Welcome to FC Dynasty Cup XIX. The Cup XVIII Champion, Rushmore FC and bert_fischer, are back to defend their title as they try to become the only team to win the Cup four times. As always, the Champs get the honor of the pre-tournament #1 seed (the first listed team in Group A.)

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The tournament will be split into stages, a group play followed by knockout rounds leading to a Championship Round. Teams will be eliminated at the end of each stage until a Champion is crowned. This Champion will lay claim to glory and shall have bragging rights over the entirety of the FC Dynasty universe for a very short period of time.

Group Stage
Each team is assigned to a group. Group play will consist of a round robin, with each team playing a home and away against the other teams within their group for a total of six Group Stage games. Points will be awarded on the following: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.

The top two teams in points out of each group will advance to the Knockout Stage. Tiebreakers will be decided in the following order - goal differential - away goals - goals scored. If the teams are still tied after all tiebreakers are applied, a coin flip using random.org's random number service will determine who advances.

Knockout Stage
Each round will be a home and away series with the winner based on aggregate goals. If aggregate goals are tied, the higher seed will host the lower seed in an additional game. If that game is tied, the lower seed will then host the higher seed and so on. As long as both coaches are scheduling games, the round will continue until one side wins outright. If one team fails to schedule for three consecutive days, that team will forfeit the round and the other team will advance.

Seeding for the knockout rounds will be based on stage points tiebreakers as listed above.. The eight group winners will receive seeds #1-8 and the eight 2nd place finishers will receive seeds #9-16.

The First Round will consist of the following:

#1 seed vs #16 seed
#2 seed vs #15 seed
#3 seed vs #14 seed
#4 seed vs #13 seed
#5 seed vs #12 seed
#6 seed vs #11 seed
#7 seed vs #10 seed
#8 seed vs #9 seed

The Quarterfinals will consist of the following:

#1/16 vs #8/9
#2/15 vs #7/10
#3/14 vs #6/11
#4/13 vs #5/12

The Semifinals will consist of the following:

#1 seed quarterfinals bracket vs #4 seed quarterfinals bracket
#2 seed quarterfinals bracket vs #3 seed quarterfinals bracket

The 3rd Place Series will consist of the following:

#1/4 seed semifinals bracket loser vs #2/3 seed semifinals bracket loser

Championship Round
The Championship Round will match the two remaining teams in a home and away series with the winner being based on aggregate goals. Away goals are not used as a tiebreaker in the Championship Round. If an aggregate goal tie occurs, the host of the additional game will be decided by a coin flip using random.org's random number service. The Championship Round is the only round not subject to a time frame. Tiebreakers will be played until a Champion is declared.

Bums Bracket
Any team that does not qualify for the knockouts may participate in the Bums Bracket, which will follow a similar elimination format - each round will be a home and away series with the winner based on aggregate goals and if aggregate goals are tied, the higher seed will host the lower seed in an additional game. There will need to be at least four teams that sign up for the Bums in order for it to be played. The seeding format will be adjusted based on how many teams participate.

TOURNAMENT RULES
Each stage of the tournament will have a specific time frame in which all games must be scheduled. Everybody will be sending challenges simultaneously, especially at the start of the tournament, so overlap is inevitable. To account for the fact that it may take several attempts to get all games on the docket, the time frame is generous. However, failure to schedule games within the allotted time will result in a forfeiture.

On the evening of the last day for each stage, all games that have not been scheduled will be deemed a 0-0 draw so that the stage can be completed. The team failing to issue (or accept) a challenge will be awarded no points for the drawn game and any team with more than one forfeiture during the Group Stage cannot advance. A forfeiture during the Knockout Rounds will result in a walkover for your opponent. The team deemed at fault is at my discretion but it is usually obvious which team has gone AWOL.

As a general rule, the following guideline should be used. If you receive a challenge in the same slot you have sent a challenge, please accept the incoming challenge and re-issue your own outgoing challenge. If you receive multiple challenges in the same slot, choose one ASAP to give the team you declined as much time as possible to issue a new request.

Remember, the team issuing the challenge is the home team. If more games are scheduled than needed (you send two challenges to the same team and both are accepted,) only the first game will count unless I am told otherwise and prior to the first game being played.

