Pool Play Tournament Planner
Split teams into balanced seed based pools, create pool round robins and map each pool’s qualifiers into a knockout bracket.
Save and export
Plan builder
Set up your game, team or session in one place.
POOL PLAY + SINGLE ELIMINATION
Your tournament schedule
12 teams · 4 pools
Pool round robins
One game against each pool opponent
Pool A
3 teams · 3 games- Team 8vsTeam 9
- Team 1vsTeam 9
- Team 1vsTeam 8
Pool B
3 teams · 3 games- Team 7vsTeam 10
- Team 2vsTeam 10
- Team 2vsTeam 7
Pool C
3 teams · 3 games- Team 6vsTeam 11
- Team 3vsTeam 11
- Team 3vsTeam 6
Pool D
3 teams · 3 games- Team 5vsTeam 12
- Team 4vsTeam 12
- Team 4vsTeam 5
Knockout bracket
4 qualifiers · 0 byes
Knockout round 1
Final round
Pool finish places are placeholders. Confirm standings before assigning teams to the knockout bracket. Highest listed qualifiers receive any opening byes.
For general information only, not professional advice. Check the official sources below. Use your own judgement and speak to a qualified professional before you act. This plan is a guide. Follow your league, school or association rules.
Last checked:
How to use it
- Enter team names in seed order. The first name is seed 1.
- Choose how many pools to make and how many teams advance from each pool.
- Select Make schedule to see each pool’s round robin games and the knockout bracket, then print or download the CSV.
How it works
- Teams are assigned one at a time across the pools. The direction reverses after each row, so later seeds are spread back across the pools.
- Each pool gets a single round robin. A team meets every other team in its pool once, with no team scheduled twice in the same round.
- Advancing places are listed pool by pool, then by finish place. Knockout games are counted as a single elimination bracket; any first round byes go to the highest listed qualifiers.
- The planner does not record scores or calculate standings. Enter final pool rankings in your competition system before deciding which teams earned each place.
Total tournament games
- G
- total games
- P
- games across all pools
- K
- knockout games
Worked example
The worked example has four pools of three teams: 12 pool games plus three knockout games gives 15 games.
Worked example
Each three team pool has 3 games, for 12 pool games total. The 4 pool winners then play 3 knockout games: 15 games altogether.
Frequently asked questions
What is snake seeding?
The first row goes across pools in order. The next row goes back in the opposite direction, then the direction alternates again. This spreads consecutive seeds across pools.
How are pool games scheduled?
Each pool uses a round robin schedule. Every pair of teams in that pool plays once, and each round gives a team at most one game.
How does the knockout bracket handle byes?
When the number of qualifiers is not a power of two, the highest listed qualifiers fill the open bye positions. The bracket shows those teams advancing automatically.
Does this tool calculate pool standings?
No. It creates the schedule and shows placeholder qualification places. Your competition must determine standings and confirm which team fills each place.
Can I use more than one qualifier per pool?
Yes. Choose a number that fits the smallest pool. The number advancing from all pools determines the knockout bracket size.