Tiebreakers
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
  1. Record in head to head games.
  2. Record within the division.
  3. Record against common opponents.
  4. Point spread in head to head games.
  5. Point spread in games against common opponents.
  6. Coin toss.

The first-round format is as follows:*

No. 12 @ No. 5
No. 11 @ No. 6
No. 10 @ No. 7
No. 9 @ No. 8

*If a Division Winner DOES NOT have one of the BEST EIGHT (8) records, they would still receive a home game and this format would be altered slightly.

The quarterfinal format is as follows:

Lowest remaining seed @ No. 1 seed
Second lowest remaining seed @ No. 2 seed
Third lowest remaining seed @ No. 3 seed
Fourth lowest remaining seed @ No. 4 seed

The semifinals format is as follows:

Lowest remaining seed @ highest remaining seed
Second lowest remaining seed @ second highest remaining seed
The two teams remaining will compete in ArenaBowl XV, which will be played at the home venue of the highest remaining seed.

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

  1. Head to Head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
  2. If teams split head to head games, the next tie breaker will be the point differential in those two games.
  3. Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable.
  4. Strength of schedule (strength up).
  5. Best net (total) touchdowns in all games.
  6. 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.
    1. Head-to-head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
    2. Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable.
    3. Strength of schedule (strength up).
    4. Best net (total) touchdowns in all games.
    5. Coin toss.