Unscheduled Games will be tracked during each stage. In the last 72 hours of each time frame, any team that has not received a challenge by an opponent (or has sent a challenge that has not been accepted,) should post a message to the other coach here or, if you do not have posting rights, via sitemail to gomiami1972, who will post the request on your behalf. I would prefer, if you do not have posting rights, to send requests through me rather than sitemail each other. Many FC Dynasty owners to not check sitemail regularly. This thread is the best place to communicate with fellow Cup participants..

Time Frame to Schedule Group Stage Games - Jun 15th thru Jun 26th (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 26th. This does not mean the games must be played by the 26th.)
Time Frame to Schedule 1st Round Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the ???. This does not mean the games must be played by the ???.)
Time Frame to Schedule Quarterfinal Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the ???. This does not mean the games must be played by the ???.)
Time Frame to Schedule Semifinal Games - TBD (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the ???. This does not mean the games must be played by the ???.)

Best of luck to all participants in their quest for the ultimate prize - The FC Dynasty Cup!

List of Participants

Group A
Rushmore FC (World 59) - bert_fischer (defending Champion)
Wolfsburg Dynamit (World 87) - BruKing
Swampdragons FC (World 90) - swamp_dragon
BC Timber Wolves (World 91) - DeBeque

Group B
Brighton AFC (World 62) - vkurk
FC Stolpen Steamroller (World 71) - Dorf
Godai Hiroshima (World 87) - Godai
FC Cackalacky (World 79) - clememp

Group C
Metropolitan Eagles (World 78) - KSBeachBums
Southeast Indiana Football Club (World 87) - gccoach
FC Winnipeg Royal Lions (World 85) - TuteFruy
Swamp City Dragons (World 64) - sd69

Group D
FC Trojans of SC (World 62) - spdracer
North Polar Dragons FC (World 79) - shoe3
Bad News (World 92) - douglaslee
Fortuna Düsseldorf (World 63) - dragon40475

Group E
Slough FC (World 87) - Levy2818
FC Kingston (World 80) - jmjtrain
FC Gimli Vikings (World 78) - Gim
Club Deportivo Baile Brian (World 84) - mnnorthstars

Group F
FC Not Very Athletic (World 62) - pubmonkey
SwampDragons United (World 72) - sd59
Hardknoxs F.C. (World 74) - hardknox23
Jonzo's Gongers (World 91) - emaj1

Group G
Not Very United (World 85) - pubmonkey2
the crutchanators of soccer (World 79) - brandon5135
Las Vegas Scorpions F.C. (World 78) - Verd
Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond - (World 69) - usf_bulls

Group H
Merchiston FC (World 90) - colinhtucker
Kobelco United Football Club (World 87) - nittany88
Queen City FC (World 74) - drew_shull
Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V. (World 71) gomiami1972

Group Tables and Results
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Group tables and results will be updated every evening around 7pm during the Group Stage of the tournament. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Table abbreviations key: GoalF = goals for, GoalA = goals against, GoalD = goal differential, AwayG = away goals, (F) = team has forfeited point(s) due to failure to schedule, Blue Highlighting = qualified for the next round, (#) Knockout Seed. Thru 6/18
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GROUP A - 12 games remaining	Wins	Loss	Ties	GoalF	GoalA	GoalD	AwayG	Stage Points
Rushmore FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wolfsburg Dynamit......................................	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Swampdragons FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BC Timber Wolves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

xxx [0 : 0] xxx
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GROUP B - 12 games remaining Wins Loss Ties GoalF GoalA GoalD AwayG Stage Points Brighton AFC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FC Stolpen Steamroller.............................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Godai Hiroshima 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FC Cackalacky 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

xxx [0 : 0] xxx
. .
Las Vegas Scorpions F.C. [8 : 4]the crutchanators of soccer; .xxx [0 : 0] xxx

Knockout Results

The Knockout Rounds will consist of the First Round, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and a 3rd Place series if both teams are willing to participate. Results are updated after the 7:00 pm game each night. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Teams that forfeit a game due to a failure to schedule cannot advance. A full explanation as to tiebreakers can be found in the Tournament Format and Rules post above. Numbers in bold between team names represent aggregate goals. Abbreviations key if necessary: (F) = team has forfeited round due to a failure to schedule. Blue Highlighting = advanced in the knockout rounds.
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Championship Results
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The Championship will be updated after 7pm each night. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Numbers in bold between the team names represent aggregate goals. There are no seeds and there is no time frame for the Championship. If an aggregate tie occurs, the home side for the first tiebreaker game will be decided by a coin flip and we will continue alternating home fields until a Champion is crowned. . ???
,,..,,,.....???
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L'Orteil D'or - ???
3rd Place - ???

