How to Set Up a Tchoukball Court for a Tournament

To set up a tchoukball court, mark a rectangular playing area with clear boundary lines, place one rebound frame at the centre of each end line, and mark a semicircular forbidden zone in front of each frame. Then set out benches, a scoring table and spare balls outside the lines. For a tournament, repeat the same tchoukball court layout on every court you use. Number each court, and pair the setup with a simple bracket and a timed schedule so every team knows where and when it plays next.

This guide takes you from an empty hall or field to a running event. You do not need any event-planning experience.

What Does a Tchoukball Court Layout Include?

A tchoukball court layout has four parts: the boundary lines, two rebound frames, two forbidden zones and the space around the court for players and officials. There are no goalkeepers and no nets across the middle. Teams score by bouncing the ball off a frame so that it lands inside the court and is not caught by the defending team.

Boundary lines: These lines outline the rectangular playing area. A ball that lands outside them after a shot does not count as a point for the attackers.
Rebound frames: These are tilted, elastic net frames, one at each end. Under the international rules, the rebound surface is about 1 m × 1 m and is set at an angle of about 55 degrees.
Forbidden zones: These are D-shaped semicircles in front of each frame, usually with a 3 m radius. Players may not touch the ground inside them while playing.
Surrounding space: This is free floor around the court for safe run-off, team benches and the scoring table.

Official court length and width depend on the rule edition and the level of play. Schools and recreational groups often use smaller courts. Before you mark anything, check the current rules from the international federation (FITB) or your national tchoukball association. Then use exactly the same dimensions on every court in your tournament.

What Equipment Do You Need for a Tchoukball Court Setup?

A basic tchoukball court setup needs two rebound frames, at least one suitable ball, and something to mark the lines. For a tournament, add a few items that keep matches moving.

Item	Quantity per court	Purpose
Rebound frames	2	Scoring targets at each end
Match balls	2 (one spare)	Avoids delays when a ball rolls away
Marking tape, chalk or flat cones	Enough for all lines and two semicircles	Court markings and boundary lines
Measuring tape and a length of string	1 of each	Measuring lines and drawing the forbidden zones
Coloured bibs	1 set per team, or 2 contrasting sets	Telling teams apart
Whistle and timer	1 each	Refereeing and timing matches
Score sheet or small whiteboard	1	Recording results for the bracket
Court number sign	1	Showing teams which court is which

Indoors, use tape that will not damage the floor. Outdoors, chalk or flat rubber cones work well on grass or hard surfaces. Avoid tall cones on the lines, because players can trip over them.

How Do You Mark a Tchoukball Court Step by Step?

Mark a tchoukball court by working from the outside in: boundary first, then centre points, then frames and forbidden zones.

Check the space. Measure the hall or field. Leave free space on all sides of the court so players do not run into walls, posts or spectators.
Mark the four corners. Use the measuring tape to set the length and width you chose. Check that the corners are square by measuring both diagonals. If the two diagonals are equal, the rectangle is square.
Draw the boundary lines. Join the corners with tape, chalk or flat markers. Keep the lines straight and easy to see.
Find the centre of each end line. Measure half the width along each short side and mark the point. Each frame will sit here.
Mark the forbidden zones. Tie a string at the centre point of the end line. Measure 3 m along the string, or the radius in your chosen rules, and mark a curve on the court side. Swing the string from one side of the end line to the other. The result is a D-shaped semicircle.
Place the rebound frames. Set each frame at the centre of its end line, facing into the court. Make sure it stands firm and does not slide when hit.
Test the rebound. Throw a few balls at each frame. Check that the ball bounces back into the court and that the frame stays in place.
Mark the centre of the court (optional). A small mark in the middle helps with restarts if your rules use one.

How Should You Place Equipment Around the Court?

Good equipment placement keeps everything off the playing area and out of player run-off space.

Put team benches along one long side, with one team on each half.
Place the scoring table at the middle of the same long side, where the scorer can see both frames.
Keep spare balls, water bottles and bags behind the benches, not beside the frames.
Leave the area behind each frame clear, because players often chase rebounds there.
Put the court number sign where arriving teams can see it from the entrance.

How Do You Set Up More Than One Court?

To run two or more courts, copy the same tchoukball court layout side by side and leave a safety gap between them. Position the frames so that balls rebounding on one court do not fly into the next court. Placing courts in a row along a long hall usually works better than placing them back to back. Number the courts clearly (Court 1, Court 2), because your schedule will refer to these numbers.

How Do You Choose a Tournament Format?

Choose your format based on the number of teams, the number of courts and the time you have. For friendly tournaments, a common choice is group play followed by a short knockout. Every team gets several games, and the event still ends with a final.

Format	How it works	Best for	Number of games
Round robin	Every team plays every other team once	3–5 teams	Teams × (teams − 1) ÷ 2. For example, 5 teams = 10 games
Groups + knockout	Round robin in small groups, then semi-finals and a final	6–12 teams	Group games + knockout games
Single elimination	Losers leave after one game	Many teams, little time	Teams − 1. For example, 8 teams = 7 games

Single elimination is quick, but half the teams play only once. Most friend groups prefer a format that guarantees each team at least two or three games.

How Do You Build a Tchoukball Tournament Bracket?

Build a bracket by fixing the number of teams, splitting them into groups, and writing down in advance who plays whom in every round, including the knockout games.

