Minor premiership
Encyclopedia
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoff
s.
The etymology of the term was based on terminology in Australia from the end of the 19th century, where the regular season was referred to as the "minor rounds", and the playoffs or finals were referred to as the "major rounds" (this terminology is still used in South Australia, but has fallen into disuse in other parts of the country). Emerging from this terminology came the "minor premiership", for the top-ranked team in the minor rounds, and the "major premiership", often shortened simply to premiership
, for the winner of the finals series.
The term was important in the early finals systems
of the Victorian Football League
, an Australian rules football
league, where the minor premiers had the right to a challenge match
for the major premiership if it was eliminated at any stage during the finals.
The term is used widely throughout Australian sports, and there is often a separate trophy presented for it. The National Rugby League
awards the J. J. Giltinan Shield, the Australian Ice Hockey League
awards the V.I.P. Cup
and the Australian Football League
has (since 1991) awarded the Dr Wm. C. McClelland Trophy
. The National Basketball League
recognises the minor premiers but no official trophy or award is given. Australia's premier association football competition, the A-League
, officially refers to the "minor premiership" as the "premiership", and the "major premiership" as the "championship", which is more common with other association football competitions, but "minor premiership" is still used colloquially.
Although the concept of a minor premiership exists in North America
, and a separate award is often presented for the best record in the regular season, the term "minor premiership" is not used. The Presidents' Trophy
is awarded by the National Hockey League
to the team which finishes first in the standings at the end of the season, as is the Supporters' Shield in Major League Soccer
.
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
s.
The etymology of the term was based on terminology in Australia from the end of the 19th century, where the regular season was referred to as the "minor rounds", and the playoffs or finals were referred to as the "major rounds" (this terminology is still used in South Australia, but has fallen into disuse in other parts of the country). Emerging from this terminology came the "minor premiership", for the top-ranked team in the minor rounds, and the "major premiership", often shortened simply to premiership
Premiership
Premiership may refer to:* The post of Prime Minister or Premier, who is the head of government in many parliamentary systems* Premier League, England's highest-level football league competition...
, for the winner of the finals series.
The term was important in the early finals systems
Early VFL Final systems
Throughout its history, the Victorian Football League has used a system of finals after playing a regular season to determine the winner of the premiership....
of the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, an Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
league, where the minor premiers had the right to a challenge match
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
for the major premiership if it was eliminated at any stage during the finals.
The term is used widely throughout Australian sports, and there is often a separate trophy presented for it. The National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
awards the J. J. Giltinan Shield, the Australian Ice Hockey League
Australian Ice Hockey League
The Australian Ice Hockey League is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. It is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia and is run by its own Board of Directors....
awards the V.I.P. Cup
V.I.P. Cup
The V.I.P. Cup is a retired trophy that was awarded to the minor premiers of each season in the Australian Ice Hockey League from 2004 to 2009; that is, the team that finishes first overall in the standings at the end of the regular season. The trophy is named for its sponsor, V.I.P...
and the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
has (since 1991) awarded the Dr Wm. C. McClelland Trophy
McClelland Trophy
The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, currently awarded to the minor premiers in the Australian Football League each year...
. The National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
recognises the minor premiers but no official trophy or award is given. Australia's premier association football competition, the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, officially refers to the "minor premiership" as the "premiership", and the "major premiership" as the "championship", which is more common with other association football competitions, but "minor premiership" is still used colloquially.
Although the concept of a minor premiership exists in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and a separate award is often presented for the best record in the regular season, the term "minor premiership" is not used. The Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
is awarded by the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
to the team which finishes first in the standings at the end of the season, as is the Supporters' Shield in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.