UPA Manual of Tournament Formats

Sixteen Teams

Copyright (c) The Ultimate Players Association, 1994

Please direct comments on this document to Eric Simon (70540.1522@compuserve.com).

16. Sixteen Teams

16.1. One Team Advances, Or Other Non-UPA Tournaments

If you are simply running a 16-team tournament, without having to worry about teams qualifying to the next level, you have all kinds of flexibility. An easy format is simply four pools of four. The top two of each pool advance to a quarterfinal single-elimination, and the bottom two of each pool advance to a "Division II" quarterfinal single-elimination. This way everyone gets lots of games. What follows (this page and the next) is a sample format you can use:
              20-team format                            16-team format
    
        Rnd   Odd      Even                     Rnd     Odd     Even
    
        10   1 v  5   2 v  4                    10:00   1-3     2-4
        12   1 v  3   4 v  5                    12:30   1-4     2-3
         2   2 v  5   3 v  4                     3:00   1-2     3-4
         4   1 v  2   3 v  5
    
        10   1 v  4   2 v  3                    10:00   quarterfinals
        12    quarterfinals                     12:30   semifinals
         2      semifinals                       3:00   finals
         4        finals
    
                                Pool A: Fields 1 & 2
                                Pool B: Fields 3 & 4
                                Pool C: Fields 5 & 6
                                Pool D: Fields 7 & 8
    
For 16-game schedule: All games to 17 cap 19. Games should be capped at 30 minutes before the next round. If a game runs into the cap, the next game is scheduled for 20 minutes after the preceeding game ends, and is capped at 2:00 past the new scheduled start time.

(NOTE - this is not to be used for UPA qualifying tournaments; however it is an excellent format for other tournaments where the object is to pick a single winner, while giving all teams as many games as possible).

    SUNDAY'S ELIMINATION ROUNDS
    DIVISION I
    
    Round #1   Rnd 2      Rnd 3                             Rnd 3
    
    A1 ----_                                           LE ----------_
         A _---------_                                            K _---------
    D2 ----          _                                 LF ----------  3rd place
                   E _----------_
    B2 ----_         _          _                      LG ----------_
         B _---------           _                                 M _---------
    C1 ----                     _                      LH ----------  7th place
                              I _---------------
    A2 ----_                    _  (1st place)
         C _---------_          _
    D1 ----          _          _
                   F _----------
    B1 ----_         _
         D _---------
    C2 ----
    
           LA---------_
                    G _----------_
           LB---------           _
                               J _ --------
           LC---------_          _  5th place
                    H _----------
           LD---------
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DIVISION II
    Round #1   Rnd 2      Rnd 3                             Rnd 3
    
    A3 ----_                                           LE ----------_
         A _---------_                                            K _---------
    D4 ----          _                                 LF ----------  3rd place
                   E _----------_
    B4 ----_         _          _                      LG ----------_
         B _---------           _                                 M _---------
    C3 ----                     _                      LH ----------  7th place
                              I _---------------
    A4 ----_                    _  (1st place)
         C _---------_          _
    D3 ----          _          _
                   F _----------
    B3 ----_         _
         D _---------
    C4 ----
    
           LA---------_
                    G _----------_
           LB---------           _
                               J _ --------
           LC---------_          _  5th place
                    H _----------
           LD---------
    
    All games to 15, except Division I games E, F, and I, which are to 17, and
    I to 19 by mutual agreement.  For the sixteen game schedule, all games to
    17, and Division I finals to 19 by mutual agreement.
    

16.2. Two Teams Advance

UPA STANDARD DOUBLE ELIMINATION FORMAT

This format must be used for Regional tournaments when two teams advance. See the next page. Note that teams that lose the first two rounds play a third game (see games #30 and #31). In this particular example of a schedule (used at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals in 1991), fields 1, 4, 10, and 11 were the best fields. Obviously, you will want to move some games around to match your particular field configuration.

