Contents
Approved SCT Formats
ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ provides questions for 16 rounds of play at SCT tournaments. The tournament format at SCT must meet these criteria:
- Division I and Division II teams must have separate divisions whenever four or more teams are entered in each division.
- Every team must be guaranteed the opportunity to play a minimum of seven games.
- ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s elimination policy and tiebreaker policy apply. These requirements may be overlooked only if a host is using all 16 packets provided, and therefore no additional ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ questions are available for use in tiebreaker play.
Formats
Here are a number of pre-approved SCT formats for any number of teams in a division from 4 to 24. For each format the number of rounds scheduled is exclusive of any tiebreaker games needed, either at the end to determine titles or in the middle to determine field splits based on prior play. Other formats may be equally acceptable, but hosts who wish to use a different format for their tournament than one shown here should email [email protected] about their plans in advance.
The following abbreviations are used:
- RR: round robin (every team plays every other team)
- RR×2: double round robin (every team plays every other team twice)
- RR×3: triple round robin (every team plays every other team three times)
- ½RR: after one or more round robin, field splits into top and bottom halves for round robins within each half
- ⅓RR: after one or more round robin, field splits into thirds for round robins within each third
- PRR: pooled round robin — field is split into pools for initial round-robin play within each pool; the size of each pool is indicated in parentheses
- without repeats: matches between teams that already played each other should not be played
| Teams | Format | Games | Rounds | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | RR×3 | 9 | 9 | |
| 5 | RR×2, then ½RR | 10 | 13 | |
| 6 | RR×2 | 10 | 10 | |
| 7 | RR×2 | 12 | 14 | |
| 8 | RR, then ½RR | 10 | 10 | |
| 9 | RR, then ½RR | 11–12* | 14 | |
| 10 | RR | 9 | 9 | |
| 11 | RR | 10 | 11 | |
| 12 | RR | 11 | 11 | |
| 13 | RR | 12 | 13 | |
| 14 | RR | 13 | 13 | |
| 15 | PRR (8/7), then ½RR without repeats | 10–11* | 11 | Top 4 from each PRR plays top 4 from other. Likewise for bottom ¾. |
| 16 | PRR (8/8), then ½RR without repeats | 11 | 11 | Top 4 from each PRR plays top 4 from other. Likewise for bottom 4. |
| 17 | PRR (9/8), then ½RR without repeats | 11–13* | 14 | Top 5 from each PRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom ¾. |
| 18 | PRR (6/6/6), then ⅓RR without repeats | 9 | 9 | Top 2 from each PRR plays top 2 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2. |
| 19 | PRR (10/9), then ½RR without repeats | 13–14* | 14 | Top 5 from each PRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom 4/5. |
| 20 | PRR (10/10), then ½RR without repeats | 14 | 14 | Top 5 from each PRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom 5. |
| 21 | PRR (7/7/7), then ⅓RR without repeats | 10–12** | 14 | Top 3 from each PRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2. |
| 22 | PRR (8/7/7), then ⅓RR without repeats | 10–13* | 14 | Top 3 from each PRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2/3. |
| 23 | PRR (8/8/7), then ⅓RR without repeats | 10–13* | 14 | Top 3 from each PRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2/3. |
| 24 | PRR (6/6/6/6), then ⅓RR without repeats | 11 | 11 | Top 2 from each PRR plays top 2 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2. |
Ranking Teams
If the format consists entirely of round robins (single, double, or triple — that is, 4, 6, 7, or 10–14 teams), rank the teams by record. Ties in record stand and should not be broken except as described in the next section.
If the format consists of a round robin (or round robins) followed by rebracketing (5, 8, or 9 teams), rank the teams by playoff pool then record. Ties in record stand and should not be broken except as described in the next section.
If the format begins with a pooled round robin (15 or more teams), rank the teams by playoff pool then record within that pool. The latter means that only games against the other teams in the same playoff pool should be counted; this will be a mix of all playoff games plus one or more (but not all!) game(s) “carried over” from the preliminary phase.
Finals
If the top team (in the top playoff pool, if applicable) leads the second-place team(s) by two or more games (e.g., records of 8–0, 6–2, 6–2, followed by lower records), no final is played. The top team is the division champion.
If the top team leads the second-place team(s) by exactly one game (e.g., records of 8–0, 7–1, followed by lower records), play an “advantaged final.” That is, the top team only needs to win one game to claim the division championship, but the second-place team would need to win two games. If there is a tie for second place, apply tiebreaker games to resolve that tie before beginning the finals.
If two teams are tied with the best record (e.g., records of 7–1, 7–1, followed by lower records), those two games play a one-game final.
If more than two teams are tied with the best record (e.g., records of 7–1, 7–1, 7–1, followed by lower records), play tiebreaker games, using full games rather than half-games if possible.
Combined Fields
Combined-field finals formats are complicated and heavily situation-dependent, so an attempt to provide guidance here would be more cumbersome to follow than helpful. Directors of combined-field SCTs should call ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ or write to [email protected] for instructions once they know their specific situation.
Division I (Undergraduate)
A site’s Division I (Undergraduate) champion is the highest-ranking eligible team.
If multiple Division I (Undergraduate) teams are tied for the highest ranking, the host may leave the teams tied or break the tie at their discretion using the same concepts as for the overall division finals. If the Division I (Undergraduate) title interacts with, but is not identical to, the overall finals, the host should leave any ties standing or call ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ or write to [email protected] for help.
Questions and Problems
If you have any questions or problems, or more complicated situations (e.g., determining multiple championships in a combined field, running out of packets), call ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ or write to [email protected]. We are happy to answer questions and would much rather do that than have a host mistakenly follow incorrect procedures.