Gameplay
1) "Cheesing" is a way to say "cheesy-tactics". Loosely defined, that means doing things that may work against the A.I. of the game that would NEVER happen in real football. It's exploitation of the limitations of the games programming. The debate over "cheesing" always centers around whether or not the tactics are exploiting the weakness of the games A.I. or exploiting the weaknesses of the human you are competing against. The best way to avoid "cheesing" (and therefore stay Sim-ulation style) is to mix up your play calling.
2) If your opponent is doing something you think is unfair, pause the game and CALMLY explain the issue. If you guys cannot come to a reasonable solution over Live, bring the issue to the commish or the boards. Do not fight fire with fire. The key is to keep cool heads though. Saving highlights or recording video will help your cause when you make an accusation.
3) Playclock: We're all here to play football. Keep in mind we play anywhere from 6-8 minute quarters; not 15 like the NCAA. So please choose your plays as quickly as possible on offense and make every effort to do so before the play clock gets close to running out. We do realize, however, that certain situations in the game may require some extra time when choosing a play. You may run the game/chew clock
- with under 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd and 4th quarter
- the game has been decided and and your opponent has given the ok.
Let it run down naturally if you want, but again it has much more of an impact on the number of possessions than it would in real life. This is a part of respecting your fellow coaches, so keep that in mind.
4) No Huddle is fine with the following exception. The no huddle offense may not be run in situations where the clock is stopped such as an incomplete pass. Accidents happen (hitting Y after the play over by mistake), just don't make it a habit.
5) Scoring cap is 70 points unless the CPU within 14 points. There is no scoring cap in user games, but obviously don't be a dick if you are blowing a user out.
6) In the event of a disconnection in a user game, there are 3 options:
- restart (if both people are fine with that)
- recreate the situation (score, time, and down and distance)
- continue versus cpu (generally if game is out of hand already and your opponent gives the "ok")
If one player cannot play due connectivity issues then you can do 2 things:
1) Power through it. Remember lag effects the other user too. It's not a one way street.
2) Start over, reset modems, etc. Whether or not you want to recreate the score/situation is to be agreed upon between the 2 parties.
I think we have a good set of users and rules. However, with that being said you can't legislate every situation that may occur.
7) Going for it on 4th
We encourage straight play in this league, however, we do not want to limit players to the point where they cannot play aggressively. With that in mind, there will be a simple rule on 4th downs:
- Inside opponents 40, if 4th-3 or less
- If trailing in the 4th
- If trailing by 21+ points
- End of the Half Hail Mary
8) Fake punt and fake Field Goals are not allowed. No flat angle punts where it is designed to roll away from the PR. It is fine to do this when you are inside your opponents 50 and you are trying to pin the ball inside the 10.
9) On defensive special teams, you can manually control one player and send him back for extra blocking on punt returns. This also applies to FG/XP attempts.
10) You may not manually move a player to sit up an unrealistic NANO blitz.
11) All shifts are allowed when dealing with the defense. You can crash the line, bump in run, shift the LB's left or right. You can also hot route your defense whenever you want as well. You are not allowed to move any DL-man, either laterally or vertically, manually before the snap. After the snap feel free to move him back into coverage.
12) NO RUN COMMIT. All other gameplay settings are fair game.
Offseason
1) You may not persuade anyone from declaring for the draft if the following apply:
- 90 overall or higher (if projected to go in the first four rounds). Any player projected to go in the first round are to be let go regardless of rating.
- Heisman Trophy winner
* Kickers and Punters are the exception
2) Scholarship limit is seniors x 3
Position Switching
DT: 250 lbs
DE: 215 lbs
OLB: 195 lbs
MLB: 205 lbs
TE: 225 lbs
Also, position changes can only be one level (i.e. safeties to lb but not de, linebackers to de, de to dt, etc.)
Advance Schedule
- You have 48-72 hours to play your CPU and user games
- extensions generally allowed if communicated
- will advance once all games are played
If there are issues bring it to the board for me to decide if an extension will be made. If it is a user vs user, and one user has not made an attempt to schedule than the player that has will be allowed to play the CPU. If no attempt has been made by either side it will be SIMMED. We will advance once all games are played, not when your screen shows "green"
Coaching Tree
There are 4 categories in the coaching tree, 2 for the HC and 1 each for your assistants. The only part of the tree you can use is for recruiting - no game management, no offensive or defensive coordinator.
Recruiting - 5 max
Game Management - none
Offensive Coordinator - none
Defensive Coordinator - none
Icing the kicker
- you may not try to defeat the icing the kicker function by trying to spike the ball, or running any other play with one exception:
- if you decide to run a play after being iced you may if you are trying to get a first down. Ex. 4th-8, 7 seconds left, it’s a 55 yard FG that is right on the edge of your kicker’s range, after your kicker is iced you decide to just go for the first down. In that case you may decide to run a play.
