Playoffs and Brackets
How playoff brackets work for leagues.
If you include playoffs in your league, slowpitch.love reserves time at the end of the season and puts together a playoff bracket as part of your schedule.
The normal setup form only asks whether to include playoffs. The default bracket is single-elimination. If you need something more specific, add it to Other scheduling requests, reject the schedule with a note, or contact support.
Playoff Requests
You can ask for playoff details like:
- Double-elimination instead of single-elimination.
- Only the top 4, top 6, top 8, or another limited number of teams from standings.
- One-night playoffs, final-week-only playoffs, or playoffs spread across multiple weeks.
- Different playoff game lengths than the regular season.
- Different playoff score settings, such as set count, best-of, runs to win, or score cap.
- Extra fields for playoffs only.
- A smaller playoff field pool if some fields are unavailable.
- Specific playoff start times, end times, or a note that late playoff games are acceptable.
These options are not all regular self-serve settings. The clearest place to request them is the scheduling request box when you create the league. If you notice something during schedule review, reject the schedule and explain the playoff change you want.
It is best to request playoff changes before approving the schedule. After playoff scores have been saved, bracket changes may require support to review existing results and may not always be available.
Schedule Review
When your schedule is ready, review the Schedule tab and the Playoffs tab before approving.
On the Playoffs tab, check:
- Bracket type.
- How many teams are included.
- Playoff dates, start times, and fields.
- Whether the bracket fits the request you gave us.
- Any TBD teams or standings placeholders.
If something is wrong, reject the schedule and explain what needs to change. For example:
- "Only the top 8 teams should make playoffs."
- "Please make playoffs double-elimination."
- "Playoffs should be one night only. We can use all 4 fields and 45-minute games."
- "Use only fields 1 and 2 for playoffs."
For the full approval and rejection flow, see Schedule Review and Updates.
TBD Teams And Seeding
Playoff brackets can appear before the exact teams are known.
You may see placeholders like "1st from standings" or "1st from Semis A." That means slowpitch.love knows the bracket position, but the team will be filled in later from standings or from an earlier playoff game.
If a playoff game says "Waiting on regular season scores," regular-season results still need to be finished. Every regular-season game that affects standings must be scored or canceled before standings-based playoff spots can be assigned.
For more detail on standings, see Standings and Scoring.
During Playoffs
Players and captains can open the Playoffs page without an account.
Click a playoff game to open the game details. Playoff game details include a Bracket link so players can get back to the full bracket.
Scores are reported from the playoff game details the same way regular-season scores are reported. As playoff scores are saved, later bracket spots can fill in from earlier winners.
Double-elimination brackets can include an if-needed game. That game is only played if the previous result makes it necessary.
If your league uses ump assignments, playoff brackets may also show ump placeholders based on standings or earlier playoff results.
Common Questions
Do players need accounts to view playoffs?
No. Players and captains do not need accounts to view brackets, open playoff game details, or report scores when score reporting is available.
Can only some teams make playoffs?
Yes. Ask for a limited field, such as "top 8 make playoffs" or "only the top 4 teams advance."
Can playoffs use different times than the regular season?
Yes. Tell us what you want, such as shorter playoff games, more fields, a one-night bracket, or a later end time.
Why are teams still TBD?
The bracket is waiting for standings or earlier playoff results. If standings are involved, regular-season games may still need scores or cancellations.
What should I do if the bracket looks wrong?
If the schedule is still under review, reject it and explain the issue. If the schedule has already been approved, contact support.
