How to organise
How to Organise a Squash Round Robin for Your Club
Running a squash round robin for your club is more about logistics than squash skill. Running an event for your existing club is the easiest version because you already have the infrastructure: a venue, a member roster, a regular schedule. The work is just sequencing the pieces. This guide is the order of operations — what to decide first, what to leave for last, and the mistakes that ruin the day.
Step 1: Build the schedule
Build the schedule before the day. Number every match, assign every court, and write the start time next to it. If you wing the schedule on the day, you will fall behind by round 2.
Step 2: Communicate clearly
Send a confirmation message the day before with: venue address, start time, what to bring, and your phone number. Send a reminder the morning of. Over-communicate.
Step 3: Plan for the unexpected
Have a plan for: weather (if outdoor), no-shows, equipment failure, and disputes. Most of these never happen but the one that does will derail your day if you're not ready.
Step 4: Set the entry fee
Charge a small entry fee even for friend groups. It signals commitment, covers court hire, and means people show up. The exact amount matters less than charging something — $10 to $25 is the right range.
Step 5: Finish strong
Plan the end of the day in advance: who hands out prizes, where you take photos, what announcements you make. The last 10 minutes shape the memory of the whole event.
Tips for your club
Use your existing communication channels (group chat, email list) for invites and updates. Don't reinvent registration if your club already has a way to do it.
Format guidance: round robin
Round robin is the fairest format because every player plays every other player. Generate the schedule with a free round robin generator so the rounds are balanced.
Use the linked free generator at the end of this guide to produce a printable schedule in seconds.
Common mistakes
Not communicating clearly before the day. People show up at the wrong time, in the wrong place, or with the wrong equipment because the organiser sent one cryptic message a week ago.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best format for a squash round robin with your club?
round robin works well for your club because it gives every player a guaranteed number of matches and the standings reflect actual performance. Use your existing communication channels (group chat, email list) for invites and updates. Don't reinvent registration if your club already has a way to do it.
How long does a squash round robin take?
That depends on the player count and the format. As a rule of thumb: a single-elimination tournament with 8 players takes about 4 hours on one court; a round robin with 8 players is closer to 7 hours. Halve the time if you can run two courts in parallel.
Can I run a squash round robin with the Volley app?
Yes. Volley supports single elimination, round robin, and pool play formats with proper squash scoring rules built in. Free on iOS and Android. The free Round Robin Generator on the website is a no-app alternative if you only need the schedule.
What's the smallest number of players for a squash round robin?
4 players is the realistic minimum for any tournament format. Below that you're really just playing matches, not running an event. 6-8 is the sweet spot for a casual half-day; 16+ for a full-day tournament.