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The Farm
THE RULES
PREAMBLE: We have taken a lot of time to designate rules that are best suited for ALL players. We take our rules VERY seriously, there will be NO lax attitudes when it comes to obeying the rules by the owners, or administering judgments by the administration. These rules are very basic rules that everyone can agree upon.
They are not designed to limit fun but rather to guide gameplay within reason. Creativity and fun are emphasized in this league, but the reason we all LOVE our leagues is because they limit cheating and questionable gameplay tactics.
DO NOT BE FOOLED: your administrators are very nice guys, but if you do not respect the league, its owners or the rules … YOU WILL BE REMOVED.
IGNORANCE OF THE RULES IS NOT AN EXCUSE… if it is not important enough for you to take 5 minutes to read AND KNOW the rules, then the league is not important to you, and when you slipup, as you will if you do not know the rules, YOU WILL BE REMOVED.
I. FAIR GAMEPLAY AND RESPECT
ABOVE ALL ELSE, fair gameplay and respect is vital to this league.
This is the NUMBER ONE RULE in our league.
We will NOT tolerate any disrespectful play or attempts by any owners to circumvent the rules. If you do not agree with our rules and cannot adjust your gameplay style to fit within the rules, simply find another league.
Because if you chose to not follow the rules set-out for the entire ownership group, you will be finding another league soon enough anyways. Fair gameplay and respect are essential. We will be very strict in this aspect because it defines our essence as a league.
- DISRESPECTFUL TALK IS NOT PERMITTED. We understand that in the heat of battle things can be said and words can be exchanged. But DO NOT make this a recurring theme.
If you are constantly being disrespectful to others then you will be removed from the league, no questions asked. An owner of this personality type really has no place in our league and does not fit in.
- ARGUMENTS AND DISPUTES will be handled in a PRIVATE manner between the two coaches, their conference commissioner and, if necessary, a league administrator.
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT publicly disrespect your opponent or file a complaint on public channels in Discord, in the scouting report or in the game recap.
If you do, THE MESSAGE WILL BE REMOVED and, if necessary, the OWNER WILL BE REMOVED also.
**THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT RULE and there will be little tolerance for those who chose not to acknowledge it.
- PLAY WITHIN THE SPIRIT of the game.
Running the same play 15 times again and again, while stoppable for most good coaches, IS NOT what we are looking for.
You MUST open up your playbook. Use different plays, as this will make the game, in the long run, more enjoyable for you and ESPECIALLY for your opponent.
Going for it on 4 and 37 in the first quarter is not realistic football. Five onside kicks a game is not realistic football. We think you get the point.
If you are going to be a coach in this league it is important to remember that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Be imaginative. No one is saying you can't do your "money play"...just mix it up with the other 200 plays in your book. Do not abuse “money plays” that take advantage of an AI flaw in the game.
II. Game Setup
THE BASICS:
DIFFICULTY – All American
LENGTH OF GAME – 7 Minute Quarters
INJURIES - ON
PLAYBOOKS - You may use ANY Team or custom playbooks.
Please see the rules in Discord for a list of formations that have been banned!
SUBSTITUTIONS:
QB: QB. (Any player with a 70+ in THP may be a BACK-UP)
HB: HB
FB: FB
WR: WR
TE: TE, FB
OL: OL
DL: DL
LB: LB, DL
CB: CB, S
S: S, CB, LB
--No offensive players on Defense and vice versa.
SCHEDULING
- ALL GAMES MUST BE SCHEDULED through the Discord channels.
I WILL REPEAT – ALL GAMES MUST BE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE DISCORD CHANNELS.
We are requiring this because it makes the policing of owners who are not keeping up and standing other owners up easier.
I know some of you think it’s a pain but IT IS REQUIRED.
- ALL OWNERS MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE DISCORD ACCOUNT!
That is where we communicate to the league and with each other.
III. GAMEPLAY RULES
AS A REMINDER OVERALL... no "gimmick" play that takes advantage of the AI is EVER acceptable, this includes such tricks as "Nano-Blitzing", "Delay Bumping" and odd-ball plays like WR Direct. If you want to play like this, you don't belong here.
