single Elimination (both work identically)

6. Click Create Event (or Create {number} Single Day Events for multi-session events)

The event is now linked to CourtReserve. Team registrations sync automatically—teams keep registering in CourtReserve while Good Game Sports handles the event operations.

Option B: Create Directly in Good Game Sports

If you don't use CourtReserve or prefer manual player management:

1. From the dashboard, click + Create Event

2. Fill in event details (name, dates, location)

3. Set Format to Round Robin (Set Partner) or Round Robin to Single Elimination (both work identically)

4. Choose Doubles (teams register as pairs)

5. Click Create Event

Step 2: Add or Sync Teams

Before generating pool matches, your event needs teams. Since this is a set-partners format, teams register as fixed pairs.

If Using CourtReserve

Teams sync automatically from CourtReserve registrations. To refresh manually:

1. Go to your event

2. Open the Players tab

3. Click the sync button to pull the latest registrations

For detailed syncing steps, see Sync players into an event.

If Not Using CourtReserve

Add teams manually or import from a spreadsheet:

1. Go to your event

2. Open the Players tab

3. Click + Add Players to add teams manually, or import from a spreadsheet

Adding teams from a spreadsheet: When importing from a spreadsheet, you can include both partners' names in the import file. Each row becomes a team entry with both partners already paired.

Adding partner information manually: If you add players individually, use the pencil icon next to each player to edit their profile and add partner information. This lets you specify who their partner is for the event.

For additional player management—editing contact info, ratings, or other details—use the host dashboard player management tools. You can also view and filter registered players to find specific teams quickly.

For Leagues with Multiple Play Dates

If your event is a league with multiple sessions, teams can opt in or out for specific play dates. This lets teams commit only to the dates they can attend.

• Set up your play dates first, then configure the opt-in deadline (the deadline countdown is calculated from each round date)

• Teams use Opt In / Opt Out for each session they want to join or skip

• After the deadline passes, teams will see Opt-in deadline has passed

For details, see League opt-in and Managing play dates in Round-Robin leagues.

Step 3: Generate Pool Matches and Organize Groups

Once teams are in place, generate the pool play schedule:

1. Go to the Matches tab in your event

2. Tap the Admin button

3. Select Generate Matches

You'll be walked through a few simple settings:

1. Format

Choose how many times teams play each other within their group:

• Single Round Robin – every team plays every other team once

• Double Round Robin – every team plays every other team twice

• Custom Rounds – you pick the exact number of rounds

2. Number of Groups

Split your teams into separate pools. For example, 12 teams could be divided into 2 groups of 6. If you only have one pool, just leave it at 1.

3. Pool Assignment

Only appears if you have more than 1 group.

• Random – teams are automatically and randomly distributed across groups

• Choose Pools – teams are randomly placed first, then you can drag and drop to rearrange them before play begins

4. Restrict to Courts

Only appears if courts are configured.

If you have a limited number of courts, toggle this on. The system will only schedule as many matches per round as you have courts—remaining teams get a bye that round.

After configuring your settings, click Continue, then Confirm to generate the schedule. For deeper generation options, see Generating matches in Round Robin. For full group management details, see Editing groups in Round Robin.

Step 4: Admin Tools Before Event Start

After generating pool matches, use the Admin button on the Matches tab to fine-tune your event before play begins. Here's everything you can do:

Add a Single Game

If you need to add one extra game to a round (for example, to fill a court gap or give teams an extra match):

1. Tap Admin → Add Game

2. Select the round where you want the game added

3. Choose singles or doubles

4. Select the group (if applicable)

5. The game appears in the schedule—you can assign teams manually

Add More Rounds

To extend pool play with additional rounds:

1. Tap Admin → Add Rounds

2. Choose how many rounds to add

3. Set any cross-group play options if you have multiple groups

4. Confirm to generate the new rounds

Existing matches and scores are preserved. For more options, see Managing rounds in Round Robin.

