Creating a Team Cup
This article explains how to create and configure a Team Cup in RUFUS Race Manager (RRM). A Team Cup defines how teams are formed, which participants qualify, and how team results are calculated across one or more races.
General Settings
Cup Name
The Cup name identifies the Team Cup in the interface and results. It should clearly describe the competition, such as:
Club Championship
Mixed Teams Cup
Youth Team Ranking
This name is visible to staff and appears in exports.
Team Composition
Team composition defines which team types can compete:
Male teams
Female teams
Mixed teams
For mixed teams, you can apply additional constraints:
Minimum athletes per gender
Percentage-based gender balance
No gender requirement
These rules ensure fair participation according to the competition format.
Eligible Races
A Team Cup can include one or multiple races. Only participants from the selected races are considered when forming teams and calculating results.
This makes Team Cups suitable for:
Single-race team competitions
Multi-race or league-style cups
Roster & Age Rules
Team Size and Scoring Members
In this section, you define:
Minimum number of members required per team
Maximum number of members allowed
How many members contribute to the final score
You can choose between:
All members classify – every athlete contributes
Only best members classify – only the top-performing athletes are counted
This allows formats such as “best 3 athletes per team” while still allowing larger rosters.
Age Restrictions
Age filters can be enabled to enforce:
Youth-only team competitions
Masters or veterans team cups
Only participants matching the age criteria will be considered when forming teams.
Scoring & Tie-Breakers
Scoring Model
RRM supports multiple scoring models for Team Cups:
Position-based scoring
Points table scoring
Time-based scoring
Scoring can be calculated using:
Global ranking
Gender ranking
Age-group ranking
The selected model determines how individual performances contribute to the team result. If Points table scoring is selected, you can edit the ranking points by clicking in the EDIT POINTS TABLE button.
Tie-Breaking Rules
When two or more teams finish with the same score or time, RUFUS Race Manager applies a tie-breaking rule to determine their final order. Tie-breakers are evaluated automatically during ranking calculation.
The following options are available:
None
No tie-breaker is applied. If teams remain tied after scoring, they will share the same rank.
Best Individual Position
The team with the best single individual result (highest position achieved by any team member) is ranked higher.
This option prioritizes standout performances within a team.
Better Next Scoring Member
Teams are compared by evaluating their next best scoring member, starting from the highest contributor and progressing down the roster until the tie is resolved.
This is a common and fair approach for team classifications where multiple members contribute to the result.
Highest Number of Finishers
The team with the greater number of classified finishers is ranked higher.
This option rewards teams with stronger participation and depth.
Lowest Total Time of Best Members
The team with the lowest combined time of its scoring members is ranked higher.
This is especially useful for time-based Team Cups where consistency across top athletes matters.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Teams are compared based on direct performance against each other within the same races.
This option is useful in league-style or recurring competitions where teams face each other multiple times.
How Tie-Breakers Are Applied
Tie-breakers are applied only when teams are tied
The selected rule is evaluated automatically
Rankings update dynamically if results change
Choosing the appropriate tie-breaker ensures transparent and predictable team rankings aligned with your competition rules.
Example: Youth Mixed Team Cup
Below is an example of a typical Team Cup configuration.
Scenario
An event organizer wants to create a Youth Mixed Team Cup for a 10 km race.
Configuration
Team composition: Mixed teams
Gender rule: Minimum 1 male and 1 female per team
Team size:
Minimum members: 2
Maximum members: 6
Scoring members: Best 3 athletes per team
Age restriction: Youth category only
Scoring model: Time-based
Scoring method: Average time of scoring members
Result
Teams are detected automatically from race participants data
Only teams meeting gender and age rules become eligible
Each team’s final time is calculated as the average of its best three athletes
Teams are ranked from fastest to slowest
This setup produces a clear, fair, and easily explainable team classification.
Last updated