Playing systemSeason The season lasts 10 weeks, which is 70 days. Each league has 16 teams divided into two conferences of 8 teams. Every team plays 44 league games in the regular season (4 games against each opponent within the conference and 2 games against each opponent from the other conference). After the regular season the first 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. Playoffs are played in best-of-five series until final positions of all teams are determined. This means that the eliminated teams from the quarterfinals and semifinals continue in the consolation round to determine their final ranking. Playoffs are played separately within each conference. The winners of both conferences will meet in the league finals. The playoff champion is promoted to a higher league. The runner-up will play in the promotion round. Teams ranked 5th to 8th in their conference after the regular season, play in the relegation group. The teams play additional 14 games which will determine the final ranking of these teams. Before the first matches are played, the teams get points based on their final rank in the regular season.
Teams ranked 11th to 13th at the end of relegation group will play the runners-up from the lower leagues to avoid relegation. Teams ranked 14th to 16th at the end of relegation group will be automatically relegated to the lower leagues and they will be replaced by the champions from these leagues. Each league has three leagues below it where the teams from this league are relegated. If any league does not have all three leagues in the tier below but, for instance, only one, then only the team that ranked 16th will be relegated. In such a case the team ranked 15th will play in the relegation round. At the end of the season the final ranking is determined. It is important to finish as high as possible. General sponsors and media sponsors offer more generous contracts for the upcoming season to the higher ranked teams. The relegation/promotion round is a best-of-three series. The matches are played on day 63, 64 and 65 of the season. The home field advantage in game 3 (if needed) goes to the team from the higher league. Scoring system The following scoring system is used in the league: Win: 2 points Loss: 1 point Forfeit: 0 points If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the ranking is decided by the better goal average (ratio of points for and points against). If the teams are still tied, the final tie breaking criterion is higher overall team rating. System of leagues The top tier is made up of only one division. Then there are 3 divisions on the second tier and the number of divisions multiplies by three with each tier. Therefore, there are 9 divisions on the third tier, 27 on fourth, 81 on fifth etc. The divisions are marked by a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example II.3 means that it is division number three on the second tier. League regrouping At the end of each season there is a league regrouping of the two lowest league levels in the selected countries. That means that the redundant leagues will be closed and the active teams will be concentrated into the lowest possible number of leagues. This regrouping is necessary in order to keep the game interesting and avoid large numbers of teams without managers. During regrouping it may happen that some teams from the lowest league level will be promoted one level higher. |