Contents

    Approved SCT Formats

    NAQT provides questions for 16 rounds of play at SCT tournaments. The tournament format at SCT must meet these criteria:

    Formats

    Here are a number of pre-approved SCT formats for any number of teams in a division from 4 to 24. For each format the number of rounds scheduled is exclusive of any tiebreaker games needed, either at the end to determine titles or in the middle to determine field splits based on prior play. Other formats may be equally acceptable, but hosts who wish to use a different format for their tournament than one shown here should email sct@naqt.com about their plans in advance.

    The following abbreviations are used:

    *Uneven split gives some teams one more game than others
    **The bottom bracket teams play two fewer games than the top bracket teams
    Teams Format Games Rounds Note
    4 RR×3 9 9  
    5 RR×2, then ½RR 10 13  
    6 RR×2 10 10  
    7 RR×2 12 14  
    8 RR, then ½RR 10 10  
    9 RR, then ½RR 11–12* 14  
    10 RR 9 9  
    11 RR 10 11  
    12 RR 11 11  
    13 RR 12 13  
    14 RR 13 13  
    15 SFRR (8/7), then ½RR without repeats 10–11* 11 Top 4 from each SFRR plays top 4 from other. Likewise for bottom ¾.
    16 SFRR (8/8), then ½RR without repeats 11 11 Top 4 from each SFRR plays top 4 from other. Likewise for bottom 4.
    17 SFRR (9/8), then ½RR without repeats 11–13* 14 Top 5 from each SFRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom ¾.
    18 SFRR (6/6/6), then ⅓RR without repeats 9 9 Top 2 from each SFRR plays top 2 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2.
    19 SFRR (10/9), then ½RR without repeats 13–14* 14 Top 5 from each SFRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom 4/5.
    20 SFRR (10/10), then ½RR without repeats 14 14 Top 5 from each SFRR plays top 5 from other. Likewise for bottom 5.
    21 SFRR (7/7/7), then ⅓RR without repeats 10–12** 14 Top 3 from each SFRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2.
    22 SFRR (8/7/7), then ⅓RR without repeats 10–13* 14 Top 3 from each SFRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2/3.
    23 SFRR (8/8/7), then ⅓RR without repeats 10–13* 14 Top 3 from each SFRR plays top 3 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2/3.
    24 SFRR (6/6/6/6), then ⅓RR without repeats 11 11 Top 2 from each SFRR plays top 2 from others. Likewise for middle 2 and bottom 2.

    Ranking Teams

    If the format consists entirely of round robins (single, double, or triple — that is, 4, 6, 7, or 10–14 teams), rank the teams by record. Ties in record stand and should not be broken except as described in the next section.

    If the format consists of a round robin (or round robins) followed by rebracketing (5, 8, or 9 teams), rank the teams by playoff pool then record. Ties in record stand and should not be broken except as described in the next section.

    If the format begins with a split-field round robin (15 or more teams), rank the teams by playoff pool then record within that pool. The latter means that only games against the other teams in the same playoff pool should be counted; this will be a mix of all playoff games plus one or more (but not all!) game(s) “carried over” from the preliminary phase.

    Finals

    If the top team (in the top playoff pool, if applicable) leads the second-place team(s) by two or more games (e.g., records of 8–0, 6–2, 6–2, followed by lower records), no final is played. The top team is the division champion.

    If the top team leads the second-place team(s) by exactly one game (e.g., records of 8–0, 7–1, followed by lower records), play an “advantaged final.” That is, the top team only needs to win one game to claim the division championship, but the second-place team would need to win two games. If there is a tie for second place, apply tiebreaker games to resolve that tie before beginning the finals.

    If two teams are tied with the best record (e.g., records of 7–1, 7–1, followed by lower records), those two games play a one-game final.

    If more than two teams are tied with the best record (e.g., records of 7–1, 7–1, 7–1, followed by lower records), play tiebreaker games, using full games rather than half-games if possible.

    Combined Fields

    Combined-field finals formats are complicated and heavily situation-dependent, so an attempt to provide guidance here would be more cumbersome to follow than helpful. Directors of combined-field SCTs should call NAQT or write to sct@naqt.com for instructions once they know their specific situation.

    Division I (Undergraduate)

    A site’s Division I (Undergraduate) champion is the highest-ranking eligible team.

    If multiple Division I (Undergraduate) teams are tied for the highest ranking, the host may leave the teams tied or break the tie at their discretion using the same concepts as for the overall division finals. If the Division I (Undergraduate) title interacts with, but is not identical to, the overall finals, the host should leave any ties standing or call NAQT or write to sct@naqt.com for help.

    Questions and Problems

    If you have any questions or problems, or more complicated situations (e.g., determining multiple championships in a combined field, running out of packets), call NAQT or write to sct@naqt.com. We are happy to answer questions and would much rather do that than have a host mistakenly follow incorrect procedures.

    Schedule Templates

    NAQT has produced an Excel file of templates for many of these suggested formats, into which team names and room names can easily be inserted to produce ready-to-print schedules.

    Download Excel File

    Tournament Schedule

    NAQT maintains a schedule of college events, including novice tournaments, sectional championships, and the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament.

    View Schedule