By sport / Basketball
Basketball tournament bracket
School and rec basketball events are usually single elimination, with a consolation game so first-round losers play twice. Full-court needs a whole court; half-court 3-on-3 can run two games on one.
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Entered order is the seeding. Up to 64.
Basketball rules that shape the bracket
- Game length varies: two 20-minute halves, four 8- or 10-minute quarters, or 3-on-3 to 21 with a 10-minute clock.
- Seed by last season or by a short round robin.
- In the final, tie games go to overtime periods until one team leads.
Games and time for common sizes
Time per game is set at 45 minutes and 2 courts. Change either one in the games calculator.
| Field | Games | Court time | Clock time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 teams, single elimination | 7 | 5 h 15 min | 3 h |
| 12 teams, single elimination | 11 | 8 h 15 min | 4 h 30 min |
| 16 teams, single elimination | 15 | 11 h 15 min | 6 h |
| 8 teams, double elimination | 14 | 10 h 30 min | 6 h 45 min |
Which format to use
Single elimination for 8 to 16 teams, on a gym with two courts.
Add a consolation bracket for first-round losers so every team plays at least twice; it costs extra games but not extra courts.
For a 3-on-3 event use a round robin first if you have fewer than 8 teams.
Questions
How long should a basketball game be in a tournament?
Shorten it: two 15-minute running-clock halves is common. The table assumes 45 minutes per game including warm-up.
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