Choosing your setup
Two independent questions shape every tournament you run with bracket-creator. First, how digital your venue is: whether you print and score on paper, keep one device per shiai-jo, or run fully on-screen scoreboards with real-time mobile pages. Second, who runs and scores the matches: trained staff behind an admin password (officiated) or competitors scoring their own bouts with no password required (self-run). Because these questions are independent, you choose each one separately and combine them however suits your event.
Digitization level
How far you digitize determines which surfaces you use on the day. See Three ways to run a tournament for a full explanation of each level.
- Offline. Print the Excel brackets and score on paper. No networked devices are needed at ringside.
- Partially connected. One device per shiai-jo keeps courts in sync through the tournament app.
- Fully digital. On-screen scoreboards and real-time mobile pages show scores and standings to everyone in the hall.
Operating model
The operating model controls who can record scores and advance matches. In officiated mode, staff authenticate with the admin password and run every match. In self-run mode, competitors report their own results with no password barrier. See Operating modes for the full rules on both models, including guidance on when to choose each one.
Choose by how you run the day
The following table maps common event configurations to the right starting point.
| Scenario | Digitization | Who scores | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print and run on paper | Offline | Staff | Generate brackets |
| Officiated event | Partial or full | Staff | Run a tournament |
| Self-run event | Partial or full | Competitors | Run a tournament and Operating modes |
Choose by your role
If you know your role at the event, the following table takes you directly to the guide written for you.
| Role | What you do | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | Set up and run the event | Run a tournament |
| Court operator | Score matches at a shiai-jo | Scoring a match |
| Competitor | Register and report your own results in self-run | Self-run |
| Spectator | Follow scores and standings | Following a tournament |
New to bracket-creator?
If this is your first time using the app, work through Your first tournament for the fastest path from an empty server to real-time results on a screen.