This is not "Lobby Ball" and we will not tolerate it.
Stacking a LB on top of an OL, acting like you are going to blitz and then drop back in coverage is an example of taking advantage of the AI. The AI offensive linemen thinks you are blitzing, so he adjusts to block you and then remains standing there to block you when you don't blitz.
In real life, he would have the ability to change his assignment. In the game, the AI does not!
Obviously next gen versions have a few more "Urban Meyerish" plays than previous versions. While we will not put a set limit on the #of plays keep in mind the spirit of the game and do not abuse the plays nor use as the basis for your offense. Remember you will ultimately receive a rating by your opponent after the game.
A. Kickoffs
Onside kickoffs are allowed in applicable situations. They are NOT to be abused.
An owner is allowed to attempt to catch his opponent off guard once in a while, but again, they are NOT to be abused.
If you wish to kick an onside kick you MUST use an onside kick formation.
ONSIDE KICKS from standard kickoff formations ARE NOT ALLOWED.
The ball must travel at least 30 yards for the kicking team to recover an onside out of a standard formation.
B. Offense
It is best for all parties to just remember that we’re looking for realistic gameplay in our league.
Because “realism” is debatable there is a bit of room for dispute, but if your opponent is doing something questionable it is best to pause the game and discuss the situation with your opponent IN A CIVIL MANNER.
We are all adults here, and we expect you to act like one.
MOTION:
You MAY motion all offensive players: TE, WR, HB, and FB.
HOWEVER, ONCE across and ONCE back is sufficient to determine the coverage and to put the motioned player in the position you want.
DO NOT ABUSE MOTION.
ANY PLAYER in motion MUST CLEAR THE TACKLES AND BE *SET* BEFORE THE SNAP.
ANY EA designed plays involving motion and an auto snap of the ball while a player is between the tackles IS Acceptable.
QB PLAY:
QBs are only allowed to drop back 7-10 yards from their snap position (keep in mind Shotgun forms start about 5-6 yards deep) during pass plays (except when under extreme duress by the defense).
This rule is in place to prevent the popular tactic of dropping your QB 10-20 yards deep to allow your WRs time to break free from defensive coverage.
QB Roll-outs are deemed legal, however, be careful that you are not dropping the QB too far back from the line of scrimmage. The 7-10 yard rule still applies to Roll Out plays.
Please do not abuse the Roll Out.
Mobile QBs are a part of the game, but do not call pass plays with the sole intention of taking advantage of defensive AI flaws.
In ANY situation, running with the QB on a called pass play should only happen once you go through your reads and if no one is open, then it is acceptable, but again, only in MODERATION.
There are designed QB run plays for a reason. (Questionable tactics involving running with the QB can and will be reviewed and is subject to action in accordance with rule violations)
NO HUDDLE:
You MUST huddle on any play where the result is the clock stopping (i.e. Incomplete Pass, Out of Bounds etc.…).
No-huddle offenses are not to be used as a main form of offense.
You can use a no-huddle play to catch your opponent off guard once or twice a game, unless the clock is inside 2 minutes at the end of the half or game.
No-huddle can also be used by a team trailing late in the 4th quarter. We could set specific guidelines, but PLEASE just use good judgment.
4-TH DOWN:
From your goal-line to your 49 yard line, you may go for it on 4th and 1 or less.
From the 50 to your opponent's goal line, you can go for it on 4th and 3 or less.
Fake FGs/PAT's/Punts can be used sparingly. Remember, they are supposed to be a surprise, so use them sparingly and in real-life situations!
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Allow up to 5 minutes for pre-game substitutions.
You can set your depth-chart in the main menu of your game and even though we play unranked games, it will keep your rosters for you.
Again, you will receive a rating after the game. Great sportsmanship starts with patience.
Please though, limit the amount of substitutions you must do in games.
AUDIBLES:
You must wait until your opponent’s team is set before snapping the ball.
Hot-Routes are acceptable.
