leagueplayoff

A league playoff is a post-season competition in which a subset of teams from a sports league compete to determine the league champion after the regular season. It serves to extend the competition, increase competitive intensity, and enhance fan engagement and revenue. The champion is typically crowned through a final series or match.

Format and seeding vary. Teams qualify based on regular-season performance, sometimes within divisions or conferences. Playoffs employ single-elimination, multi-round brackets, or best-of series (for example, best-of-three, five, or seven). Some leagues grant byes to top seeds; others use play-in or wildcard rounds to determine the last qualifiers.

Sport-specific variations. In many North American leagues, playoffs are central post-season events with multiple rounds leading to a final. In several European football leagues, the champion is often determined by the regular-season table, with playoffs used in related competitions, relegation battles, or for specific national or positional playoffs. Other leagues may award separate honors for the regular-season champion.

Significance and context. The playoff format shapes competitiveness, scheduling, and economics, and may influence how teams approach the regular season. Playoffs are distinct from domestic cup competitions and international tournaments, though they share the common goal of producing a league champion.