> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podplay.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podplay.app/pro-system/tournaments.md).
# Tournaments
### Overview
PodPlay Tournaments turns any event at your club into a tournament or league — from a casual Open Play to a full bracket competition. It really shines for adding structure to your day-to-day Open Plays: run a Challenge Court, a Paddle Rack queue, or randomly assigned MLP teams without leaving the platform. This article gives you the lay of the land — what formats are available, when to use each, and where to go next.
#### Two Big Buckets to Choose From
**Open Play.** Ad hoc, open-ended events where your players come and go. Designed for fair bye distribution and partner/opponent variety. Great for daily drop-in sessions.
**Fixed Tournament Formats (Round Robin, Elimination, Hybrid).** Structured events where the player list is locked at the start and everyone plays through to the end. Use these for scheduled tournaments where a winner is decided.
#### Open Play Formats at a Glance
* **Shuffle Play** — randomized rounds with balanced court time and variety in partners and opponents.
* **Challenge Court** — winners stay on a designated court (always, or for a set number of wins).
* **Challenge Ladder** — multiple courts where players move up or down based on results.
* **Paddle Rack** — queue-based continuous play, no rounds. Players line up and matches generate automatically.
* **Timed Play** — per-round timer, available for any Open Play format. Switches to sudden death once the timer expires. *See: Running an Open Play.*
#### Fixed Tournament Formats at a Glance
* **Round Robin** — every team plays every other team. Single or Double.
* **Elimination Bracket** — knockout style. Single or Double Elimination, with a Bronze Match for 3rd place in Double.
* **Hybrid (Round Robin + Bracket)** — group play followed by an elimination playoff. Includes Finals and Bronze Match. *See: Running a Tournament or League.*
#### League Formats at a Glance
Leagues run multiple tournament sessions with cumulative standings across the season.
* **Single Round Robin League** — each session is a single round robin.
* **Double Round Robin League** — each session is a double round robin.
* **Hybrid League** — round robin sessions with a championship bracket in the final session.
* **Weekly Schedule League** — each team plays once per week, with playoffs at the end.
* **Ladder League** — round robin with multiple groups where players move between groups by performance (1 Up / 1 Down or 2 Up / 2 Down). *See: Running a Tournament or League.*
#### Event Type Options
For any tournament format, choose how matches are structured:
* **Singles** — one player per side.
* **Doubles** — two players per team.
* **Rotating Doubles** — players rotate partners (Round Robin only).
* **MLP 4 Players** — teams of 4 with mixed doubles.
* **MLP 3 Players** — teams of 3 (Hybrid only).
#### Public Event Pages
Every tournament has a public link for viewing brackets, standings, and match results — no login required. Players can track their upcoming matches; leagues have dedicated public pages showing cumulative standings across sessions.
#### App Integration
Tournament functionality is built into your club's app. In **Tournament Settings**, toggle on **Show Tournament In App** to expose a **Match Info** link on the Event Card under "My Bookings". Your players can then see court assignments, submit scores, and view standings from their phones.
#### Roadmap
* **iPad / Monitor Integration (coming soon).** Score submission directly on iPad kiosks; live standings and matchups on court monitors.
* **Push Notifications (coming soon).** Court assignment and opponent notifications.
* **DUPR Integration (coming soon).** Automatic score submission to DUPR. In the meantime, scores can still be submitted via iPad kiosks.
* **Player Score Submission (coming soon).** Players will submit scores directly from public event pages.
#### Where to Next
* [**Running an Open Play**](/pro-system/tournaments/running-an-open-play.md) — for ad hoc, drop-in events.
* [**Running a Tournament or League**](/pro-system/tournaments/running-a-tournament-or-league.md) — for fixed-roster events and recurring league play. **Last Updated:** April 25, 2026
### Where to learn more?
Once logged into the Tournament feature, further documentation is provided:
* **What's New** — a chronological changelog of new releases for the feature
* **Knowledge Base** — different use cases spelled out with graphics
* **Tutorials** — educational videos to further enhance leveraging the feature
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