How it Works
Leaderboard Points track tournament results; Skill Rating estimates how strong you play.
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At a glance
Leaderboard Points
“I have earned 120 points this season.”
Like a frequent flyer program — rewards effort and success over time.
- When it updates
- Awarded when a tournament completes
- What it's used for
- Global leaderboard and pre-seeding rank
Skill Rating
“I play at a 2200 skill level.”
Like a chess Elo — measures win probability vs other rated players.
- When it updates
- After every scored match
- What it's used for
- Progress tracking, finding events at your level, fair seeding ties, and stronger-field multipliers (SOF)
Tournament journey
1
Before the event
You are seeded by your rolling 24-month global leaderboard points. Skill rating breaks ties when points are equal.
2
During the event
Skill rating updates after every scored match — seeding games and playoffs. Each change is logged on your profile so you can see how you played through the event.
3
After the event
Leaderboard points are awarded from final placement: round(base × event multiplier). The multiplier is Size × SOF and is shown live on each tournament page.
4
Over time
Leaderboard points from every organization accumulate into one global balance; entries older than 24 months roll off your rolling total. Your skill rating history chart shows whether your playing level is trending up, down, or holding steady.
Every org on Session uses the same points formula, so results are comparable across the platform.
Leaderboard points
Σ
How points are calculated
Final points = round(Base × Size × SOF). Base values are modest (2–16 by finish). Size and SOF scale payouts for larger and tougher fields. Each tournament page shows one live event multiplier that updates as the field fills.
Placement
Base Points
Quantity
Size Factor
Quality
SOF Index
SOF uses the average skill rating of the top 25% of the field (baseline 1500 = 1.0×, clamped 0.5×–2.5×).
| Finish | Base Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 16 |
| 2nd | 14 |
| 3rd | 12 |
| 4th | 10 |
| 5th–8th | 8 |
| 9th–16th | 6 |
| 17th–32nd | 4 |
| 33rd–64th | 3 |
| 65th+ | 2 |
Tournament seeding
Before seeding games begin, players and teams are placed into pools using the same ranking order shown on tournament registration lists.
Priority 1 — Global Leaderboard Points
Rolling 24-month total sets overall rank, pool assignment, and pool seed
Priority 2 — Skill Rating
Breaks ties when global leaderboard points are equal
After seeding games finish, playoff pairing uses seeding match results (wins, then point differential). If points and skill rating are equal, a stable name/id fallback is used.
Skill rating
Glicko-2 skill rating
An objective measure of how you play right now. It rises when you win tough matches and falls when you lose, updates after every scored tournament match, and builds a history on your profile so you can see whether you are improving over weeks and months — not just event to event.
Why skill rating matters
Track your improvement
Your profile rating history graph shows how your level changes over time — wins, losses, and tougher fields all show up so you can see real progress.
Find events that fit your level
Clinics, sessions, and tournaments label skill levels so you can pick events where others are near your level. The goal is not to shut anyone out — it is so games stay competitive and fun for everyone.
Fair tournament seeding
When two players have the same leaderboard points, skill rating breaks the tie so pool placement reflects playing strength.
Stronger fields, bigger point opportunities
The average skill of the top players in a tournament feeds the Strength of Field (SOF) multiplier, so tougher events can award more leaderboard points.
Global skill leaderboard (opt-in)
Once you are rated, you can choose to appear on the platform skill leaderboard and compare yourself to players across every org on Session.
Typical rating changes
| Your team | Opponent | Result | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | 1500 | Win 21–19 (close) | +22 |
| 1500 | 1500 | Win 21–10 (comfortable) | +119 |
| 1500 | 1500 | Loss 19–21 (close) | -22 |
| 1500 | 1700 | Win 21–19 (upset) | +85 |
| 1500 | 1700 | Loss 19–21 (expected) | +40 |
| 1700 | 1500 | Win 21–19 (expected) | -40 |
| 1700 | 1500 | Loss 19–21 (upset) | -85 |
Team rating uses the average of the top 2 rated players per side (top 3 for fours). New players start at 1500 with high RD (350), so early matches swing more.
Skill tiers
Beginner
Learning the game
Intermediate
Developing consistency
Amateur
Solid local player
Semi-Pro
Regional contender
Domestic Elite
Top domestic level
Pro
Provincial Title Contender
National
Top Domestic Player
Continental
International debut
World Class
FIVB World Tour regular
Elite 16
Olympic Hopeful
Skill rating is private by default. You control whether it appears on your profile, your rating history chart, and the global skill leaderboard in account settings. Leaderboard points are public unless you hide them. Organizers use both systems for fair seeding and event design.