As the Shamrock Bowl Conference enters its final weeks, attention will soon turn to the play-offs. The play-off race looks very close and may even be decided by tiebreakers. This year sees the introduction of a new rule whereby only the top two teams in each subconference automatically qualifies for the play-offs, with the final two spots being ‘at large’ across both. This means that a 4th placed team could possibly qualify if it has a better record that the 3rd placed team in the other subconference.
The graphic above sets out how the process works.
As with previous years, the winners of SBC North and SBC South will get a bye through to the semi-finals. The 2nd placed teams in SBC North and SBC South will host the wildcard games. This is where it gets interesting. The two teams with the next best record will qualify as the away teams in the wildcard match-ups. Obviously this will include at least one 3rd placed team. In the event that this is two 3rd placed teams, then each of these teams will face the 2nd placed team in their own subconference. If we get 3rd and 4th placed teams from the same subconference, the 3rd placed team will face the 2nd placed team in their own subconference and the 4th placed team will play away to the 2nd placed team in the other subconference. An easy way to remember this is that 3rd placed team(s) play 2nd in the same subconference. 4th placed teams (if any) play 2nd in the other subconference.
It is likely that some play-off places, or even seeding within the play-offs, will be determined by tie-breakers, which are as follows:
1. Least number of forfeits given.
2. Head to Head least number of forfeits given.
3. Head to Head won/loss %.
4. Head to Head points difference.
5. Points difference in all games.
(forfeits count as 30-0 or 30-30).
6. Number of touchdowns scored.
7. Seeding based on position in previous season’s standings (cross divisional as follows: SBC, IAFL-1, IAFL-2). For clarification, seedings will be based on the teams’ regular season record from the previous season(s).
8. Drawn out of hat.
Normally forfeits are not an issue for play-off contenders, so where the teams concerned have played each other, the head to head tie-breakers will probably apply. This years new league structure throws up the possibility of teams who haven’t played each other being tied. In these cases, points difference in all league games will be used.
Play-off Schedule:
July 20th – Wildcard games.
July 27th – Semi-Finals – double header at neutral venue.
August 10th – Shamrock Bowl, Tallaght Stadium
IAFL1 & IAFL2
The Championship games for both of these divisions will be played as a double header on 17th August. The top two teams in the divisional standings will qualify.