Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to The Football League
Section 1 - Initial Start Up & League Settings
Rosters Used
Season & Sim Season Schedule
League Settings
Team Settings
Section 2 - Game Play Rules
Standard In-game Rules
Offensive Play Rules
Defensive Play Rules
Playbook Rules
Section 3 - Roster Requirements & Guidelines
Team Positional Minimums
Positional Change Requirements
Contracts and Re-signs
Free Agency
In-Season Waiver Wire & Free Agency
Trade Rules
Draft Rules
Section 4 - Social Expectations
Chat Etiquette
Scheduling and Community Involvement
INCENTIVE PROGRAM - TBD
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Introduction
Hello, and welcome to The Football League. We are an established 32-man CFM League that started back in 2012 on Operation Sports under the league name “SOS Crew”. The original league mantra was “strategy over skills”. We live by that mindset today. We look to build a respectful, fun environment that rewards Football knowledge both in the front office and on the field, and not just user stick skill on the game of Madden. Notable features of our league include
NO SWITCH gameplay.
Simulated seasons to allow for the management side of the sport of football to shine through and reward owners who can have a strong long term vision throughout a Madden Cycle.
Unique contract rules that allow for free agency to resemble a more realistic form of player movement.
Gameplay Rules that allows everyone to compete if they are able to call a strong game on the field, while also running a good organization off the field.
Incentive Rewards to promote activity both within the league by playing games, as well as promoting the league using various social media formats.
A great core of players who, for some of us, have been together for at least 7 years now, while some faces inevitably change, we can always rely on our core of about 20 members to always be here. And we’re always looking to add to that core.
Section 1 - Initial Start Up & League Settings
Roster Used
We will use the initial 75 man rosters released by Madden. These rosters are typically the most balanced across the board, and many of the early roster updates create early imbalance. This also allows coaches to make their own 53 man roster decisions
2. Season & Sim Season Schedule
Season Schedule will Reset At the beginning of FA Stage 1 every season. This is important for trades specifically.
Preseason Schedule - The preseason, other than season 1, will see us advance to preseason week 4 incase any CPU teams exist and need to fill up after the draft. This allows everyone to fill out their practice squad and make their cuts to 53 man roster. Advance time is 48 hours from the end of the draft.
Weekly Advance Period - 72 hours with 8 PM EST Advance Times. If games are scheduled in public for after 8PM EST on advance day, the league will wait for the game to finish. If all games are completed prior to advance, the league will advance early and use 8PM EST on that day as reference for the beginning of the next 72 hour period.
36 Hour Rule - All members must give their availability within 36 hours of the advance period. Back for Madden 20 will be posting your availability either on the Grownfolks forum scheduling section, OR tagging the board with the confirmed gametime in the discord chat.
Communication Expectations - We understand people have lives and will be busy at times, but taking a few minutes out of your day to not keep the league in the dark will solve many issues for everyone. Thank you.
Sim Season Schedule - For Madden 20 we will return to the Play-Play-Sim-Play-Sim-Play schedule. This system maximizes the division opponents that users will face over the course of a cycle. After the 4th play season we will re-evaluate as a league on which direction we will be headed.
Sim Season Playoff Schedule - We will reintroduce sim season playoffs as a bonus to coaches who are able to make the playoffs in the sim years. Advances in sim seasons are 48 hours, we will not extend advances in these seasons as it makes for long offseason for coaches who miss the playoffs. We appreciate quickness in these games to try to move the league forward still though.
3. League Settings
Difficulty: All Madden
Quarter Length: 11 Minutes (18s Play Clock)
Game Speed: Normal
4. Team Settings
Auto Flip - User Discretion
Ball Carrier Special Move - Manual
Defensive Auto Strafe - Off
Defensive Ball Hawk - Off
Defensive Heat Seaker Assist - Off
Defensive Switch Assist - Off
Section 2 - Game Play Rules
The Football League is a Simulation league who’s aim is to replicate the real game of football. Our mantra is strategy over skills. This means team management, coach playcalling, roster construction, and ability to create a long term vision for your team are what will be the main path to success. Skills will always be a factor in every game but the goal is to create a playing field where anyone can succeed through different avenues and make an environment enjoyable for players of all skill levels to play in.
Standard In Game Rules
“No Switch Rule” - You may not switch offensive players at any time. You are to control whatever players currently has the ball. On defense you must control the same player from the time the ball is snapped until the completion of the play. The exception to this is on a turnover. You can run with the player who has the ball. On special teams you can switch players up until the ball has been caught by the return man.
Playcall Integrity - Run your plays as they are designed. On offense you should not be hot routing in a certain route every play, or when you call a run play you should be trying to hit holes within the designed play, not bouncing runs to different parts of the field. On defense if you call a zone, you should be playing zone as your user player. While it makes sense to cover a guy within your zone, running between multiple receivers is not realistic and not what we want.
