League Format
Teams are awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and from 2008 three points for an away win. Each team races every other team in the league home and away, and then races five teams again home and twice away, giving a total of 38 meetings. The first of these home and away fixtures are called the 'A' fixtures, the second are the 'B' fixtures. Placings are determined by points accumulated over all matches. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team with the greater difference of race points scored over race points conceded is placed higher. The top four teams qualify for the Championship play-offs. The semi-finals are single matches with the top two league positions having home advantage (1st vs 3rd and 2nd vs 4th). Winners from the semi-finals then meet in a two-legged Grand Final to decide the Elite League Championship winner.
From 2008, promotion and relegation between the Elite League (EL) and Premier League (PL) was introduced for the first time since 1991. The team finishing last faces the Premier League play-off winner over two legs (one match at each track), with the aggregate winner taking the EL spot in the following season, and the losing team racing in the PL.
Read more about this topic: Elite League (speedway)
Famous quotes containing the word league:
“He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 5:19-23.