USL PDL Playoff System

[mattmanp]

What kind of system does PDL use for playoffs? Specifically, is it round robin first round or straight one and done bracket? How does the seeding and home field advantage work? I'm hoping to make some playoff games if they're in Round Rock.

[KillerMoth]

It starts with the regional play-offs. We'll be playing whoever places 2nd in the Southeast Conference, and whoever places 2nd in our conference will play the Central Florida Kraze (who is in 1st). The winners of those 2 games will then play each other. The winner of that match determines who goes to the national semi-finals (4 teams, played in the same format, I believe), which then determines the 2 teams that play each other for the PDL championship. So it's pretty much like an elimination-style tournament.

I believe the regional play-offs are done over 1 weekend, so having some depth to your roster (like the Aztex do) is a help. I think this will occur in late July. The semi-finals and championship will probably be played in early August.

[SJJ]

The rules are http://www.uslsoccer.com/aboutusl/rules/index_E.html

The playoffs are straight knock-out single games. The Eastern, Southern, and Western conferences have four teams each. The Central conference has seven teams. The first week are the four confernce tourneys (this year on July 25-27), plus the Central begins with midweek games (July 22-24). The next weekend are the semi-finals (August 1-2), and the next weekend are the finals (August 9).

There is a bid process to determine all hosts, so the actual standings don't directly play a role in hosting. However, I think that if the Central regular season champion can host, they would be given the hosting duties, since otherwise you'll have to wait untill the midweek first-round games are completed to know who can host.

[mgrayscale]

The other thing to note is that for the Southern Conference, all the matches will be played in one location, so the bid process that will be used to host the Conference playoffs (similar to what was done for the US Open Cup match against Atlanta). Some items of note, that are purely conjecture at this point...

1. Austin has already won a bid process, so they know what it takes.
2. Laredo hosted the entire playoff system last year, so if they make it, it's doubtful (in my mind) that they'll get it a second year in a row.
3. El Paso is as far as you can get in the Southern Conference, so it will not be as attractive as others.
4. The Atlanta Silverbacks U23 team shares facilities (I believe) with the USL1 and Women's team, so it's a scheduling challenge.
5. The Central Florida Kraze may not even bid (rumor only), so that would eliminate them.

The way it would work is on Friday, Mid-South #1 would play Southeast #2, and Southeast #1 would play Mid-South #2 (not in this order) with Saturday off and the Conference Championship played Sunday.

I also heard that the PDL Semifinals and Finals are played in Hampton Roads, VA, with the final being televised on Fox Soccer Channel.

[VioletCrown]

The rules are http://www.uslsoccer.com/aboutusl/rules/index_E.html

The playoffs are straight knock-out single games. The Eastern, Southern, and Western conferences have four teams each. The Central conference has seven teams. The first week are the four confernce tourneys (this year on July 25-27), plus the Central begins with midweek games (July 22-24). The next weekend are the semi-finals (August 1-2), and the next weekend are the finals (August 9).

Well, that's crazy. The Central Conference, which has 16 teams (same as the Southern), but three divisions, has a 7 team playoff, while the Eastern Conference, which has 17 teams and 3 divisions, has only a 4 team playoff where only the top team from each conference goes through, plus a wildcard top #2 team.

Crazy.

Glad that we're in a division that still makes sense.

[KillerMoth]

I watched the PDL championship final on Fox Soccer Channel last year, so I imagine it is correct that it will be on again this year (especially since early August is pre-season for almost every other league they cover). The commentary wasn't that great, but that's kinda true of FSC commentators in general.

In fact, I'm kinda surprised we don't see more USL coverage on FSC during the summer, given the lack of action overseas, and that they only can show 1-2 MLS games a week, due to the rights of other networks (ESPN, Direct Kick, HDNET, Telefutura, Univision) to carry MLS games. I guess reruns of EPL games draw more viewers.

[EPVox]

In fact, I'm kinda surprised we don't see more USL coverage on FSC during the summer, given the lack of action overseas, and that they only can show 1-2 MLS games a week, due to the rights of other networks (ESPN, Direct Kick, HDNET, Telefutura, Univision) to carry MLS games. I guess reruns of EPL games draw more viewers.

