If you are organising a corporate padel tournament and you are not sure which format to pick, go with Americano. It is by far the most popular format for social and corporate events, and that comes down entirely to how it is built.
How does Americano work?
In an Americano you always play with two teams of two players. What sets it apart: the partners change every round. You do not play the whole tournament with the same person next to you, but with someone different each time. The opponents change too. By the end you will have played with almost everyone.
The points you score each round are added to your personal total. In the end the player with the most points wins, not the team. That makes Americano fundamentally different from a team tournament: everyone matters fully, even if you had a bad round early on.
Why does it work so well for companies?
No one gets knocked out. In a knockout tournament, half the field is out after the first round. Those people stand and watch while the rest play on. In an Americano everyone plays every round, from start to finish. Nobody sits on the sidelines.
Maximum social mix. Because partners and opponents change every round, you automatically play with and against colleagues you might otherwise barely speak to. That is exactly what team building should do: create new connections in an informal setting.
Accessible for every level. Americano works with all skill levels mixed together. A strong player carries a weaker partner, and the other way around. The format levels out skill differences without you having to split people into ability groups.
How many players and courts do you need?
An Americano works best with an even number of players spread across courts. Each court has four players on it at a time. The minimum is eight players on two courts. You can scale up to as many courts as the venue offers.
A handy rule of thumb: plan 12 to 15 minutes per round, depending on the number of points per game. With six rounds and a quarter of an hour per round, you are on court for an hour and a half. Add the warm-up and the drinks afterwards and you have a perfect afternoon programme.
How do you keep score?
Doing it by hand on paper is possible, but it demands the organiser's attention the whole time. With Slams, players enter their own scores through a link on their phone. The system automatically works out who plays with whom after each round and shows the standings live. The organiser does not have to administer anything.
When it is over you have a complete final ranking with each player's point total. That is the basis for the prize ceremony and for anyone who wants to check the results.
Mix Americano: for mixed groups
If you have a group of men and women that you always want to play mixed, there is a variant for that: Mix Americano. Here the system guarantees that every team always has one man and one woman. The rest of the rules are identical to standard Americano.
Want to organise an Americano for your company or business club? See what is possible at slams.app/zakelijk.
