In a sports league, a playoff berth is a position in the playoffs secured ("clinched") ahead—and sometimes well ahead—of the season's conclusion. In close races, some teams will not make the playoffs until they have played the final game of the season, but other teams clinch a spot in the playoffs when they have mathematically qualified for the playoffs. A team mathematically qualifies for the playoffs when they have won enough games to qualify, including if they lose every remaining regular season game and all trailing teams win every remaining regular season game.