What you will do
Set up the live field
Select the right players or teams, confirm courts, and choose the format that matches the group type and tonight's constraints.
Control each round
Generate, review, and then lock matchups before scoring starts. Use sitting rows and sit counts to keep the rotation defensible.
Finish with a credible record
Live sync lets players follow along, and ending the session writes standings, results history, and post-session AI insight for the group.
Step 1
Select players or teams for the exact group type you are running
For pickleball groups: Start with selection, because everything else depends on it. Rotating doubles sessions select individual players, fixed-partner sessions select teams as units, and singles sessions select one-player entries. If your attendance came from RSVP, confirm no-shows before you generate anything.
- Rotating doubles: choose the players who are actually present and ready to rotate.
- For pickleball groups: Fixed partners: select full teams, not individual players, so standings and edits stay team-based.
- For pickleball groups: Singles: select only players, with no doubles-style pairing assumptions later.
Clean selection is the difference between a smooth session and mid-round edits. If someone is doubtful, leave them out and add them next session instead of forcing a broken draw.
Step 2
Assign courts so the live screen reflects the real venue
The court setup screen is not busywork. It is what players will later see on the live session screen, and it affects how rounds feel on-site. Use the actual number of available courts and label them in a way players recognize immediately.
- Use only courts that are truly available for the whole session window.
- Name courts clearly - numbers are fine if that is how your venue works.
- If courts drop mid-session, adjust before generating the next round.
Step 3
Choose the format and any settings before you generate matchups
For pickleball groups: Format comes after selection and courts because those two constraints determine what is realistic. Rotating doubles groups can run manual, round robin, KOTC, or fixed session modes. Singles and fixed-partner groups stay on round robin, but the round count and court pressure still matter.
- For pickleball groups: Round robin: best when you want balanced repetition control and transparent sits.
- KOTC: best when you want challenge-court energy and faster reshuffling.
- For pickleball groups: Manual: useful when you want to steer pairings yourself while still preserving live sync and standings.
Step 4
Generate games, lock the round, then enter or accept scores
The games screen is your live control room. Generate the round, inspect the match cards, and only then lock matchups. After locking, those same cards switch from edit mode into score-entry mode for you - and for players when the live session flow allows participant scoring.
- Use the sitting row to make the current rotation visible for everyone on site.
- Use cumulative sit counts to check fairness when courts are limited.
- Only final, non-tie scores should be submitted, whether they come from you or from players.
Step 5
Advance with live standings, then end the session cleanly
For pickleball groups: Players can submit scores from the live session view and the manager standings stay aligned when the round is fully synced. Use the standings screen to monitor wins, losses, point differential, and sit counts where relevant. When the session is truly finished, end it so the published summary becomes the durable group record.
- Do not advance until the current round is truly complete.
- Use standings to catch odd data before ending the session.
- For pickleball groups: Expect the completed session page, notifications, podium, and AI insight to become the post-night reference point inside the group.
What players see live
Saved recap in the group
Related guides
Help both sides of the live session
Managers create the flow, but players need the player guide to understand banners, games, standings, and score entry.
Players
Sessions Player Guide
Share this with participants so they know how to follow games, standings, and live score entry.
Foundation
Groups Admin Guide
Start here if you still need help with roster quality, manager roles, or keeping the group hub organized.
Format change
Mini Tournaments Guide
When you want pools and knockout instead of pure rounds, move into the tournament workflow.
Session habits
The best session managers do three things every time
Treat lock as the handoff to live play. After that, the job becomes score capture, not matchup editing.
Use the sitting row and sit counts to keep fairness visible for players and co-managers.
A clean session close gives players a trustworthy summary and keeps historical insights stronger.