Team Tournaments - Overview

SwissSys supports four types of team tournaments, each designed for different competitive formats:

Individual/Team Tournaments

In Individual/Team tournaments, players compete in a standard Swiss-system format, but players from the same team are restricted from being paired against each other.

Key Features

• Swiss Pairings: Standard Swiss pairing algorithm applies
• Team Restriction: Teammates cannot be paired against each other
• Individual Scoring: Players earn individual scores
• Team Scoring: Team standings calculated by summing individual results
• Flexible Rosters: Team composition can change between rounds

When to Use

• Scholastic team competitions
• Club league events
• Any event where individuals compete but team standings matter

Fixed-Roster Team Tournaments

In Fixed-Roster tournaments, teams are paired against each other in a round-robin format. Each team has a fixed roster of players who play on specific boards.

Key Features

• Team Round-Robin: Teams are paired against each other (not individuals)
• Board Matching: Players on the same board number play each other
• Fixed Positions: Players are assigned to specific board positions
• Match Points: Teams earn match points based on aggregate board results
• Game Points: Individual game results contribute to team totals

When to Use

• Interclub team championships
• Team matches with predetermined rosters
• Events where board order matters

Teams-only Fixed Roster Tournaments

A hybrid format where teams are treated as single “players” for pairing purposes, but matches are scored by margin of victory.

Key Features

• Team as Unit: Each team is paired as if it were a single player
• Margin Scoring: You enter the match result margin (similar to game points in fixed-roster)
• Simplified Management: No individual player tracking required
• Swiss or Round-Robin: Can use either pairing system for teams

When to Use

• Quick team events without individual tracking
• Events where only team results matter
• Simplified administration for casual team competitions

Team Match (Scheveningen System)

A specialized format for matches between exactly two teams of equal size. Each player on one team plays every player on the opposing team.

Key Features

• Complete Head-to-Head: Every player faces every opponent
• Two Teams Only: Exactly 2 teams required
• Equal Sizes: Teams must have identical player counts (4, 6, 8, or 9)
• All Rounds at Once: All pairings generated simultaneously
• Official Tables: Uses standard Scheveningen pairing tables

When to Use

• International team matches
• Club vs club competitions
• Any two-team format requiring complete head-to-head play

Common Setup Elements

Team Code Registration

The team code field is essential for all team tournament types:

• Maximum Length: Up to 25 characters
• Purpose: Links players to their teams
• Format: Usually a number or abbreviation of the team name

Assigning Full Team Names

Team codes can be mapped to full team names using:

• At Registration: SwissSys prompts when it detects a new team code
• Team Menu: Use Team -> Expanded team names (master list) to manage all team name mappings

Team Import Feature

For team tournaments, you can import entire teams from a club list or database:

• Useful when team rosters are pre-defined
• Allows quick registration of known team members
• Helpful when you’re unsure which teams will participate

Pairing Options for Team Tournaments

Team Pairing Restrictions

In Individual/Team tournaments, the team pairing restriction prevents teammates from playing each other.

Enabling or Disabling Restrictions

Control team pairing restrictions through the Rules dialog:

• Rules Dialog: Uncheck “Team” in the pairing restrictions group under Setup -> Rules for pairing

Overriding Restrictions

When team restrictions cause pairing problems (e.g., one team has too many players):

• Use Plus 2 pairings to allow same-team pairings as a last resort
• Temporarily disable team restrictions via Setup -> Rules for pairing

Large Team Distribution

Solutions for oversized teams:

• Split large teams into sub-teams
• Temporarily relax restrictions for affected rounds
• Use Plus 2 pairings to allow occasional same-team pairings

Choosing the Right Format

Related Topics

• Team Match Tournaments - Scheveningen system details
• Team Menu Commands - Team management interface
• Rules for Pairing - Pairing restriction settings
• Expanded Team Names (Master List) - Managing team name mappings