USA MADDEN LEAGUE Where the real ballers play !
This league advances every 48 hours, with a playoff push.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT RULES DURING A GAME, PAUSE THE GAME AND MESSAGE A COMMISSIONER OR CHECK THE WEBSITE! BREAKING ANY RULES IS AN AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION AT FIRST OFFENSE. THIS IS A NO NONSENSE LEAGUE!
USA MADDEN RULES
This is a no drama league. We want this to run effectively and professionally. We don't want people who look for loopholes!
Commissioners-
Mike/Yan (Cowboys)
Gsquad (Packers)
(Please contact any of these commissioners if there are any issues with the rules or concern.)
YOU MUST CREATE A COACH!
ALL TRADES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISH BOARD!
New rules/Rule changes
**** New Motion Rule ****
Just like playmaker and no huddle there are limits placed on MANUAL CROSS-FIELD MOTION OF ANY PLAYER to twice per half
⁃ Cross-field is defined as from one side of the Center to the other
⁃ Manual motions are those that DO NOT show up on play art, and are initiated by the User input.
⁃ Any automatic Motion that shows on play art, and occurs by snapping the ball, is allowed.
⁃ ALL MANUAL CROSS-FIELD MOTION must be COMPLETED before the snap. Motion snapping (of manual motions) is not allowed.
⁃ HB/TE/FBs lined up next to the QB in shotgun are the exception, provided they stay next to the QB and only switch sides
****New League Feature****
“SUPPLEMENTAL FREE AGENT PERIOD”
The first half of any preseason week 1 will be given to qualifying teams to allow them to the have their pick of Free Agents before the remainder of the league, in order to help them build their teams.
Qualification requirements (any one):
- User missed the playoffs the last two (consecutive) seasons
- User is new to the league (first season results will dictate second season eligibility)
Example 1:
User “A” missed 2020 and 2021 playoffs. During Preseason week 1 of 2022 User “A”, and all other qualified users, will have the first 5 minutes of that preseason week to pick their one (normal 1 FA per week) preseason week 1 free agent before the rest of the league.
Example 2:
User “A” then makes the 2022 playoffs. Regardless of how well they do in the 2022 playoffs, they are NO LONGER eligible for a picking a player during the Supplemental FA Period of the 2023 preseason week 1 because they made the playoffs one of the last two seasons.
New rules/Rule changes
SS ability edits
⁃ Each user is allowed 5 ability changes (total). Use them on any slot for any player for any ability (provided they’ve unlocked the ability)
⁃ The ABILITY change must be submitted to a commish between the end of the Super Bowl the end of the draft. Please allow a few madden weeks for the changes to be put in.
⁃ List the team, player, and ability and which will be changed to it. (Example: Cowboys Ezekiel Elliot, change energizer to second wind)
⁃ You’re responsible for looking the abilities and if they’re unlocked up. Feel free to use an offline league or an online resource.
⁃ NO DEV TRAIT CHANGES
⁃ NO CHANGING POSITIONS IN ROSTER OF SS OR XFACTOR PLAYERS
Staff Points
⁃ Any attempt to multiply staff points by firing and hiring is a CHEAT.
⁃ No hiring and firing for bonuses
Recommended Group Me settings:
To promote prompt communication and to keep everyone in the loop the following is suggested:
ALL GroupMe notifications ON
-This will allow all tags and individual messages to reach you.
Every individual GROUP chat silenced
-This will prevent you from receiving an alert for every single message sent.
PENALTY PROGRESSION
1- a key offensive player suspended one game OR loss of a draft pick (if offense occurs during the playoffs)
2- one game suspension
3- multi game suspension and possible removal from league
Cheating (nanos, pulling the plug, forcing and opponent to break a rule, quitting etc.) is immediately a bootable offense *and skips to the 3rd penalty progression.*
COMMONLY BROKEN RULES TO AVOID:
- SubLB depth chart with Safeties
- FB depth chart with HBs
- Failure to stream
- Failure to keep play calling CONCEPTS diverse
These lead to the most suspensions. Please ensure you are in compliance.
SETTING UP GAMES:
At the start of each week, you have "half advance" to contact your opponent.
If you have been contacted, and have not responded within 24 hours (or half the advance time) you will be put down for a force loss. We will not be chasing you to play your game, if you are constantly being the last to play your game or are constantly being chased to play, you might be booted.
Do not wait for your opponent to contact you. Contact your opponent via GroupMe. Use the group chat and DMs.
*******
Lock in set times with your opponent. A set time needs to be agreed upon. If you are given a range or give a range, try to narrow the time down or set an end point to the range so you aren't waiting forever.
