The sport of badminton is played in a format where you must win 2 of 3 games to win a match. Each game is to 15 points in men's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. Women's singles is played to 11.
In games to 15 points, there are two (2) situations (scores) when the game may be extended or "set" (think of it as a type of overtime).
1) Score is 13-13: When the score is 13-13, there is an option. The player who gets to 13 first chooses to continue play (to 15) or he she may "set" the game to 5 points (play to l8). If the game is "set" there are no further options. If the player chooses to just continue play (to 14), there may be a future option at 14-14.
2) Score is 14-14: The player who gets to 14. first chooses to continue plan (to 15) or he /she may "set" the game to 3 points (play to l7). There are no other options.
In games to 11 points (Women's Singles), there again are two times where there are options to "set". These are:
1) Score is 9-9. The player who gets to 9 first can either choose to continue normal play (to 11), or she may "set" the game to 3 (play to 12). If the player chooses to just continue play (to 11), there may a future option if the score reaches 10-10.
2) Score is 10-10. The player who gets to 10 first chooses
to continue normal play
(to l l ), he or she may "set " the game to 2 (play to 12). There
are no other options.
Single Knock Out Draw:
Format: Players compete in a draw where you must win to continue. If
you lose at
anytime, you are knocked out of the competition.
Plus: Easy to run and administer uncomplicated.
Very time efficient
Train athletes to handle
and play under pressure no second chances here.
Minus: Poor for participation & encouragement
Many uncompetitive
matches
Considered
a poor format for grass roots level
Doesn't
encourage fun and enjoyment
Plus: Very good for participation
Lot of play for all levels
Eliminates some of the "luck
of the draw"
Encourages maximum match
play
Opportunity to play all
levels from those better than you, peers, those weaker
than you.
Usually get a very "honest"
result.
Minus: Very time intensive.
Need for
plenty of officials and time.
More work
to run and more work to set up initially
Can be
confusing to those who have not done it
Can be
very tiring for the athletes.
Round-Robin Scoring & Tie-Breaking:
3-way tie - Consider:
- Matches won
- Games won
- Points for/against ratio
2-Way Tie - Ways you can consider:
- Head-to-head result
- Matches/games/points vs. common opponents.
- Matches/games/points vs. all others in round robin
pool.
NOTE: Round Robins can be run under "team "formats as well as individual.
OFFICIALS & ORGANIZATION
Some Notes On A "Round Robin":
Round Robin:
The "Round Robin" format begins with teams /individuals initially placed in "round robin pools". These pools are used for preliminary play. After everyone has played everyone else in their pool, they then move on to a "play-off" draw based on where they finished in their pool.
The individuals or teams are "seeded" based on past performances. The
top seeded teams should be separated into different pools. Below are two
examples:
Example #1:
Example #2:
2 Pools - 8 Entries
4 Pools - 16 Entries
Pool "A"
"Pool "B"
Pool "A" Pool "B" Pool "C" "
Pool "D"
1
2
1
2
3
4
4
3
8
7
6
5
5
6
9
10
11
12
8
7
16
15
14
13
In the above "example #1", the schedule of preliminary play would be
something like:
Pool "A" Matches: Round 1 - 1 vs. 8
Pool "B" Matches: Round 1 - 2 vs. 7
4 vs. 5
3 vs. 6
Round 2 - 1 vs. 5
Round 2 - 2 vs. 6
4 vs. 8
3 vs. 7
Round 3 - 1 vs. 4
Round 3 - 2 vs. 3
5 vs. 8
6 vs. 7
In example #2, the process could be the same, but obviously you would
have 4 sets of matches rather than 2.
It is up to you as the organizer to determine who and how many will
make the "play-offs". There are many ways you can decide to do this. Below
are a few ideas:
Using Example #2 as the base:
You could have the top two finishers in each pool qualify for the main or championship draw, and the bottom two in each pool go on to play in a "consolation" round.
Championship
Consolation
"A"
"B"
A1
A3
B2
B4
D1
D3
C2
C4
D2
D4
C1
C3
A2
A4
B1
B3
The above example in the "A", the winner of A1-B2 plays the w/o D1-C2.
The w/o D2-C1 plays the winner of A2-B1. Then those winners would play
off for the title
You could have the 1st place finishers play-off for 1st-4th, the 2nd place finishers 5th-8th, 3rd place finishers 9th-12th, 4th place finishers 13th-16th.
1st-4th
5th8th
9th-12th
13th-16th
A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
B4
C1
C2
C3
C4
D1
D2
D3
D4
The winner of A1-B1 would play the w/o C1-D1. The winner would be 1st,
loser 2nd, and a play-off between the losers would decide 3rd. Do
same for 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th,11th, 13th,16th.
