PingPongArena gives you three ways to build a roster, all reachable from the same Add Players step in the setup wizard. This guide covers all three and when each one is actually faster.
Option 1 — One at a time (the default form)
The form that opens automatically on the Add Players step: Name, Surname, Rank, Rating — save, and it re-opens for the next player. This is the slowest option and is best for a small roster you're entering from memory. See the club-night setup guide for the full walkthrough.
Option 2 — Paste roster (bulk add)
Switch to Paste roster mode, then paste a list of names, one per line, from wherever your club already keeps a list — a text file, a spreadsheet column, a messaging app export. Submit, and a confirmation reads "N players added" (singular "1 player added." for a single name).
This is the fastest option for a roster you already have written down somewhere else — you don't retype anything.
Option 3 — Quick add (typeahead roster picker)
Switch to Quick add mode. The hint under it reads: "Type a name to search or add — fastest for a big roster." Start typing a name in the search box (placeholder: "Type a name…"), and the app searches two things at once.
- Your current tournament's roster — if the name is already added, a badge reads "Already in roster" and pressing Enter is a safe no-op; it will not create a duplicate.
- Your club directory — every player who has appeared in one of your club's past events on this workspace. Matching names show a "Last played {{date}}" tag and are ranked with the most recently played players first.
- Tap a matching name to add them instantly — no retyping their rank or rating, since the directory remembers them.
- If nobody matches, a "Create new player 'name'" option appears — tap it to add a brand-new person, who is then also saved into your club directory for next time.
What the club directory actually is
- It's built automatically from your own past tournaments on this workspace — there's no separate step to "set up" a directory. The first time you run an event and add players, they're remembered for next time.
- It's private to your club's workspace — it does not pull from any other club or a shared PingPongArena-wide list.
- Matching search folds accented characters (so a Lithuanian name like "Ąžuolas" matches a plain-typed "azuolas"), and results are ranked by how recently that person played, not alphabetically.
Adding players after the tournament has already started
During setup — before you press Start — all three options above work normally, and creating a brand-new player is allowed.
After the tournament has started, you can still add an existing player from your club directory or the current roster; they're added via an "Add to draw" badge that slots them into the running event. Creating a brand-new person is not allowed once setup has closed — the app shows an honest message that new players can only be created during setup, rather than silently failing.
Honest limits
- The club directory only remembers people from events run in your own workspace — a fresh account or a brand-new club has an empty directory until its first event.
- Bulk paste and quick-add both still respect the Free/Club player caps: 16 on Free, 32 on Club.
Common questions
What's the fastest way to add a lot of players at once?
Paste roster mode — switch to it, paste a list of names one per line from any text file or spreadsheet column, and submit. No retyping.
Can I add players from a previous club night without retyping their details?
Yes. Quick add searches your club directory, which remembers everyone who's played in your workspace before, and adding a matched name carries over their rank and rating automatically.
Can I add a brand-new player after the tournament has started?
No. Once setup has closed, you can still add an existing player from the club directory or current roster via the "Add to draw" badge, but creating a brand-new person is only allowed during setup.
Does the club directory share names across different clubs?
No. It's private to your own workspace and is built automatically from your own past events — it never pulls from another club or a shared PingPongArena-wide list.
Do the bulk-add methods still respect the player cap?
Yes. Paste roster and quick-add both still count toward the Free plan's 16-player cap or the Club plan's 32-player cap.