---
title: Event planning
contentType: How-to
description: Create a preliminary schedule, then place matches in the real plan as groups lock.
date: 2026-09-03
tags: event, planning
sort_order: 3
slug: event/planning
---

# Event planning

The planning page has two tabs: preliminary planning and real plan. Use the preliminary plan to estimate rings and duration before weigh-ins finish, then use the real plan to place actual matches.

## Event planning

This page covers the two planning tabs. The full sequence, from preliminary plan to published matchlists, is in [Getting started with events](/docs/event/getting-started).

## Preliminary planning

The preliminary plan uses the number of boxers not yet weighed in to estimate the schedule. Use it to work out how many rings you need and how long the event will run.

Click **Autoplan** to split groups evenly across all rings and timeslots. The autoplan places finals on the last day and semifinals on the day before that, and so on.

[![Preliminary plan](/assets/docs/event/preliminary-plan.webp)](/assets/docs/event/preliminary-plan.webp)

## Real plan

The real plan fills in with matches to place once groups are locked or the draw is done. You cannot plan groups that are not ready yet. If you made a preliminary plan, matches are placed in the same positions as that plan.

[![Real plan](/assets/docs/event/real-plan.webp)](/assets/docs/event/real-plan.webp)

## Recommended workflow

The short version, in order: create timeslots and rings, run a preliminary plan with **Autoplan**, check in and weigh in, split or merge groups, draw, then place and save matches in the real plan. Each step is detailed in [Getting started with events](/docs/event/getting-started).
Avoid using the planning page once bouts have started: move individual matches from the matchlist instead.

## Splitting groups

Groups with too many boxers, or more bouts than allowed per day, can be split in two:

- In the **Groups** tab, groups that exceed their limit show a warning triangle with a split action.
- You can also open a group before it is drawn and use the split tool there.
- Splitting is based on who is checked in or weighed in, so split after check-in for balanced groups. If you split before check-in you may end up with uneven groups and have to merge again.
- Split groups are drawn separately: prefer **Draw all groups** or drawing each group from its own page.

## Troubleshooting

**Matches are missing or unplanned.** Matches shown with unfilled names have no ring assigned. Click the match, select a session and ring, then save.

**The plan doesn't change when I draw.** The real plan only fills in for groups that are drawn or locked. Groups with no checked-in boxers cannot be planned.

**End times look wrong.** Estimates assume the round durations set on each class plus the configured break between bouts. Auto-created classes default to 3x3, so edit the class if estimates are too long.

Each ring has a sort button, shown with a blue ring when active. Clicking it re-sorts the matches in that ring by round, then age, then category experience (matches required to enter the category), then weight, and finally gender as a tie-breaker. While sorting is inactive, new matches placed in the ring land at the bottom of the list.