Criteria for population of Premier League divisions

Criteria for population of Bristol Premier League Divisions

(As updated for the 2025 season)

How it all works

(1) The total number of matches to be played in any division in any season should be a balance between what is realistically attainable and what constitutes a fair and rigorous test of the participants. Subject to occasional numerical constraints, playing between 20 and 26 matches per season should be attainable in the majority of circumstances.
(2) Ideally each opponent should be played twice (or occasionally three times) during the season so, in order to afford the opportunity to play the preferred total number of matches, leagues should consist of approximately 13 or 14 players.
(3) The Premier League structure should be in the form of a pyramid, where the number of divisions at any level never exceeds twice the number of divisions at the next level up. Thus new Premier League entrants should be very few steps from promotion to Premier One. New divisions should always be created at the current lowest level or a new next level down.
(3A) Divisions at the same level should always begin the season with the same number of players in each, if possible.
(4) Promotion and relegation slots between any levels in any given season should number (to the nearest whole number) one third of the membership of the numerically smaller level. A fairly rapid turnover of players is needed to avoid potential bottlenecks of new talent, and the inevitable degree of natural wastage will aid this process.
(5) Those attaining a place at any level for the following season (either by avoiding relegation or earning promotion) will always be guaranteed their place at that level, even if that means altering the preferred numerical balance in Table One below. Otherwise that preferred numerical balance in Table One should always be adhered to. For the one exception to this convention, see paragraph (6) below.
(6) In seasons where the lowest current level of the Premier League already has the maximum number of divisions, it will not be possible to guarantee that all players at that level will retain their status for the following season. Those bottom few places where there is a risk of demotion to the new lowest level will be identified in the league tables during the season (but note that the word risk means possible demotion and not definite demotion).
(7) Should there not be sufficient qualifiers for any level taking up their rightful places in any season, then vacancies would be filled according to the criteria in Table Two below.
(8) A Premier One qualifier taking a single year out may re-enter the league at Premier Two level. If necessary, this could be implemented by adding that player to the preferred number for the division.
(9) For population of divisions at the same level, entrants only (and not non-entrants) will be listed according to the pecking order in Table 2, bearing in mind the placings of any re-entering players (see 8). The players will then be allocated to divisions on the basis of Table 3, with any totally new entrants being drawn randomly into the final few remaining places.
(10) In the rare cases where there is a conflict of interests in the staging of the various divisions, higher levels should always be given preference over lower levels in terms of providing the most balanced conditions achievable.
(11) The different divisions at any level should be identified, not by numbers or letters which imply a hierarchical construct, but by some neutral identifier such as a colour.
(12) The Director reserves the right to vary any of the above criteria for the perceived good of the competition in the event of unusual circumstances.

TABLE ONE: Recommended splits between divisions of the Premier League, numbers of matches to be played, and numbers of promotion/relegation slots

