Question 1

How do I create a tournament in 5 minutes?

Accepted Answer

Click 'Create Tournament' → Choose your sport → Enter name, dates, location → Select format (brackets/pools) → Click 'Publish'. Your tournament is live immediately with registration open.

Question 2

What sports can I create tournaments for?

Accepted Answer

50+ sports including Tennis, Pickleball, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Squash, Padel, Golf, Esports, Academic competitions (quiz bowls, spelling bees), and many more. Each sport has sport-specific scoring rules and divisions.

Question 3

Can I test my tournament before publishing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use 'Preview Mode' to see how your tournament looks. You can make changes anytime before clicking 'Publish' to open registration.

Question 4

How do I set entry fees?

Accepted Answer

During tournament creation, set your entry fee amount. Payments are processed securely via Stripe. You can also create free tournaments.

Question 5

How do I join a tournament?

Accepted Answer

Find tournaments using search → Click the tournament → Click 'Register' → Complete payment (if required). You'll get immediate confirmation and bracket updates.

Question 6

Can I register without a partner for doubles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. No partner? No problem — register solo and we'll pair you before the event. You can also browse players looking for a partner.

Question 7

How do I track my matches and scores?

Accepted Answer

Check your dashboard or tournament page for live brackets, upcoming matches, court assignments, and real-time scores.

Question 8

What if I need to withdraw?

Accepted Answer

Go to your dashboard → Find the tournament → Click 'Withdraw'. Refund policies vary by organizer and are shown on each tournament page.

Question 9

How do I enter match scores during my tournament?

Accepted Answer

Multiple options: 1) Click any match in 'Up Next' or 'Scheduled' sections and click 'Enter Score' for quick inline entry. 2) Go to Live Management → Select match → Enter score. 3) Click directly on the match in the bracket view. All methods update brackets instantly.

Question 10

Can I enter scores directly from the match list without opening a dialog?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In the 'Up Next' and 'Scheduled Matches' sections, click 'Enter Score' next to any match. Enter the score inline and click Save - no popup needed.

Question 11

What if players don't show up?

Accepted Answer

Mark the match as 'Forfeit' in the live management interface. The other player automatically advances to the next round.

Question 12

Can I modify brackets after tournament starts?

Accepted Answer

Limited changes are allowed. You can handle forfeits, score corrections, and player substitutions through the live management panel.

Question 13

How do spectators follow the tournament?

Accepted Answer

Share your tournament link. Spectators can view live brackets, scores, and match schedules without needing accounts.

Question 14

What happens if there's a scoring dispute?

Accepted Answer

Use the 'Dispute' button in live management to flag the match. You can then investigate and make corrections as needed.

Question 15

How do I auto-schedule all my matches?

Accepted Answer

Go to Tournament Dashboard → Click 'Auto-Schedule Matches' → Select divisions → Set start/end times → Choose court allocation strategy → Click 'Preview Schedule' to review → Click 'Apply Schedule' to confirm.

Question 16

What are the court allocation strategies?

Accepted Answer

Four options: 1) Proportional (recommended) - assigns more courts to divisions with more matches. 2) Even Split - divides courts equally. 3) Sequential - completes one division before starting next using all courts. 4) Custom - manually set courts per division.

Question 17

Which court allocation strategy should I use?

Accepted Answer

Proportional is recommended for most tournaments - it balances court usage based on match count. Use Sequential if you want to finish one division completely before starting another. Use Custom for specific venue constraints.

Question 18

Can I preview the schedule before applying it?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Click 'Preview Schedule' to see exactly how matches will be distributed across courts and time. The preview shows scheduled matches, conflicts, courts used, and total duration in hours and minutes.

Question 19

What do the scheduling options mean?

Accepted Answer

Match Duration = average match length. Break Between Matches = court changeover time. Player Buffer Time = minimum rest between a player's matches. These are pre-set based on your sport but can be adjusted.

Question 20

Can I schedule only unscheduled matches?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Enable 'Schedule only unscheduled matches' to keep existing court/time assignments and only fill in the gaps using free courts.

Question 21

How do I create a club?

Accepted Answer

Sign in, go to /clubs, and choose Create Club. After buying Club $999/year, checkout sends you there automatically. Full walkthrough: brakto.com/help/clubs.

Question 22

What's the difference between a private club and a members-only event?

Accepted Answer

A private club is hidden from /clubs Discover and requires an invite to join. A members-only event is a per-event gate: only signed-in club members can view or register, and it stays off /events and search. New events on a private club default to members-only; existing events do not change. See /help/clubs.

Question 23

Can a private club still run a public event?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Uncheck Members-only when creating the event, or turn it off later in Admin → Settings. Rec clubs should usually stay public.

Question 24

How do I add many members to my club at once?

Accepted Answer

Open the club admin console → Members, choose Add / Import Members, then the Import CSV / Excel tab. Include a Name column, and optionally Email, Rating and Role (Member, Tournament Director or Admin). Leave Role blank to use the default for the whole batch, and preview each row before importing. Full guide: /help/clubs.

Question 25

Can my club have a nicer link?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every club gets a readable address like brakto.com/clubs/your-club-name. Use Copy link in the club admin console to grab it. Older id-based links still work and redirect to it.

Question 26

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click 'Sign Up' → Use Google (fastest) or enter email/password → Verify email → Complete profile. Takes under 2 minutes.

Question 27

Is Brakto free to use?

Accepted Answer

Free covers up to 8 players offline (CSV/manual import). Online registration costs a one-time $25 setup, and each player pays a flat $2 service fee added to their entry fee — the organizer keeps 100% of every entry fee. Club is $999/yr (or $99/mo) for unlimited events, with no per-player service fee. Standard payment processing fees apply when players pay you online.

Question 28

How do I become a tournament organizer?

Accepted Answer

Create an account, go to your dashboard, and click 'Create Tournament'. No approval needed — start free (≤8 offline) or pick an Event plan for online registration.

Question 29

Can I use Brakto on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brakto works on any device with internet browser - phones, tablets, computers. Interface is optimized for mobile tournament management.

Question 30

What payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

Brakto accepts all major credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.

Question 31

When am I charged for tournament registration?

Accepted Answer

Payment is typically processed immediately upon successful registration. Some tournaments may offer pay-later options or team payment plans - check the specific tournament details.

Question 32

How do refunds work?

Accepted Answer

Refund policies are set by individual tournament organizers and clearly displayed during registration. Refunds, when applicable, are processed back to your original payment method within 5-7 business days.

Question 33

Can I get a receipt for my tournament entry?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you'll receive an email receipt immediately after successful payment. You can also access all your payment history and receipts through your account dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Create Your First Tournament