Rebel Football League Rules
Commissioner – Brandon Rose
A. Organization
>
Commissioner – Brandon Rose
Commissioner's Message: This document is not the Constitution of the United States. Thus, it does not require an Act of Congress to edit it. The league rules are best described as an evolving document. So, when/should the need arise over time to reword some rule(s) in order to make it/them more clear and/or defined, or should a new game feature be created, or one changed, that needs to be accounted for or implemented into this document, please know that it shall be done so with only the best interests of the league in mind.
> The commissioner is in charge of the day-to-day league business.
> All league business and/or league issues are to be handled directly with the commissioner and not in an open forum.
> All league information will be sent to everyone by the commissioner via e-mail or be available at the league web site.
> The Rebel Football League will always play the latest version of Action! PC Football.
> Each member is required to own the game and purchase the current season disk/ratings.
> Any topics not covered by the league rules will be addressed by the commissioner as needed. It should not be assumed that the lack of a rule against a certain practice permits its usage.
> The Rebel Football League was formed to promote fun, fellowship, sportsmanship and competition. The members are expected to be courteous and responsive. The rules are for structure but the members are the foundation.
B. League Set-Up
>
This is a no cap league.
> The Rebel Football League is a 30 team league divided into two conferences of fifteen teams made up of three divisions of five teams.
Conference/Division alignment:
American Football Conference
Eastern Division
Central Division
Western Division
National Football Conference
Eastern Division
Central Division
Western Division
> Rebel Football League team names can be derived from any city, county, state, province or region and nickname from any professional football league team or college football team from any era. Nothing vulgar/offensive or repetitive [same nickname] will be allowed.
> The stadium or field a team calls home has to be the real-life stadium/field [if available in the stadium package] OR be a stadium/field in the same city, county, state, province or region with similar weather.
> Vacant teams can be an issue from time-to-time. Until a new coach is found those teams will require a sub-coach.
C. Regular Season and Playing Your Games
>
The regular season is 16 games.
8 Home/8 Away
> The regular season will start in early September and end in December followed by the playoffs.
> You will play one game a week.
> When your game is completed the host coach is required to send the XBX file to the commissioner and to the entire league.
> Each week during the regular season you will receive a weekly file update on Wednesday morning.
> The play week will start on Wednesday and end on the following Tuesday at Midnight Eastern Time.
> Coaches are expected to play head-to-head via the internet.
> Coaches need to contact each other by Friday of week play to set-up a day and time to play. If either coach doesn’t hear from their opponent by Friday contact the commissioner and he will then try to get the opponent to respond to you. If that fails, the team waiting can then get a sub-coach to get the game played.
> If you can’t play for any reason you are required to get a sub-coach ASAP by sending out a league-wide plea for one.
> Anyone who sub-coaches 4+ games will receive a 6th Round bonus draft pick in the Rookie Draft.
> No shows are not tolerated. If you have agreed to a day and time to play your game and then find out you can’t make it let your opponent know ASAP and reschedule playing your game.
> If both coaches are unable to play – for any reason – the game will be auto-played by the commissioner.
D. Game Settings & Trick Plays
>
The following game settings and preferences will be checked ON:
League Type - Draft
Two Point Conversions
Overtime
Minutes/Quarter – 15
Play Clock/On – 40 seconds
Audibles – 5 per Half
Replay Challenges – 2
Injuries – Realistic Games Missed/In-Game Injuries
Field Goal Miss Line – Kick Spot
Kick-Off Line – 30 Yard Line
Goal Post Location – End Line
Home Field Advantage – Actual Stadium
Penalties – Realistic
Season Usage Penalties – Yes
Game Usage Penalties – Yes
Special Teams Usage Penalties – Yes
Game Fatigue – Yes
Game Fatigue Settings – 10%/15%/20%
Season Fatigue Settings – 110%/115%/120%
> Trick plays are a part of football. In the Rebel Football League you are allowed a maximum of three trick plays a game. Trick plays include: Non-QB Passes, WR-TE Reverses, Fake Punts and Fake Field Goals.
