Rule Update | February 15, 2017
Beginning with Season 14 two significant changes will be made to the rules. The first addresses a revision/correction to how extra balls are handled in the Upper Playfield Conference, and the second modifies how we handle home-field advantage in the playoffs
It has been correctly pointed out to me that the way Extra Balls have been handled in the Upper Playfield these past few seasons has been both flawed and confusing. The way it was written allowed for only a single extra ball, per person, per MATCH. The problem is, if one team has more players present than their opponent, at any given match, then that attendance advantage translates into more opportunity for extra balls to be played. As this was not the intention, the rule has been rewritten to read: “Only 1 extra ball, per player, per game, may be played.” Essentially, this means that every player can play one extra ball every game they play, assuming, of course, that extra balls have been chosen by the Away team to be played at all.
After discussions with a few people, I have been convinced that so long as we include “Wild Card” teams in the playoffs, home field advantage will only apply to the Wild Card matches. Wild Card teams are extra playoff teams which necessitate a first round bye for the top two teams. As a bye week is essentially a guaranteed win, there is no need to extend the advantage the top two teams have earned beyond the bye; therefore, all matches beyond the Wild Card round will be played at a neutral venue.