Football Federation SA (FFSA) would like to reaffirm the Senior Men’s finals series and promotion format that was confirmed with all senior men’s clubs in late 2015.

A top 6 finals series will be played across all grades of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues and State League 1 competitions, while in the State League 2 the top placed side will gain automatic promotion with the second placed team to play off against the 11th placed State League 1 team.

Outlined below is the format of the finals series fixtures and how promotion will take place for the current licence period across all competitions.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues and State League 1 – Finals Series

Finals Series Format

Week 1

Match A1 ^ - 1st Place vs. 2nd Place
Match B - 3rd Place vs. 6th Place
Match C - 4th Place vs. 5th Place

Week 2

Match A2 ^ - 2nd Place vs. 1st Place 26 – 28 August
Match D* - Winner Match B vs. Winner Match C 

^The team who finishes in first (1st ) position at the conclusion of the Regular Season can nominate their preference to play the first (1st ) leg of their Semi Finals either at home or away.

*Home Team for Match D will be the highest placed winner from the regular season

Week 3 – Preliminary Final

Match E Loser Match A1 & A2 vs Winner Match D

Week 4 – Grand Final 

Match F Winner A1 & A2 Playoff vs. Winner Match E 

Notes

1. The Team who finishes first after the home and away season will represent SA in the NPL National Finals Series (Should Adelaide United FC be crowned league premiers, the second placed team will qualify).
   
   
2. The team who finishes in first (1st ) position at the conclusion of the Regular Season can nominate their preference to play the first (1st ) leg of their Semi Finals either at home or away, subject to venue availability and FFSA approval. 
   
   
3. Fixtures during the finals series will be scheduled separate from each other, to avoid a clash of fixtures, where possible. 
   
   
4. Teams 1 & 2 will play-off over two (2) legs with the winner based on aggregate score advancing to the Grand Final. 
   
   
5. The loser of the Matches A1& A2 will be considered the ‘home’ team for the Preliminary Final.
   
   
6. The scheduling the matches for the under 18 and reserve grade fixtures will follow the senior grade team.

Promotion from State League 1 to PlayStation 4 National Premier League – Two Teams to be promoted

• The senior grade team who finishes first (League Premier) in the State League 1 competition, will automatically be promoted to the PlayStation 4 National Premier League;
  
  
• The senior grade team who wins the Grand Final (League Champions) in the State League 1 competition, will be promoted to the PlayStation 4 National Premier League. Should the same team win both the league premiership and championship, the runners up in the Grand Final will be promoted to the PlayStation 4 National Premier League;

Promotion Playoff from State League 2 to State League 1

The promotion and relegation method between the State League 2 and State League 1 competitions for the 2016 season. FFSA can confirm the following will be in effect for the upcoming season.

• The senior grade team who finishes last (12th Place) in the State League 1 competition will be automatically relegated to the State League 2 for the 2017 competition;
  
  
• The senior grade team who finishes first (League Champions) in the State League 2 competition, will automatically be promoted to State League 1;
  
  
• The second placed (2nd) senior grade team from the State League 2 at the conclusion of the league season, will play –off against the eleventh (11th) placed State League 1 team;
  
  
• The play-off will be conducted over two(2) legs, home and away, the winner of the two leg promotional play-off will be determined in the following manner;
  
  
• Overall aggregate score;
  
  
• Should the aggregate score from the two (2) matches be level, at the conclusion of the second leg, then the following would take effect;
   
• Away Goals Rule; If, the scores are still level after taking into consideration the away goals ruling, then the match will be determined by the playing of extra time consisting of two (2) periods of fifteen (15) minutes halves. 
  
  
• Should the match still be level at the conclusion of extra time penalty kicks will be taken in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.

No finals series will be conducted for the State League 2 under 18 and reserve grade competitions for 2016 due to the play-off series structure being used to determine promotion for the senior grade State League 2 competition.

All fixturing remains at the sole and absolute discretion of FFSA.