ACC SOFTBALL TIEBREAKERS

(as of 5/2017)

QUALIFICATION

The top team from the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions, determined by conference winning percentage, and the next eight teams with the best conference winning percentage regardless of division will participate in the Softball Championship. The two division champions will automatically be seeded number one and two based on winning percentage in overall conference competition. The remaining teams will be seeded three through ten based on winning percentage in overall conference competition without regard to division. All ties will be broken using the tie-breaking provisions. If a team plays an ACC opponent outside of their conference schedule, that game will not be considered in the ACC standings or seeding procedures.

SEEDING

In the case of a tie in conference winning percentage, championship seeding will use the tie-breaking procedures below with the following guidelines:

• When comparing tied teams and arriving at another pair of tied teams, use each team’s winning percentage against the tied teams who are common opponents as a group. For example, if Teams A and B have the same winning percentage as compared to Team C, then Teams A and B will be compared to Team D; but if Team D is tied with Team E, then Teams A and B will be compared to the winning percentage of Teams D and E collectively, not individually.
• When comparing records against a single team or group of teams, the higher winning percentage shall prevail even if the number of games played against a team or group of teams is unequal. If winning percentage of the tied teams is equal against a team, or a group of tied teams, continue until one team gains an advantage.
• If multiple teams tie and the tie can be reduced to two teams, the provisions for two team ties will be used from that point forward.
• One completed game of a series scheduled by the conference constitutes a common opponent for tie breaking purposes.

1. Division Champion Determination.
        (a) The division champion will be the team in each division with the highest overall conference winning
              percentage.
        (b) Head-to-head conference competition between the tied teams.
        (c) Records of the tied teams within their division.
        (d) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams versus the team within the division with the best overall
              conference winning percentage (divisional and nondivisional) and proceeding through the division.
        (e) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams versus common opponents in the opposite division with
              the best overall conference winning percentage (divisional and nondivisional) and proceeding through
              the opposite division.
        (f) Coin flip.

2. Seeds One and Two Determination.
        (a) Head-to-head competition in regular-season conference play between the two tied teams.
        (b) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams compared to common opponents (divisional and nondivisional)
              with the highest conference winning percentage and continuing until one team gains and
              advantage.
        (c) Coin flip.

3. Seeds Three through Ten Determination.
        (a) Divisional Opponents.
        Two-Team Tie
            (1) Head-to-head competition between the two tied teams.
            (2) Records of the tied teams within the division.
            (3) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams versus the team within the division with the best overall
                  conference winning percentage (divisional and nondivisional) and proceeding through the division. Multiple
                  ties within the division broken from first to last.
            (4) Overall record versus all common nondivisional opponents.
            (5) Combined record versus all nondivisional opponents.
            (6) Record versus common nondivisional opponents based on their order of finish within their division.
            (7) Coin flip.
        Three-or-More-Team Tie
            (1) Combined head-to-head record among the tied teams.
            (2) Records of the tied teams within the division.
            (3) Head-to-head competition versus the team within the division with the best overall (divisional and
                  nondivisional) conference winning percentage, and proceeding through the division. Multiple ties within the
                  division will be broken first to last.
            (4) Overall record versus nondivisional opponents.
            (5) Combined record versus all common nondivisional opponents.
            (6) Record versus common nondivisional opponents with the best overall conference (divisional
                  and nondivisional) winning percentage and proceeding through the other common nondivisional opponents
                  based on their order of finish within the division.
            (7) The seed(s) shall be chosen by a draw.
        (b) Nondivisional Opponents.
        Two-Team Tie
            (1) Head-to-head conference competition between the tied teams.
            (2) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams compared to common opponents with the highest overall
                  conference winning percentage and continuing until one team gains an advantage.
            (3) Coin flip.
        Three-or-More-Team Tie
            (1) Combined head-to-head record among the tied teams (if common opponents).
            (2) Head-to-head competition of the tied teams compared to common opponents with the highest overall
                  conference winning percentage and continuing until one team gains an advantage.
            (3) The seed shall be chosen by a draw.