How to run a gaming tournament for a school, club or office
Run a free online or in person gaming tournament for a school, esports club, college or workplace: format, setup, rules and keeping it fair and fun.
To run a gaming tournament for a school, club or office, pick a game most people can play, create a free tournament on RoundsWon, keep it private with a link and a password, and let players report their own scores while you or a helper settle any disputes. It works for an online event or one in a room with a screen. It costs nothing for you or the players.
Why run one
- Schools and colleges: a tournament gives an esports club its first event, brings in new members and gives students something to rally around.
- Clubs and societies: a game night with a bracket feels like an event, not just hanging out.
- Offices and remote teams: a tournament is a light team activity that works across locations and time zones.
- Libraries and youth centres: a regular tournament night brings people back.
Pick a game everyone can play
Pick for the group, not the best players:
- Easy to learn: Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Rocket League, party games, chess.
- On hardware people have: free to play games for online events, or one console and a big screen for in person.
- Suits the group's ages: check the game's age rating, especially for schools.
- Short matches: 5 to 15 minutes keeps the event moving.
For a group that will not all play the same game, a leaderboard on a simple browser game or a chess puzzle score works too.
Pick a format
| Situation | Format |
|---|---|
| One evening, a room and a screen | Single elimination, so the final happens before people leave |
| Everyone should play several matches | Round robin groups, then a playoff bracket |
| A league over a term or a quarter | Round robin or swiss, one round a week |
| Big group, little time | Swiss: everyone plays every round and nobody is out early |
| Mixed skill, play any time | Leaderboard with a set end date |
See Tournament formats explained.
Set it up
Open Host a tournament and pick Play with friends. Then:
- Pick the game and the format.
- Under Name and date, set Who can see the tournament to "Only with the link", so it is not listed publicly.
- Add a Password to enter and share it only with your group. Anyone can still watch, but only people with the password can enter.
- Write short rules in the description: how matches are played, where (room, console, online lobby) and how to report scores.
- Add helpers as admins or scorers by their RoundsWon handle: teachers, club officers, team leads.
Players without accounts
Players enter with one tap on a free RoundsWon account. If some people can not or do not want to make one, which is common in schools, you can add them yourself by typing their name in Run the tournament. Then you or a scorer enter their results.
For schools, using first names or nicknames instead of full names keeps things private.
Run it
- Turn on check in if it is an online event, so people who do not show are left out of the draw.
- Press Start the tournament when everyone is ready. The draw is shuffled fairly.
- After each match, both players report the score on the page. When the reports match, the next round fills in.
- If two reports differ, the match is marked Disputed. A host, admin or scorer decides.
For an in person event, put the tournament page on a projector or TV so everyone sees the bracket. For a classroom or game night where nobody needs an account at all, the free bracket maker makes a bracket from a list of names in seconds.
Keep it fair and friendly
- Mix skill levels: use swiss, so after the first round everyone plays people with the same record, or round robin groups so nobody is out after one bad match.
- Use double elimination if you want everyone to get at least two matches.
- Write down the rules before you start, including what happens on a disconnect.
- Keep prizes small and fun: a trophy, a certificate, first pick next time, or snacks. For schools and workplaces, check your own rules on prizes.
Show it off
- Put the live bracket on your school, club or intranet page with an embed. It updates by itself.
- Stream the final to a room or online with the bracket overlay. See Tournament stream overlays.
- Share the final bracket afterwards, and announce the next event.
FAQ
Is RoundsWon free for schools and clubs?
Yes. Hosting is free and entry is free for every player.
Can students take part without an account?
Yes. The host can add players by name, without an account, and enter their results. For a quick bracket with no sign ups at all, use the free bracket maker.
Can we keep the tournament private?
Yes. Set it to "Only with the link" so it is not listed, and add a password to enter. Only people with the password can enter.
What format is best for a whole term?
Round robin or swiss, one round a week. Everyone keeps playing all term, and the table ranks players as they go. You can add a playoff bracket at the end.