Competition method - EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN

The teams allocated the numbers I and II in the PRELIMINARY POOLS will compete following the principle "each one against each other" in one single round.
The teams classified 6th in each preliminary pool shall be automaticaly eliminated from the final round and the best 6th ranked team of the preliminary pools will be classified as 11th ranked team of the Championship.
The teams classified 5th in each preliminary pool shall be automaticaly eliminated from the final round and the best 5th ranked team of the preliminary pools will be classified as 9th ranked team of the Championship.
The first four teams classified in each preliminary pool will qualify for the semi-finals.

The SEMI-FINAL MATCHES shall be disputed as follows :
Match A 1st pool I - 2nd pool II
Match B 2nd pool I - 1st pool II
Match C 3rd pool I - 4th pool II
Match D 4th pool I - 3rd pool II

The FINAL MATCHES shall be disputed as follows :
For the title of European Champion :
Winner Match A - Winner Match B
For the 3rd place :
Loser Match A - Loser Match B
For the 5th place (only to be played if 1 [ONE] organizer):
Winner Match C - Winner Match D
For the 7th place (only to be played if 1 [ONE] organizer):
Loser Match C - Loser Match D

The FINAL ROUND is played in nine days :
Matches of the preliminary pools : 3 days
Day of rest : 1 day
Matches of the preliminary pools : 2 days
Day of rest + travel + departure of the teams classified 5th & 6th in the preliminary pools : 1 day
Matches of semi-finals + finals : 2 days
TOTAL : 9 days

ALLOCATION OF POINTS
VALIDATION OF MATCHES
For all the rounds of the European Championship, the allocation of points in POOLS MADE UP OF MORE THAN TWO (2) TEAMS shall be as follows :
- match won : 2 points
- match lost : 1 point
- technical forfeit : 0 point
In the case of equal points, teams shall be settled according to the quotient of sets won and lost. If this equality persists on sets level, the quotient of points won and lost in all matches shall be taken into consideration: in the case of an equal quotient, teams shall be settled according to the result of the match(es) played between the teams in question.
Any team refusing to play against another team shall be excluded from the rest of the European Championships. The results obtained up to the moment of its exclusion shall be cancelled. As of the time of exclusion, all further expenses incurred shall be borne by the defaulting team.
A match will be accounted for as lost by 0-3 (0-25; 0-25; 0-25) by the team concerned, if the anti-doping test performed after the match under review shows positive for one of its players.
Should a second player of the same team prove to be doped, the Jury or the Board of Administration can impose other sanctions.