The final two time slots had four games where the seeds held, although the Brits needed overtime to put away the Aussies 42-41.  The Aussies needed a significant win over the Brits to make it in to the medal round, as they lost to Canada by four goals in our earlier game this week.  Winning or losing by a single goal to the Brits wouldn't have made a difference from their point of view.

Here's a little refresher course on the tie-breaking procedures we use in this sport, where head-to-head games amongst teams with identical win/loss records is critical.

5.0 Tie Breaking

The following system shall be used to resolve ties at all IWRF sanctioned events.


5.1 Games

All games at IWRF sanctioned events shall be played until a winner is declared.  Games that are tied at the end of regulation time shall continue through as many overtime periods as a necessary to resolve the tie.  This applies to all rounds of play.


5.2 Preliminary Round

If, at the end of the preliminary round, two or more teams are tied in the point totals, the following procedures shall be used, in the order presented, to resolve the tie.  As soon as one of these procedures is found to resolve the tie, the subsequent procedures are not to be used.

1.   Forfeit

2.   Points – Tied Teams

3.   Goal Differential – Tied Teams

4.   Most Goals – Tied Teams

5.   Goal Differential – All Games

6.   Most Goals – All Games

If another tie situation arises subsequent to the resolution of an earlier tie, these procedures are to be used again, in order, beginning with the first.


5.2.1 Forfeit

If teams are tied in points at the end of the preliminary round, any tied team which forfeit a game during the preliminary round shall be deemed to have lost the tie.


5.2.2 Points – tied teams

If there is still a tie, the standings shall be determined based on points gained in games among the tied teams.  Points shall be assigned as described in article 4.3 for wins and losses in the games among the tied teams.  Once points are assigned, the tied teams are reordered from the highest to the lowest point total.


5.2.3 Goal Differential – Tied Teams

If there is still a tie, the standings will be decided on the basis of the goal differential among the tied teams, during only those games when they played each other.

To calculate the goal differential, total the number of goals that a team scored during preliminary round games against the other tied teams and subtract the total number of goals scored against that team in those games.  The difference is the goal differential.

Once all goal differentials have been calculated, the tied teams are reordered from the highest to lowest differential.


5.2.4 Most Goals – Tied Teams

If there is still a tie, the standings will be decided based on which team scored the most goals in the preliminary round games between the tied teams.  Tied teams are reordered from the highest to lowest total number of goals.


5.2.5 Goal Differential – All Games

If there is still a tie, the standings will be decided on the basis of the goal differential among the tied teams, during all preliminary round games.

To calculate the goal differential, total the number of goals that a team scored during preliminary round games and subtract the total number of goals scored against that team.  The difference is the goal differential.

Once all goal differentials have been calculated, the tied teams are reordered from the highest to lowest differential.


5.2.6 Most Goals – All Games

If there is still a tie, the standings will be decided based on which team scored the most goals during all preliminary round games. Tied teams are reordered from the highest to lowest total number of goals.

To translate the above system, the Japanese and Germans were tied with identical 2-3 records, but in their head-to-head game, the Japanese won.  Thus, even with an overall inferior +/- differential, the Japanese take the #3 slot in Pool A.  Similarly, the Danes take the A5 slot over the Swiss due to their head-to-head game, despite the fact that the Swiss had an overall superior +/- stat.

Check out the grid to see graphically how this looks, and check out the schedule for another way of looking at it.

In today's matchups, the two north american powerhouses will write another chapter in the continuing Murderball saga.  Watching those two teams, with so much history between them, going at it is like watching a movie in the making.  We were hoping to meet them at some point.  Now's the time!!!

Game 31 - A5 vs. B6   DEN vs. SWE
Game 32 - B5 vs. A6   NED vs. SWI

Game 33 - B3 vs. A4   AUS vs. GER
Game 34 - A3 vs. B4   JAP vs. BEL

Game 35 - A1 vs. B2   USA vs. CAN
Game 36 - B1 vs. A2   GBR vs. NZL

The winners of game 31 and 32 will play for 9th place on the final day of the world championships.  Those who triumph in games 33 & 34 will be in the bronze game, while the winners of Games 35 & 36 will play for gold, and the losers of those critical games will face each other for bronze.

As previously mentioned, the gold medal game will be available online... although the teams involved are yet to be determined... that's today's job.

Success is a Nike ad.  Just do it!!!