Additionally, games #30 and #31 can be moved to the fourth round if you need those fields for other games (e.g., Women's or Master's Divisions). Note that in this case, this format only uses six fields in the third round, four fields in the fourth round, and only three and then two fields for all of Sunday.

    UPA STANDARD DOUBLE ELIMINATION FORMAT
    
    1  ----------_
              #1 _-----------_
    16-----------         #9 _
    8 -----------_           _---------_
              #2 _-----------          _
    9 -----------                  #17 _
    4 -----------_                     _------------_
              #3 _-----------_         _            _
    13-----------        #10 _         _            _
    5 -----------_           _---------             _
              #4 _-----------                       _
    12-----------                               #23 _
    2 -----------_                                  _---------------
              #5 _-----------_                      _   1st place
    15-----------        #11 _                      _
    7 -----------_           _---------_            _
              #6 _-----------          _            _
    10-----------                  #18 _            _
    6 -----------_                     _------------
              #7 _-----------_         _
    11-----------        #12 _         _
    3 -----------_           _---------
              #8 _-----------
    14-----------
                        L11 --------_                   L23  --------_
               L1 ---------_    #19 _-------_                        _
                       #13 _--------    #24 _                        _
               L2 ---------                 _-------_            #29 _
                        L12 --------_       _   #26 _                _---
               L3 ---------_    #20 _-------        _-------_        _2nd
                       #14 _--------                _       _        _
               L4 ---------              L17 -------        _        _
                         L9 --------_                  #28  _        _
               L5 ---------_    #21 _-------_               _--------
                       #15 _--------    #25 _               _  L13 ------_
               L6 ---------                 _-------_       _        #30 _
                        L10 --------_       _   #27 _       _  L14 ------
               L7 ---------_    #22 _-------        _-------_  L15 ------_
                       #16 _--------                _                #31 _
               L8 ---------              L18 -------           L16 ------
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     start cap  Flds 1   3   4   7   8   9  10  11 - All first round     -
      9:00 10:40     2   1   4   3   8   7   5   6 -   games to 15/17.   -
     11:00 12:55     9  13  10  14  12  16  11  15 - All other games to  -
      1:15  3:10    21      22      30  31  19  20 -   17/19, except:    -
      3:30  5:25*   17      25              18  24 - #17 & #18: to 19/21 -
    Sunday:                                      -   #23 is to 21/23.    -
      9:00 11:00                            26  27 - Note: cap starts    -
     10:30  1:15            23                     - after the "next     -
     11:30  1:30                            28     - completed pass."    -
      2:00  4:15                            29     -                     -
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     NOTE: In games #26 & #27, opponents will be switched if it avoids a
     repetitive game.  This is the only possible deviation from the schedule.
     *In games #17 and #18, the cap is at 5:45.
    

16.3. Five Thru Eight Teams Advance

            Fields  1-2     3-4     7-8
    10am            A1      B1      C1              field:          odd  even
    12noon          A2      B2      D1              Round 1:        1-3, 2-4
     2pm            A3      C2      D2              Round 2:        1-4, 2-3
     4pm            B3      C3      D3              Round 3:        1-2, 3-4
     6pm            A,B & C,D crossovers
    
            Above, A1 means Pool A-round 1, etc.
            Below, A2 means Pool A-second place, etc.
    
