Americano padel: organise an event for 8 or 12 players
Run a social Americano with downloadable rotations for 8 and 12 players, a scoring example, timing estimates and a clear withdrawal policy.
You have eight keen players but do not want anyone eliminated after one match. An Americano lets players change partners between rounds and build individual scores while everyone keeps taking part.
For this Americano format, use 8 players on 2 courts or 12 players on 3 courts. The proposed version uses 24 total points per match, fixed rotations and a downloadable results sheet. These are house rules for a recreational event, not a universal federation format.
What makes it different from a pairs tournament?
You keep your player number while changing partners. Points won by your team also count towards your individual total. Losing a round does not eliminate you.
Clubs use different versions. Risbygate’s programme published by Suffolk LTA describes 24-point matches for eight players; The Grange Club describes a 32-point version. Tell entrants the scoring, rotations and tie rules rather than relying on the word “Americano”.
Describe the experience players need before accepting entries. Changing partners does not remove a large difference in playing speed. Our guide to padel levels in Argentina can help a visitor explain their experience without assuming an international rating converts directly.
House rules for this version
Send these conditions with your invitation:
- A match ends after 24 points in total across both teams. It is not first to 24 and does not require a two-point margin.
- Every rally scores one point. A 14-10 result gives each winning partner 14 individual points and each opponent 10. A 12-12 draw is valid.
- At the start of each round, set the serving order as A1, B1, A2, B2. Each player starts three consecutive points; repeat that sequence twice. A second serve or let does not use an additional point in the sequence.
- Alternate service boxes between points within each block. Begin each block from the right, and change ends after 12 total points.
- Start the next round together once all courts have finished and checked their results.
- Rank players by individual points, then rounds won. Share the position if still tied. Announce this before play.
The serving sequence and change of ends are agreements for this social version. Use the basic padel rules for rallies. Do not switch between point-by-point scoring and 15, 30, 40 during the event.
Rotation for 8 players
Draw player numbers from 1 to 8 and keep them throughout. Seven rounds use two courts simultaneously. Each player partners each of the other seven once.
Download the 8-player rotation CSV. It opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets and has blank result columns.
| Ronda / Round | Cancha / Court 1 | Cancha / Court 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 + 8 vs 2 + 7 | 3 + 6 vs 4 + 5 |
| 2 | 1 + 7 vs 8 + 6 | 2 + 5 vs 3 + 4 |
| 3 | 1 + 6 vs 7 + 5 | 8 + 4 vs 2 + 3 |
| 4 | 1 + 5 vs 6 + 4 | 7 + 3 vs 8 + 2 |
| 5 | 1 + 4 vs 5 + 3 | 6 + 2 vs 7 + 8 |
| 6 | 1 + 3 vs 4 + 2 | 5 + 8 vs 6 + 7 |
| 7 | 1 + 2 vs 3 + 8 | 4 + 7 vs 5 + 6 |
Rotation for 12 players
The full twelve-player rotation requires eleven rounds and three courts. Everyone plays in every round and partners each of the other eleven once.
Download the 12-player rotation CSV.
| Ronda / Round | Cancha / Court 1 | Cancha / Court 2 | Cancha / Court 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 + 12 vs 2 + 11 | 3 + 10 vs 4 + 9 | 5 + 8 vs 6 + 7 |
| 2 | 1 + 11 vs 12 + 10 | 2 + 9 vs 3 + 8 | 4 + 7 vs 5 + 6 |
| 3 | 1 + 10 vs 11 + 9 | 12 + 8 vs 2 + 7 | 3 + 6 vs 4 + 5 |
| 4 | 1 + 9 vs 10 + 8 | 11 + 7 vs 12 + 6 | 2 + 5 vs 3 + 4 |
| 5 | 1 + 8 vs 9 + 7 | 10 + 6 vs 11 + 5 | 12 + 4 vs 2 + 3 |
| 6 | 1 + 7 vs 8 + 6 | 9 + 5 vs 10 + 4 | 11 + 3 vs 12 + 2 |
| 7 | 1 + 6 vs 7 + 5 | 8 + 4 vs 9 + 3 | 10 + 2 vs 11 + 12 |
| 8 | 1 + 5 vs 6 + 4 | 7 + 3 vs 8 + 2 | 9 + 12 vs 10 + 11 |
| 9 | 1 + 4 vs 5 + 3 | 6 + 2 vs 7 + 12 | 8 + 11 vs 9 + 10 |
| 10 | 1 + 3 vs 4 + 2 | 5 + 12 vs 6 + 11 | 7 + 10 vs 8 + 9 |
| 11 | 1 + 2 vs 3 + 12 | 4 + 11 vs 5 + 10 | 6 + 9 vs 7 + 8 |
Both schedules were checked for duplicate players within a round and repeated teammates. They do not guarantee different opponents in every match or balance matches by ability. Player numbers are drawn, not seeded.
For a shorter event, announce seven rounds and use the first seven of the twelve-player sheet. Everyone will play equally often, but they will not partner every other entrant. Describe it as a shortened rotation.
How much court time should you book?
This is a planning calculation, not a duration guarantee. Assume 12 minutes per round, two minutes between rounds and ten minutes for an initial briefing and warm-up:
| Players | Calculation | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 × 12 + 6 × 2 + 10 | 106 minutes |
| 12 | 11 × 12 + 10 × 2 + 10 | 162 minutes |
Discuss two-hour or three-hour blocks respectively with the club, leaving a buffer. Twenty-four points can take longer than the assumption. Agree in advance that, if time runs short, the standings will include only rounds completed by every court. Do not invent a time limit while matches are underway.
For visitors, put the local start time, location and expected finish in the invitation. Leave room for the organiser to explain the rotation in both languages if needed.
A scoring example and two useful checks
In the first eight-player round, players 1 and 8 face 2 and 7. If the result is 14-10, enter those two numbers on that court’s row. Then add 14 to players 1 and 8, and 10 to players 2 and 7.
The two team scores must total 24. The four individual contributions total 48 because each team’s result is credited to two players. Ask both teams to approve the recorded result before moving courts.
The CSV is a results register; it does not automatically calculate standings. Keep individual totals on another sheet or on paper using player numbers. The bilingual headings let an Argentine organiser and visiting players use the same file.
If someone withdraws
Before the event, a replacement can take the absent player’s schedule number. If you cannot replace them, this grid no longer fits: change the format and explain the change before collecting fees or starting play.
For a withdrawal during the event, a simple announced policy is to close the standings at the last fully completed round and continue socially with a replacement. Do not transfer an individual’s accumulated points to a new arrival. Include this policy in the invitation so everyone understands the consequence.
Common questions
Can I use the 12-player schedule with two courts?
Not unchanged. Each round has three simultaneous matches. Two courts require byes or additional time blocks, a new schedule and checks that everyone plays equally often. The estimated timing above does not cover that arrangement.
Does FaltaOne run the tournament for me?
These are downloadable resources, not a claim that the app provides tournament management. If you run a club and want to discuss connecting suitable players with matches, explore the proposal for clubs.