June 10, 2014 by Charlie Eisenhood in News with 15 comments
USA Ultimate announced the tournament format for the 2014 Club Championships today; the general framework will be similar to last season’s sweeping changes.
Pool play will consist of round robin play between the four teams in each pool, and teams will then be seeded into prequarters (round of 16). Single elimination from the Championship bracket begins first thing Friday morning.
There are some substantive changes to the consolation bracket games and the manner in which teams qualify for the Pro or Elite Flight for the following season.
From USAU’s news release:
All teams eliminated from championship contention by virtue of a loss in the pre-quarters or quarterfinals will be placed into a 2015 Pro Flight qualification bracket. The four quarterfinal losers will be re-seeded by rankings and compete for the first two of the remaining four spots in the 2015 Pro Flight. Meanwhile, teams losing in the pre-quarters will also be re-seeded by rankings and compete for a spot in one of two Pro Flight play-in games on Saturday.
Saturday is highlighted by the national semifinals, 2015 Pro Flight play-in games and placement games. The two losing teams from Friday’s Pro Flight play-in games will match up against the winners of a pre-quarters loser’s bracket for the final two Pro Flight spots.
Teams will not be immediately eliminated from a chance at the Pro Flight simply by being a lower-ranked team at the end of the regular season, and all teams will be guaranteed at least one game on Saturday.
