Disclaimer: This information is not readily available in the FPHL Rule Book. Due to this unavailability, there is potential that this article will be updated.
Ever wondered what happens if there is a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season? If two teams jockeying for position in the playoffs both end up with the same number of points, what happens next? In this scenario, we have to move on to the tiebreaker system.
The FPHL’s tiebreaker structure is built around a standings system that awards three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, and one point for an overtime loss, and that scoring model shapes how ties are resolved when teams finish level at the end of the regular season. Because the league uses a tiered points format rather than a flat two‑point system, the order of tiebreakers plays a major role in determining playoff seeding, divisional placement, and which clubs control their own path as the season winds down.
Points as the foundation of the standings
Every playoff race begins with total points. The three‑point regulation win format creates natural separation between teams that consistently finish games in regulation and those that rely on extra time. A team that strings together regulation victories can climb the standings quickly, while a team that frequently goes beyond sixty minutes may accumulate points at a steadier but slower pace.
Let’s take last season as an example. Following were the standings in the Continental Division just before the playoffs began:
- Carolina (Twin City) Thunderbirds (124 pts)
- Athens Rock Lobsters (121 pts)
- Columbus River Dragons (100 pts)
- Blue Ridge Bobcats (92 pts)
- Baton Rouge Zydeco (91 pts)
When two or more teams end the season with the same number of points, the league moves to the next layer of evaluation. If Blue Ridge and Baton Rouge both had 91 points at the end of the season, we would have moved to the first criteria of the tiebreaker system: wins.
Wins as the first tiebreaking measure
Once teams are tied in points, the next comparison is total wins. This rewards teams that convert more of their games into full‑value results. In a league where the difference between three points and two points can swing an entire division, this tiebreaker often becomes decisive. It also reflects the league’s emphasis on outright victories as a measure of competitive strength across the season.
Win percentage as the next separator
If teams remain tied after comparing total wins, the league turns to win percentage. This metric accounts for any imbalance in games played, which can occur due to postponements, rescheduled matchups, or uneven stretches in the calendar. Win percentage provides a cleaner comparison when raw totals alone cannot separate teams, especially in seasons where clubs reach the finish line with different numbers of games completed.
Additional internal criteria
If the tie persists after points, wins, and win percentage, the league applies additional internal criteria. These may include other evaluative tools the league uses to finalize standings when deeper sorting is required. These layers are rarely needed, but they ensure that every tie can be resolved without ambiguity.
Why this matters in playoff races
This hierarchy shapes late‑season strategy and the way fans interpret every result. Teams chasing a playoff spot must focus not only on collecting points but on maximizing the value of each win. Win percentage becomes especially important in seasons with uneven schedules (i.e., if a game is cancelled), and deeper criteria can determine seeding when everything else is equal. Understanding this order clarifies which teams truly control their fate as the playoff picture tightens.
Jarrett Cross
Want to learn more about the FPHL playoff system? Check out our prior article here!
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