During the regular season, the AFL Playoff Race Bracket reflects how the playoffs would stand if the season ended up to that point.
The site of the ArenaBowl is determined by the highest seed of the two remaining teams.
Playoff qualifications, selection of teams
The rank order for teams qualifying to participate in playoffs will be established by utilizing the following formula:
Playoff Format
a. Division winner is guaranteed a home playoff game (However, Division Winner is NOT guaranteed a bye). The top four (4) season records will receive the first round byes.
b. Seeding will be by overall record using current tiebreaker rules. Division winner, only, always takes precedent over another division opponent in all tie-breaker situations.
c. Tiebreakers to determine Division Champion
Record in head to head games.
Record within the division.
Record against common opponents.
Point spread in head to head games.
Point spread in games against common opponents.
Coin toss.
TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs are tied with identical won-lost percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
TWO CLUBS
Head to Head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
If teams split head to head games, the next tie breaker will be the point differential in those two games.
Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable.
Strength of schedule (strength up).
Best net (total) touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.
THREE OF MORE CLUBS
If two clubs remain tied after a third club is eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two -club format.
If one team wins multiple-team tiebreaker to advance to playoff round, remaining teams revert to step 1 of the two-club format.
All teams must have played head-to-head for step 1 to be utilized in a multiple-team tie.
Head-to-head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable.
