FAQs

TOURNAMENT FORMAT FAQ

What does this format have in common with the 2020 format?

A lot!

The first stage is structured very similar to last year’s first stage where teams are matched up by record throughout the round. There is a one-game elimination stage to round out the Final 16 and the Final 16 teams will compete in a single elimination bracket on Sunday.

In addition, teams can win the tournament in as few as 7 games, early wins pay off with fewer games later on, and teams are offered a path forward after a couple of early losses (but at a disadvantage). All of these features were well-received elements of last year’s format.

What is different about this format relative to the 2020 version?

The only significant difference is the second stage of the tournament, where the twelve 2-2 teams compete alongside twelve teams beginning their tournament in that round.

Why 44 teams?

The number found us.

United Wiffle®Ball’s main goal was to leave the elements of the 2020 NCT that received overwhelmingly positive feedback undisturbed while also addressing some of last year’s shortcomings. In addition, it was important to address the increased demand for the 2021 tournament by adding additional slots. This particular 44-team format allowed for a 10% increase in teams in addition to improving on a few shortcomings from 2020 while keeping “what worked” in 2020 in place.

In short, it checked the most number of boxes.

Without regard to the number of teams, how does the 2021 format improve on the 2020 tournament format?

After the 2020 tournament, United Wiffle®Ball solicited formal and informal feedback from 2020 tournament participants and non-participants. The three most commonly suggested areas of improvement for the tournament format were (in no order):

• Less down time in between games;

• A higher number of minimum number of games (on average) for teams that do not reach Sunday; and

• More innings per game.

While we hoped to improve on all three aspects - in addition to increasing the number of teams - Saturday games will still be 4-inning contests this year.

The format does allow for significantly less “down time” after a team begins play on Saturday and more opportunities for teams that ultimately fall short of Sunday to get in a bunch of games at PeoplesBank Park!

In addition, the format eliminates the use of “run tiebreakers” to determine where teams with the same records/finishes slot.

The sometimes lengthy layoffs in-between games on Saturday was my biggest complaint about the 2020 tournament, so tell me more about this “less down time” thing . . .

That’s not really a question, but here’s an answer anyway!

Last year during the Contenders Bracket, teams on average had one 1-round break and one 2-round break. This year’s format - because the number of teams in the first two stages of the tournament have been greatly reduced - allows for no more than one-game-on, one-game-off throughout Saturday’s preliminary rounds. We know players generally do not like to wait around much once they are warmed up (especially in possibly crisp fall weather!) and this should help significantly in that regard.

Why not accept more than 44 teams? The bigger the better, right?

Not necessarily.

There is more that goes into to a solid tournament format than quantity, including many of the elements discussed above. It is a balancing act to find the right mix, if such a thing exists. For example, the more teams involved in an event, the more difficult it becomes to allow teams with 1-2 or 2-2 records to keep playing while also ensuring that early tournament wins mean something. It was United Wiffle®Ball’s goal to improve on last year’s format while not getting rid of what worked in 2020. The more teams involved — even if time/space was of no concern — the more difficult it is to balance all of the many elements that go into a fun, fair, and competitive tournament.

Is my team being penalized for not securing one of the 12 spot Route 2 spots?

No, not at all; that cannot be stressed enough!

This format recognizes that currently, there is not a one-size-fits-all competitive Wiffle®Ball team. Some play together as a unit all year long. Some don’t. Some do but not in fast pitch. Some players spend most of their spring/summer competing in draft leagues. This format allows teams to not only enter the NCT without qualifying or playing together during the summer, but also allows those teams to reach the finals having played six games - the exact number of minimum games those starting in Route 2 can achieve. At the same time, the structure recognizes the accomplishments of teams in certain tournaments during the spring & summer. This format simply allows teams to choose between doing all of their work at the NCT at the end of October or parlaying some regular season success into an improved-odds position in October.