Configure Courts

Set which courts are available for your event:

1. Tap Admin → Configure Courts

2. Enter court numbers or ranges (e.g., 1-12, 15)

3. Apply to this division or entire tournament

4. Save to update available courts

Auto-Assign Courts

Let the system automatically distribute matches across your available courts:

1. Tap Admin → Auto-Assign Courts

2. Courts are distributed across all matches based on availability

3. The system continues auto-assigning as matches complete (if enabled)

For full court management details, see Court Management (Round Robin).

Organize Matches: By Round or By Date

Choose how you view and navigate the match schedule:

1. Tap Admin → Organize Matches

2. Select your preferred view:

   • By Round: Navigate matches one round at a time

   • By Date: Group all rounds that share the same date together

3. Save to apply the view

By Date is especially useful for league events with multiple sessions, letting you see all matches for a given day together.

Review Matchup Stats

The Matchup Stats button analyzes your current match schedule for quality issues—a scheduling audit tool computed directly from your matches:

1. Tap Admin → Matchup Stats

2. Review the dialog:

   • Summary line: Total unique matchups across all rounds, and how many are repeated

   • Warning list: Flagged issues sorted by severity, each with an icon, color, and description

Use this to catch duplicate matchups, uneven distribution, or other scheduling problems before pool play starts.

Clear Rounds

If you need to rebuild a specific round:

1. Tap Admin → Clear Round

2. Select the round to clear

3. Confirm—this deletes all matches and scores in that round

Step 5: Regenerate Rounds and Edit Player Groups

As your event progresses, you may need to adjust the schedule—add more pool rounds, rebuild from a certain point, or update which teams are in which groups. The Edit Rounds dialog and Edit Player Groups button give you full control.

Regenerate Rounds

Regenerate Rounds lets you redo matches from a certain point without starting over from scratch. When you tap it, you'll see up to three options depending on your situation:

Option 1: Withdraw Teams

This only appears if you've moved any teams to the "Excluded" section in Edit Groups. It removes all unplayed matches involving those excluded teams. Any matches that have already been scored are kept—nothing completed gets deleted. This is the safest option when a team drops out mid-tournament.

Option 2: Regenerate from a Specific Round

This lets you keep your earlier rounds and only redo matches from a certain round onwards. For example, if you have 5 rounds and want to redo rounds 3 through 5, you pick "Round 3" from the dropdown. Matches in rounds 1 and 2 (including their scores) stay untouched. Everything from round 3 onward gets deleted and regenerated with fresh matchups.

Option 3: Regenerate All Rounds

This deletes every round—including completed and scored matches—and creates entirely new matchups. A red warning is shown because this action cannot be undone. Use this only if you need a full reset.

Additional settings during regeneration:

• Restrict to Courts — If courts are set up, you can toggle this on so only as many matches are scheduled per round as you have courts. Extra teams get a bye that round.

• Allow Cross-Group Play (leagues only) — Lets teams play opponents from other groups.

• Round Date — Optionally set a date for all regenerated rounds.

Edit Groups

Edit Groups lets you reorganize which teams are in which pool. When you open it, you'll see all your groups laid out with team chips you can drag and drop between them.

What you see:

• Each group shows its teams as chips with the team name and their rating (DUPR, VAIR, or other detected rating system). For leagues, it also shows whether each team has opted in or opted out.

• An "Excluded" section always appears at the bottom—this is where you move teams you want to remove from play.

• A count badge in the top corner shows how many teams you've moved.

• Teams you've moved are highlighted in orange so you can track your changes.

What you can do:

• Drag and drop teams between groups to reassign them.

• Add a group using the "Add Group" button if you need an additional pool.

• Delete a group by tapping the red X on its header (minimum of 2 groups required). Teams in a deleted group are moved to Excluded.

• Exclude a team by dragging it to the Excluded section. This removes it from group play.

