Matches & Scheduling | MyCup Documentation

Matches are the core competitive element of your tournament. MyCup provides tools for generating matches, managing schedules, entering results, and tracking match details efficiently.

Matches Management Guide

Quick reference for managing tournament matches efficiently:

Quick Stats

Click any stat at the top of the matches page to filter matches by status or view expired matches. This provides instant access to:

Not started matches
In progress matches
Finished matches
Expired matches (past unfinished matches)

Expired Matches

Past unfinished matches are highlighted in red and marked with an "Expired" badge. These are matches that were scheduled in the past but no result was entered. Use the "Show Expired" filter to view and manage them.

Generate Matches

Auto-create fixtures for phases with one click. Important:

Ensure participants are assigned to phases first before generating matches
Matches are NOT created automatically - you must manually click "Generate Matches"
For multi-stage tournaments, generate matches for each stage as participants are assigned to it

The system will create matches based on your tournament structure (league, knockout, or mixed format).

Quick Result

Click "Result" on any match to enter scores, extra time, and penalties without opening the full match form. This is the fastest way to enter basic match results.

Quick Filters

Use quick filter buttons for instant filtering:

Today - Show matches scheduled for today
This Week - Show matches scheduled this week
Status buttons - Filter by match status
Show Expired - Display past unfinished matches

Venue & Referee

Missing venue or referee? Look for amber warning indicators in the matches table and assign them directly. This helps ensure all matches have complete information before they're played.

Bulk Actions

Select multiple matches to perform bulk operations:

Set dates and times for multiple matches
Assign venues in bulk
Assign referees to multiple matches
Delete matches in bulk

Full Match Editor

Click "Edit" on any match for complete control:

Manage team squads and lineups
Record match events (goals, cards, substitutions)
Enter detailed substitutions
Track match statistics

Generating Matches

Automatic Match Generation

MyCup generates matches automatically based on your tournament structure:

Before generating matches:

Complete your tournament structure configuration
Assign all participants to phases and groups
Verify your structure is correct

To generate matches:

Go to Matches page
Click "Generate Matches" button
Select which phases to generate matches for
Choose whether to shuffle teams (randomize)
Confirm generation

What happens:

League Format: Round-robin matches created with balanced home/away assignments
Knockout Format: Bracket matches created with proper seeding
Mixed Format: Group stage and knockout matches created in sequence

Important for multi-stage tournaments:

Matches are NOT generated automatically when participants are assigned
You must manually generate matches for each stage/phase
After completing a stage (e.g., group stage), assign qualified participants to the next stage (e.g., knockout), then generate matches for that stage
This gives you control over when matches are created and allows you to verify participant assignments first

Match Day Organization

Generated matches are organized into match weeks/days:

League: Match Day 1, Match Day 2, etc.
Knockout: Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final, etc.
Custom names can be set in phase settings

Managing Matches

Viewing Matches

The matches table shows:

Home team vs Away team
Date and time
Venue (ground)
Referee
Match status
Score (if finished)

Filter and sort:

Use quick filters (Today, This Week)
Click status stats to filter by status
Show/hide expired matches
Sort by any column

Assigning Match Details

Set Date and Time:

Click on individual match to set date/time
Use bulk actions to set multiple matches at once
Leave unscheduled if date not confirmed

Assign Venue:

Click on match to assign venue/ground
Select from your created venues
Use bulk actions for multiple matches
Amber warning shows if missing

Assign Referee:

Click on match to assign referee
Select from your created referees list
Use bulk actions for multiple matches
Amber warning shows if missing

Match Statuses

Not Started - Match scheduled but not yet played

In Progress - Match currently being played (optional status)

Finished - Match completed with final score entered

Expired - Past matches without results (highlighted in red)

Entering Match Results

Quick Result Entry

For basic score entry:

Find the match in matches table
Click "Result" button
Enter home team score
Enter away team score
Add extra time score (if applicable)
Add penalty shootout result (if applicable)
Save

Results update automatically in standings and statistics.

Full Match Editor

For detailed match information:

Click "Edit" on the match
Access complete match management:
- Set team squads and starting lineups
- Record match events (goals, cards)
- Enter substitutions
- Add match notes
- Set detailed scores
Save all changes

Match Events

When using the full match editor, you can record:

Goals:

Goal scorer
Assist provider (optional)
Time of goal
Own goals

Cards:

Yellow cards
Red cards
Player and time

Substitutions:

Player coming in
Player going out
Substitution time

Extra Time and Penalties

Extra Time:

Enter additional time score separately
System tracks regular time + extra time

Penalty Shootout:

Enter penalty shootout score
Record final outcome for knockout progression

Bulk Operations

Selecting Multiple Matches

Use checkboxes to select matches
Click "Bulk Actions" button
Choose operation:
- Set date/time for all selected
- Assign venue to all selected
- Assign referee to all selected
- Delete selected matches

Regenerating Matches

If you need to regenerate matches:

Delete existing matches (use bulk delete)
Make structure changes if needed
Click "Generate Matches" again

Warning: Deleting matches will remove all entered results and match data.

Match Scheduling Best Practices

Before Generating Matches

Complete tournament structure first
Assign all participants to groups/brackets
Create venues and referees if needed
Verify your structure is correct
Remember: Matches will not generate automatically - you must click "Generate Matches"

For Multi-Stage Tournaments

Generate matches for each stage separately
Complete stage 1, assign qualified participants to stage 2, then generate stage 2 matches
Don't generate knockout stage matches until group stage is finished
This allows you to verify results and advancement before creating next stage matches

After Generating Matches

Review all generated matches
Assign dates and times
Assign venues
Assign referees
Check for conflicts

Scheduling Tips

Allow sufficient rest time between matches
Consider travel time for teams
Avoid scheduling conflicts with venues
Communicate schedule to participants early
Use bulk actions to save time

Managing Match Information

Required Information

Minimum to generate matches:

Tournament structure configured
Participants assigned to phases

Recommended before matches start:

Date and time set
Venue assigned
Referee assigned (if tracking referees)

Optional Information

Match importance/round labels
Match notes or comments
Detailed squad information
Pre-match announcements

Common Match Management Tasks

Before Tournament

Generate all matches
Assign dates, times, venues
Assign referees
Communicate schedule to teams
Verify all information is correct

During Tournament

Enter match results as they're played
Use Quick Result for speed
Update match statuses
Handle rescheduling if needed
Track ongoing matches

After Tournament

Verify all results are entered
Check for expired matches
Review final standings
Archive tournament data

Troubleshooting

Matches Not Generating

Cause: Participants not assigned to phases

Solution: Go to Tournament Structure and assign participants to all groups/brackets before generating matches

Expired Matches Showing

Cause: Past matches without results entered

Solution: Click "Show Expired" filter, review matches, enter results or delete if not played

Cannot Edit Match

Cause: Match might be locked or in special status

Solution: Check match status, ensure you have proper permissions

Bulk Actions Not Working

Cause: No matches selected

Solution: Select matches using checkboxes first, then use bulk actions

Next Steps

After setting up your matches:

Enter Results: Use Quick Result or Full Editor to record match outcomes
Track Progress: Monitor standings and statistics on results pages
Update Website: Configure your public website to display match schedules and results

Effective match management ensures your tournament runs smoothly and provides a great experience for all participants!