What this setup gives each player
Twelve players fill three doubles courts with no rests. Six rounds give everyone six games. There are eleven possible partners per player, so this short social samples the group rather than pairing everyone with everyone else.
| Measure | Worked result |
|---|---|
| Active / sitting each round | 12 / 0 |
| Doubles matches | 18 |
| Player-slots across the session | 3 × 4 × 6 = 72 |
| Equal-play target per person | 6 games; 0 rests |
| Example booking | 72 play + 10 changes + 10 setup/breaks = 92 min |
The shortest arithmetic cycle for equal game totals is 1 round: total player-slots must divide evenly by 12. This says nothing about whether partners or opponents all differ. Open “Balance check” in the tool to inspect the actual generated result. Use Next to move between rounds, or Show all rounds to see the full schedule. Turn on Enter scores when you want to track standings.
Fit it into the reservation
With 12-minute games, two-minute changes, and ten minutes for setup and breaks, six rounds require 92 minutes. To fit a 90-minute reservation, use 11-minute games for an 86-minute plan or reduce the buffer only if the group can really be ready on time. A 90-minute reservation is not a 90-minute playing window.
Handle a late arrival or missing player
Confirm all twelve names before occupying three courts. Eleven players can fill only two courts, leaving three people resting. If the twelfth person is late, run a separate two-court warm-up block and regenerate once everyone is present. Previously recorded scores and partner history do not transfer to the new block.
The tradeoff to explain before game one
Moving to two courts creates four sit-outs per round. Six rounds then provide 48 player-slots, allowing four games and two rests per player. To retain six games each, you need nine rounds on two courts, taking 134 minutes with the default example timing. Extra courts save elapsed time only when you have enough people to use them.
If your court count changes
For mixed experience levels, agree whether the goal is social mixing or competitive balance. DinkRounds does not accept ratings and cannot guarantee equal team strength. If you split the group into skill bands, create separate schedules and keep each band's court allocation explicit.
The example assumes timed games and two minutes between rounds, with no changeover after the final round. Adapt it with the court time calculator. For the announcement, scoring, and finish procedure, use the organizer guide.
These are social-session planning choices, not sanctioned tournament requirements. Report a calculation or scheduling issue with the counts and sample initials.