Capital Football, Football NSW, Football Queensland, Football Federation South Australia and Football Federation Tasmania will all take part and play in a knockout finals series format next month to decide the competitions first ever national champion.

The Premiers of each of the Member Federation’s respective NPL championships will qualify for a place in the NPL Finals Series (in 2013, the Grand Final winner from Football Federation South Australia will qualify).

In 2013 there will be five participating federations playing off for the inaugural NPL Championship with a bye inserted in the schedule for the three currently non-participating federations.

The NPL 2013 Finals Series schedule is as follows:

Elimination Round - 28/29 September 2013

Game 1 Football Queensland vs BYE
Game 2 Football NSW vs Capital Football
Game 3 BYE vs Football Federation Tasmania
Game 4 Football Federation South Australia vs BYE

Semi Finals - 5/6 October 2013

Game 5 Football Queensland vs Winner of Game 2
Game 6 Football Federation Tasmania vs Football Federation South Australia

Final - 12/13 October 2013

Game 7 Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6

*The team in the left column will host the match in their state

With Football Federation Victoria, Football West and Northern NSW Football preparing to launch the NPL in 2014, they will join the five current NPL competitions and will compete in the knock-out finals series format.

The elimination round structure was constructed by seeding teams in geographical order with the first named team set to host the fixture alternating each year to ensure that member federations are provided with an opportunity to host every second Finals Series.

At the conclusion of the elimination round, the semi-final hosts were determined by the drawing of lots with the host of the final determined and awarded to the best performing team of the finals series via a points system listed below:
Win within 90 minutes = 3 points
Win during extra time = 2 points
Win on penalties = 1 point
Goals For (excluding penalty shootouts) = 3 points
Goals Against (excluding penalty shootout) = -1 point
Yellow Card = -1 point
Red Card = -3 points

As the state NPL competitions draw to an exciting close, further information will be released in the coming weeks when finalists are decided.

The date, venue and kick-off times for all fixtures will be determined by FFA in consultation with participating member federations and announced via www.footballaustralia.com.au.