TOTAL LEAGUE ENTRY	PLAYERS IN PREM.1	Matches against each	Total matches	No. to be relegated (or at risk if next level triggered)	PLAYERS IN PREM.2	No. of divisions	Matches against each	Total matches	No. to be promoted from each	No. to be relegated from each (or at risk if next level triggered) from each	PLAYERS IN PREM.3	No. of divisions	Matches against each	Total matches	No. to be promoted from each	(No. at risk from each
8	8	3	21	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
9	9	3	24	(1)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
10	10	3	27	(2)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
11	11	2	20	(3)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
12	12	2	22	(4)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
13	13	2	24	(5)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
14	14	2	26	(6)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
15	8	3	21	2	7	1	4	24	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
16	9	3	24	2	7	1	4	24	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
17	9	3	24	3	8	1	3	21	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
18	9	3	24	3	9	1	3	24	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
19	12	2	22	2	7	1	4	24	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
20	12	2	22	3	8	1	3	21	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
21	12	2	22	3	9	1	3	24	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
22	13	2	24	3	9	1	3	24	3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
23	12	2	22	4	11	1	2	20	4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
24	12	2	22	4	12	1	2	22	4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
25	13	2	24	4	12	1	2	22	4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
26	13	2	24	4	13	1	2	24	4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
27	14	2	26	4	13	1	2	24	4	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
28	14	2	26	5	14	1	2	26	5	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
29	13	2	24	4	16	2	3	21	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
30	12	2	22	4	18	2	3	24	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
31	13	2	24	4	18	2	3	24	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
32	14	2	26	5	18	2	3	24	2+1%	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
33	13	2	24	4	20	2	2	18	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
34	12	2	22	4	22	2	2	20	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
35	13	2	24	4	22	2	2	20	2	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
36	12	2	22	4	24	2	2	22	2	(0+1*)	.	.	.	.	.	.
37	13	2	24	4	24	2	2	22	2	(1)	.	.	.	.	.	.
38	14	2	26	5	24	2	2	22	2+1%	(1+1*)	.	.	.	.	.	.
39	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	(2)	.	.	.	.	.	.
40	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	(2+1*)		.	.	.	.	.
41	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	(3)		.	.	.	.	.	.
42	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	(3+1*)	.	.	.	.	.	.
43	13	2	24	4	22	2	2	20	2	1+1*	8	1	3	21	3	.
44	14	2	26	5	22	2	2	20	2+1%	1+1*	9	1	3	24	3	.
45	13	2	24	4	24	2	2	22	2	1+1*	8	1	3	21	3	.
46	13	2	24	4	24	2	2	22	2	1+1*	9	1	3	24	3	.
47	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	1+1*	8	1	3	21	3	.
48	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	1+1*	9	1	3	24	3	.
49	13	2	24	4	24	2	2	22	2	2	12	1	2	22	4	.
50	13	2	24	4	24	2	2	22	2	2	13	1	2	24	4	.
51	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	2	12	1	2	22	4	.
52	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	2	13	1	2	24	4	.
53	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	2+1*	13	1	2	24	4	.
54	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	2	13	1	2	24	4	.
55	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	2	13	1	2	24	4	.
56	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	2+1*	14	1	2	26	5	.
57	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	3	18	2	3	24	3	.
58	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	3	18	2	3	24	3	.
59	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	3	18	2	3	24	3	.
60	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	3	18	2	3	24	3	.
61	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	3+1*	22	2	2	20	3+1%	.
62	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	3+1*	22	2	2	20	3+1%	.
63	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	3+1*	22	2	2	20	3+1%	.
64	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	3+1*	22	2	2	20	3+1%	.
65	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	4+1*	26	2	2	24	4+1%	.
66	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	26	2	2	24	4+1%	.
67	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	26	2	2	24	4+1%	.
68	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	26	2	2	24	4+1%	.
69	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	28	2	2	26	4+1%	.
70	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	28	2	2	26	4+1%	.
71	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	30	3	2	18	3	.
72	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	30	3	2	18	3	.
73	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	33	3	2	20	3	.
74	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	33	3	2	20	3	.
75	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	33	3	2	20	3	.
76	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	36	3	2	22	3	.
77	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	36	3	2	22	3	.
78	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	36	3	2	22	3	.
79	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	39	3	2	24	3	.
80	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	39	3	2	24	3	.
81	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	39	3	2	24	3	.
82	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	40	4	2	18	2+1%	.
83	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	4+1*	44	4	2	20	2+1%	.
84	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	44	4	2	20	2+1%	.
85	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	44	4	2	20	2+1%	.
86	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	44	4	2	20	2+1%	.
87	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	4+1*	48	4	2	22	2+1%	.
88	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	48	4	2	22	2+1%	.
89	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	48	4	2	22	2+1%	.
90	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	48	4	2	22	2+1%	.
91	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	4+1*	52	4	2	24	2+1%	.
92	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	52	4	2	24	2+1%	.
93	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	52	4	2	24	2+1%	.
94	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	52	4	2	24	2+1%	.
95	13	2	24	4	26	2	2	24	2	4+1*	56	4	2	24	2+1%	.
96	14	2	26	5	26	2	2	24	2+1%	4+1*	56	4	2	24	2+1%	.
97	13	2	24	4	28	2	2	26	2	4+1*	56	4	2	24	2+1%	.
98	14	2	26	5	28	2	2	26	2+1%	4+1*	56	4	2	24	2+1%	.
										2+1% means the top two players from each of the divisions plus the third placed player with the best records over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										3+1% means the top three players from each of the divisions plus the fourth placed player with the best records over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										4+1% means the top four players from each of the divisions plus the fifth placed player with the best records over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										1+1* means the bottom player from each of the divisions plus the second bottom placed player with the worst record over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										2+1* means the bottom two players from each of the divisions plus the third bottom placed player with the worst record over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										3+1* means the bottom three players from each of the divisions plus the fourth bottom placed player with the worst record over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										4+1* means the bottom four players from each of the divisions plus the fifth bottom placed player with the worst record over the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
										numbers in brackets signify the number of players from each of the divisions at risk of demotion when a new lower level has been triggered. No values have yet been assigned for the triggering of a fourth tier of divisions

