HOW IS THE TORNEY STRUCTURED?

Squads will typically be divided into 3-4 squad pools. Squads will play each team in the pool. Each match in pool-play will be a 2-half (rounds) match. After pool play, each squad will be placed in a 4-squad divisional bracket. Each of these matches will be 4-rounds. If there is an uneven number of squads in a divisional bracket, then the bracket might be changed to a roundrobin version and or the rounds of the matches may be changed.

HOW IS THE FORMAT DIFFERENT?

Normally in a tournament, you play with the same partner the entire time. At the playoffs though, you’ll take turns playing with different players on your team against a variety of pairs from other teams.
This is one of the coolest parts of the tourney. This creates ultimate team unity!

•With this format, a player can have a bad game, and your squad can still win the match.

•You get to use strategy to outcoach your opponent with your lineups!

•You are more invested in all the games around you. You have lots to cheer for all the time. This makes the tournament extremely fun!

HOW A MATCH WORKS:

•During the match there will be 3 nets on the field where each squad sends out various combinations of players to compete over the course of 4 quarters or 2 halves. Also known as rounds.

•Before the first quarter, Squad A, will go first in assigning their players to the 3 nets on the field.

•Then after Squad A places their players, Squad B will match and assign their players to each of the 3 nets on the field.

•After the net assignments are made, the playing then begins. The players battle it out on each net trying to win their game. A win on a net is worth 1 match point with 3 points up for grabs every quarter.

•Once all 3 games are finished, the scores are recorded, and it’s on to the next quarter/round.

•The two squads alternate each quarter, on who assigns their players first and who matches.

WHAT MAKES UP A SQUAD?

•A squad is made up of a minimum of 6 players and may have up to 7 players at the local squad events.

•Before the tourney, each team will rank their players 1-7, based on skill.

•Ranking them is simple. Just ask the question. “Which player on my squad would I want playing on the final game of the tourney if $50,000 were on the line?” Whoever that is, would be your #1, then whoever would be next would be your #2 and so forth.

•Be careful to do this correctly. The ASL has rules in place, that if a squad doesn’t rank their players this way, could cost them matches, and a championship. Trust us! You’ll want your best players in the right spot.

MAKING PLAYER ASSIGNEMENTS DURING THE MATCH:

There are three main rules/concepts when assigning players to the 3 nets that make the ASL squad format so popular!

First is the “Pair score” and the “Net Variance”:

•When you add up the rankings of the two players assigned to a net it creates what we call the “Pair score”. For example, on net 1, Squad A assigned their #2 player and their #7 player to play together. When you add those rankings up, you get a pair score of 9.

•When squad B is assigning players to this net, they can only assign/match two players who have a pair score within 3 points of squad A’s pair score. This 3 point range up or down is called the net variance.”

Next rule is the Pair limit rule:

•This rule means that you can’t have the same two people play together in two consecutive games during a match.


Final rule is the Sub rotation rule:

•The sub rotation rule means that a player may not sub out a second time, until everyone on the squad has subbed out at least once.

Watch the video below to learn more on the popular ASL format.

ASL USES THEIR MATCHBOOK SYSTEM OR SOFTWARE TO RUN THE MATCHES

To make all this easy to navigate, the ASL has created its own matchbook form system and they have been working on their proprietary software that runs the match for you.

•It shows the rosters.
•Lets you make player assignments.
•Prevents illegal assignments.
•Keeps scores.
•And talks to the other team during a match.

The software should be available at most of the local squad tournaments this year. If not the matchbook forms will be available. Both systems are awesome.