Instructions

Build a Tournament Bracket

1

Obtain or create a list of all teams qualified to play in the tournament. Ideal tournaments are composed of four, eight 16, 32 or 64 teams. That allows every team to play the same number of games and grants every team an equal chance of winning the championship. If you have any other number of teams, you'll have to create a tournament that incorporates byes.
2

Decide which type of format you will use. Most tournament brackets utilize a single-elimination format. This format is the most logical as it is simply "win or go home." Some tournament brackets utilize a double-elimination format. If this is the case, you need to create two brackets, one titled the "winners bracket" and another the "losers bracket." The "losers bracket" includes a bracket of teams that lost in the first round. These teams must continue to win to get back into the winners bracket. The basic idea is that after two losses, the team is eliminated from the bracket.
3

Seed the teams based on a preexisting formula. A fair bracket should seed the best teams against the weakest teams in the first round. For example, if your tournament has 64 teams and is broken down into four regions, the No. 1 seed should play the No. 16 seed in the first round. The No. 2 seed should face the No. 15 seed. This process continues until the No. 8 plays the No. 9 seed in each region. Often a regular-season or round-robin series takes place before the tournament to seed the teams based on a record.
4

Set the times and dates of each tournament game. Make sure each team has enough time to rest in between games. Most region games play at the same location.