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 along with the two best 3rd place finishers. Tiebreakers will be decided in the following order: stage points - goal differential - away goals - goals scored. If the teams are still tied, 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, away goals will be used as a tiebreaker. If a tie still exists, the higher seed will host the lower seed in an additional game. If that game ends in a tie, the lower seed will host a game and so on for as long as the time frame allows (please see the time frame explanation in the Tournament Rules below.) If the time frame expires and a tie still exists, a coin flip using random.org's random number service will determine who advances.
Seeding for the knockout rounds will be based on stage points - goal differential - away goals - goals scored. The seven group winners will automatically be awarded the first seven seeds, the 2nd place finishers will get seeds 8-14 and the two 3rd place finishers that advance will be assigned the 15th and 16th seeds.
The 1st 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
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.
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. Any team with any forfeiture during a Knockout Rounds match-up cannot advance. 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. 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 (Post #6 below) will start tracking unscheduled games 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 request to the other coach here or, if the coach does 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 participants..
Time Frame to Schedule Group Stage Games - February 19th through February 29th (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 29th. This does not mean the games must be played by the 29th.)
Time Frame to Schedule 1st Round Games - March 5th through March 12th (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 12th. This does not mean the games must be played by the 12th.)
Time Frame to Schedule Quarterfinal Games - March 16th through March 23rd (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 23rd. This does not mean the games must be played by the 23rd.)
Time Frame to Schedule Semifinal Games - March 25th through March 31st (Challenges must be sent and accepted by 7pm on the 31st. This does not mean the games must be played by the 31st.)
Best of luck to all participants in their quest for the ultimate prize - The FC Dynasty Cup!
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