E. Rosters, Player Usage & Waiver Draft
>
Overall roster size is 55 players. This will include active players and rookies.
>
The active players roster limit is 50.
>
There is no limit to the number of rookies you can have as long as your overall roster does not exceed the 55 players limit.
But, if you have more than the standard five rookies you will have to make applicable cuts to your active player roster. Additionally, you will have to be able to field a realistic regular season roster that will get your through a 16 game season.
Players designated N/A [Not Available] do NOT count against the 50 active players or 55 overall players limits.
> Each team must be able to field an adequate enough active player roster to get through the 16 game schedule.
> Player usage/availability will be dictated by game fatigue, season fatigue and injuries.
> 1/3 Play Usage Rule: QB’s, RB’s, WR’s & TE’s must be used 1/3 of their real-life usage or the player becomes a free agent after the season.
> This is a keeper league. You can keep your players from season to season.
> Special QB Rules for the Regular Season: Teams will NOT be allowed to carry more than three QB’s on their roster during the regular season.
>
QB's with a Passer Rating LESS than 70.0 will be given a Durability Rating of 10.
> The only time you are allowed to play a player out of position is due to fatigue or injury. Playing a player out of position for no apparent reason will result in first a warning from the commissioner and then some sort of penalty. That penalty could be either the loss of a draft pick or loss of the player being played out of position.
If you do need to play a player out of position here is what is allowed:
RB can play Quarterback, Wide Receiver or Tight End
WR can play Tight End
TE can play H-Back or Wide Receiver
C, OG & OT can play any offensive line position
DE & DT can play any defensive line position
ILB & OLB can play any linebacker position
CB & S can play any defensive backfield position
Playing Out of Position Note: Keep in mind that the game factors in a decline in effectiveness when a player is played out of position.
> Regular Season & Playoffs Waiver Draft Ground Rules:
1. During the regular season and playoffs when you have players injured and put on the Injury List you can claim players from the free agent pool.
2. Claims will be handled first come-first served.
3. The deadline to get your Waiver Claim Wish List in to the league office will be each Tuesday at Midnight EDT.
4. Making waiver claims due to injuries is not mandatory.
5. When players return to your roster from the Injury List you will be responsible for making the applicable cuts to
get your roster down to the 50 active players league limit. The cuts need to be the player[s] drafted from the free agent pool. If you do not take care of this responsibility the commissioner will.
F. Trading
>
Trading is allowed during the off-season through the completion of Week 10 play.
> Trading during the off-season can include players, rookie and free agent draft picks.
> Future Rookie and Free Agent draft picks can be traded up to two years in the future.
EXAMPLE: In 2011 you can trade 2011, 2012 and 2013 rookie and free agent draft picks.
> Trades must be reported to the commissioner by one coach and confirmed by the other coach.
> The commissioner will review and have the final approval of all trades.
G. Post Season Play
>
The playoffs will start one week after the conclusion of the regular season.
> Sixteen teams will qualify for the playoffs.
Regular season statistics will be zeroed out so all players start the post season fresh.
Regular season injuries will carry over into the post season.
National Football Conference
3 Division Winners
5 Wild Card Teams
American Football Conference
3 Division Winners
5 Wild Card Teams
Wild Card Disclaimer: The wild card teams will be decided on best record not order of finish in the division the play in.
Ties in the standings will be broken using the following Rebel Football League tie-breaker system:
1. Head-to-Head
2. Best record in division
3. Best record in conference
4. Strength of victory
5. Strength of schedule
6. Most points scored
7. Fewest points allowed
8. Most offensive yards gained
9. Fewest offensive yards allowed
10. Coin Toss
> Playoff Schedule:
The three Division Winners will be seeded 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Divisional Playoff Games
8th Seed at 1st Seed
7th Seed at 2nd Seed
6th Seed at 3rd Seed
5th Seed at 4th Seed
Semi-Final Games
Lowest Seed Divisional Winner at Highest Seed Divisional Winner
2nd Lowest Seed Divisional Winner at 2nd Highest Seed Divisional Winner
Conference Championship Games
Lowest Seed Semi-Final Game Winner at Highest Seed Semi-Final Game Winner
Rebel Bowl
National Conference Champions vs. American Conference Champions
The winner will receive the Dave Pittner Memorial Trophy.