TABLE TWO: Pecking order for offering Premier One and/or Premier Two vacancies for season 2025

ORDER	PLAYER TO TAKE UP VACANCY
1 and 2	1st Premier Two Blue player below the promotion line and 1st Premier Two Red player below the promotion line *
3	1st Premier One player below the relegation line
4 and 5	2nd Premier Two Blue player below the promotion line and 2nd Premier Two Red player below the promotion line *
6	2nd Premier One player below the relegation line
7 and 8	3rd Premier Two Blue player below the promotion line and 3rd Premier Two Red player below the promotion line *
9	3rd Premier One player below the relegation line
10 and 11	4th Premier Two Blue player below the promotion line and 4th Premier Two Red player below the promotion line *
12	4th Premier One player below the relegation line
13 and 14	5th Premier Two Blue player below the promotion line and 5th Premier Two Red player below the promotion line *
15	5th Premier One player below the relegation line, if there is one
16, 17, etc., until all Premier 2 qualifiers exhausted	(where the number of players completing the season in each Premier Two division is equal) further Premier Two players following the pattern above *
16, 17, etc., until all Premier 2 qualifiers exhausted	(where the number of players completing the season in each Premier Two division is NOT equal) further Premier Two players, whose order will be based on their league records for the season just ended (irrespective of league finishing positions), with (1) match points divided by the scheduled number of matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break
Finally all non- Premier 2 qualifiers	Using the same criteria to allocate Premier Two vacancies as Premier One vacancies, except that a player losing a Premier Two survival play-off shall be first in line
	* Pecking order positions for players with the same finishing position in their respective divisions determined by a comparison of the players' league records for the season just ended, with (1) match points divided by the scheduled number of matches played, (2) average points difference, and (3) a play-off being the three levels of tie-break

TABLE THREE: Basis for seeding entrants to divisions on the same level

NUMBER OF DIVISIONS TO BE POPULATED	ORDER OF SEEDS FROM THE LIST (see (9) above)
2	Players 1,4,5,8,9,12,13,16,17,etc in one division, Players 2,3,6,7,10,11,14,15,18,etc in the other division
3	Players 1,6,7,12,13,18,19,24,25,etc in one division, Players 2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26,etc in a further division, and Players 3,4,9,10,15,16,21,22,27,etc in the final division
4	Players 1,8,9,16,17,24,25,32,33,etc in one division, Players 2,7,10,15,18,23,26,31,34,etc in a further division, Players 3,6,11,14,19,22,27,30,35,etc in a third division, and Players 4,5,12,13,20,21,28,29,36,etc in the final division

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