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Playoffs & Championships (2023-2024)
How Playoff Brackets are Determined and Scheduled
How Playoff Brackets are Determined and Scheduled

Breaking down how brackets are determined and how playoff-eligible teams advance to the playoffs

Updated over a week ago

Playoffs are a critical point in the season where we celebrate the top teams in each league and watch as they face off to determine who will take home the season champion title! This guide will provide an overview of playoff eligibility and scheduling as you fight for your postseason spot.

Playoff Eligibility

Enrolled teams must regularly attend and complete their matches throughout the regular season to be eligible for playoffs. Teams with missing results and/or forfeits in more than two (2) Regular Season matches will not be eligible for playoffs. These teams may still compete through the rest of the regular season but will not be seeded into the playoffs bracket.
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How Playoff Brackets Are Determined

Playoff bracket sizes are established based on predetermined breakpoints set by PlayVS League Officials. These breakpoints are set to provide a competitive experience while allowing more teams to participate based on total playoff-eligible teams within a given league. When the number of eligible teams meets or exceeds the designated Team Breakpoint, that league's bracket size will increase to the next threshold.

Team Breakpoints are as follows:

Bracket Size

Team Breakpoint

Top 4

<12 Teams

Top 8

12-23 Teams

Top 16

24-47 Teams

Top 32

48-95 Teams

Top 64

96+ Teams

Ex: A league with 43 playoff-eligible teams will have a bracket size of 16

Important: Playoff bracket sizes will be determined based on the number of playoff-eligible teams at the end of Regular Season Week 4. See Playoff Eligibility above for details on how teams qualify.

How Playoff Scheduling Works

Playoff matches are typically scheduled across two (2) weeks, with advancing teams competing in up to three (3) rounds within a calendar week. Start dates are set based on the number of enrolled teams - Smaller leagues begin playoffs later, while larger leagues will begin sooner, ending in a single Championship (or Finals) match.

Important: Certain state league schedules may be adjusted to accommodate state championships or other state needs for their leagues.

Brackets scheduling is as follows:

Bracket size

Week 1

Week 2

Championships

Top 8

No Matches

2 Rounds

(8 > 4 > 2)

1 Round

(2 teams)

Top 16

1 Round (16>8)

2 Rounds

(8 > 4 > 2)

1 Round

(2 teams)

Top 32

2 Rounds

(32 > 16 > 8)

2 Rounds

(8 > 4 > 2)

1 Round

(2 teams)

Top 64

3 Rounds

(64 > 32 > 16 > 8)

2 Rounds

(8 > 4 > 2)

1 Round

(2 teams)

Championships

Playoffs culminate in one Championship round. Closer to the end of the Regular Season, view the PlayVS Championship Schedule article to see a league's unique championship date and time.

State leagues may have specific rules around scholastic championships that can impact the format and timing for playoffs. For example, some state leagues may have multiple bracket rounds played on the same day at a physical venue, requiring travel from the schools invited to participate.

Team Restrictions and Bracket Adjustments

Only a maximum of two (2) eligible teams per school can make playoffs. If both teams from the same school make it to the Semi-Finals in the Playoff bracket, they will be paired up against one another regardless of which side of the bracket they are currently on. The Playoff bracket will be adjusted accordingly before the semi-final match day and will not affect the playoff schedule.

Single-player esport titles, such as Madden and NBA 2K, will have a maximum of four (4) eligible teams per school that can make playoffs. The playoff bracket will not be adjusted to ensure teams from the same school face one another before finals.

Exceptions may be made for state association leagues to accommodate specific state association bylaws.

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