Confirm the teams. Decide on team size, then count how many full teams you have. Do this before the event day.
Pick the format from the table above.
Split teams fairly. If some teams are clearly stronger, put them in different groups. This is called seeding.
Number every match. Write Match 1, Match 2 and so on. Knockout games then become easy to describe: "Winner of Match 7 plays Winner of Match 8."
Set the scoring and tie-break rules. Decide how many standings points a win, a draw and a loss earn. Choose the tie-break order, for example head-to-head result, then point difference, then points scored. Write these rules on the bracket sheet.

Example: Bracket for 6 Teams

With 6 teams, make two groups of three. Group A has A1, A2 and A3. Group B has B1, B2 and B3. Each group plays a round robin of 3 games, which gives 6 group games. The top two teams of each group reach the semi-finals.

Match 7 (semi-final): 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B
Match 8 (semi-final): 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A
Match 9 (3rd place, optional): Loser Match 7 vs Loser Match 8
Match 10 (final): Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8

That makes 10 games in total. The two third-placed teams can play a friendly placement game if time allows.

What If You Have an Odd Number of Teams?

With an odd number of teams in a round robin, one team rests in each round. This rest is called a bye. Spread the byes so no team rests twice in a row. With 5 teams, for example, each team gets one bye during the group stage. In a knockout bracket, give byes to the top-seeded teams so they go straight to the next round.

How Do You Plan a Realistic Tournament Schedule?

Plan a realistic schedule by turning each game into a fixed time slot. A slot covers playing time, plus changeover, plus a small buffer. Multiply the number of slots by the slot length.

Official tchoukball matches are played in periods. Friendly tournaments usually shorten games so everyone gets more matches. Choose one game length and keep it the same for the whole group stage. The knockout games can be slightly longer if you want.

Example: Schedule for 6 Teams on One Court

This example assumes 12-minute games, with 5 minutes for teams to change and results to be recorded. That makes a 17-minute slot.

Slot 1: A1 vs A2
Slot 2: B1 vs B2
Slot 3: A1 vs A3
Slot 4: B1 vs B3
Slot 5: A2 vs A3
Slot 6: B2 vs B3
Break: 15 minutes, while standings are calculated
Slot 7: Semi-final (Match 7)
Slot 8: Semi-final (Match 8)
Slot 9: 3rd place game
Slot 10: Final

Ten slots of 17 minutes take 170 minutes. With the break, the total is about 3 hours and 5 minutes. Add 30 minutes before the first game for setup and warm-up. Because the two groups alternate, no team plays two games back to back.

Example: 8 Teams on Two Courts

With 8 teams, make two groups of four. Each group plays 6 games, so there are 12 group games. Group A plays on Court 1 and Group B on Court 2. Two games run at the same time, so the group stage needs 6 rounds. Add one round for the semi-finals and one for the final and 3rd place game. That gives 8 rounds in total.

With 15-minute games and 5-minute changeovers, each round takes 20 minutes, so 8 rounds take 160 minutes. In this setup, every team plays in every group round. Plan a 10–15 minute rest break after the third round so players can recover.

How Much Buffer Should You Add?

Add a buffer for delays you cannot predict, such as late arrivals, injuries, or a frame that needs adjusting. A simple rule is to add one spare slot for every five or six games, or to end the schedule 20–30 minutes before you must leave the venue. If you run ahead of schedule, start the next game early only if both teams are present and ready.

How Do You Make the Next Round Clear to Everyone?

Make the next round clear by posting one up-to-date schedule in a visible place. Use match numbers and court numbers, and announce each upcoming game before it starts.

Use one master board. A whiteboard or large printed sheet near the entrance should show every match number, court, time and team. Write results on it as soon as each game ends.
Write knockout games as placeholders. Before the group stage ends, show semi-finals as "1st Group A vs 2nd Group B". Replace these with team names once the standings are final.
Call the next game early. When a game starts, announce which teams play next and on which court, so they can warm up.
Share a digital copy. Post a photo of the updated board in the group chat after each round.
Explain tie-breaks openly. If two teams finish level, show the tie-break calculation on the board so everyone understands why a team advanced.

How Do You Handle Changes on the Day?

Handle changes by deciding the rules in advance and applying them the same way for every team.

A team withdraws before the start: Rebuild the bracket for the new number of teams. For example, if 6 teams become 5, switch to a single round robin of 10 games.
A team leaves during the group stage: Choose one approach in advance. Either remove all its results, or record its remaining games as forfeits with a fixed score.
A team arrives late: Set a waiting time, such as 5 minutes after the scheduled start. After that, either record a forfeit or move the game to the spare slot.
The schedule runs late: Shorten the remaining games by the same number of minutes for everyone. You can also drop the 3rd place game. Avoid cutting the break, because players need it.
Equipment problems: Keep spare tape and a spare ball at the scoring table. If a frame becomes unstable, pause the game and fix it before play continues.

Quick Checklist Before the First Whistle

Before play starts, confirm that the court and the plan are both ready.

The boundary lines and forbidden zones are clearly marked on every court.
The rebound frames are centred, stable and tested.
Benches, the scoring table and bags are outside the playing area.
Every court is numbered.
The bracket shows match numbers, tie-break rules and knockout placeholders.
The schedule includes slot length, breaks and a buffer.
Each court has a referee and a scorekeeper.
All teams have seen the schedule and know where to check for the next round.

When the tchoukball court setup is consistent and the plan is visible to everyone, a group of friends can run a tournament that starts on time, moves smoothly, and ends with a clear winner.