Draw to make-up the groups

Question: How are the groups divided?

Answer: The first 4 positions of the regular season are placed as heads of each group (A1, B1, C1 & D1), this is row #1. The next 4 make-up the second row and are randomly selected to be in one of the groups (A2, B2, C2 & D2). From the regular season's standings, teams in 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th positions are randomly put in row #3 (A3, B3, C3 & D3) and so on the fourth row is done in the same way. That leaves the last 2 teams in 17th & 18th. Since the last team in a standing usually play against team with the highest ranking, they are placed randomly in groups A & B (A5 & B5). 

The draw to make-up the groups will be done at the captain's meeting at the end of the regular season. Captains draw for positions in the order they finished the season.
See: rounds for 10 teams

Finish or concede a match




It must be decided: Which team concedes the match?

NOTE: follow the rule of the day at the finals.

In Tenniscores:



FAQ - post season

Series' rounds

 Questions: How are the matches made? Is it a round-robin?

Answer: Normally in a round robin with 16 teams one match is played against the other 3 teams in the group. In a normal round robin, there is an order to respect following the standing. TFIM chose a format close to a round-robin with differences: a format of 3 rounds with a draw at random to form the groups. See Draw to make-up the groups.

With 18 teams participating, two groups of 5 (uneven) and two groups of 4 (even) and 3 rounds per group. Between groups A and B, one match per week is intergroup. Two teams form the same row never play against each other; there is one exception "A3 vs B3". 

ROUNDS for a tournament with 18 teams
Round #1   Round #2   Round #3  
A1 receive A5 A1 receive A3 A1 receive A2
A2 receive A4 A2 receive A5 A3 receive A4
B1 receive B4 B1 receive B3 B1 receive B2
B2 receive B5 B2 receive B4 B3 receive B5
A3 ? B3 A4 receive B5 B4 receive A5
C1 receive C4 C1 receive C3 C1 receive C2
C2 receive C3 C2 receive C4 C3 receive C4
D1 receive D4 D1 receive D3 D1 receive D2
D2 receive D3 D2 receive D4 D3 receive D4

Which team receives during the post season series?

The team that has the highest ranking at the end of the regular season will always host. The number in front of each team name signifies it's ranking at the end of the regular season.

Ball distribution

How are the balls distributed for the post season tournament?

The team that had the highest ranking, during the regular season, receives. At the captains' meeting these teams are given the balls for the whole tournament.

What is the consequence if an unqualified player is in line-up?

Rule 2.7.4 stipulates that only qualified players can play in the playoffs. You must declare a default as during the regular season if you do not have enough qualified players. Any enfringement to any TFIM rules may lead to loosing that playoff round.

How positions are decided in the standings

The standings are sorted in the following order:

1. the team that won the most matches prevails,

2. the team that has the most set points

If there is still a tie, head to head matchup between these teams and:

3. the team that has the most matches prevails,

4. the team that has the most set points.

Finals' journal