Varying Plays - On both sides of the ball you are expected to be varying playcalling. Different run designs, different routes, different zone calls, different man coverages. This will be more detailed in the Offense and Defense sections. Basically this is a core of any simulation league and is a main component in our league. Using your coaching ability is a core component of how we evaluate owners.
Respectful Gameplay - This is nothing that is quantified, but playing with respect for your opponent is a key part of this league. If you find yourself calling certain plays or doing certain “skill” moves where you are taking advantage of the game flaws is not very respectful and makes for a miserable gaming environment. We all know the flaws, you can take advantage sometimes, but doing it consistently is frowned upon. We are all here to have fun.
Super Sim - Using Super Sim vs. CPU is not permitted
Playcalling - A coach is expected to call their own plays. Using suggested plays on either side of the ball is not permitted. Learn your playbook, ask other owners for advice.
3 Strike Policy - We will be instituting a 3 strike policy regarding ALL rules violations. Each “violation” only counts if a proper complaint is sent in to the commissioners. On your first 2 strikes, the commissioners will open a dialogue with the violator to help them going forward. On the 3rd strike you will enter a hearing with 3 commissioners and the onus will be on you to explain the violations and convince the 3 commissioners why you belong in the league. We will be willing to hear you out, but we would rather never get to that stage. Not every case will result in expulsion, but there may be discipline handed out depending on the situation.
2. Offensive Play Rules
QB Movement - QB’s can’t drop back more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and if there is pressure you must escape right/left/middle. QB’s can’t drift right or left after the snap if it is a standard drop back. You can sprint right/left on a rollout or boot pass within the play design.
Run With Integrity - Run the ball there the play is intended. If you want to change a play drastically, use the juke or spin features. Left stick running is allowed but you should not be completely changing a play design by doing so. Do not bounce runs horizontally, there should always be some sort of up field direction on each run.
Spin Moves - Spin moves, like any play that can be abused on Madden, should be only used in moderation. Consistently using them in the open field to break a big play is not within the mindset of the league.
Outside Runs - Outside runs are not to be abused or called with regularity. With our full no switch format it allows for more inside runs to work than other Madden CFM formats. There should be no more than 40% outside run designs called in any given game.
Play Variety - Vary your runs, vary your formations, and vary your routes. Do not resort to go-to plays on every 3rd down. We all have tendencies, but let’s open up the playbook for the league and see some different, creative playcalling. 4 Vert plays are not permitted unless you are in a desperate situation late in game. Hail Mary’s are only allowed for Hail Mary situations.
4th Downs - Teams are expected to allow the game situation to dictate their 4th down decision making. Do not abuse 4th Downs.
Quick Snapping - Do not snap the ball immediately when you get to the line. Allow for the defense to adjust when they see your offense. If you audible give the defense time to adjust as well. Only time this is not enforced is when you are up against the clock.
Playaction Passing - PlayAction is not to be used on 3rd & 6 or longer. *You can actually remove the playaction part of a playcall by keeping your HB in to block or to run a route. This will eliminate the fake in all PA plays and will keep every play in your playbook available on 3rd down*
Hot Routes - No more than 2 Hot Routes may be called on any given play. This includes a fake hot route, flipping runs, adding a blocker and changing a route. Do not abuse these the entire game as well. Do not hot route the same route into every play as a safe “check down” .
HB Screen Passes - If you call a HB Screen you either have to throw it to the HB, throw it away OR scramble. Do not throw to another route on these plays.
QB Sneaks - QB Sneaks are not permitted at any time.
FB Dives - These plays are not permitted on 3rd & 3 or less. Additionally you cannot call a fake FB Dive HB Toss on these same plays. They are permitted in other situations.
Catch Influence - The use of the catch influence Buttons is not permitted while the ball is in the air.
Formations - There is an expectation that a team will not come out in 3 WR sets all game. Calling plays with 1 WR and 2 WR on the field is expected. The guideline would be about 40% of plays need to have less than 3 WR on the field. In addition calling run plays constantly out of shotgun should not be abused. Less than 30% of runs can come out of shotgun.
HB Carry Restrictions - Please get your backup HB's carries over the course of the game. The guideline will be that starters can get a maximum of 80% of the total carries for a team. If you run 20 times in a game you need to give 4 runs to backups. The rule will take into account game flow when looking at these guidelines.
Offensive Movement - Motions are permitted, but do not make them a staple of your offense. Your ability to call and execute plays as their designed should take precedent over your ability to take advantage of potential coverage exploits in the game.
