Organising tournaments
How many players, courts and hours you actually need
Every tournament that overruns was planned with optimism instead of arithmetic. Here is the arithmetic — it takes about two minutes.
There is one formula behind every tournament schedule that has ever worked, and it fits on a napkin: total matches ÷ courts × match length = time needed. Everything below is just how to fill in those three numbers.
Step 1: how many matches does your format create?
| Format | Matches | Example with 16 players |
|---|---|---|
| Americano / Mexicano | Rounds × (players ÷ 4) | 7 rounds = 28 matches |
| Round robin, n pairs | n × (n − 1) ÷ 2 | 8 pairs = 28 matches |
| Groups of 4, then knockout | 6 per group + bracket | 4 groups = 24 + 7 = 31 |
| Straight knockout, n pairs | n − 1 | 8 pairs = 7 matches |
Step 2: how long is a match, honestly?
- Americano round to 16 points — 15 to 20 minutes.
- Americano round to 24 points — 22 to 28 minutes.
- One set with a tiebreak — 35 to 45 minutes in padel, 40 to 55 in tennis.
- Best of three short sets — an hour or more. Only schedule these for finals.
Step 3: put it together
Sixteen players, two courts, Americano, seven rounds to 16 points. That is 28 matches, but two run at once, so 14 slots of about 20 minutes plus changeovers — roughly two hours and forty minutes. Comfortable for an afternoon.
Same sixteen players as eight pairs in groups plus knockout: 31 matches at 35 minutes across two courts is over nine hours. Not a chance. Either shorten the matches, add courts, or split the event across two days.
Quick reference
| Players | Courts | Format | Realistic duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1 | Americano, 7 rounds | 2h 30m |
| 12 | 2 | Mexicano, 6 rounds | 2h |
| 16 | 2 | Americano, 7 rounds | 2h 40m |
| 16 | 2 | Groups of 4 + semis | 4h 30m |
| 24 | 3 | Mexicano, 6 rounds | 2h 30m |
| 32 | 4 | Groups + knockout | 5h |
The two mistakes everyone makes
Inviting first and counting later. Post the format and the finish time in the same message as the invitation. People plan their day around it.
Assuming courts are free all afternoon. Book one extra half-hour at the end. It costs almost nothing and it is the difference between a relaxed final and a rushed one. When you are ready to build it, the step-by-step guide covers the rest of the day.
Frequently asked questions
How many courts do I need for 16 players?
Two is comfortable for an Americano or Mexicano and finishes in under three hours. One court works but roughly doubles the day.
How long should a tournament match be?
For social formats, 15 to 25 minutes per round keeps the energy up. Save full sets for the knockout stage or the final.
What is the maximum number of players for one afternoon?
About eight players per court if you want everyone to play a lot. Four courts and 32 players is a full but very doable day.