FSPA League Formats
Last updated: 5/19/2024
1. Overview
FSPA started nearly 30 years ago from scratch with a ladder format that provided a competitive experience for both new and veteran pinball players. That format has been modified over the years in small ways, and most recently a major way. FSPA is introducing a new format that deviates from the ladder system to accommodate larger leagues.
FSPA provides leagues the option of using these formats and continuing variations.
The FSPA Organization and Competition Rules page provides the organization-wide structure and rules, as well as specific pinball rules to assist with rulings during play.
The FSPA formats are summarized below with links to pages providing comprehensive details of those formats.
2. Traditional Ladder
The long-standing traditional ladder format of FSPA, spanning over 25 years, comprises a fun for all skill level 10-week league, with an additional week for finals. The “ladder” format is meant to keep players of similar skill levels competing week after week, and avoids the newest pinball players from playing the seasoned and highly skilled players.
The basic concept is if a player wins their group for the week, they move up the “ladder” and if they lose they move down the “ladder.” There are times when players may hit a hot streak and find themselves in tougher competition, but then they have the opportunity to learn more skills from those competitors. See all the format details for the e Traditional Ladder format.
3. Qualifying Ladder
The new qualifying ladder format of FSPA places a focus on open qualifying of players during the first 4 weeks of league to determine their starting ladder position. This contrasts with the traditional ladder that places players into the ladder on week 1 using “outscore percentage” from previous seasons. Starting week 5, players begin the ladder for the remaining 6 weeks of league. The basic concept is if a player wins their group for the week, they move up the “ladder” and if they lose they move down the “ladder.” See all the format details for the e Qualifying Ladder format.
4. Match Play
The brand new Match Play format of FSPA is a new format that eliminates the traditional ladder system, which focused on players moving up a ladder when they win, and moving down the ladder when they lose. This new match play format will have players qualifying for divisions over the first 4 weeks, followed by divisional play for the last 4 week. Then finals take place with the top 8 players from each division. See all the format details for the e Match Play format.