2025-2026-NCHSAA_Handbook

conference games played against each other would count in the head-to-head competition.

The intent is to break the tie by using the tied teams.

Ex. 1 - If there is a four-way tie for first and Team A and Team B are 2-1 while Team C and

Team D are 1-2, in games among the four of them, A and B would be tied for first by

virtue of their 2-1, with C and D tied for third. Then look at head-to-head between the

two (A and B) to break that tie, and then between the other two (C and D) to break

that remaining tie.

Ex. 2 - Teams A, B and C are tied for fourth in the conference standings with identical records.

In games among the three, A was 3-1, B was 2-2 and C was 1-3. The tie is broken; A is

fourth, B is fifth and C sixth.

(3)

Any time throughout the whole procedure that a multiple tie is reduced to two teams, no

matter what criteria is being used, use head-to-head conference competition between those

remaining if possible.

(b)

Determining Conference Tournament Seeding - The following rules are used to seed conference tour­

naments on the basis of regular season standings. Use this section only to seed for conference tourna­

ments and only after 4.1.11(a) is completed; if no conference tournament [See Rule 4.1.11(c)].

(1)

Seed the tournament on the basis of final regular season standings [See Rule 4.1.11(a)].

(2)

If two or more teams are tied, and the teams played any non-conference games against each

other, the team with the better record in all head-to-head games get the higher conference

seed. (If there is a multiple tie of three or more teams, one team must have beaten all the other

teams for these non-conference games to be used). Note that use of these non-conference or

tournament meetings prior to the conference tournament is ONLY for seeding in the confer­

ence tournament [See Rule 4.1.11(c)(5)].

Ex. -

Team A and B split in regular season, but played one another in a non-conference

game and A won. A would get the higher seed in the conference tournament. Say A

and B were tied for fourth in an eight-team league and this occurred; A would get the

higher seed in the tournament. However, the meeting in the conference tournament

between A and B would be the tiebreaker between the two for determining NCHSAA play­

off representatives [See Rule 4.1.11(c)(2)].

(3)

If there is still a tie for a tournament seed, it will be resolved by comparing how the tied teams

fared against the rest of the conference until the tie is broken.

Ex. 1 - A and B finished with equal conference records and split during the regular sea­

son, thereby tying for third place in the standings. They did not play each other in a

non-conference game. Go to the number one position in the conference and compare

how A and B did against that team. Say the tie cannot be resolved there (both teams

split with the number-one team), so go to the number two team. Team A lost twice to

the number two but B split with the number-two team. Therefore B would be seeded

third and A fourth (even though they finished tied for third in the final standings).

Ex. 2 - There is a four-way tie for first among A, B, C and D. Team A and B are each 2-1 while

C and D are each 1-2 in games among the four. A and B are tied for the first seed, while

C and D are tied for third seed. Now look at head to head competition between A and

B to break that tie, and head to head between C and D to break the other remaining tie.

(4)

If the tie still exists, a draw will be held by the tied teams for the seeds available. All tied teams

for a position will draw with the numbers of the spots for which they are tied in a hat.

Ex. -

A and B are tied for third and the tie is not resolved after going through the procedure

in 4.1.11(b)(3) above. The numbers three and four are put in a hat, and the schools

will draw and assume the seed of the number drawn. The drawing will be done in alpha­

betical order as the schools are listed in the NCHSAA Directory.

(c)

Determining NCHSAA Playoff Representatives - Playoff berths for bracketed sports will awarded

based on the final regual season standing, as determined by the MaxPreps Final RPI, or other des­

ignated platform (i.e. RankWreslting). MaxPreps RPI values are presented on the website with four

decimal places, in the event of a tie, the NCHSAA will examine as many decimal places as necessary

to break the tie. Once the qualifying teams in each classification are determined, they will be divided

into two regions of equal size (East and West) based on the longitude of each school. Schools are then

seeded based solely on the MaxPreps Final RPI.

4.1.12 Playoff Declaration - A school has the option to “opt out” of the playoffs, provided it fills out the Playoff Decla­

ration Form on the website, and submits it and it is in the NCHSAA offices prior to the reporting deadline for

that specific sport. Proper submission means the school will not be considered for either an automatic berth

or a wild card position. If the form is not submitted, then the school will be considered and may qualify for a

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