GOAL LINE:
Goal Line Formation is for Goal Line (inside YOUR OWN or YOUR OPPONENT’s 10 yard line) and for SHORT YARDAGE (3rd/4th down and 3 or less) ONLY.
TIME MANAGEMENT:
It is acceptable to wind the play clock down to :01 inside of 2 minutes left in the game.
Otherwise please be courteous to your opponent and choose your plays in a relatively "timely" manner.
The Chew clock feature may only be used with 2 mins remaining to go in the end of the game, unless the game is a blowout and your opponent is asking you to.
C. Defense
It is best for all parties to just remember that we’re looking for realistic gameplay in our league. Because “realism” is debatable, there is a bit of room for dispute, but if your opponent is doing something questionable it is best to pause the game and discuss the situation with your opponent IN A CIVIL MANNER.
We are all adults here, and we expect you to act like one.
MOVEMENT:
You may MANUALLY, ONLY move ONE PLAYER prior to the snap;
THAT ONE MUST BE PLAYER YOU ARE CONTROLLING (LB or DB) before the snap.
All shifts are allowed but the man you control in the back 7 is the only one who can be manually moved.
DO NOT MOVE YOUR PLAYER OUT OF THE REASONABLE REALM OF THEIR SPACE.
Absolutely DO NOT move players to take advantage of AI flaws (Stacking LBs over top of OL, etc.)
Defensive Line:
The defensive line is to ONLY be moved within the AUTOMATIC SHIFTS provided in the game.
NO MANUAL MOVEMENT of D-line.
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.
Linebackers:
A linebacker can be shifted within reason manually.
They CANNOT be moved toward the line of scrimmage or stacked on top of a DE to take advantage of AI flaws.
They cannot be moved inside a DLmen’s outermost point.
REMEMBER: You can only manually shift 1 player on defense.
Defensive Backs:
A safety can be shifted within reason manually.
They CANNOT be moved inside of the normal linebacker positioning to the line of scrimmage. REMEMBER: You can only manually shift 1 player on defense.
AUDIBLING:
Audibling "down" from a Dime to a 44 (for instance) to take advantage of matchup changes is not acceptable as a form of defense. This can happen once or twice "accidentally" or getting "caught with your pants down" in a game, but basing your defense on this strategy is unacceptable.
GOAL LINE:
Goal Line Formation is for Goal Line (inside YOUR OWN or YOUR OPPONENT’s 10 yard line) and for SHORT YARDAGE (3rd/4th down and 3 or less) ONLY.
BUMP AND RUN/END RUSH:
This type of defense, if you are a decent player and have fairly even teams, is easily battled against. It is allowed BUT DO NOT use these two methods as your ONLY form of defense or your main game plan.
They can be used occasionally, but not A LOT or even the majority of the time.
AGAIN, I cannot stress enough how IMPORTANT it is to vary your game play type.
If you feel your opponent is ABUSING this, pause the game and discuss the situation LIKE ADULTS, and attempt to work out a solution.
Even if I know how to beat this type of gameplay does not mean I want to run the same type of plays all game to battle you, because you are unimaginative. I
f you are found to be over the course of a few games abusing this type of play then you will most likely be removed.
D. Punting/Punt Blocking:
When punting you may motion a gunner but he must come set before the ball is snapped.
When blocking a punt you MUST BE IN PUNT BLOCK FORMATION.
You CANNOT drop a player back into punt coverage BEFORE the snap.
You CANNOT manually shift ANY player (other than the punt returner) before the snap. Automatic shifts provided in the game are allowed.
E. Mercy Rule and Sportsmanship:
Do not win by a margin greater than 35, PERIOD!
With the difference in talent of teams and coaches, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why you would need to roll up a win over your opponent.
The coaches in this league who control “lesser” teams are the BACKBONE of the league and should not be made to suffer horrible defeats so guys can prove whatever it is they prove with a 50 point win.
THIS IS THE EPITOMY OF BAD SPORTSMANSHIP and will be dealt with quickly and severely.
If you break this rule you will be thrown out of the league no questions asked...so keep that in mind.
If you are shown to be rolling up STATS for individual awards, think again.