Double Knock-Out Draw:
Format: Same general draw as Single Knock-Out, but there is a "consolation"
event for 1st round losers. You are knocked out of the "main" event after
one loss, and usually can't win the championship, although there is usually
a "Consolation" or "plate" event to win.
Plus: More participation
Relatively easy to run
Still good to train athletes
to handle pressure
Provides an additional match
for athletes
Minus: For the beginners; lower level athletes, it still doesn't provide
enough
participation
and or encouragement as they are likely still knocked out quickly.
Many matches
are not competitive or 'peer" level
Feed-In: (Come-Around Double Knock-Out)
Format: Same as Double Knock-Out with regard to the initial main draw
set-up. The losers drop into the "feed-in" round (in a place in the draw
relative to where they lost) and continue play until they lose again. In
some cases, the winner of the feed-in round challenges the winner of the
main draw for the overall championship.
Plus: Participation is same as double knockout
More encouragement as one
loss doesn't mean you still can't win the main event.
Reduces importance of the
"luck of the draw"
Good to train athletes in
pressure - more matches are important.
Minus: Still not that many peer matches early on
Still not that
good for grass roots players very time intensive.
You need a large
block of time to run this type of event.
ABC Format:
Format: There are 3 separate levels of play. Everyone starts in the
main draw, and
based on results, they funnel into the appropriate event.
The "A" are the best, "B" next, and "C" the grass roots.
1st round losers go to the "B" event,
1st round losers of "B" go to the "C "event. Once you have established
what event you will be in, you must win or
be eliminated.
This can also be run where the 1st round loser goes to "C"; and 2nd round losers go to "B"
Plus: Can be better for participation and encouragement
Grass roots players are
not so intimidated to enter events, as they know there is some opportunity
to play players at
their own level.
- More match play
- More opportunity to for success
- More chance to win or get to final of an event.
Minus: Time intensive, and therefore need a lot of time to run this
type of event.
1st round
matches in the main draw are often non-competitive.
- A bit more effort needed to run the draw
- A bit more effort needed to set up the draws
ABCD Format:
Format: There are 4 separate levels of play.
Everyone starts in the main draw. Progress is based on their performance.
1st
round losers go to "C". 2nd round losers go to "B". 1st round losers of
"C" go
to "D" .
Once identified in an event, you can't move up or down to challenge in
another
event.
Plus: One of the optimal ways to run an event for fun, participation,
and
encouragement of the
athlete.
- Optimal number of "peer" matches
- Affords a great chance for success. In an event with 64 entrants, there
would only be 8 who didn't win a match.
- Lots of match play (a minimum of 3 matches
- Best chance to gel to a final or win an event
Minus: More time to set up
More work
to run
Very time
intensive
Some kids
lose on purpose to get into a weaker event.
Round Robins:
Format: The basic premise is the same, but "Round-Robins can evolve
with a great variety. Initially, a player/team is put in a group. The player
plays all the others
in their group.
If it is just one pool, then there are two ways to proceed after all
the matches
have been played.
1. Final placing is based on record after round-robin play. No
more matches.
2. Institute a "play-off". Examples:
- the top two
play-off for the championship.
- the top three
play-off, with the 1st place team receiving a "bye".
- the top four
play-off. I st vs. 4th; 2nd vs. 3rd.
The two winners play for the championship.
If there are multiple pools, there are several ways to go. Some examples:
- Two pools with 4 entries each.
After the round-robin play, the top two advance to the "championship round"
and the bottom two advance to a "consolation". 1st in pool "A" would play
2nd in pool "B"; 2nd in pool "A" would play 1st in pool "B".
Winners play for title, and you could have the losers play for the bronze
(3rd). In the
consolation: A3 vs. B4; A4 vs. B3. Winners play for the consolation
trophy (5th), and losers play for 7th.
- 4 Pools of 4 entries each. Everything as above,
but you choose who makes main event.
If 1st place winners only, then, AI vs. DI, BI vs. CI - Winners play each
other (gold & silver). Losers play each other for 3rd place overall
(bronze). Do the
same for the 2nd place finishers, 3rd place finishers and 4th place finishers.
You will end up with a final placing from 1st to 16th.
-If the top two finishers in each pool advance, then:
-Al vs. B2; DI vs. C2; C1 vs. D2; A2 vs. BI
-w/o AI - B2 vs. w/o DI-C2
- w/o CI D2 vs. w/o A2-BI
- Winners of above play in final.
- Do the same with A3, A4, B3, B4.
Reference
Anton, K.. P.E. 116 and P.E. 461A Badminton Manual. "Scoring & Tournament Information". (1997). Victoria: University of Victoria.