Sanctions
The commissioner has the power to enforce the rules. They can range anywhere from warning, to loss of scholarships to removal from the league. One size does not fit all and may very from person to person depending on the circumstances.[/u]
1) "Cheesing" is a way to say "cheesy-tactics". Loosely defined, that means doing things that may work against the A.I. of the game that would NEVER happen in real football. It's exploitation of the limitations of the games programming. The debate over "cheesing" always centers around whether or not the tactics are exploiting the weakness of the games A.I. or exploiting the weaknesses of the human you are competing against. The best way to avoid "cheesing" (and therefore stay Sim-ulation style) is to mix up your play calling.
2) If your opponent is doing something you think is unfair, pause the game and CALMLY explain the issue. If you guys cannot come to a reasonable solution over Live, bring the issue to the commish or the boards. Do not fight fire with fire. The key is to keep cool heads though. Saving highlights or recording video will help your cause when you make an accusation.
3) Playclock: We're all here to play football. Keep in mind we play anywhere from 6-8 minute quarters; not 15 like the NCAA. So please choose your plays as quickly as possible on offense and make every effort to do so before the play clock gets close to running out. We do realize, however, that certain situations in the game may require some extra time when choosing a play. You may run the game/chew clock
- with under 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd and 4th quarter
- the game has been decided and and your opponent has given the ok.
Let it run down naturally if you want, but again it has much more of an impact on the number of possessions than it would in real life. This is a part of respecting your fellow coaches, so keep that in mind.
4) No Huddle is fine with the following exception. The no huddle offense may not be run in situations where the clock is stopped such as an incomplete pass. Accidents happen (hitting Y after the play over by mistake), just don't make it a habit.
5) Scoring cap is 70 points unless the CPU within 14 points. There is no scoring cap in user games, but obviously don't be a dick if you are blowing a user out.
6) In the event of a disconnection in a user game, there are 3 options:
- restart (if both people are fine with that)
- recreate the situation (score, time, and down and distance)
- continue versus cpu (generally if game is out of hand already and your opponent gives the "ok")
If one player cannot play due connectivity issues then you can do 2 things:
1) Power through it. Remember lag effects the other user too. It's not a one way street.
2) Start over, reset modems, etc. Whether or not you want to recreate the score/situation is to be agreed upon between the 2 parties.
I think we have a good set of users and rules. However, with that being said you can't legislate every situation that may occur.
7) Going for it on 4th
We encourage straight play in this league, however, we do not want to limit players to the point where they cannot play aggressively. With that in mind, there will be a simple rule on 4th downs:
- Inside opponents 40, if 4th-3 or less
- If trailing in the 4th
- If trailing by 21+ points
- End of the Half Hail Mary
8) Fake punt and fake Field Goals are not allowed. No flat angle punts where it is designed to roll away from the PR. It is fine to do this when you are inside your opponents 50 and you are trying to pin the ball inside the 10.
9) On defensive special teams, you can manually control one player and send him back for extra blocking on punt returns. This also applies to FG/XP attempts.
10) You may not manually move a player to sit up an unrealistic NANO blitz.
11) All shifts are allowed when dealing with the defense. You can crash the line, bump in run, shift the LB's left or right. You can also hot route your defense whenever you want as well. You are not allowed to move any DL-man, either laterally or vertically, manually before the snap. After the snap feel free to move him back into coverage.
12) NO RUN COMMIT. All other gameplay settings are fair game.
Offseason
1) You may not persuade anyone from declaring for the draft if the following apply:
- 90 overall or higher (if projected to go in the first four rounds). Any player projected to go in the first round are to be let go regardless of rating.
- Heisman Trophy winner
* Kickers and Punters are the exception
2) Scholarship limit is seniors x 3
Position Switching
DT: 250 lbs
DE: 215 lbs
OLB: 195 lbs
MLB: 205 lbs
TE: 225 lbs
Also, position changes can only be one level (i.e. safeties to lb but not de, linebackers to de, de to dt, etc.)
Advance Schedule
- You have 48-72 hours to play your CPU and user games
- extensions generally allowed if communicated
- will advance once all games are played
If there are issues bring it to the board for me to decide if an extension will be made. If it is a user vs user, and one user has not made an attempt to schedule than the player that has will be allowed to play the CPU. If no attempt has been made by either side it will be SIMMED. We will advance once all games are played, not when your screen shows "green"
Coaching Tree
There are 4 categories in the coaching tree, 2 for the HC and 1 each for your assistants. The only part of the tree you can use is for recruiting - no game management, no offensive or defensive coordinator.
Recruiting - 5 max
Game Management - none
Offensive Coordinator - none
Defensive Coordinator - none
Icing the kicker
- you may not try to defeat the icing the kicker function by trying to spike the ball, or running any other play with one exception:
- if you decide to run a play after being iced you may if you are trying to get a first down. Ex. 4th-8, 7 seconds left, it’s a 55 yard FG that is right on the edge of your kicker’s range, after your kicker is iced you decide to just go for the first down. In that case you may decide to run a play.
Sanctions
The commissioner has the power to enforce the rules. They can range anywhere from warning, to loss of scholarships to removal from the league. One size does not fit all and may very from person to person depending on the circumstances.[/u]
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