Americano for 7 players on 1 court
With 7 players a perfect rotation is mathematically impossible, because 7 × 6 ÷ 4 isn’t a whole number of matches. This schedule covers 19 of the 21 possible partnerships in 11 rounds, with no pair together more than 2 times. Each round uses 1 court, so 4 people play and 3 sit out.
Opens the organiser with 7 placeholder players. Swap in real names and keep the same rotation.
The schedule
Numbers are players: write your names next to them, or start it in the organiser to fill them in. “1 & 4 v 2 & 3” means players 1 and 4 play players 2 and 3.
| Round | Court 1 | Sits out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 & 3 v 7 & 2 | 1, 4, 6 |
| 2 | 4 & 6 v 3 & 1 | 2, 5, 7 |
| 3 | 7 & 1 v 5 & 2 | 3, 4, 6 |
| 4 | 4 & 3 v 7 & 6 | 1, 2, 5 |
| 5 | 5 & 6 v 2 & 1 | 3, 4, 7 |
| 6 | 7 & 3 v 4 & 2 | 1, 5, 6 |
| 7 | 4 & 5 v 1 & 6 | 2, 3, 7 |
| 8 | 3 & 2 v 5 & 7 | 1, 4, 6 |
| 9 | 1 & 4 v 6 & 3 | 2, 5, 7 |
| 10 | 5 & 2 v 4 & 7 | 1, 3, 6 |
| 11 | 6 & 1 v 3 & 7 | 2, 4, 5 |
How fair it is
- Partnerships covered
- 19 / 21
- Most times with the same partner
- 2
- Times against each opponent
- 1–4
- Matches per player
- 6–7
- Rounds sitting out per player
- 4–5
- Back-to-back sit-outs
- 0
How long it takes
Rule of thumb: about 35 seconds per point plus 2 minutes to change ends and courts. Real games vary with level and serving rules.
| Points per match | Per round | All 11 rounds | Rounds in 90 min | Rounds in 2 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 12 mins | 2 hrs 12 mins | 7 | 10 |
| 21 | 15 mins | 2 hrs 45 mins | 6 | 8 |
| 24 | 16 mins | 2 hrs 56 mins | 5 | 7 |
| 32 | 21 mins | 3 hrs 51 mins | 4 | 5 |
Booked for less time than the full rotation? Play the first rounds: the schedule is ordered so match counts stay within one of each other whenever you stop.
Player by player
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Sits out | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
What 7 players means in practice
Over the full rotation each player plays 6–7 matches (about 1 hr 52 mins of play at 24 points). Rounds sitting out per player: 4–5.
If one player cancels, 6 players on 1 court need 8 rounds (partners rotate with few repeats). If one more joins, 8 players on 1 court need 14 rounds (everyone partners everyone once).
Questions organisers ask
How many rounds does an Americano with 7 players on 1 court take?
11 rounds for the full rotation, with 1 court in use each round. At 24 points per match that is roughly 2 hrs 56 mins.
Does everyone partner everyone with 7 players?
Not quite: with 7 players a perfect rotation can’t exist. This schedule covers 19 of 21 partnerships and spreads sit-outs evenly.
What if we have less time?
Play the first rounds in order. In 90 minutes of 24-point matches you fit about 5 rounds; in two hours about 7.
Running padel nights every week?
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