Complete rules.

Goal & setup

Last name standing wins.

Field Day is a bracket of short one-on-one games. Each person has multiple name cards, and each card is one path through the bracket. Losing one path does not eliminate a person while another copy of their name is still alive.

Choose the board

For P players and S outside entry slots:

• Name cards per player: floor(S / P)
• Planned byes: S mod P
• Main games: S - 1
• With third place: S total games
• Suggested candidate pool: total games + 8

Everyone receives the same number of names. Use a board that gives each player at least two. Eight players on 32 entries—four names each and no byes—is the recommended full setup.

Prepare the cards

1. Make equal name-card sets and any planned bye markers.
2. Prepare a visible empty bracket with outside name slots and game junctions.
3. Choose short, decisive games and write their equipment, setup, win condition, time limit, and important access or safety note.
4. Offer about eight more game cards than the board needs. Repeated games are allowed.
5. Hold back one copy of every player's name for the final name round.

Draft the board

Any name. Any game.

1. Put the nonreserved names and every candidate game face up where everyone can reach them.
2. Randomly choose the first drafter. Use a snake order: first to last, last again, back to first, first again, and repeat.
3. On a turn, choose one available card and place it in one legal empty slot.
4. Names go only in outside entry slots. Games go only at junctions, including the final and optional third-place game.
5. A player may choose their own name, another person's name, or any game.
6. Do not deliberately put a name directly against itself while another legal name slot remains. If the last legal placement creates that matchup, it is allowed.
7. A legal card cannot move. An illegal placement returns to the pool and costs that turn.
8. Continue until every required game and every nonreserved name is placed. Set the unused games aside.
9. Release the reserved names and continue the same snake until every entry slot is full.

Host script: “On your turn, place one name or one game. You may choose anyone. Names stay outside, games go at junctions, and a legal card cannot move. We finish with the reserved names.”

Play the bracket

Start outside. Move inward.

1. Start any ready outside matchup. Independent games may happen at the same time.
2. The two names play the game at their junction.
3. The winner moves to the next bracket slot. Only the losing name-card path is out.
4. The bracket never reseeds. Continue until the final has a winner.

Players may report obvious results themselves. For a close race or judgment, the host watches or asks an impartial person to decide. If the host is playing, somebody else decides their close call.

Optional third place

Send the two semifinal winners to the final and the two semifinal losers to one third-place game. Third place is recognition only and does not affect the champion.

Scores & exceptions

Keep the bracket moving.

Scoring

A game decides only that matchup. Field Day has no cumulative points, bonuses, or comparisons between different games.

Same-name matchup

That name advances by bye. If one person reaches both sides of the final, they are champion without playing it.

Blank or missing player

The other path advances. If somebody withdraws, cross out their remaining names and treat those paths as byes.

Tie

Use the game's sudden death or equal extra attempts. If a tie still remains, flip a coin.

Substitution

There are no player substitutions. A player may concede; only that name-card path is lost.

Unplayable game

The host replaces it with an unused approved game for both players. Weather, equipment, safety, access, or venue failure is not a player forfeit.

Dispute

The host decides ordinary questions. If the host is involved, an impartial person decides. Then play continues.

Host sheet

Prepare once. Keep it moving.

Accessibility & safety

The game changes for the people playing.

• Venue and emergency rules always come first.
• No game requires alcohol. Water Pong uses water and does not involve drinking.
• Check whether a game requires running, standing, balance, throwing, bending, fine motor control, seeing, hearing, reading, memory, or quick reactions.
• Adjust a setup for both players or replace the game. An inaccessible game is never a forfeit.
• Keep running, throwing, water, and swing areas separate. Stop when equipment or the area becomes unsafe.
• A player may stop or concede without explaining why.

Starter game cards

Ten games for the pool.

Hosts may adjust ordinary distances and equipment for the group while keeping the same basic game and giving both players the same setup.

Make your own

Any short one-on-one contest can join the pool. Name the equipment and setup, write one clear way to win, aim for five minutes or less, and note important access or safety needs.

Complete worked example

Eight players. Sixteen entries.

This compact fictional example is easier to read than the recommended 32-entry event, but it uses the same rules.

• Players: Ari, Bea, Chen, Dev, Eli, Fran, Gio, Hope
• Names: two each, 16 total, no byes
• Games: 16 on the board, 24 offered
• Random order: Ari → Bea → Chen → Dev → Eli → Fran → Gio → Hope