How to Pick Tournaments Strategically — Stop Entering Everything

It's tempting to sign up for every tournament within driving distance. More matches means more improvement, right? Not necessarily. Playing too many tournaments can lead to burnout, injuries, and a shrinking bank account — without the development gains you'd expect. Here's how to be more strategic.

Start with the Calendar

Sit down at the beginning of each season and map out the major tournaments your child wants to target. Work backward from those dates. You need training blocks between tournaments — periods where your child can work on specific skills without the pressure of competition. A good rule of thumb is no more than two tournaments per month, with at least one full week of training in between.

Match Tournament Level to Ability

Entering a tournament that's too far above your child's level leads to blowout losses and crushed confidence. Entering tournaments that are too easy doesn't push development. Look at past results from the tournament — are the scores competitive? Will your child get at least two or three meaningful matches? A competitive loss where your kid fights for every point is worth more than a hollow first-round win. A good rule of thumb: your child should be winning roughly half to two-thirds of their matches.

Maximize Matches Per Dollar

Tournaments with consolation draws or round-robin formats guarantee multiple matches. For developing players, this is gold. A weekend tournament where your child plays three matches — even if they lose in the main draw — is better value than a single-elimination event where one bad day means one match and done.

Factor in Travel

A nearby Level 5 tournament might be a better use of your time and money than a faraway Level 4. Calculate the total cost: entry fee, gas or flights, hotel, food, missed school or work. Sometimes the local tournament is the smarter play.

Build Toward Specific Goals

Is your child trying to qualify for a specific sectional championship? Trying to break into a new ranking tier? Trying to build confidence after a rough stretch? Each of these goals suggests a different tournament strategy. Talk to your child's coach about which events make the most sense for where they are right now, not where you wish they were. Use our tool to help select the most appropriate —and highest payoff tournament.