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Caledonia - A Scottish League Restructuring

A restructuring of the professional leagues in Scotland, reducing the number of matches between sides in the leagues while also allowing opportunities for multiple matches between larger sides.

NATIONAL RULES
4 week winter break for the majority of leagues.
If a team does well in the major cups, this will reduce.

Team restrictions apply
Tier 1 - 25 players to register with Homegrown Rules. U21s can always play and do not need to be registered.
Tier 2 require 7 Homegrown players in matchday squad.
Tier 3 require 11 Homegrown players in matchday squad.

Tiers 5 and below can play trialists, maximum 4 matches.


LEAGUES
1st Tier = 16 teams, 30 games.
15th and 16th automatically relegated.
14th in a 2 legged playoff vs. playoff loser in the 2nd Tier for potential relegation.
Hampden playoff for title / relegation if points and goal difference between sides are equal.

2nd Tier = 16 teams, 30 games.
1st automatically promoted.
2nd - 5th in promotion playoff. 2nd vs. 5th, 3rd vs. 4th in 2-legged semi-final.
Final at Hampden - winner promoted, loser plays 14th in 1st tier for potential promotion.
15th and 16th automatically relegated.
14th in relegation playoff with sides from 3rd tier.

3rd Tier = 16 teams, 30 games.
1st and 2nd automatically promoted.
3rd - 5th in promotion playoff with 14th from 2nd Tier.
14th in Tier 2 vs. 5th, 3rd vs. 4th in 2-legged semi-final.
Final at Hampden - winner earns place in 2nd Tier.
Neutral venue playoff for title / relegation if points and goal difference between sides are equal.

4th Tier - 2 leagues, 18 teams, 34 games.
1st automatically promoted.
18th automatically relegated.

5th Tier - 6 leagues, 16 teams, 30 games.
1st in each league enter round robin playoff for promotion.
6 winners split into 2 geographical groups of 3, home and away matches. Group winners promoted.
15th and 16th automatically relegated.

6th Tier - 6 leagues, 16 teams, 30 games.
1st in each league automatically promoted.
2nd - 5th in promotion playoff. 2nd vs. 5th, 3rd vs. 4th in 2-legged semi-final.
Final in neutral venue, winner promoted.
15th and 16th automatically relegated (Except South of Scotland, no relegation)

7th Tier - 6 leagues, various teams, various games.
1st in each league promoted (Except North Caledonian League, explained in detail below)
Bottom 2 of East and West of Scotland Leagues automatically relegated. No other relegations.
North Caledonian League - league split into 2 groups of 12, play teams in group home and away, play teams from other group once. 34 games total.
Winner of both groups promoted.
Winner of league determined by 2-legged playoff between group winners.

8th tier - 2 leagues (East of Scotland and West of Scotland Leagues).
1st in each league automatically promoted.
2nd - 5th in promotion playoff. 2nd vs. 5th, 3rd vs. 4th in 2-legged semi-final.
Final in neutral venue, winner promoted.


CUPS
Scottish Cup - open tournament for all clubs. All enter at various stages based on league tier.
5th and 6th tier enter at the 3rd Qualifying Round.
4th tier sides enter at the First Round.
1st, 2nd and 3rd tier sides enter at the Second Round.
Single legged ties up to the semi-finals.
4th Round - Boxing Day set of fixtures, most / all televised based on scheduling.
Semi-finals 2-legged in April.
Hampden Final

League Cup - 1st to 3rd tier compete.
1st Tier top 8 / top 7 + Scottish Cup Winner / top 6 + 2 Cup Winners receive bye to Third Round.
Other 40 teams compete in pre-season Group Stage - 8 groups of 5, 1 game vs. other sides. Penalties after draws, winner receives 2 points and loser receives 1 point.
Top 2 qualify for Second Round.
Lower division sides receive home advantage in single-legged knockouts.
Hampden Semi Finals and Final the week during the winter break.

Glasgow Cup - 4 team Super Cup.
Winners of the League, Scottish Cup and League Cup qualify, with the League runners-up making up the numbers (cup dependent, up to 4th in the league could qualify)
2-legged semi finals held in tandem with the League Cup groups, games on Sunday to avoid clashes.
League winners and Scottish Cup winners will be separated in the semi final draw, otherwise an open draw.
Final played at an international venue on January 1st.

Challenge Cup - 2nd to 4th tiers compete.
Bottom 4 of 4th tier leagues play in Qualifying Round.
4 qualifiers and other teams enter First Round. Typically held during international breaks.
2-legged semi-finals in February.
Final in neutral venue during March international break (40,000+ stadium, Hampden typical default).

Highland / Lowland League Cups - 4th tier only compete.
Bottom 4 of 4th tier leagues play in First Round.
Winners of First Round and other sides play Second Round.
Semi-Final and Final ties played after 4th tier leagues end.
Final in neutral venue.

Junior Cup - 5th tier and below compete.
Teams enter based on previous positions in league.
Typically held during international breaks.
2-legged semi-finals in March / April.
Final in neutral venue after the 5th tier league finishes.

Regional Cups - 6 cups based on the regional league systems.
1-legged ties throughout.
Final in neutral venue during March international break.


RESERVE / YOUTH LEAGUES
Reserve and Youth Leagues are included.
University sides in the database have sides added to both structures.
Reserve leagues include 18 sides (typically from Tier 1, only Tier 1 to Tier 3 eligible for Reserve sides)
2 Youth Leagues, Elite League for tier 1 - 3 sides + 6 university sides.
Performance League for other sides with high youth ratings / setups.
Teams that compete in leagues also compete in respective cups.