The French Elite League is going to adopt once again a different postseason format for the 2010 season. Following the usual 28-game regular season with 14 game days, the best two teams in the standings will qualify automatically for the semi-finals.
The teams ranked in third to sixth will play best-of-three series to determine the other two semi-finals participants. This system is similar to the format, which was used in the Czech Extraleague this year. Teams in seventh and eighth of the standings will face each other in a best-of-five series. The loser will be relegated directly, while the winner will face the second-ranked club out of the Nationale 1 league.
According to the report on the team website of Templiers Senart the regular season will start on March 21st and will end on July 11th. The postseason is supposed to be played in September and October. The quarterfinals (teams 3rd to 6th) are scheduled for September 5th and 12th, the semi-finals for September 18th/19th and October 3rd/4th and the French Finals for October 9th/10th and 16th and 17th.
Apparently the French Baseball and Softball Federation also hasn’t decided yet, if Compiegne as winner of the Nationale-1-League gets licensed to play in the French Elite League. If not, record champion Paris UC could return into the highest division in France after getting relegated after the 2008 season.