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Guide6 minute read

Run match day from the Matchday Centre

Clear the readiness checks, check teams in, push back late-running matches, keep up with the live update board and move each category from its groups into the knockout stage.

Reviewed 9 November 2026 · Verified for d466fd6

Before you start

  • A tournament with a schedule, which you created or help to run as a co-admin
  • For a knockout stage: the knockout fixtures already created in Format

The short answer

Select Matchday Centre in the sidebar. Sort anything under Matchday readiness, mark teams Arrived under Team arrivals, use Delay unstarted matches when play runs late, and once every group result is in, select Proceed to knockout stage under Competition progress.

On this page

What you will do

The Matchday Centre is the tournament’s home on the day. From one page you check you are ready to start, register teams as they arrive, move matches back when a pitch runs late, watch results come in and, when the groups are finished, fill the knockout draw.

The arrivals list and the live update board refresh every 15 seconds, so several helpers can keep the page open on different devices and see each other’s changes.

Before you start

  • Only the tournament owner and co-admins can make changes here. Give Co-admin to anyone who will check teams in or delay matches on the day.
  • A delay only moves matches that have not started. Locked, live and completed matches stay where they are.
  • Competition progress only appears for categories with a knockout stage. Create the knockout fixtures in Format before match day.
  • Before you leave home, select Download printable matchday pack and Export referee schedule in case the signal is poor at the ground.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Clear the readiness checks

    Select Matchday Centre in the sidebar. Under Matchday readiness, each check has Resolve, which opens the page where you fix it, such as the venue details, unpaid entries, referees or the schedule. When nothing is left, it says No outstanding matchday checks.

  2. 2

    Check teams in as they arrive

    Under Team arrivals, teams are listed by their first kick-off. Type in Find a team to jump to one. Set Arrival to Arrived, Running late or Absent, add a Private issue note if needed, and select Save arrival.

    Good to know: If another helper has just updated the same team, select Load their update before you change it again.
  3. 3

    Push back matches when play runs late

    Under Delay unstarted matches, choose the Tournament day, a Pitch or All pitches, and the Delay in minutes. Select Preview delay to see every match that will move and its new time, then Apply this delay. The public schedule updates straight away.

    Good to know: If the preview finds a clash, or a match would finish after the day’s closing time, Playlee will not apply it. Sort the clash on the Schedule page, then preview again.
  4. 4

    Keep up with the live update board

    The Live update board lists results coming in, disputes, pitches running late and categories ready for knockout. Use the filters, such as Disputes or Needs action, and the button on each item to go straight to the right page. The most urgent items also appear at the top under Needs attention now. Further down, each pitch shows the match that is Live Now and the one that is Upcoming.

  5. 5

    Move from the groups to the knockout stage

    Under Competition progress, each category shows how many group matches are complete and the top of each group table. Once every group result is in, select Proceed to knockout stage: Playlee puts the qualified teams into the knockout fixtures you created in Format.

    Good to know: After that, the card shows the Current stage, and once the final is played, the Winner and Runner up. Winners move on to the next round as you save each knockout score.

Check you are ready

  • Matchday readiness says No outstanding matchday checks.
  • Every team that has turned up is marked Arrived.
  • Every delay was previewed before it was applied.
  • Nothing is left under Needs attention now.
  • Each category’s group results are all in before you select Proceed to knockout stage.

If something looks wrong

If something looks wrong

Check every group score before you select Proceed to knockout stage: the qualified teams are placed from the group tables as they stand. Once a knockout match has started or has a result, its teams can no longer be changed.

Common problems

Proceed to knockout stage does not appear

It appears only when every group match in that category is finished and the knockout fixtures exist. The card says how many group results are still needed, or asks you to create the knockout fixtures in Format first.

Apply this delay is greyed out

The preview found no matches to move, a clash, or a match finishing after the day’s closing time. Change the pitch or minutes, or fix the clash on the Schedule page, then select Preview delay again.

The Auto Scheduler replaced my schedule. Can I get it back?

Open Recover the schedule before regeneration at the bottom of the Matchday Centre and select Restore previous schedule. It only works if no match, result or assignment has changed, and no tournament setting has been edited, since the Auto Scheduler ran.

Can parents see the arrival notes?

No. The Private issue note is only visible to the tournament organisers.

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