Playoffs

The term playoff or English play-off ( in North America, usually without a hyphen: playoff, post-season also ) called an eliminator fight in a sports competition, by the usually a championship is decided ( not to be confused with Placement Round ). The play-off follows a main round, the final table (or tables completion of various groups ) determined the participating teams. The game is played in one or more play-off rounds mostly by knockout system; in the last round ( the finale ) are opposite each other only two teams. The winner of a play-off round can be determined by a single game or a best-of series.

Most American professional leagues (NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, etc.) are played in the play-off mode. Even outside of North America is the play-off mode application, for example in the German and the Swiss Hockey League, the German Football League, the National Basketball League and the Floorball League. In addition, a promoted team in English football in the play-off is determined.

Basketball Bundesliga (BBL )

In the BBL at end of season play the best eight teams in the table from the German champions. Here come the first against the Eighth ( the 2nd to the 7th, the 3rd to the 6th, etc.) in the quarter-final series, with the winners then in the semi-finals and final series. The individual series will be played in best- of-five - mode, where the venues change each. The home advantage has in the main round table better placed team.

Women's Basketball League ( DBBL )

In the DBBL play after the Main Round, the top eight teams in the table from the German champions. Here come the first against the Eighth ( the 2nd to the 7th, the 3rd to the 6th, etc ) in the quarter-final series, with the winners then in the semi-finals and final series. The quarter and semi-finals will be played in the first DBBL "best of three" mode, where the venues change each. The final will be played in the "best of five" mode. The home advantage has in the main round table better placed team.

In the groups (north and south ) of the second DBBL the first round ( quarter-finals ) is played in home and away matches. Both results are added together and decide on a next round. Semifinals and finals will take place in the " best of three " mode. The Masters North and South will advance to the first DBBL.

Floorball League ( 1.FBL )

In the Floorball League at end of season play the top four teams in the placement round the German champion of Floorball. Here come the first against the fourth and the second against the third in a semifinal. The winners will be determined in a final of the German Masters and the losers play in a small final for third place out. The individual series will be played in best-of -three mode, where the venues change each. The worse -placed team has home field advantage in the first game. The home court advantage of the second and possibly third game has in the main round table better placed team.

German Volleyball League ( men)

In the men's league in volleyball play for a championship round ( round robin ) with twelve teams, the top eight teams in the play-offs continue. In the quarterfinals, comes to the following matches: 1-8 • 2-7 • 3-6 • 4-5 in the semi-finals the highest placing in the table of four teams meet on the worst and the second best to the second worst. The two winners will contest the final. Quarter-finals will be played on the mode best-of -three, ie who creates first two wins, comes on. The semifinals and final will be played on the mode best- of-five ( three wins). The winner of the final series is German champion.

German Football League ( GFL )

In the GFL the four winners of both groups ( GFL GFL North and South) play cross the quarter-finals, ie the first of a group plays against the fourth in the other group, the second one against the third party of the other group. After that, the winners of the quarter -finals play in such a way that the first group in the semifinals can not impinge on the Second of the same group. The game is played a single game in the knockout system. Home has the right in the table, higher placed team in each case. The final German Bowl will be played at a predetermined site.

German Ice Hockey League ( DEL)

Since 1981, the German Ice Hockey Championship will be decided in the play-offs.

With the exception of DEL - seasons 1994/95 and 1995/96, in which the play-offs began with the Achtelfinalen, participated in all the other seasons of ice hockey league since 1982 /83, DEL eight teams in the play-offs in part.

The meetings of the play-offs in the quarter and semifinal shall do so according to the placements of the first round. The meetings always loud in the quarterfinals No. 1 - No. 8, 2nd - 7th place, 3rd place - # 6 and # 4 - # 5 in the preliminary round Final Table; in the semifinals meets the best-placed of the other teams on the lowest-ranked. Here, the better placed team of the Predecessor had in each round first home law. Until the 2008/09 season the quarter-finals was played in best- of-seven - mode, ie a team had to win four wins to advance a round. For the season 2009/10 season, the mode for the quarterfinals on Best of Five was changed. Now is played back in the best- of-seven - mode. The semifinals and finals will be played in best- of-five - mode, ie a team must win three victories to win. From the 2013/2014 season after NHL All rounds model - apart from the pre- playoffs (there remains the best-of -three mode) - played in best- of-seven - mode.

From the 2006/2007 season of the play-offs mode has been changed with the abolition of the play- downs. The crews of places 7-10 of the main round play since the so-called pre- play-offs to two play-off places in a best-of -three mode against each other: 7th place against 10th and 8th place to 9th place pull Here the respective winner with the first 6 of the main round in the play-off quarter- finals.

National Football League ( NFL)

The NFL plays their play-off first separated into the two Conferences American Football Conference ( AFC) and National Football Conference ( NFC). All rounds will be through a game, that is, decided in one-two system.

Per conference, six teams qualify composed of the four division winners and two wild card teams. These are the most victorious teams from the regular season that were not division winners. This is not necessarily to two runner-up teams, since it appears quite possible that the third placed one division won more games than the runner-up of the other divisions.

The first round of play-offs are the so-called wildcard playoffs, in which the two wildcard teams play against the two worse division winner. In the second round then plays the best division winner against the worst team remaining and the other two teams. The conference finals contest the winner of this Divisional Playoffs. Home right has the better placed team of the regular season, respectively.

The winners of the AFC and NFC play in the Super Bowl from the master. The venue is set years before the game.

