How to make a round robin schedule
Short answer: With n teams, every team plays n − 1 matches, the league has n × (n − 1) / 2 matches in total, and it takes n − 1 rounds (n rounds if n is odd). Use the circle method so nobody plays twice in a round.
How many rounds and matches
- 4 teams: 3 rounds, 6 matches
- 6 teams: 5 rounds, 15 matches
- 8 teams: 7 rounds, 28 matches
- 10 teams: 9 rounds, 45 matches
For home and away (double round robin), double both numbers.
The circle method
- Write the teams in two rows facing each other. Each column is one match for round 1.
- Keep team 1 fixed and rotate every other team one place clockwise.
- Read the new columns as round 2. Repeat until you are back at the start.
- With an odd number of teams, add a BYE. The team paired with BYE rests that round.
Tips for a real league
- Swap home and away each round so no team is always listed first.
- Enter results the same day so the table never falls behind.
Running it on match day with Matchpad
Matchpad is an organiser's notebook for club, school and office leagues. Set up a single or home-and-away league once and it lays out every round for you, resting one team per round when the count is odd. On the day you tap in each score, and when the last whistle goes the updated table is ready to post to the group chat as one image. A next-match widget and match-day reminders keep players on schedule. There is no account and no server: the season lives on your phone, and a backup file moves it to a new one.
FAQ
How many matches are in a round robin?
Each team plays every other team once, so n teams play n × (n − 1) / 2 matches. 8 teams play 28 matches over 7 rounds.
What if I have an odd number of teams?
Add a dummy team called BYE. Whoever is drawn against it rests that round, so 7 teams need 7 rounds.