What happens when you save:

1. Your group changes are saved to the server.

2. The Regenerate Rounds dialog automatically opens so you can regenerate matches with the updated groups.

3. If you only excluded teams (no group reassignments), you'll get the option to simply withdraw those teams—which only removes their unplayed matches and preserves everything else.

For full group management details, see Editing groups in Round Robin.

Step 6: Enter Scores for Pool Play

As pool matches complete, enter scores to track standings and seed the playoff bracket:

1. Go to the Matches tab

2. Tap on a match card to open score entry

3. Enter the score for each game (use + to add games if playing best-of series)

4. Click Submit Score

Players can also enter their own scores through the app in some configurations. Standings update automatically as scores are entered. For full scoring details, see Scoring matches in Round Robin.

Step 7: Generate the Playoff Bracket

The playoff bracket is optional. If you're happy ending the event after pool play, you can skip this step entirely—final standings from round robin determine your winners.

If you do want a playoff finish, you can choose from three bracket types:

Single Elimination

Top teams advance to a single-elimination bracket where one loss eliminates a team. The bracket seeds from pool standings, so higher seeds play lower seeds in the first round.

Double Elimination

Top teams advance to a double-elimination bracket where teams must lose twice to be eliminated. Losers drop to a consolation bracket and can still play for the championship. This gives teams more guaranteed games.

Compass

Top teams advance to a Compass Draw with four cascading brackets. Every team is guaranteed at least 3 games, and teams that lose drop to the next bracket rather than being eliminated. Great for ensuring all teams get plenty of play.

For details on each bracket type, see Bracket formats overview.

How to Generate the Bracket

1. Open the Knockout tab for your division

2. Tap the Admin button

3. Select Generate Bracket

4. Review the completion warning if any pool matches are still unscored

5. Choose how teams should advance:

   • Finals + Third Place Only: Top 4 teams overall play semifinals, final, and third-place match (single elimination only)

   • Pick Number of Teams Per Group: Same number of teams advance from each group (e.g., top 2 from each group)

   • Pick Total Number of Teams: Best teams overall advance, regardless of group distribution

   • Pick All Teams: Every team enters the bracket (size rounds up to next power of 2)

6. Confirm to generate the bracket

The bracket uses standard tournament seeding: highest seed plays lowest seed, second-highest plays next-lowest, and the two best seeds can only meet in the final. For full bracket generation details, see Generating the bracket after Round Robin. For seeding and bye rules, see How seeding and byes work in bracket formats.

Step 8: Run the Bracket and Enter Scores

Once the bracket is generated, run the playoff:

1. Go to the Knockout tab to view the bracket

2. Tap a match card to enter scores

3. Enter the score and submit

4. Winners automatically advance to the next round

As matches complete, the bracket updates in real time. In single elimination, one loss eliminates a team. In double elimination and compass formats, teams get more chances before being eliminated. The bracket continues until a champion is crowned.

Third-Place Match

If your bracket includes two real semifinals (no byes in those matchups), a bronze match is created automatically between the semifinal losers. You can score it or leave it unscored—it doesn't block the final.

Byes in the Bracket

If the number of qualifying teams isn't a power of 2 (4, 8, 16, 32), byes are added automatically. Teams with byes advance to their first real match without manual scoring.

Clear and Regenerate the Bracket

If you need to adjust advancing teams or change bracket options:

1. Open Admin on the Knockout tab

2. Select Clear Knockout Bracket

3. Confirm—this removes all bracket matches (pool play scores stay intact)

4. Use Generate Bracket again with new settings

What's Next

• Round Robin formats overview — compare with other round robin options

• Bracket formats overview — understand single and double elimination brackets

• Create a GGS event from a CourtReserve event — detailed CourtReserve creation

• How seeding and byes work in bracket formats — bracket seeding rules

• How Standings Are Calculated — tiebreakers and standings rules

• Viewing Final Placements — see final results after the event