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, supporting up to 32 participants with bracket management, email notifications, and basic scheduling features 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 offers free community features for small tournaments. Paid plans start at $19/month for unlimited participants and advanced features. Schools and non-profits receive 50% discounts.

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.

Back to Help Center

Organizer Onboarding Guide

Launch your first tournament in 5 steps

Welcome to Brakto! This guide will walk you through creating your tournament organizer profile, setting up your first tournament, and managing it from start to finish. Complete all steps to earn 100 points.

Step 1: Complete Your Profile

20 points • Essential

Add your organization details and contact information to build trust with players.

What to Include:

Organization Name: Your club, business, or event name
Contact Info: Email and phone for player support
Location: Primary city/region for your events

Complete Profile →

Step 2: Create Your First Tournament

30 points • Core Task

Use our AI-powered tournament wizard to set up a professional tournament in minutes.

Tournament Setup:

Basic Info: Name, sport, dates, location, and venue
Divisions: Create skill-based divisions (e.g., Open, 3.5, 4.0+)
Pricing: Set registration fees per division
Rules: Add tournament rules and scoring format

💡 Pro Tip: Our AI wizard suggests optimal dates, fees, and formats based on similar tournaments in your area.

Create Tournament →

Step 3: Add Players to Tournament

20 points • Required

Import players via CSV or enable self-registration for your tournament.

Three Ways to Add Players:

1.
CSV Import: Upload a spreadsheet with player info (name, email, division)
Best for: Bulk registration, existing mailing lists
2.
Manual Entry: Add players one at a time through the admin panel
Best for: Small tournaments, on-site registration
3.
Self-Registration: Share your tournament link for online sign-ups
Best for: Open tournaments, maximizing participation

📝 CSV Template: For doubles/mixed events, include columns: Name, Email, Division, Partner Name, Partner Email

Manage Players →

Step 4: Generate Tournament Brackets

20 points • Automated

Our AI automatically creates optimal brackets based on your tournament format.

Bracket Features:

Auto-Seeding: Smart seeding based on player ratings
Multiple Formats: Single/double elimination, round robin, pools
Court Assignment: Optimal scheduling across available courts
Time Management: Realistic match timing based on format

✨ AI Magic: Our bracket generator considers player availability, court usage, and break times to create the perfect schedule.

Generate Brackets →

Step 5: Publish Tournament

10 points • Final Step

Make your tournament public and start accepting registrations from players.

What Happens When You Publish:

Public Listing: Tournament appears in search results
Registration Open: Players can sign up and pay online
Email Notifications: Registered players receive updates
Shareable Link: Promote on social media and email

✅ Completion: After publishing your tournament, you've completed the organizer onboarding and earned all 100 points!

🎉 You're All Set to Run Tournaments!

You've completed the organizer onboarding! Here's what you can do next:

Promote your tournament on social media
Monitor registrations and manage divisions
Use live scoring to update brackets in real-time
Export results and generate reports

Go to Dashboard Create Another Tournament