3. Defensive Play Rules
Personnel Matchup Rules - Bringing back peronnel rules for Madden 20, defenses will be expected to match up to the offensive personnel on the field. 1 or 2 WR sets should be matched up against base 3-4 or 4-3 sets. 3 WR vs. Nickel/Big Dime, etc. The exceptions to thise are 2nd & 15+. 3rd & 8+. Opponent down big and primarily throwing to come back. Opponent is abusing TE vs. LB match ups on every down.
SUB LB & Nickel CB- We do allow safeties to play in both of these spots, if owners follow the personnel matchup rule, it will match guys up in situations where these players will be matched up on passing downs mostly.
Coverage Integrity - One thing we require is for user defenders to defend their assignments. A middle zone should remain a middle zone. You should not follow a player to the sideline. Same goes for abandoning an assignment in man coverage to double team a different player when it’s not assigned. Also defensive line players should not stop their pass rush/run defense in order to go into coverage if they are not designed to.
Play Variety - Vary your coverage, vary your formations, and vary your blitzes. If you have a team that is built to play more man feel free to do so. The same goes for zone schemes. Within your scheme you still need to call different zone/man plays.
Loading the Box - In recent Madden’s there are plenty of cover 1 and cover 3 playcalls that bring down the safety into the box. This should not be a staple of any defense in the league. You can call cover 1 or 3 and base align to get out of loading the box. Game situation will be taken into account for these violations.
3 Man Rush - Defense must rush a minimum of three (3) defenders on every play with the exception of a Hail Mary situation. Also please don't manually hot route DL into zones as a common practice. Use this VERY sparingly.
Pre-Snap Movement - any player who is manually moved by a user must be controlled by the user. Use the game designed shifts (show blitz, man align, shift LB right/left/spread, etc). If you user a safety you can bring them to the LB level but they should never be placed on the LOS.
Run Commit - The use of run commit is permitted. It may be used on 3rd/4th and short or any "goal to go" situation.
Engage 8 & Zero Blitzes - These are allowed, but do it at your own risk. Quick passes are very effective against both of these playcall styles and if an offense notices a trend and starts throwing short to avoid these blitz playcalls, it will be actually encouraged. Do not abuse either of these, use them in moderation as you would with any other playcall.
4. Playbook Rules
In The Football League we don’t allow unlimited playbooks. We require guys to use a base playbook other than the Run N shoot playbook, which is banned.
Coaches will be permitted to do one of the following:
Add 3 Sets on both of the Offensive Side and Defensive Side of the ball. (Total of 6)
Add 1 formation with 3 sets to one side of the ball, example if you don’t have the pistol you could add the pistol. In this regard you can only add a formation to either the offense or defense, not both.
There will be a thread created where you will post these playbooks as well as their schemes prior to each season.
Section 3 - Roster Requirements & Guidelines
Team Positional Minimums
There is a minimum amount of players required at each position. As long as you meet these requirements you can fill out the rest of your roster as you wish.
Offense
QB (2) - RB (3) - FB+TE (3) - WR (4) - OL (8)
4-3 Defense
DL (7) - LB (6) - CB (4) - S (3)
3-4 Defense
DL (6) - LB (7) - CB (4) - S (3)
2. Positional Change Requirements
Note: Any player who Madden starts at a position or is drafted at a spot is NOT subject to these rules. This is only for players changing positions afterwards.
FB: eligible to move to HB or TE
TE: eligible to move to FB or WR
OL: all positions are interchangeable
To change to the following positions the player must have these minimum weights. As long as they meet the weight requirement you can move the DL around as you please as well as LB to DE.
4-3 DE: must weigh a minimum of 250 lbs
4-3 DT: must weigh a minimum of 280 lbs
3-4 DE: must weigh a minimum of 280 lbs
3-4 DT: must weigh a minimum of 300 lbs
3-4 OLB: must weigh a minimum of 245 lbs
LB's may not be moved to DT under any circumstance.
MLB/OLB can be interchanged without weight requirement.
CB to FS/SS: must weight 190 lbs and have speed less than or equal to 90
3. Contracts and Re-Signs
The Football League employs a unique contract re-sign structure.
Midseason Re-signs - NOT permitted throughout the season. Instead we restrict re-signings to the last phase. This ensures teams aren’t getting consistent team friendly deals by negotiating week to week. It also establishes the market and eliminates any need for minimum contracts. There is a way to retain players which will be covered in the Incentive Program.
4. Free Agency
- Owners may not change the number of years a player is asking for in free agency. This prevents an uneven playing field where owners spend a ton of money year to year on 1 or 2 players for only 1-2 seasons (more important when you have sim seasons vs a regular year to year league). The only exception for this is you can bump a 1 year deal to a 2 year deal so you can use a player you sign in the next play year, typically this is for back up level players.
