Qualifying: 8 weeks and 4 games per week
Seeding: Random
Pairing: Balanced
Scoring: Matchplay 7/5/3/1 (1st/2nd/3rd/4th in a 4 player group) and 7/4/1 (1st/2nd/3rd in a 3 player group)
Preplays: Preplays are being utilized if a person misses a league session. If a game's preplay has already been used for the current season, the player will receive last for that game and receive 1 point. Preplays may only be used for 2 weeks. If a player misses more than 2 league sessions, preplays will not be used and that player will receive 1 point across all 4 games.
Finals: The top 24 (or less if under 48 players in league for the season) will qualify for league finals on July 1st. Top seed from each group will have choice of game or position across all 3 games. The highest seeded player has first option of first game each round followed by the next highest seeded player for their respective group. This means for example if Seed 9 wants to play Cactus Canyon first round and seed 10 does as well, seed 10 will have to go with another pick for the initial round as to not delay tournament progression.
Finals Format: Players will be seeded 1-24 based on overall league points gained from the 8 qualifying weeks of league. The top 2 from each group will move on to the quarter finals. This will repeat until the final four compete and standings for the IFPA will be submitted based on the final results and conclusion of Finals.
Byes: The top 8 seeded players will receive a 1 round bye and will join finals during the quarterfinal round.
Division Playoff: After the dust settles from the finals on July 1st, we will break everyone into Divisions for our "for fun finals". All players from each division will play in a head to head game, and the top 4 from each division will receive a ribbon or trophy (Trophies for Top 3 and Ribbon for 4th). The standings from the Division Playoff will not be included in the final IFPA standings, as those results will stem from the Top 24 finals as described above. The Divisional Playoff will also include a pizza party and optional Stall Ball/Conga shenanigans.
Software: We will be using the new Matchplay software this season.
New Matchplay link: https://next.matchplay.events/
NOTE: Players will be able to enter their scores directly into Matchplay and no longer require a sheet to fill out and turn in. We will have the groups up on the Pinball TV and also on a laptop for players to double check their assigned group.
Pairing: Balanced - Balanced pairing will pair league players up with players they have not played in previous weeks.
Game Assignment: Games will be assigned at random to each group via League Directors each week. If a game is down or out for the night, a league director will change said game either randomly or based on how many times a game has already been drawn and assigned to another group that night.
SCHEDULE:
Meet 1: April 29
Meet 2: May 6
Meet 3: May 13
Meet 4: May 20
Meet 5: June 3
Meet 6: June 10
Meet 7: June 17
Meet 8: June 24
Official IFPA FINALS: July 1
League Rules and Guidelines:
3-4 person groups
EXTRA BALLS: Extra balls must be plunged (except Space Time, if you receive an extra ball on Space Time, the backbox display will light up "SAME PLAYER SHOOT AGAIN" and the player is able to play their extra ball, only for Space Time), you may set up your skill shot and plunge the ball.
BALL SAVES: Do not walk away from the machine until you see your bonus as some machines award a ball save. This is not the same as an extra ball.
MACHINE MALFUNCTIONS: If the machine malfunctions or a ball gets stuck, the player must stay at their machine. Have someone else in their group reach out to us for an official decision or to retrieve the ball. If you attempt to shake the stuck ball out and tilt the machine, that is at your own risk. If it tilts through and the next player loses their turn, please get one of us so we can give an official decision.
OUT OF TURN PLAY: If you play out of turn or play someone else's ball you will receive a last place and 1 point for that game, please make sure it is your turn before you plunge. See less