Best tournament format (10U-12U)

I have often thought that if I started my own tournament organization what would be the best format to use...especially at the 10U and 12U levels? I personally have never liked the guaranteed 4 game format with 2 pool and then double elimination. It forces a team in the loser's bracket to play 6 or 7 games in one day sometimes and I do not feel this is good for the kid. I have seen more injuries occur in 5th, 6th, and 7th games of a day than in earlier games. No way a 10U/12U can stay focused for that many games in a day..just my opinion.

Another problem with this format is that on Sunday you have no idea what your schedule will be or when you may be able to leave. In some cases you may get knocked out on Saturday and you had to get the hotel until Sunday.

I like the 5 game guarantee with pools of 6 teams. You would play 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Your schedule would be set and everyone would know exactly what is going on. You could award the pool winner with a trophy in this case.

Another format that has been getting some attention is the 2 game pool and then single elimination. I like this better than the 2 and 2 format.

AAU basketball has a format that when a team loses they cannot win the gold bracket. They have 3 brackets and only the winners stay in the Gold bracket. You can still win a trophy by winning the silver or bronze bracket, but only undefeated teams could win the gold bracket.

Some people don't like the Showcase format where you are not playing for a trophy and it took me a little while to get used to it, but I like it better now because I know exactly what the schedule is and who we will play well ahead of time. Again...some tournaments are putting a single elimination in it at the end and this should satisfy the trophy hunters...I don't have much of a problem with this either.

What do some of you prefer...I am talking about the younger ages here.

 

Great question!

Well this is my second trip to 10u as my DGD is playing on a tournament team now. I do enjoy the showcase format both with and without the single elim on Sunday for the 16 and 18u because it gives them a chance to be "seen" by colleges and also, with the single elimination on Sunday gets the competitive urge satisfied.
For 10 and 12u I think Three pool games that would seed into a single elim. tourn. would be good to try. The reason Iwould liketo see seeding is so that two of the stronger teams dont play in the first round.

 

3 Pools and single elimination...good format too!

I like that one too! Anything that would eliminate the 6 - 8 game per day scenario is great with me. Thanks!

 

Speaking from TD experience, coaches and parents may say that they like the 3 pool and Single elimination better, but if when it comes time to enter tournaments in 10u-12u-14u, more teams will always sign up for a 2+2 rather than a 3+1 as long as price and product remain the same. I don't know why but they will.

 

How about a 5 game guarantee with a round robin format? Schedule set and opponents identified before hand? This is my preference.