The lack of an ability to set a time does not automatically make the game a sim. If you and your opponent fail to set a time you will be subject to the judgement of the commish board. When the call for help/updates is made both users should share the FULL conversations with the commishes (dms,txts,group). FW factors considered: reply time, availability, and openness with communication. The call for updates on last games will be with several hours left to advance.
FWs will NOT be given with 1 hour left to advance unless a set time was missed. NO COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WILL RESULT IN FWS AT THE LAST MINUTE. If you are having trouble DM a commish, you do not have to wait for the update call.
*******
Please set up your next games before advance.
If you DM your next opponent immediately upon completion of the prior game you will never be accused of not communicating.
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PLAY/scoring/CPU RULES:
-AWAY TEAM MUST STREAM! User MUST Post the link in group. ALL GAMES ARE TO BE STREAMED LIVE!
-Anyone who cannot stream live must record the game for later uploading. They must post a link to their channel/game AND after the game post a picture of the upload progress bar.
-Failure to stream or upload will result in suspensions/removal per the “rule break progression”.
PLAYCALLING RULES:
CUSTOM Playbooks are allowed.
Any specific Concept may not be repeated back to back. This is due to some people just running 3-4 different zone blitzes all game. The exceptions to the rule (and the mix-it-up rule in general) are: when the offense no-huddles (and you are on defense), and when within 5yds of either goal line.
Play call LIMIT of 3:
⁃ Means any 1 (one) play can only be called 3 times in one game
Play call COOLDOWN of 8:
⁃ Means 8 offensive or defensive plays must be called prior to using any specific play again
Keeps your plays diverse. Mix up your plays and formations
Manually hot routing or motioning into a locked formation will be considered a rule break.
Playmaker is limited to ONCE PER HALF regardless of the outcome of the playmakered play. The exception being when trailing by 17 or more.
While playing a game there is a 42 POINT blowout rule.
If you are up 42 points, show sportsmanship. You are allowed to run and pass the ball, but not to score.
If the score is 42-0, but the losing team scores to make the point differential less than 35, the winning team is allowed to score.
SHOW SPORTSMANSHIP
Quitting is not allowed. Finish the game.
PLAYING THE CPU:
When you play, you have ONE SHOT AND ONE SHOT ONLY.
If you quit the CPU game it will be a SIM, not a FW.
If u don’t want to play tell a commish and the fw will be applied.
YOU must stay below 50 points under ALL circumstances!
ALL Games vs CPU must be broadcast with the link posted in the GROUP CHAT.
NO HUDDLE/ONSIDE KICKS:
You can no huddle 2 TIMES then go back to playbook unless in 2 MIN OF 2ND AND 4TH QUARTER or IF LOSING BY 17 OR MORE or DOWN MULTIPLE POSSESSIONS IN THE 4TH QUARTER.
If you are losing by 17 more, you no huddle until down by one score, then normal no huddle rules apply
Onside kicks are not allowed unless you are losing by 17 or more.
Onside kicks are allowed If you are losing by any amount ONLY in the 4th QUARTER.
4TH DOWN RULES:
- Going for it on 4th Downs will now be allowed more often.
- During the FIRST three (3) quarters you can go for it TWO (2) times, UNDER five (5) yards to go, anywhere on the field.
- EXCEPTIONS:
- Down 17 points or more you can go for 4th down with no restrictions until within 10 points (9 or less). At which point normal 4th down rules again apply.
- All 4th and goal attempts of less than five (5) yards are exempt from the 4th down rule.
- The 4th qtr has no 4th down restrictions
DEFENSIVE PLAY
- LB/DL Shifts are allowed. Do not continuously shift the LB/DL back and forth. That is not allowed
- You may only manually move TWO (2) defenders before ball is snapped
- Defensive linemen can not be moved off the line until ball is snapped
- Must rush at least 3 defenders every play, spy does not count
- MIX UP PLAYS AND FORMATIONS
-“Mixing up” plays and formations needs to be better than running 3 or 4 variations of the same play, in a rotation, from different formations. The same CONCEPT, play, or formation, should not be used excessively.
- Using a “base” play to make numerous adjustments to and from does not qualify as “mixing it up”
- Usered defenders may not manually get within 2 yards of the LoS pre snap. The exception being when you are blitzing, in which case you must actually blitz him. Automatic Cpu movements, and shifts that position the player in those positions, are fine.
- "Snap and dash" is not allowed. Ensure you complete your dropback. For a Qb to have “completed the dropback” to allow to leave the pocket they must be stationary for a complete a 2 (TWO) count (One second). the exeception being when you are under pressure. This includes dropping straight back out of the pockets normal depth.
TIMING RULES/TIME WASTING:
Chew Clock is not allowed under any circumstances unless: under 2 minutes left in the 4th, or both players agree.
Running the play clock down without snapping the ball until time runs low consistently also counts as chewing.
DONT BE A DICK. If you want to speed up the clock, talk to your opponent.
