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How to Generate a Match Schedule Automatically

Automatically Generate Your Tournament Schedule​

Score7 includes a powerful built-in Scheduler to help you generate match schedules across your tournament in just a few steps. Instead of assigning dates and times manually, you can define your preferences and let Score7 do the work—conflict-free and time-efficient.

When Should You Use the Scheduler?​

Use the automatic scheduler if:

  • You want match dates and times assigned quickly
  • You need to prevent conflicts between teams, locations, or referees
  • Your tournament spans multiple days, venues, or time slots

You can still manually override any scheduled match after generation.

How to Access the Scheduler​

  1. Open your tournament
  2. Click Scheduler in the left-hand menu (visible only to admins)
  3. Select the stages for which you want to create a schedule (e.g., Group Stage, Knockout)

Configure Your Scheduling Preferences​

You’ll be asked to define the following settings:

1. Start Date​

  • The day you want your tournament to begin

2. Time Zone​

  • Select your local time zone
  • Choose whether this becomes the default time zone shown to all visitors

3. Excluded Dates (Optional)​

  • Add holidays, venue closures, or unavailable dates
  • Matches will not be scheduled on these days

4. Day and Time Slots​

  • Define which days of the week and what hours are available for matches
  • Each day supports up to 3 time slots, so you can create breaks during the day
  • Example: Saturday 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00 (with a lunch break in between)
  • Use the Add time slot button to add more slots, and the remove button to delete them
  • Time slots on the same day cannot overlap

5. Courts (Optional)​

  • This section shows your saved list of courts (venues or fields), each with a checkbox
  • Tick the courts you want this schedule to use — matches are distributed across the ticked courts fairly, and no court gets two matches at once
  • Unticking a court leaves it out of this run only; it stays in your saved list
  • Use Add Court to add a new court without leaving the form. You manage the full list (rename, delete, reorder) on the Courts tab

6. Referees (Optional)​

  • Works the same way as Courts: your saved list of referees, each with a checkbox
  • Tick the referees to rotate across matches — Score7 ensures they’re not double-booked
  • Add Referee adds a new one inline; the Referees tab manages the full list

7. Match Duration Estimate​

  • How long each match takes (in minutes)
  • This is used to calculate time blocks and spacing

8. Minimum Resting Time​

  • Specify rest time between matches for teams or players
  • Prevents unfair scheduling and back-to-back games

9. Gap Settings (Optional)​

  • Set minimum time between rounds, stages, or legs
  • Each gap is configured in days, hours, and minutes
  • Round gap is always available
  • Stage gap appears for multi-stage tournaments
  • Leg gap appears when a stage uses multi-leg series
  • Leave at zero for no enforced gap (the default)

These are different from resting time — resting time applies per participant, while gap settings apply to the entire tournament structure.

Final Step: Generate the Schedule​

  • Once all settings are defined, click Generate
  • The system will apply your rules and create a complete schedule
  • You can always return and adjust parameters if needed

Optional: Enable the Override existing matches setting if you're rescheduling previously assigned games. When this is turned off, the scheduler will avoid conflicts with matches that already have dates assigned.

What Happens After Scheduling?​

  • All match dates, times, venues, and referees are filled in
  • You can still manually update individual matches via the Matches page
  • The system automatically avoids conflicts based on your inputs

Want to fine-tune individual fixtures? See How to Edit Match Times, Locations, and Pairings

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