Choosing the scoring format for a category
Number of games, target score, rally or side-out, serving rules — and why changing the format never re-scores matches already played.
Updated 9/27/2026
Manage → Settings → Scoring format. Each category can run a different format: a recreational category plays one game to 15, the main category plays three games to 11.
This is the rule the machine runs — what the referee's console reads to know when a game ends. It is completely different from the «Competition rules» box, which is text for people to read.
Matches already played are NEVER re-scored
Every match stamps its own rules at the moment it is created. Changing the format only applies to matches NOT yet played — existing results keep the rules that were in force when they happened. This is deliberate: nobody may reinterpret a published result under different rules.
How to read the screen
CURRENTLY RUNNING — the format in force and where it comes from: «Custom rules» (the category's own), «Own template», «From the tournament», «From the tournament series», «Legacy configuration», or «Default». The closer to the category, the higher it wins.
SCOPE OF EFFECT — how many matches will take the new rules, and how many already played should keep the old ones. Read this block carefully before saving.
CHOOSE FORMAT — inherit the default, pick an existing template, or write custom rules.
The warning «Matches will LOSE submitted rosters»
If the scope block shows this line, captains will have to declare their rosters again for those matches. It cannot be undone. Only make this kind of format change when it is truly necessary, and tell the teams beforehand.
What you can write in custom rules
Number of games
The maximum number of games, or a single game only. You can enable «the deciding game runs different rules».
Who can score
«A point on every rally» (short matches, easier to keep courts on schedule) or «Only the serving team» (the traditional rule, longer games).
Target score and margin
The points needed to win a game, and whether you must lead by 2 or reaching the number is enough.
Hard cap and freeze point
Hard cap: reaching the mark wins immediately even without a 2-point lead. Freeze: from that mark you can only score while serving.
Serving rules
Servers per possession, whether the opening possession has one fewer (the «0-0-2» call), and which box you serve from.
Writing custom rules DETACHES the category from its template
If the category was inheriting a template and you switch to custom rules, later updates to that template no longer apply to this category. Consider: if several categories need the same rules, editing the template is still better than writing custom rules for each one.
Superstar-hosted tournaments are locked
Only a system administrator can change the format of a Superstar tournament — the format there is a commitment to athletes across the whole system and it feeds the rankings. For a club's own Challenge session, the club manager can change it.
Frequently asked questions
I changed the format but the referee still sees the old rules?
That match was created earlier, so by design it carries the old rules. If the match has NOT been played and you really need it to run the new rules, someone with Head Referee permission uses «Reload format» on the match detail screen — note that this action deletes the match's score and scoresheet.
What does «Per-round rules» mean?
Some rounds run rules different from the default — for example the group stage plays to 11 but the final plays to 15. This section can only be viewed and edited in the web admin area.
I see the line «Does not match the bracket — being ignored»?
There are rules declared for a round that does not exist in the current bracket, usually because the draw was redone with a different group size. Those rules do not run. Go to the per-round rules section in the web admin area to clean them up.
Is it safe to change if the category has no matches yet?
Completely safe — the scope block will say «This category has no matches yet». This is the safest moment to settle the format.
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