EHFL tiebreaking procedures
Revised
Spring 2023
The following procedures will be used to break standings
ties for postseason playoffs.
NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss
for both clubs.
TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division
finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be
taken until a champion is determined.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best net points in all games.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
4. Best net points in division games.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated
during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best net points in all games.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
5. Best net points in division games.
6. Coin toss.
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs, the
following steps will be taken.
1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best net points in all games.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of schedule.
5. Best net touchdowns in all games.
6. Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie
breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in
each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a
division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all
subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the
three Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the
others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best net points in all games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best net touchdowns in all games.
7. Coin toss.
When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the
procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the
highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2, and
repeated a third time, if necessary, to identify the third Wild Card. In
situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the
procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent
applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division
qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.
OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
1. Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining
tied clubs revert to the first step of the applicable division or Wild-Card tie
breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after
all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to step one of the
two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tie breaker,
all other clubs revert to step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club
format.
2. In comparing division and league records or records against common opponents
among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is the deciding factor
since teams may have played an unequal number of games.