    Saturday  Sunday . . .              +----------------------------------+
    6pm     11am            3pm         | Sunday schedule for pool winners:|
                                        | (fields 5 & 6)                   |
    A2 ----_                            | 12noon:  A1-D1, B1-C1            |
         A _---------_                  | 2:15 pm: winners play losers     |
    B3 ----          _                  | 4:30 pm: remaining games         |
                   E _----------_       +----------------------------------+
    D2 ----_         _          _
         B _---------           _
    C3 ----                     _                           +--------------------+
                              I _---------------            | winner I: 5th      |
    C2 ----_                    _  (5th place)              | winner N: 6th      |
         C _---------_          _                           | loser  N: 7th      |
    D3 ----_         _          _                           | loser  M: 8th      |
                   F _----------                            | winner P: 9th      |
    B2 ----_         _                                      | loser  P: 10th     |
         D _---------                                       | loser G,H: 11-12th |
    A3 ----                                                 | winner S: 13th     |
              11am           1pm     3pm             5pm    | loser S: 14th      |
             LA---------_                                   +--------------------+
                      G _----------_                        +-------------------+
             LB---------         J _---------_              | SUNDAY'S FIELDS:  |
                                   _         _              | Field: 1  2  3  4 |
                      LF ----------          _              | 11am   E  F  G  H |
             LC---------_                  M _--------_     | 1pm    R  Q  J  K |
                      H _----------_         _        _     | 3pm    S  P  M  I |
             LD---------         K _         _        _     | 5pm             N |
                                   _---------         _     +-------------------+
                      LE ----------                 N _---------------
                1pm    3pm               LI ----------
          A4 --------_                3pm
                   Q _-----_       LJ ---------_
          D4 --------    S _                   _
          B4 --------_     _-----           P  _-------
                   R _-----        LK ---------
          C4 --------
    
    Notes on specific games:  Games J & K: Opponents will be switched if it
    avoids repetitive games.  This is the only possible deviation from the
    schedule.  Game N does not have to take place, if neither team desires to
    play.  Losers of games G and H can play each other for 11th and 12th place.
    Losers of games Q and R can play each other for 15th and 16th place.
    

Table 16.1. Sixteen team round-robin grid

           1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15
           -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - -- -- -- -- -- --
      1 - 15  2  5  8 11 14 16  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12
      2 - 14  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 15 16  5  8 11
      3 - 13 16  6  9 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4  7 10
      4 - 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1 16  7 10 13  3  6  9
      5 - 11 14  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 15  2 16  8
      6 - 10 13  3 16  9 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4  7
      7 -  9 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4 16 10 13  3  6
      8 - 16 11 14  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 15  2  5
      9 -  7 10 13  3  6 16 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4
     10 -  6  9 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4  7 16 13  3
     11 -  5  8 16 14  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 15  2
     12 -  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 16 15  2  5  8 11 14  1
     13 -  3  6  9 12 15  2  5  8 11 14  1  4  7 10 16
     14 -  2  5  8 11 16  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 15
     15 -  1  4  7 10 13  3  6  9 12 16  2  5  8 11 14
     16 -  8  3 11  6 14  9  1 12  4 15  7  2 10  5 13
    
     1- 2   3-16   4-15   5-14   6-13   7-12   8-11   9-10
     1- 5   2- 4   3- 6   7-15   8-14   9-13  10-12  11-16
     1- 8   2- 7   3- 9   4- 5   6-16  10-15  11-14  12-13
     1-11   2-10   3-12   4- 8   5- 7   6- 9  13-15  14-16
     1-14   2-13   3-15   4-11   5-10   6-12   7- 8   9-16
     1-16   2- 3   4-14   5-13   6-15   7-11   8-10   9-12
     1- 4   2- 6   3- 5   7-14   8-13   9-15  10-11  12-16
     1- 7   2- 9   3- 8   4-16   5- 6  10-14  11-13  12-15
     1-10   2-12   3-11   4- 7   5- 9   6- 8  13-14  15-16
     1-13   2-15   3-14   4-10   5-12   6-11   7-16   8- 9
     1- 3   2-16   4-13   5-15   6-14   7-10   8-12   9-11
     1- 6   2- 5   3- 4   7-13   8-15   9-14  10-16  11-12
     1- 9   2- 8   3- 7   4- 6   5-16  10-13  11-15  12-14
     1-12   2-11   3-10   4- 9   5- 8   6- 7  13-16  14-15
     1-15   2-14   3-13   4-12   5-11   6-10   7- 9   8-16