Clear Lake Falconhoops

 Under Revision -Obsolete

Each district has its own method of deciding final district standings at the end of the regular season. Some use a coin toss. Some use a playoff game. In our district (24-5A) it is more involved (also better) and emphasizes team performance throughout district play. This explanation is based on my understanding of how it is done in our district. This approach is used if 2, 3, or 4 teams are tied.

There are five levels of determinants to break a tie. Usually the tie is broken after the first or second level.

1. Head to Head - The first determinant is based on who beat whom in district play among the tied teams. If there is still a tie, then move to the next lower level determinant.

2. Power Rating - The next determinant is a point system assigned based on who beat whom for every game in district play. Based on the final season standings, beating a first place team is assigned 8 points (the number of teams in the district) all the way down to beating a last place team is 1 point. If there is still a tie, then move to the next determinant.

Example: Teams A and B have tied for first place and have split their two games. Teams A and B would look at the other district teams they have beaten and add the points assigned to each team to determine their power rating. The team with the higher power rating would be seeded as the higher team in the playoff bracket. 

 3. Road Win Point Addition - 1 extra point is assigned for winning on the road for each game. If there is still a tie, then move to the next determinant.

4. Margin of Victory with a 10 Point Cap . - This determinant is a based on scores and the point differential between two tied teams. If there is still a tie, then move to the last determinant.

For example, if Lake and Creek are still tied after the three higher determinants, then the scores of the two games are used. If Creek beat Lake by 6 points, then Creek gets 6 points assigned. If Lake beat Creek by 9 points, then Lake is assigned 9 points and Lake would win the tie. Note a maximum of 10 points can be garnered on this level so winning by 16 points only gets a team 10 points assigned.

5. Margin of Victory with a 15 point cap. -  The final level of determinant is based on scores and the margin of victory vs. all district teams with a 15 point cap on each game.

Example: Team A's margin of victory vs all teams = 68

                Team B's margin of victory vs. all teams = 86

Team B would be the higher seed.

This approach eliminates the need for a coin toss, allows district play to begin in January, and requires no days set aside for tie-breakers.