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In a sports league
, the ranking of a team is the place where it is within the division. Generally, ranking is based on won-lost record of games, with the team with the best record at the top, and the worst record at the bottom. Teams with the better records are awarded the advantage of playing in the postseason and all the glory that accompanies this privilege. Being in last place is undesirable for its reputation, though in some sports, the last place finisher may have some benefits, such as being offered the first draft
choice.
, there are 52 matches in each league. This is being upgraded to 96 matches from 2011. Top three teams in this league, automatically makes it to the Champions League Twenty20, held by International Cricket Council
every year.
, there are three divisions in each league. The leader in each division automatically makes the playoff
s, regardless of record. A fourth team, known as the wild card
team, also makes the playoffs. In the Division Championship series, the team with the best record of the three plays the wild card team, and the other two teams play each other in a best-of-five playoff. However if the wild card team if from the same division as the best team in the league, the second best division winner plays the wild card team and the best team plays the third best division winner. The winners of each series play each other in a League Championship Series
in a best-of-seven playoff to determine the pennant
winner. The two pennant winners then play a best-of-seven series known as the World Series
to determine the champion.
and title of Super Bowl Champion, along with championship rings for each member. The NFL Draft is held every April and the order of selection is based on the records from the 16-game regular season, from worst to best, with the Super Bowl Champions selecting 32nd. Trading rules are the same as in basketball and hockey, and trading the rights of players after they have been drafted but before they have signed a contract is not uncommon.
Sports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
, the ranking of a team is the place where it is within the division. Generally, ranking is based on won-lost record of games, with the team with the best record at the top, and the worst record at the bottom. Teams with the better records are awarded the advantage of playing in the postseason and all the glory that accompanies this privilege. Being in last place is undesirable for its reputation, though in some sports, the last place finisher may have some benefits, such as being offered the first draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
choice.
Cricket
In the Indian Premier LeagueIndian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
, there are 52 matches in each league. This is being upgraded to 96 matches from 2011. Top three teams in this league, automatically makes it to the Champions League Twenty20, held by International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
every year.
Baseball
In Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, there are three divisions in each league. The leader in each division automatically makes the playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
s, regardless of record. A fourth team, known as the wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
team, also makes the playoffs. In the Division Championship series, the team with the best record of the three plays the wild card team, and the other two teams play each other in a best-of-five playoff. However if the wild card team if from the same division as the best team in the league, the second best division winner plays the wild card team and the best team plays the third best division winner. The winners of each series play each other in a League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
in a best-of-seven playoff to determine the pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
winner. The two pennant winners then play a best-of-seven series known as the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
to determine the champion.
Basketball and Hockey
In the NBA and NHL, finishing in last place does not guarantee the first draft choice. Rather, a lottery is used between all of the lower-ranking teams (The 14 out of 30 that failed to reach the postseason). The team with the worst record is given the highest odds of winning the lottery (often 4-to-1), but is not guaranteed the first choice. In the NBA, the first three draft choices are chosen via the lottery, and each winning team receives the draft place it won in the lottery. In the NHL, only one lottery winner is chosen, and if the team is not one of the four worst teams record-wise in the league, it improves four positions in the draft. If the team is one of the worst four, it receives the first draft choice. In both leagues, the remaining teams are sorted by their records during the regular season (lottery teams) or playoff performance. The lottery only affects the first round of the draft. This format is used to prevent a team from losing intentionally in order to automatically gain the first draft choice privilege.American Football
In the NFL, there are two conferences—the AFC and NFC—which are each divided into four divisions—North, South, East, and West. The winner of each division plus two "wild card" teams from each conference advance into the playoffs. The two teams with the best record in each conference receive byes from the first round of the playoffs and advance to the second round automatically. The four other teams play single-elimination games and the winners advance to play the two bye teams. The winners of those games advance to the conference championship games and then to the Super Bowl, where the winner receives the Lombardi TrophyVince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl.-History:...
and title of Super Bowl Champion, along with championship rings for each member. The NFL Draft is held every April and the order of selection is based on the records from the 16-game regular season, from worst to best, with the Super Bowl Champions selecting 32nd. Trading rules are the same as in basketball and hockey, and trading the rights of players after they have been drafted but before they have signed a contract is not uncommon.