Naw, they'd have to produce it and pay for satellite time. You couldn't get a simple three-camera broadcast on satellite for under $15,000, especially with fuel costs for the trucks. If it was sufficiently well-done, they might put up a video replay of a locally produced game, but the standards are a little higher.

As for Laredo not hosting because they hosted last season...IF they make the playoffs, Sashi Vaswani, the team owner, will pay whatever it takes. It's all about the amount of the bid, not how remote the destination or who has hosted before. I imagine if bids are similar they might make considerations for travel, but Laredo has hosted every round of the playoffs the last two seasons running and El Paso did so in 2005.

[VioletCrown]

As for Laredo not hosting because they hosted last season...IF they make the playoffs, Sashi Vaswani, the team owner, will pay whatever it takes. It's all about the amount of the bid, not how remote the destination or who has hosted before. I imagine if bids are similar they might make considerations for travel, but Laredo has hosted every round of the playoffs the last two seasons running and El Paso did so in 2005.

Looks like we need to start preparing for a weekend road trip!

[EPVox]

Looks like we need to start preparing for a weekend road trip!

If Laredo gets in, yep. If the Patriots do, we'll see. The resources aren't quite the same as in 2005. Patriots officials can be assured of really solid crowds, which might make it tempting because they believe they can make their money back. Patriot Stadium took in just under 2K for the Southern Conference Championship, a little over 2K for the PDL Semis, then drew around 7K for the finals at another area stadium.

[SJJ]

Well, that's crazy. The Central Conference, which has 16 teams (same as the Southern), but three divisions, has a 7 team playoff, while the Eastern Conference, which has 17 teams and 3 divisions, has only a 4 team playoff where only the top team from each conference goes through, plus a wildcard top #2 team. Crazy. Glad that we're in a division that still makes sense.

You're a bit off there, VC. The setup for the Central conference does make sense for them (well, us), because of the geography of the region. The region is basically broken down into "near midwest," "central midwest," and "far midwest" (or the "Heartland" division). The setup also allows for some inter-divisional games while keeping a balance in teams in the divisions (for example, Michigan [Great Lakes division] versus K'zoo or Chicago [Midwest division]).

Also, I had been advocating an increase of the playoffs from 16 teams, as the growth of the PDL and general quality of teams should have put the thought into the USL's heads. Maybe the Central conference is being used as a test-ground for next season.

[VioletCrown]

You're a bit off there, VC. The setup for the Central conference does make sense for them (well, us), because of the geography of the region. The region is basically broken down into "near midwest," "central midwest," and "far midwest" (or the "Heartland" division). The setup also allows for some inter-divisional games while keeping a balance in teams in the divisions (for example, Michigan [Great Lakes division] versus K'zoo or Chicago [Midwest division]).

Also, I had been advocating an increase of the playoffs from 16 teams, as the growth of the PDL and general quality of teams should have put the thought into the USL's heads. Maybe the Central conference is being used as a test-ground for next season.

It depends entirely on what you prefer.

I'm anal. Since the season is 16 games, I prefer 9 team divisions. With that short a season, unbalanced schedules can too easily cause teams to lose out on getting into the playoffs all based on whether they ended up doubled-up against the #1 team over the last place team.

I know, the whole schedule-setting process for the USL is a process of negotiation. But that means that a team is no longer judged just by its play on the field, but also by how well the ownership can manage the scheduling process.

That, to me, is a bit of a farce.

Now, granted, my solution is demanding more teams or forcing the conferences and divisions into financially problematical arrangements. Yours is to just allow more teams into the playoffs, so the unbalanced schedule is less likely to knock out a 'deserving' team.

Regarding the divisional setup for y'all, I see what you mean (looking at a map) about how the Central Conference is arranged. The three division arrangement is a good one for y'all. I played a little with trying to see if three divisions would work down south, and they don't work nearly as easily. But I didn't work at it too hard. I'm really attached to a balanced schedule:)

All this aside, I think you misunderstand me. I didn't necessarily intend to suggest that the Central is a worse playoff arrangement than the Eastern. I just found it silly that the Eastern conference (which also has three divisions) has more teams, but has fewer teams in their playoffs.

That seems a bit absurd. Mostly because of my anal desire for consistency combined with my sense of fairness.

Sounds to me like you're saying that each conference gets to decide their own playoff format. Is that true?