A. Spring Season Playoffs

If an organization enters teams in another MTOC-eligible league, then ALL teams of the same gender, regardless of grade/age, from that organization will be ineligible for any BAYS trophies, playoffs, or other awards.

MTOC-eligible divisions include divisions 1 and 2 in Grade 6, Grade 8, and Grade 10; division 1 in Grade 12/PG; and any other sections designated prior to the spring season by the Placement Committee.

The number of points awarded for both Fall and Spring games are listed in Match Rule 8 Reschedule Games/Playing the Schedule.

Leading teams having the same number of points shall be declared section co-champions.

Divisional playoffs will be arranged by the BAYS Playoff Committee between the MTOC-eligible teams for the week following the last regularly scheduled Spring season game. The divisional playoffs will be used to determine the teams representing the BAYS league that will play in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions.

Playoff and MTOC eligibility shall also depend on a team not having a losing Spring season record (i.e. the team must have at least a .500 winning percentage record, excluding games marked as No Game, where ties count as half a win and half a loss).

All teams that are placed in the BAYS Playoffs must confirm that they are willing to participate in MTOC. Any team refusing to represent BAYS at MTOC after winning their Grade/Division in the BAYS Playoffs will be subject to a fine (See MTOC Fines below).

Selection and placement of MTOC-eligible section representatives in the division playoffs are as follows:

·         All section champion teams will be placed.

·         If all section co-champions can be placed, they will be seeded according to the tiebreaker rules in effect.

·         If not all co-champions in a section can be placed, they will participate in a section playoff to determine which team(s) will advance.

·         If a section champion or co-champion is ineligible, the Playoff Committee may, but need not, select an eligible runner-up in its place, chosen by section standings and then by tiebreaker rules.

·         In division 1 sections with four or more teams, all outright second place teams will be placed. In sections with fewer than four teams, second place teams may be placed at the discretion of the Placement Committee.

·         Additional runners-up may, but need not, be selected to fill out a playoff bracket, chosen by section standings and then by tiebreaker rules.

Tie breaking will be according to the following hierarchy:

1. Points in the standings
2. Points awarded in common games (Points awarded in games among the tied teams)  
3. Most wins
4. Fewest goals allowed
5. Most shutouts of opponents
6. Cumulative goal differential—each game differential truncated at -3 or +3 goals
7. Drawing of lots

Playoff Rules
There are no special rules during the game for BAYS’ playoffs, except for determining an outcome.

All Playoff games are played to a result. There are two 10-minute overtime periods for all 11v11 games, or two 5-minute overtime periods for 9v9 games, to be followed by a penalty shootout, if necessary. There is no "golden goal" or "sudden death". 

The referee for a penalty shootout should:

• Referee chooses which end of the field to use 
• Assign side of coin to represent each team. Toss coin and side that faces up represents the team that gets to choose if they want to kick first or second 
• Follow IFAB Law 14 for rules on penalty shootouts

If, in the referee's sole discretion, there is a lack of sufficient daylight or poor weather or field conditions, the referee may direct the teams to proceed directly to a penalty shootout at the conclusion of regular time and omit the overtime periods.

MTOC Fines
Any team refusing to represent BAYS at MTOC after winning their Grade/Division in the BAYS Playoffs incurs a fine of $250, which is assessed to the team’s club organization. Also, if BAYS suffers a monetary loss (including slot fee if unable to replace the defaulting team) for such a default by an MTOC-qualifying team, the team’s club organization will be required to pay any MTOC imposed fine that is charged to BAYS.

B.  Playoff Committee

Each spring the First Vice President will appoint members to the Playoff Committee, whose obligation it shall be to organize, schedule, and supervise the season-ending playoffs to select the BAYS teams competing at MTOC.

The Playoff Committee will be guided by policies established by the Board of Directors and may consult the President or other appropriate officers for advice.