With eight players and two courts, everyone can play every round. This three-round sample gives each player three different partners. It is a short rotation, not a complete all-partners round robin.
Number players 1–8 at check-in. Use names beside the numbers so people can find their court without asking the organizer each round.
Three-round schedule
Each pair stays together for that round only. A plus sign joins partners; “vs” separates the teams.
| Round | Court 1 | Court 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 + 2 vs 3 + 4 | 5 + 6 vs 7 + 8 |
| 2 | 1 + 3 vs 5 + 7 | 2 + 4 vs 6 + 8 |
| 3 | 1 + 4 vs 6 + 7 | 2 + 3 vs 5 + 8 |
For example, player 1 partners with 2, then 3, then 4. No player repeats a partner in these three rounds. Opponents can repeat; this schedule prioritizes changing partners and keeping everyone playing.
Agree when a round ends
For normal games, pick a target score and keep the chosen scoring rules consistent. If one court finishes early, have those players wait or warm up without recording another scheduled result. Start the next round when both courts are ready.
A fixed-time social session needs its own written ending rule. Decide what happens when time is called and the score is tied. Don’t present that house format as the standard end to an ordinary game.
When the roster changes
If a ninth player arrives, this eight-player sheet no longer shares court time evenly. Pause between rounds and make a new rotation with byes. Record who has already sat out.
For ten players on two courts, two players sit each round. Across five rounds there are ten sitting slots, so one bye per player is possible if you plan the rotations accordingly.
Keep the session informal unless you have published how individual standings are calculated. Changing partners means a team win can contribute to several players’ records, depending on the format you choose.
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