How does a league work?
A league sorts players into divisions that reflect their skill level, then runs an entire season of matches with points on the line every fixture. Each division's games can be played in any tournament format — Americano, round robin, knockout and more — and the player with the most points when the season ends wins.
- A league is made up of divisions that represent the skill level of the players, so you compete against people close to your own standard.
- The organizer places players in divisions based on their skill level and past performance.
- Each division usually contains a set number of players, typically 4–8.
- You play a series of matches against the others in your division across the season — individually or in fixed teams of one or two, depending on how the league is set up.
- Points are awarded for wins, draws and losses, and the player with the most points at the end of the season wins their division.
- Players are promoted or relegated between divisions based on their performance, so the league keeps re-balancing season after season.
League scoring and points system
League scoring rewards consistency over a whole season, not a single result. Points are banked for every fixture based on the outcome, and the standings update as the season plays out.
- Points can follow each match result, the games won or the points scored — the organizer picks how they're distributed.
- Each fixture is scored using whichever format and scoring you choose for it — for example Americano, round robin or knockout.
- Every result feeds into your division's points table, so the standings build up over the course of the season.
- Whoever sits top of their division's table when the season closes is the champion — optionally with bonus points for reaching a tournament's championship knockout.
Promotion and relegation between divisions
Promotion and relegation are what make a league feel like a real season: do well and you move up to tougher company, slip and you drop down. This is how players move between divisions:
- Each division is ranked on the league table by the points players bank across the season.
- The organizer chooses which top placements are promoted to the division above for the next season.
- The bottom placements the organizer chooses are relegated to the division below.
- When the organizer restarts the season, CourtTable archives the old table and applies the moves, so every division stays competitive and matched to skill level.
How does league scheduling work?
A league runs over weeks rather than a single afternoon, so scheduling is built around the days you play across the season. This is how scheduling works in a league:
- The league schedule is usually set in advance, with each player or team given a fixed number of matches across the season.
- The organizer picks a start date and the days of the week the league plays, and the schedule fills those days in order.
- Everyone can check the fixtures, results and division tables on the league's public page, shared by link or QR code.
- The organizer enters the results as matches are played, and the tables update straight away.
- The organizer keeps the schedule fair and balanced, and can add extra games whenever a division needs them.
Automatic scheduling
CourtTable streamlines a season's worth of fixtures with a scheduler that turns a division into a full calendar of matches. It pairs every player or team with every other and spreads the matches across the days you play.
- The organizer picks the participants from the division — an even number, so everyone has an opponent each round.
- The organizer sets a start date, the days of the week the league plays and the venue.
- CourtTable draws a round robin, so every participant meets every other once, one round per playing day.
- The end date follows automatically from the number of rounds and the playing days you choose.
- Before anything is created, the organizer can review an overview of the whole schedule.
How to organize a league?
Setting up a league is straightforward. Follow these steps to organize yours:
- Create a league in the CourtTable app and fill in the details, such as the league name, logo and divisions.
- Add players from your player directory and place them in divisions based on their skill level — aim for 4–8 players per division.
- Choose whether the league is played individually or in teams, and the team size: one or two players.
- Set up the schedule with the scheduler, or create each game yourself in any format, such as knockout, round robin or Americano.
- For a team league, set up the teams in each division in advance, with substitutes on the bench for injured players.
- Enter the results as the matches are played, and share the league's public page so everyone can follow the tables.
- Monitor the standings and restart the season to apply promotion and relegation when it ends.