|
Most Leagues have Play Offs at the end of their League Schedule in which all or
the majority of the Prize Funds get awarded. The League needs to select a Play
Off approach that:
|
•
|
|
spreads the Prize Funds as much as possible. Something to everyone is the best.
|
|
•
|
|
the Format is perceived as being fair.
|
|
•
|
|
everyone actually has some kind of chance to win more than the minimum.
|
Eligibility
|
•
|
|
Very common is the requirement that ALL Players on a Team must be ORIGINAL Team
Members. No picking up of Players from other Teams, unless the League Executive
has pre-approved under very special circumstances and even that is not
recommended.
|
|
•
|
|
Very common is the requirement that all Players must have played at least some
specified minimum number of games with the Team during the League Schedule.
|
Handicapped or Not?
|
•
|
|
The use of Handicaps in Play Offs is generally recommended. It's all about
leveling the Playing Field to give the lesser skilled Teams a fighting chance.
If a Team Trip to a CCS Championship is a Prize, Teams may ask "Don't you want
to send the best Team". Answer-"Not necessarily". IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
OVERALL LEAGUE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT. If giving everyone a fighting chance
is what's needed to keep the League intact and to keep Teams coming back,
there's nothing to discuss. This can't be emphasized enough, as the fastest way
to kill a League is to play without Handicaps and give everything to the Top.
Teams will know long before the Play Offs that they have NO chance and although
you might be able to talk them into finishing, they won't be back.
|
Play Off Groups
|
•
|
|
Leagues with 4 to 10 Teams usually play in a single Play Off Group.
|
|
•
|
|
Larger Leagues will often split into two Play Off Groups – a Top Half and a
Bottom Half.
|
|
•
|
|
This split is simply done on Final Team Standings. The key is that there is a
pre-determined split of the Prize Funds between the two, decided by Captain
Meeting vote. The split can be equal or slightly favouring the Top Half but the
Top Prize in each should be the same. What's often done is the Top Half plays
without Handicaps and the Bottom Half plays with Handicaps.
|
|
•
|
|
Now you have the best of both worlds. In the Top Half, the better Teams only
play the better Teams and the most deserving Team wins the Top Prize. In the
Bottom Half, the focus is not on the 'best' Team winning at all. It's about any
Team either winning or finishing higher than they otherwise would have.
|
|
•
|
|
And the best part is that every Team can be looked straight in the eye at the
start and be told that they have as good a chance of winning the same Top Prize
as the very 'best' Team does. This not only encourages Teams to join, it gives
them every reason to finish and to be back again. In the end everyone wins as
the larger the League, the more Prize Funds there are.
|
Play Off Format
|
•
|
|
The two main formats are 'Round Robin' and 'Double Elimination'
Round Robin
| • |
|
This is generally used for smaller Play Off Groups of 6 or less as the number
of Matches required increases exponentially. It simply means that all Teams
play each other a single Match. The Schedules shown in the 'How To Make A
League Schedule' section can be used to set up your 'Round Robin'.
|
| • |
|
It is recommended that the 'Round Robin' be combined with additional play such
as 3rd plays 2nd and the winner plays 1st to determine the final finish. The
reason is that this avoids any concern that may arise from perceptions of
'dumping' for whatever reason in the last round or two of the Round Robin.
|
Double Elimination
| • |
|
As the name implies, a Team must lose twice before they are out.
|
| • |
|
The main issue is how the Draw is to be done. Although it can be done randomly,
it is very common to use 'seeding' based on Final Team Standings. 'Seeding' in
this fashion means that if all Teams play to 'form', the two Teams highest in
the Final Team Standings would not meet each other until the Finals. The
Tournament Chart examples provided (4, 8, and 16) have already been 'seeded'.
The Top Team goes into the #1 spot, etc. This also means that if there is to be
a 'bye', the top 'seeded' Team gets it.
|
|
Match Format
|
•
|
|
Most Leagues use the same Match Format they use during their League Play. For
the Play Offs only, some Leagues may switch to the 5 Player – 25 Game Rotating
Match Format that is used in all CCS and ACS Championships. For 5 Player Teams,
a rotating Match Format, where all the Players play each other once, is often
seen as the fairest when all the Prizes are on the line.
|
Referees
|
•
|
|
The Referee will make judgement calls on shots, provide interpretation of all
Game Rules and otherwise maintain good order on the Tournament Floor. Matches
are not continuously presided over by the Referee(s); they must be called over
to the Match first when their services are required.
|
|
•
|
|
The CCS, in partnership with the ACS – American CueSports Alliance, offers the
most highly regarded Referee Program in Billiards in North America. Contact the
CCS National Office for more information. To progress beyond Local Referee
Certification, Referee Clinics are held at all CCS and ACS National
Championships.
|
|
•
|
|
In the absence of a pre-appointed Referee(s), Players may ask someone else (who
they both agree on), to observe and make a Ruling on a shot. The Play Off
Director then becomes the Head Referee, whose decision is final on everything.
|
Play Off Prize Fund Payouts
|
•
|
|
The above makes reference to the splitting of Prize Fund Payouts when there is
to be more than one Play Off Group and also the recommendation of having the
same Top Prize for each.
|
|
•
|
|
Within a Play Off Group, it is a good idea to spread the Payouts as broadly as
possible. Some Leagues provide a minimum Payout to all the Teams and then go up
from there. The purpose is to give all the Teams another reason to finish and
to return for the next Session.
|
|
•
|
|
At the very least, a good rule of thumb is to pay out at least the Top 25 to
30%. Here's an example when you have 12 to 16 Teams: 1st – 40% 2nd – 30% 3rd –
20% 4th – 10%.
|
|
•
|
|
Whatever the Play Off Groups and the Prize Fund Payouts are to be, they should
have been completely decided by Captain Meeting vote and appear on the Play Off
Tournament Charts. No late changes or surprises.
|
When and Where
|
•
|
|
The most common arrangement is to hold the Play Offs on a weekend in a single
Location. Another way is to arrange for the Play Off Matches to be played on
the same night as normal League Play. The weekend gets it done quicker whereas
the doing it on League Night may be more convenient to the Teams.
|
|
•
|
|
For In House Leagues, the Play Offs would be held at the Host Location. For
larger Traveling Leagues, if a single Host Location can't be found that has
enough Tables, they may rent an Event Site and rent Tables from a local Vending
Company or Hi Country Promotions in Colorado. An alternative is to arrange
'Traveling' Play Offs using the same Locations that host the Teams during
League Play.
|
Singles Play Offs
|
•
|
|
This is separate and additional to the Team Play Offs. Some Leagues will also
arrange a Singles Tournament, either during the League Schedule or after, that
is restricted to only the registered Players in the League.
|
|
•
|
|
Although the focus of the League is Team Play, Players also like to see how
they stack up in individual competition.
|
|
•
|
|
The Prizes may come from either a pre-determined allocation from the general
Prize Fund or from Entry Fees. Both work and having the Tournament adds
interest for your League Members.
|
Chart Examples
For additional information, see General
League Play and Play Off Policies.
|