We WILL NOT reward bad-sportsmanship with ANY type of award, other than the C-YA Later Award (league removal).
Awards are intended to be fun and should NOT be motivation for you to compromise good sportsmanship.
If it is a league problem (which It will NOT be) we will remove them entirely along with the abusing owners.
We are ALL adults here. We FULLY expect you to act like it.
As the game is supposed to be "fun" please be respectful of your opponent and choose your plays in a timely manner.
Inside 2 minutes you can run the clock down to finish out.
F. Miscellaneous:
There is sure to be other various situations that arise.
Remember these KEY things… its only a video game, its not life and death.
If you feel that you need to bend the rules, or maximize any crack, nook or corner of the rules to get ahead to win, this league is NOT FOR YOU!
This league is intended for guys who love this video game, like we do, to get together, HAVE FUN and just enjoy it.
Be a good sportsman. Play within the spirit of the league and its rules.
Any owner who has two games in a row simulated, with no communication to their Conference Commissioner, will be excused from the league and replaced immediately.
This is to prevent inactive users from keeping teams from people who are on the waitlist.
Please take note, as no warning will be issued once your second game is simulated, you will just be replaced.
ANY COACH WHO DOES NOT FINISH OUT THEIR ENTIRE SCHEDULE WILL NOT BE INVITED BACK FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON.
DISCONNECTS:
If a disconnect occurs (stupid EA) ... then the two coaches will get together and work out the best solution.
If there are 3 minutes left and the score is tied, then they'll play 1 - 3 minute quarter etc...
The rule is to best replicate the situation as it was before the disconnect.
Obviously if there is a disconnect right after kickoff or early in a scoreless game, the two coaches can agree to just start over from the beginning.
We want the two coaches to talk it over and come up with the most equitable solution, which basically involved attempting to replicate the situation before the D/C.
IV. DISPUTE RESOLUTION:
The ABSOLUTE WORST part about running a league is this facet.
If this were a perfect world everyone would play “straight” and there wouldn’t be any problems.
However, this isn’t a perfect world.
Although we would love to think this will be the perfect league, there will be problems.
Take your complaint to one of the admins or your Conference Commissioner.
The admins/commissioners will discuss your situation and determine whether the infraction warrants a warning, a replay or in certain situations removal of a coach.
We will act quickly and attempt to get both sides of the story.
The HOME team is required to broadcast the game, however, we recommend that you broadcast all of your games so that you can ensure, in the event of an issue, the admins/commissioners will have video proof of the incident.
If you feel your opponent is “cheating” the first step you should ALWAYS be to PAUSE THE GAME AND TELL YOUR OPPONENT WHAT HE IS DOING WRONG.
You will then discuss the decision LIKE MEN.
If I find out that you guys are talking shit over headsets or Discord, you will be removed.
Discuss it like men and come to a resolution.
If you are playing someone that is not using a headset, please pause the game and try to communicate through Discord.
The BIGGEST ally we have with this new generation of systems is the ability to easily broadcast your games.
Again, we recommend that EVERYONE broadcast your games and not just the home team, however, it is a REQUIREMENT by the HOME TEAM to ensure we do have at least 1 feed to go back and watch if the need arises!
DO NOT QUIT THE GAME. Even if your opponent is the biggest cheater in the book you MUST FINISH THE GAME.
DO NOT COUNTER A CHEATER WITH CHEATING. You cannot make a case for yourself after the game if you decide to battle cheating with cheating.
Finish the game. File a complaint to your Conference Commissioner or an Admin and let us take care of the situation.
That’s what we’re here for.
Remember: DO NOT file a complaint against another owner in a public forum (Discord, scouting reports, whatever).
If you do, you will be disciplined also. We want to handle things professionally and as adults.
As always... if you have a problem, question, concern or any issue with a rule, reach out to your Conference Commissioner or an Admin through a Discord DM and we will gladly discuss the situation with you.
For more information on the rules, you can find more details by accessing the Discord Channel:
https://discord.com/channels/809231463315669002/1259665466880819331
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