CREATE TABLE "year_by_year" (
  "year" text,
  "division" text,
  "league" text,
  "reg_season" text,
  "playoffs" text,
  "open_cup" text
);

Question: which playoffs took place during 2011?
SQL: SELECT "playoffs" FROM "year_by_year" WHERE "year"='2011';

Question: which open cup was in 2012?
SQL: SELECT "open_cup" FROM "year_by_year" WHERE "year"='2012';

Question: when did the usl a-league have conference finals?
SQL: SELECT "year" FROM "year_by_year" WHERE "league"='usl a-league' AND "playoffs"='conference finals';