National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League ( NHL)

How the NFL play the NBA and the NHL their play-off first analyzed according Conferences from. The game is played in the Best of Seven mode. The compilation of encounters depends on the financial statement tables of the regular season. The three division winners, and the other five best teams in each conference qualify for the play-offs.

In the NHL, the division winners will be automatically set to the places 1 to 3, the remaining five best teams take the places one behind it, even if one of these teams is better than a division winner.

In the NBA, the three division winners are as the best runner-up set according to their statistics to 1-4 on the contrary. This system was introduced for the 2006/2007 season, to prevent the two best teams in the Conference may meet before the Conference Finals. This would indeed be possible if the two best teams in the conference come from the same division.

The meetings of the play-offs, then based on these rankings. The meetings always noisy place 1 - 8th place, 2nd place - 7th place, 3rd place - 6th place, 4th place - 5th place It has the team that has scored more wins in the regular season, first home law.

In the NHL, the other encounters depend on the performance in the regular season. The team that has achieved the best placement of the remaining teams will play against the team that achieves the worst record in the final table, etc.

In the NBA, the remaining lots are instead defined by a set schedule. With victories of the higher-ranked teams, the teams that are put at No. 1 and No. 2 meet each other earlier in the Conference Finals. Wins in the first round but, for example, the team at No. 8 against the team ranked 1, this team has the seemingly simplest residual program and it does not give to the team at No. 2.

Ultimately are the winners of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference determined, they play in the finals of the championship. The winner gets in the NBA Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to be presented in the NHL Stanley Cup.

English Football

In the second, third, fourth and fifth English football league two to four teams will advance to the next higher league. Approach, played a play- off for the later of these places (at 3 climbers the third place). This always participate, the four teams that are on the next four courses (at 3 climbers the teams ranked 3-6 ). This is true in the semi-finals that team was the best placed in the league of the most ill-placed club and the second best to the second worst. This round will be played in home - and-away basis, with the higher -placed club enjoying home advantage in the return match. The finals will be decided in each case in a match which will be played usually at Wembley Stadium in London. The winner of this final together with the total direct eligible climbers also ascend to the next higher division.

Other Football Playoffs

In some leagues, the Championship is divided after the first round in two or three parts, so-called championship and relegation playoffs. These playoffs are also played in the championship mode, but sometimes only in first leg.

In the following European countries shares in the season 2009/ 10, the first league after round-trip round into several parts: Scotland (twelve teams, then two groups of six ), Israel (16 clubs, then two groups of six and one group of four ), Cyprus ( 14 clubs ( two direct relegated ), then three groups of four ), Azerbaijan (twelve teams, then two groups of six ), Andorra ( eight clubs, then two groups of four ) and Malta ( ten clubs, then a six - and a group of four ). In San Marino, another form of the playoffs is performed to determine the national champion, the so-called double knock-out system. Six clubs reach the final playoffs, which will be played not in the league system, but in the knockout system in San Marino. Only after the second defeat of the clubs are ruled out in this case.

In Austria there were 1985/86-1992/93 following system: the first two leagues were 12- leagues, after 22 rounds there was for the teams to Placements 1-8 in the major league champion a playoff, the other teams in the first League played with the top four teams of the 2nd League from the free seats for the following season. The last eight teams in the division 2 played against relegation. Thus, each team played 36 games per season.

All other countries are no playoffs in their football competitions, apart from any championship and relegation playoff, such as in Germany between the 16th in the Bundesliga and the third in the Bundesliga 2, the so-called relegation.

The playoffs for the qualification for the European and World Championships are officially also called play-off. From the media, the term Relegation or Barrage is, depending on the region, usually used for these games.

Curling

At the World Championships in 2005 known as the Page playoff system was introduced to determine the finalists. Here, the first ranking in the first semi-final against the Second and Third plays in the second semi-final against the fourth. The winner of the first semi-final is directly qualified for the finals, the loser plays against the winner of the second semi-final to the final remaining space.

Table tennis

System 1984

In the Table Tennis League a play- off round was introduced to determine the German champion and relegated in the 1984/85 season. This was done at the instigation of clubs; there should be more team fights, also the voltage in the fight for the championship and against relegation should be increased.

First, the teams play in the main round " every man for himself " a return game. The teams ranked 1-6 qualify for the play-off round champion, the last four fight in a play-off relegation round to avoid relegation.

It can be formed with three teams each two master groups. In one master group, the teams of the locations 1, 4 and 5 occur in the mode " every man for himself " in a way a return match against each other, in the other master group according the crews of the places 2, 3 and 6 The teams begin the 1st and 2nd place with 2-0 points, which places 3 and 4 with 1:1 points and places 5 and 6 with 0:2 points. The winners of the master groups compete for the title " German Champion ," the runner-up to the ranks 3 and 4, the third place to the ranks 5 and 6

In the relegation round the last four " FFA " play one home and one away match. According to the placement in the main round, they start with the points requirements 3:1, 2:2, 1:3 and 0:4.

The point objectives are to increase the motivation of teams to achieve the best possible placement in the main round. Through the play- off round, each team must also complete three home and three away games ( main round).

System 1986

From the 1986/87 season play after completing the main round of the first 8 teams according to the following knockout system (supply and return ) to the German Championship:

• Quarterfinals (A) 1-8
• (B) 2-7
• (C) 3-6
• (D) 4-5
• In total draw the placement in the main round decision.

• Winner (A) - Winner (D)
• Winner (B ) - Winner (C )
• In total draw the placement in the main round decision.

• The winners of the two semi-finals contest one final (no return game). In draw first decides the better set ratio, and thereafter as required, the ball ratio.

Credentials

• Competition System
• Hockey