Rules

National Flag Football Championships “Pool” Tie-Breaker Procedure for Playoffs

The Collegiate Men’s, Women’s, Co-recreational, and Open Championships are determined by the following criteria:

1. The NIRSA Mercy Rule (Rule 8-2, p. 46) will be used for all tournament contests- Pool Play and Championship Playoffs.

2. The top two teams for a three or four team round robin pool will advance to the Championship Playoffs, which are single elimination.

3. If a two-way tie exists, it will be decided by who beat whom in head-to-head competition.

4. If a three-way tie exists, it will be decided as follows:

1. Forfeit- The team that forfeits is dropped to the lowest possible position among the three or four tied teams.
2. The difference between total points scored versus total points allowed. For example: A defeated B 7-0, B defeated C7-6, and C defeated A 13-6.

                      Team A           Team B            Team C

                        7   0                 0   7                 6   7

                        6 13                 7  6                  13  6

                        13  13              7  13                19  13

                        DIFF= 0          DIFF= -6         DIFF= +6

Thus Team C finishes first, Team A finishes second and Team B does not qualify.

3. If two teams have the same point differential, then who beat whom in head-to-head competition will determine playoff placement.
4. If all three teams have the same point differential, then the total points scored will determine playoff placement.
5. If two teams have scored the same number of points, then who beat whom in head-to-head competition will determine the playoff placement.
6. If all three teams have scored the same number of points, then the fewest points allowed will determine playoff placement.
7. If two teams have allowed the same number of points, then who beat whom in head-to-head competition will determine playoff placement.
8. If all three have allowed the same number of points, the following procedures will be used:
   I. The three teams will play a round robin (A vs. B, B vs. C, C vs. A) tournament using the NIRSA Flag Football Rules Book Tie Game Procedures (Rule 3-3, p.26).
   II. Win-Loss record, then point differential, points scored, and points allowed (see items 4 B-G above) will determine playoff placement.