How do I organize a local tournament in my community?

Start by choosing tournament management software like Brakto, which offers free community features. Set up your tournament format, create registration, and share with your local community through social media and community boards.

What is the best free tournament software for small communities?

Brakto offers the most comprehensive free tier for community tournaments: up to 16 players for the entire event, with bracket management, email notifications, and scheduling at no cost.

Can I use tournament software for school sports?

Yes, Brakto offers specialized features for schools including student-safe registration, parent communication tools, academic calendar integration, and educational pricing discounts for schools and non-profits.

How much does local tournament management software cost?

Brakto Free covers small offline tournaments: up to 16 players tournament-wide with CSV/manual import (no online registration). Online registration uses Event plans by number of players: $79 (≤64), $149 (65–128), $249 (129–256), $549 (257–600); Club is $790/year billed annually. Standard payment processing fees apply on online payments — no Brakto per-player platform fee. Voting contests are free up to 16 entries. Legacy grandfathered events may use older pricing.

What sports can I manage with tournament software?

Brakto supports all major sports including tennis, pickleball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and more. The platform includes sport-specific rules, scoring systems, and tournament formats.

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Event Format Guide

Explore all 8 available event formats (7 tournament/league formats + 1 voting contest). Select a format below to see the complete lifecycle.

MLP Team Format

8 events + DreamBreaker

What is MLP Team Format?

Teams of 4–10 players (balanced male/female) compete in 8 structured doubles events. First team to win 5 events wins. If tied 4–4, a DreamBreaker mixed doubles tiebreaker decides the match.

Complete Lifecycle

Create tournament and configure teams

RegistrationStep 1 of 5

Organizer

1Create tournament, enable MLP format
2Set roster size (4–10 players), enable DreamBreaker
3Open team registration

Player

1Join or form a team with balanced M/F composition
2Confirm your roster spot with the team captain

Key Characteristics

Teams of 4–10 players with equal M/F split
8 events: MD1, MD2, WD1, WD2, MX1–MX4
Rally scoring to 11 (DreamBreaker to 21)
First to 5 event wins = match winner
DreamBreaker is mandatory when tied 4–4

Perfect For

Competitive pickleball clubs
MLP-style league events
Gender-balanced team competition
Rally scoring tournaments

Technical Details

Event structure

·Events 1–2: Men's Doubles (MD1, MD2) — different player pairings each event
·Events 3–4: Women's Doubles (WD1, WD2) — different player pairings each event
·Events 5–8: Mixed Doubles (MX1–MX4) — one male + one female per side, different pairings
·DreamBreaker (Event 9): Mixed doubles only if teams tie 4–4

Scoring rules

·Rally scoring: every rally scores a point regardless of who is serving
·Events played to 11 points, win by 2
·DreamBreaker played to 21 points, win by 2
·First team to win 5 events wins the match (can end before all 8 are played)

Player assignments

·Each player should be assigned to a different event (no repeats in MD1 and MD2)
·Event assignments set by organizer in the team management screen
·Injury substitution: replacement must be the same gender

FAQs

Player injured mid-match — can we substitute?

·Yes — substitute must be the same gender
·If no valid substitute is available, that event is forfeited
·Proceed with the remaining events

Score tied 4–4 — is DreamBreaker optional?

·No. DreamBreaker is mandatory when teams tie 4–4
·A match must have a winner — it cannot end in a draw
·Enable DreamBreaker in division settings before the event

Which player plays which event?

·Organizer assigns players to events in the team management screen
·Each player plays one event — no player repeats across MD1 and MD2
·Mixed doubles (MX1–4) can rotate different male/female pairs each event

Ready to run your MLP Team Format event?

Create your tournament on Brakto, or see the full dedicated guide for this format.

Related guides

More from the Help Center — setup, formats, clubs, and tournament day

Event Format GuideAll 8 formats — lifecycle steps, technical details, and FAQs Single EliminationKnockout brackets Clubs: create, privacy, members-onlyPublic vs private clubs, invites, branding, and members-only events Organizer GuidePayments, divisions, and day-to-day admin Player GuideRegistration, matches, and standings Getting StartedCore concepts for new organizers Quick Start — OrganizerSet up a tournament in about 5 minutes Registration & Check-InOnline signup and QR check-in Score Entry & PIN ScoringPlayer self-scoring on tournament day Help FAQAccount, payments, and platform questions

All help articles