- There is no bonus requirements in The Football League. We believe in a free market to dictate what owners do.
- Since EA uses the points bidding system, our rules require guys to win bids by 5 points if they want to outbid another owner. There is no pulling a bid after you’ve made it, until you’ve been outbid by another owner.
5. In-Season Waiver wire & Free Agency
Starting in Madden 20 we will implement a waiver wire and free agency system (Similar to OMFL) through google docs, so free for all signings will not exist any longer. This will give more of an even playing field when it comes to free agent acquisition and eliminate the need for blind bids.
The waiver wire will be determined by the amount of money an owner bids on their player, followed by draft position in any tie breakers.
We will update the signing list every 24 hours, 8 PM EST each day. So plan ahead accordingly when scheduling games.
Practice squad players will be eligible. The process however will be you bid on the player, win the bid, then the owners have to negotiate whether or not the original owner wants to retain the player by adding them to their squad first. If not, the original owner will release the player to free agency and the bidding owner can acquire him then. Practice squad stealing will be eliminated otherwise.
6. Trade Rules
In the Football League we restrict player movement to be primarily be through the draft and free agency, however we will allow teams to conduct 3 Trades per “Season” (FA Stage 1 through the Superbowl)
These trades can fall within 2 categories.
Only 2 Trades may include a combination of picks and players.
All 3 trades can include picks, and no players.
In draft trades are permitted but we require users to have negotiated terms prior to the pick being traded, and must be approved beforehand. If not, trades will not be approved. We will not pause the draft otherwise.
All Trades are subject to approval by the 3 man Trade Committee which will be announced prior to each season, which will only look to prevent gross inequitable deals from being approved.
7. Draft Rules
Draft Times will be determined based upon league vote in the Re-sign or Free Agency 1 Stage.
Teams will not be permitted to have more than 3 first round picks or 10 total picks in any given draft, and may not trade away their full future drafts in any deal.
Other than that it’s pretty standard draft. After the draft we will do our preseason simulation to week 4 and determine the schedule for the upcoming season.
Section 4 - Social Expectations
Chat Etiquette
"Win with grace, lose with grace" - Handle your losses like a mature adult and just move on to the next game.
Do not call out anybody publicly - Zero tolerance for calling out somebody on GrownFolks or Discord. All issues with members go to commissioners for mediation.
General Chat Etiquette - If you can't say anything nice in Discord chat during the game just turn it off and don't type anything. Do not create a hostile chat environment by being extremely negative during the game.
Do not run up the score, ever. - If your opponent has conceded defeat late in the game at a reasonable point you need to pump the brakes and just take the victory. If your opponent has NOT conceded defeat and is aggressively trying to come back (airing it out on offense & putting 8-9 men in the box run blitzing) the team in the lead is free to run their offense to keep the chains moving. The winning team is also free to score if they have an open lane to the end zone. Don't score if you can run out the clock.
Be open to constructive criticism - If a commissioner approaches you about an adjustment to game play, be open minded and engage in a mature discussion. We will be open to counter points that might be made.
Trolling - While we are a league that is open to a little good natured trash talk between owners, if someone asks for another owner to leave them alone on something, we expect that to be respected. There should be no bullying in chat for any reason. We aim to be inclusive to anyone who wants to be apart of our community.
2. Scheduling & Community Involvement
Scheduling your games within 36 hours is an absolute requirement. The downfall of any league comes with a lack of day to day communication and people feeling like there isn’t an effort being made to get games in. There will be a section to post game schedules and the onus will be put on each owner to get their games scheduled within a reasonable time. If this is being neglected the commissioners will step in and talk to any owners found in violation.
Every Member has to sign up to the Grownfolks website (http://grownfolksoc.com&sa=D&ust=155219520397200 0"> http://grownfolksoc.com ) and use the forums when it’s required. While we won’t make content creation a requirement like many CFM’s do, we do need members to give the effort to keep the league active on a day to day basis and not force the commissioners to chase people.
Discord Chat is also required by every member, while you don’t need to post in there every day, keeping up with the league discussion as we continue to try to improve our experience and community is recommended as we would like to hear from all of our members.
Content Creation is not required but will be encouraged and rewarded going forward. The Incentive Program will be outlined in it’s own thread. The Basics we are looking for will be Team Twitters, Articles on Grownfolks, and Videos to be uploaded to the Grownfolks Youtube page.
We will be increasing our social media footprint aggressively as we enter into Madden 20.
Also every member is encouraged to make the occassional donation to the Grownfolks site as they do a lot allowing us to use their site as a home base. Again, this is not a requirement but will be something rewarded to donating members via the Incentive Program.