Bums Bracket Results

The Bums Bracket will consist of the First Round, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals. Results are updated after the 7:00 pm game each night. Individual game results show the home team always to the LEFT of the bracketed score. Teams that forfeit a game due to a failure to schedule cannot advance. Numbers in bold between team names represent aggregate goals. Abbreviations key if necessary: (F) = team has forfeited round due to a failure to schedule. Blue Highlighting = advanced in the knockout rounds.
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L'Orteil D'or (The Golden Toe) tracker for the tournament's top goal scorer. Thru 6/18

Lindsay Hynes (Athletoc) - 3

Bromleah Rodríguez (Scorpions), Borivoj Fales (Scorpions), London Jamison (Athletic), Javaughn Galey (Hardknocks), Jerrad Forko (Swamp U), Jai Richard (Swamp U) - 2

Scully Malony (Athletic), Kenderick Keriell (Athletic), Amall Pedarzolli (Scorpions), Chatwyn Nikaido (Scorpions), Aesclin Chamberlain (Scorpions), Leif Bbjornstrand (Scorpions), Mainio Vatanen (crutchanators), Mikki Antintytär (crutchanators), Sampo Jarvela (crutchanators), Ville Koivula (crutchanators), Winslowe Grey (Swamp U), Fletcher Courtenay (Swamp U) - 1

3rd Place Extra Game Coin Flip (if necessary)


Bums Bracket Finals Extra Game Coin Flip (if necessary)

I am about halfway through the roster evaluation, which is the hardest part of the whole process since I can't really look at anyone's roster other than knowing a player's age, experience bars and stats.

I should be done evaluating by the end of the evening and will start placing teams in their groups tomorrow.

Rushmore FC and bert_fischer, your title defense and bid to become our first 4-time Champion starts now! The Group Stage is now officially underway and everyone is free to start scheduling at your convenience.

The Time Frame to Schedule Group Stage Games will be Jun 15th thru Jun 26th. We have five new teams in Cup XIX. If you are new to the Cup, each team plays a home and away with the other three teams in their group for a total of 6 games. Everybody will, sooner or later, be in the middle of the tourney when your world flips to a new season. This is why there are 11 days to schedule those 6 games in case you need time to sign new players. There also can be a bit of flexibility, so if we need to add an extra day, we can. One thing to note, games need to be scheduled by June 26th, not necessarily played by the 26th.

Spread your outgoing challenges out. Slot 10 is as good as Slot 1. If everybody uses the first three slots, there will be a traffic jam. So, here's the rule of thumb I suggest - If you receive an incoming challenge in the same game slot you have sent an outgoing challenge, please accept the incoming challenge and re-issue your own outgoing challenge. If you receive multiple incoming challenges in the same game slot, choose one ASAP to give the team you "rejected" as much time as possible to issue a new challenge to you.

I have verified that each User ID and team name is spelled correctly. You can copy/paste the user ID or team name from the participating teams list. While a lot of teams have similar names (there are a lot of dragons,) every ID is unique. If you use the copy/paste, make sure there are no spaces either before or after the team name or user ID.

OK, everyone. It's time to lace up your cleats and enter the arena. Best of luck and show no mercy - goal differential is a tiebreaker. 16 survive the round-robin to continue the fight in their bid for the Ultimate Prize.

I will send out the official sitemail reminder to all participants that the tournament is underway in the morning. If anybody has any questions, don't hesitate to ask either here or via sitemail.

I'll be doing my first check on game scheduling later today as the first results of Cup XIX start to roll in.

Just did my first check of the groups and 36 games have been scheduled so far, including every single one in Group B as they win the speed award for Cup XIX. The action begins tomorrow morning when Group F has FC Not Very Athletic host SwampDragons United and Las Vegas Scorpions F.C. entertains the crutchanators of soccer in Group G play.

One note on scheduling since it has happened a couple of times already. There is a bug in the programming that will schedule multiple games in a row. Further, occasionally two teams will schedule games several days apart at the same home stadium, as is the case with Athletic and Swamp U playing at Athletic's home stadium tomorrow and also on the 25th.

If there is ever a situation where two teams are playing each other multiple times at the same location, only the first scheduled game will count for the standings and the others will be ignored unless I hear from the two coaches involved to record a later result, which has happened before.

Alright, guys...we start getting after it tomorrow morning.