Trade limitations:
-Three (3) trades allowed per season, an additional two (2) may be used during the offseason of a given league year
-Users who have not completed a full (16 game) season are limited to trade one (1) 85+ overall player, drafted rookie, or top-64 draft pick (recieve or send).
PLAYER POSITION RULES:
- Users may NOT change the ROSTER positions of players with abilities (SUPERSTAR OR XFACTOR). You CAN continue to use them in any DEPTH CHART positions that are otherwise legal. No changing players positions to re-roll their abilities.
-Do not switch players position groups without commissioner approval except S/CB, FB/TE, and DE/PASS RUSHING OLB
-No HB at FB, No WR at TE, not even in subpackages.
-No Safety at subLB, even in subpackages
-WR at RB and RB at WR are allowed in SUBPACKAGES only, position change not allowed.
Superstar ABILITY edits will be allowed for their FIRST ability, within 2 weeks of it being earned/unlocked, for all players.
- Rookies can have their X-Factors changed once during their rookie season.
- All Out of Position Abilities can be submitted for editing, will be voted on similar to trades
⁃ Will allow for drafted rookies to use the edit
⁃ X-factor will not be editable
***ALSO SEE TOO OF RULES FOR CHANGES!!***
- If a development trait game presents during a week VS a CPU (and you do not play), or the game results in either sim or FW (in either direction), the trait attempt will be honored during the next User game if:
- A picture of the screen declaring the stats required to earn the trait is presented during the INITIAL game week
- A picture of the game stats showing the completed goal is provided post game.
- Example: “My game is a sim, but I have a trait game” followed by the pic of the stats required.
OFFSEASON GUIDELINES:
No points limit!
All other rules still apply
Rules breaks can cost draft picks or suspensions into the next season
TEAMS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS MAY TRADE all trades require approval from the commish room
DRAFT RELATED GUIDELINES:
Trades close 15 minutes before draft No trades during draft!!
Picks get skipped if not present (need to see a green icon or your at risk)
2nd round pick time is 90 seconds
3rd round you get 60 seconds to pick
4th and 5th round picks are 30 second picks Only drafting 5 rounds
You may change the name of drafted rookies
PRESEASON
Preseason will be ~10 minutes a stage
1 FA a week until the regular season.
2 FA a week during regular season.
Practice squad stealing will be turned off until week 3.
MISCELLANEOUS RULES:
-Extend the quarters to 7 minutes
-Tune interceptions to 38
-Users who do not play 75% (12/16) of games are subject to review and removal for inactivity (no tank by auto)
- ALWAYS MIX UP YOUR PLAY CALLS/FORMATIONS
- No recruiting for other lg in this lg its disrespectful and wont be tolerated
- Cant throw to anyone else on HB screen
- No stacking guys
- No running a defenders around for speed boost
-No nano or turbo blitz
-No rocket catching or swerve catching or face catching
-No punting or kicking glitches
-Do not flip plays constantly
-Keep plays diverse on offense and defense
-3 autos/Force Losses with no communication in row will get you a boot unless you talk to commishes and have valid reason. TANKING IS NOT A VALID REASON
-Snap and Dash with the QB is not allowed, that includes running backwards out of the pocket. You MUST complete the dropback on any non-rollout play before leaving the pocket, unless under pressure.
Rule changes/additions/clarifications:
Video proof required for all rule break related complaints. (Recommend recording all games on your PS4 and deleting them after each season)
Trade page picture required for all trade. User must honestly answer other user questions pertaining to traded players (contracts, etc) Commishes not responsible to do your homework for you.
A player cut cap has been implemented. Players an overall rating over 80 will not be allowed to be cut without approval and justification during the Regular Season and Playoffs. Starting at the Resign stage and throughout the Offseason and Preseason all cuts will be allowed.
Injury slider tuned down from 30 to 25
FA roster rule: any signed FA must be on your roster for 2 weeks before being traded
Roster size rule: 51 players minimum on the roster week to week
New teams are normally issued via Bids. The following are the typical bidding Rules:
1- Bidders may make up to 2 bids at a time (MUST specify preferred team)
2- Bids are weighed by seniority only, and won bids will also be handed out by priority (bidders win their preferred team only and cannot choose the other if they win both)
3- Team swaps must be coordinated through the commish room and must be straight swaps (no side deals are allowed)
4- One transaction (swap/bid) allowed duing the team bidding period (you cannot swap and then bid, nor bid and then swap)
5- Transactions are locked until the end of the 2nd season (no team swaps until after then, when you are awarded a bid you are done bidding)
6- Specific duration and timing of bidding period(s) will be detailed at the time
DM myself (Yan_Jin) with ALL transactions, to make them official. Feel free to DM/tag all commishes to ensure I have your bid.