Division winners will be seeded No. 1 and No. 2, followed by the next six teams from each conference, based on regular season points (plus tiebreakers, if applicable).
Use of the playoff mini-game tiebreaker is eliminated
The Commissioner has "override" authority for playoff games, giving the league office the power to set general guidelines on dates and times of playoff games, as well as make a final ruling if the teams cannot agree on a site and kickoff time within those guidelines. The league office will put together the general guidelines for distribution to all teams well in advance of playoff games.
ROUND 1 - One Game (most likely played on Saturday, September 12, 1998)
8 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. Teams are seeded according to system defined above (division winners are Nos. 1 and 2, followed by seeds 3 through 8 from other conference teams based on points).
One-game, single elimination with higher seeded team, based on A-League points, at home.
Game Seed Matchups: (A) 1 vs. 8 (B) 2 vs. 7 (C) 3 vs. 6 (D) 4 vs. 5
ROUND 2 - Two Games (September 16 - 20, 1998)
Home and Away series (each team hosts for the other team in a single game).
First-round winners will be re-seeded based on their conference seed for the second round.
If the series is tied at one game apiece after the completion of two games (including overtime and shootouts, if necessary), the series will be decided on the following tiebreaker determination rules:
aggregate points,
aggregate goals,
most road goals in series,
regular-season points.
ROUND 3 - Conference Championship Series - Three Games (September 25 - 27 and October 2 - 4, 1998)
Two remaining conference finalists (two winners from Round 2) are seeded based on regular season points.
Best two out of three series (three complete games; no mini games). Higher seeded team has the choice of the first home date or the second and third home dates, if a third game is necessary.
Games must be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Games 2 and 3, hosted by the same team must be played during the second weekend (Friday, Saturday or Sunday; no Thursday games permitted). If desired by the hosting team, games 2 and 3 can be scheduled 24 hours apart (i.e., Friday / Saturday or Saturday / Sunday) but this is not mandatory (i.e., a Friday / Sunday combination is permitted).
The third game, if necessary, will be a 60 /40 (home / away) revenue split with parameters to be set by the league regarding promotional tickets and other possible considerations.
ROUND 4 - A-League Championship Game (most likely played October 10 or October 17, 1998)
A single Championship Game. If tied after regulation, two 15 minute overtimes (sudden death) period are played. If still tied after the overtime periods, the shootout will ensue until a winner is determined.
A-League Championship Game is the property of the A-League. Financial arrangements will be communicated to both teams in advance of the Championship Game.
The Commissioner has sole authority to select the host site based upon various factors such as stadium and field considerations, television arrangements, fan attendance, media coverage, hotel, transportation, etc.
