How would I figure out how to make an even schedule for 16 volleyball teams?

Question

Every team should play each other. There are three courts. Is there an easy way to figure it out?

Answer 1

Divide them into 3 pools. Each pool plays on their own court. Do round-robin play for the pools, with the 1st and 2nd teams from each pool going on to the playoffs.

PLayoffs

Game 1: First from pool one plays second from pool 2

Game 2: First from pool two plays second from pool 3

Game 3: First from pool three plays second from pool 1

The top 3 teams move into the semi finals.

The team with the highest overall points from the semi finals (points for- points against) moves straight into the finals. The other two teams play a semi final game with the winner moving to the finals and the loser getting 3rd place.

It would be easier if you had 4 courts, or 4 pools.

Answer 2

The above answer is correct.  16 teams with 4 courts would have been great.  

I have an unusual suggest for you.  Break it into 4 groups of 3 and 1 group of 4.  

Court 1-Pool E

Group of 4 plays 2 to 25 and will be done around 3pm

1 VS 4

2 VS 3

1 VS 3

2 VS 4

1 VS 2

3 VS 4

Have 2 groups of 3 assigned to the other courts.

Court 2  Pool A and Pool D

Court 3 Pool B and Pool C

1 VS 3

2 VS 3

1 VS 2

Have them alternate.  On court 1, pool A has 1 vs 3, then pool D has team 1 vs 3.  And so on.  If you have the teams play 3 to 25 no matter what, courts 2 and 3 will be done at 3pm.  

With 5 pools, the playoffs will be a little tricky as well.  

Since the pool of 4 has played more matches, I would go ahead and give them the bye.

If you take the top team from pools A, B, C and D and the top 2 from pool E, then you will have 6 teams and you can justify it by saying you are taking all the teams ABOVE the halfway mark in each pool.  Pool A plays pool D,  Pool B plays Pool C and the winners play the two teams from Pool E and then the winners play.  That gives you 3 rounds of playoffs.  If you go 2 out of 3 to 25,25 and 15 in each of the 3 rounds, you are looking at about 4 hours.  If you just take it to one to 25 instead of 2 out 3 and the finals are 2 out of 3, you are looking at 2 hours.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to email.  As you can tell, I have run a tournament or two before.