Getting Started with Dutchie's Brackets

This guide will walk you through creating your account, setting up your first tournament, and inviting participants.

Creating an Account

Navigate to Dutchie's Brackets
- Go to dutchieb.com (or your deployment URL)
- Click "Get Started" or "Sign Up" in the navigation
Create Your Account
- Enter your email address
- Create a secure password (minimum 8 characters)
- Enter your name (this will be displayed as tournament organizer)
- Click "Create Account"
Email Verification (if enabled)
- Check your email for a verification link
- Click the link to verify your account

Already have an account?

Click "Sign In" in the navigation
Enter your email and password
Click "Sign In"

Forgot your password? Click "Forgot Password" on the sign-in page to reset it.

Creating Your First Tournament

Once you're signed in, creating a tournament is a simple 4-step process.

Step 1: Choose Your Sport

Click "Create Tournament" from the dashboard
Select the sport for your tournament:
- Pool / Billiards - For 8-ball, 9-ball tournaments
- Pickleball - Court-based pickleball competitions
- Basketball - Court-based basketball tournaments
- Cornhole - Board-based cornhole events
- Custom - Create your own sport configuration
Click "Next"

Step 2: Tournament Details

Provide basic information about your tournament:

Required Fields:

Tournament Name: Give your tournament a memorable name
- Example: "Summer Pool Championship 2025"

Optional Fields:

Description: Add details about the event (up to 500 characters)
- Include rules, prizes, or special instructions
Start Date: When the tournament begins
End Date: When the tournament concludes

Click "Next" to continue.

Step 3: Format & Settings

Configure how your tournament will run:

Bracket Type:

Double Elimination (Recommended)
- Players get a second chance in the losers bracket
- Most fair for competitive play
- Best for 8-32 participants
Single Elimination
- One loss and you're out
- Fast and decisive
- Best for large tournaments or time constraints
Round Robin
- Everyone plays everyone
- Best for small groups (4-8 players)
- Ensures maximum play time

Maximum Participants:

Select: 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 players
Brackets will automatically adjust for fewer participants

Venue Count:

Number of tables/courts/boards available
Used for optimal match scheduling
Example: 3 pool tables = 3 concurrent matches

Click "Next" to continue.

Step 4: Privacy & Access

Choose who can see and join your tournament:

Tournament Visibility

Private (Invite-Only) - Recommended

Only people with your invitation link can see the tournament
Tournament won't appear in public listings
Full control over who participates

Public

Tournament appears in browse listings
Anyone can view the bracket
Invitation link still required to join

Participant Requirements

Allow Quick Join - Recommended

Participants join instantly with just their name
No account creation required
Fastest way to get players registered
Perfect for in-person events

Require Full Account

Participants must create a verified account
Provides email contact for all participants
Better for online or scheduled tournaments
Prevents duplicate registrations

Click "Create Tournament" to finish!

Understanding Your Tournament Dashboard

After creating your tournament, you'll land on the Tournament Dashboard. Here's what you'll see:

Tournament Overview

Tournament Name & Description
Current Status: DRAFT, REGISTRATION_OPEN, IN_PROGRESS, etc.
Participant Count: Shows registered players vs. maximum
Sport Icon & Details

Action Buttons

Open Registration

Allows participants to join via invite link
Changes status to REGISTRATION_OPEN

Generate Bracket

Creates the tournament bracket
Only available once minimum participants are registered
Cannot be undone

Start Tournament

Begins match play
Changes status to IN_PROGRESS

Share Tournament

Copy invite link to clipboard
Share via email, SMS, or messaging apps

Overview: Tournament details and actions
Participants: View and manage registered players
Bracket: View the tournament bracket (after generation)
Schedule: See upcoming and completed matches
Settings: Modify tournament configuration

Getting the Invite Link

Click the "Share" button on your tournament dashboard

Your unique invite code and link will be displayed:

Invite Code: ABC123
Link: https://dutchieb.com/join/ABC123

Click "Copy Link" to copy to clipboard

Via Text/Email

Join my tournament!
https://dutchieb.com/join/ABC123

Via QR Code (if enabled)

Display the QR code on a screen
Participants scan with their phone camera
Instantly redirected to join page

In-Person

Display the invite code: ABC123
Participants visit dutchieb.com
Click "Join Tournament"
Enter code: ABC123

What Participants See

When someone opens your invite link:

Tournament Preview
- Tournament name, description, sport
- Start date and organizer name
- Current participant count and spots available
Join Options

If Quick Join is Allowed:
- Enter their display name
- Click "Join Tournament"
- Immediately registered (no account needed)
If Full Account is Required:
- Must sign in or create an account
- Click "Join Tournament" after authentication
- Registered with verified email
Confirmation
- Success message
- Redirected to tournament page
- Can view bracket and upcoming matches

Opening Registration

Before participants can join:

Go to your tournament dashboard
Click "Open Registration"
Status changes to REGISTRATION_OPEN
Share the invite link
Watch participants join in real-time

Closing Registration:

Click "Close Registration" when ready
No new participants can join
Existing participants remain registered

Next Steps

Completed:

Account Created
First Tournament Created
Invite Link Shared

Continue to:

Managing Participants - Add, remove, and seed players
Generating Brackets - Create your tournament bracket
Running Your Tournament - Start matches and track results

Quick Reference: Tournament Creation Checklist

□ Sign up for Dutchie's Brackets account
□ Create tournament (4-step wizard)
  □ Step 1: Select sport
  □ Step 2: Enter tournament details
  □ Step 3: Choose format & settings
  □ Step 4: Set privacy & access controls
□ Open registration
□ Share invite link with participants
□ Wait for participants to join
□ Generate bracket (minimum 2 participants)
□ Start tournament
□ Enter match results
□ Celebrate your winner!

Need help? Check our FAQ or Troubleshooting Guide.