Playoff Format
QUALIFYING FOR THE PLAYOFFS: The teams with the highest winning percentage (when calculated to three decimal places) in each respectivedivision at the end of the Championship Season will qualify for the playoffs and receive the top two seeds in their conference, regardless of final record.
The next two best records in each conference as determined by winning percentage (calculated to three (3) decimal places) will also qualify for the playoffs as Wild Card teams.
If there is a tie for a playoff berth, the tiebreaker system described in Section 2 will be implemented.
TIE-BREAKER PROCEDURE: In the event of a tie for first place in any division at the end of a Championship Season, the Division Winner shall be determined by:
(1) best head-to-head record (winning percentage) between the two (2) Teams; if still tied,
(2) best head-to-head record (winning percentage) against each Team in the division in descending order of Championship Season finish will determine the winner; if still tied,
(3) a one (1) game playoff held the day after the Championship Season ends between the two (2) Teams with the home Team determined by a coin toss by the Commissioner.
In the event of a three-way or four-way tie for first place in any division at the end of the Championship Season, the Division Winner shall be determined by:
(1) best head-to-head record (winning percentage) against the other tied Teams; if still tied,
(2) best head-to-head record (winning percentage) against non-playoff teams, individually, in descending order of Championship Season finish will determine the winner.
A tie for a Wild Card spot will be broken in the order using conference results as opposed to division.
WILD CARD AND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF FORMAT: The Wild Card teams will play the Division Winners in a best-of-three series, with the top seeded Division Winner playing the lowest seeded Wild Card qualifier. The Wild Card qualifier will host game 1, with the Division Winners hosting games 2 and 3.
The winner of these series will play each other in a best-of-five Conference Finals Series. The highest seeded advancing team will host games 3, 4, and 5.
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF FORMAT: The Championship Series playoffs shall be scheduled to begin on the second day following the scheduled completion of the Conference Finals. The Championship Series will be a best-three-out-of-five games series and will be between the winners from each Conference Finals series.
In all odd-numbered years, the winner of the Atlantic Conference Finals Series will host Games 1 and 2 of the Championship Series, and the winner of the Midwest Conference Finals Series will host game 3 and games 4 and 5 (if necessary).
In all even-numbered years, the winner of the Midwest Conference Finals Series will host Games 1 and 2 of the Championship Series, and the winner of the Atlantic Conference Finals Series will host game 3 and games 4 and 5 (if necessary).
2026 TENTATIVE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
WILD CARD ROUND (best of 3)
Wednesday, September 9 - Division Winners @ Wild Card qualifiers
Thursday, September 10 - travel/rain day
Friday, September 11 - Wild Card qualifiers @ Division Winners
Saturday, September 12 - Wild Card qualifiers @ Division Winners (if necessary)
CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES (best of 5)
Tuesday, September 15 - higher seeded team @ lower seeded team
Wednesday, September 16 - higher seeded team @ lower seeded team
Thursday, .September 17 - travel/rain day
Friday, September 18 - lower seeded team @ higher seeded team
Saturday, September 19 - lower seeded team @ higher seeded team (if necessary)
Sunday, September 20 - lower seeded team @ higher seeded team (if necessary)
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (best of 5)
Tuesday, September 22- Atlantic Conference representative @ Midwest Conference representative
Wednesday, September 23 - Atlantic Conference representative @ Midwest Conference representative
Thursday, September 24 - travel/rain day
Friday, September 25 - Midwest Conference representative @ Atlantic Conference representative
Saturday, September 26 - Midwest Conference representative @ Atlantic Conference representative (if necessary)
Sunday, September 27 - Midwest Conference representative @ Atlantic Conference representative (if necessary)