> The Rebel Bowl will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Honolulu Stadium.
H. Free Agent & Rookie Drafts
>
The Free Agent and Rookie Draft selection order will be determined by each teams winning percentage worst to best. Ties will be broken using the Rebel Football League tie-breaker system. The playoff teams selection order will be further determined by how far they advance in the playoffs with the Rebel Bowl teams will pick 29th and 30th respectively.
Ties in the standings will be broken using the following tie-breaker method:
1. Face-to-Face
2. Best record in division
3. Best record in conference
4. Strength of victory
5. Strength of schedule
6. Most points scored
7. Fewest points allowed
8. Most offensive yards gained
9.
Fewest offensive yards allowed
10. Coin Toss
> After the new National Football League player ratings are made available from Action! PC Games sometime in April teams will have to cut their roster down to 40 players prior to the Free Agent and Rookie Drafts.
There will be a week or two allowed before the cuts are due to make trades.
Players designated Not Available [N/A] count against the 40 player limit.
The players cut who are game rated will go into the free agent player pool.
> QB Rule for Roster Cuts Made Prior to the Free Agent/Rookie Draft:
1. When teams are asked to make their pre-Free Agent and Rookie Draft cuts they will not be allowed to keep more than one QB with 250+ pass attempts with a Durability Rating of 8 or higher. Teams will have time to trade them before the roster cut deadline or they will have to cut them.
2.
Once a team makes it cuts to get down to the the 40 active players limit they can then have as many QB’s with as many pass attempts as they want. These QB's would have had to have been acquired via trade or draft.
3.
When the roster cuts are made prior to the start of the regular season then the QB Regular Season Rule - Please refer to Section E. Rosters & Player Usage - will go into effect.
These rules
guard against teams hoarding QB’s.
> After a team makes their pre-Free Agents and Rookie Draft roster cuts and during both drafts trading is allowed.
> The Free Agent Draft will be held annually before the Rookie Draft with the start date TBA by the commissioner.
> Free agents are all of the game rated players not on a Rebel Football League roster.
> The Free Agent Draft is ten rounds.
> Trading is allowed during the Free Agent Draft Phase.
> The Free Agent Draft will be handled with each team receiving a specific selection time each round.
> Tthe Free Agent Draft will complete one rounds daily via e-mail.
> The Rookie Draft will be held annually after the National Football League Draft is held and the Free Agent Draft with the start date TBA by the commissioner.
>
Rookies are the college players drafted in the most recent National Football League Draft.
> The Rookie Draft is five rounds.
> A bonus
sixth round will be held for the coaches that sub-coached four or more times during the regular season and therefore earned the draft pick.
> Trading is allowed during the Rookie Draft.
> Each coach is responsible to e-mail the entire league with their Free Agent and Rookie Draft pick to keep the draft process moving along.
> If your turn to make a pick comes up and you are MIA you will be passed. When you return you will be allowed to make your pick at the end of the round.
> Ways to participate in the Free Agent and Rookie Drafts:
1. Live via e-mail selection.
2. Draft List either player specific or designated position.
3. By proxy with another coach making your picks.
I. Garbage Pile Draft
> Garbage Pile Draft will start immediately after the conclusion of the Free Agent Draft. The Garbage Pile Draft is handled via e-mail wish list only and is first come-first served. No claims are official until the commissioner announces them via e-mail.
> The Garbage Pile Draft is designed to help any teams that still have open roster spots or need to fill position needs after the Free Agent Draft.
> If your roster has reached the 50 active players limit and you want to continue participating in the Garbage Pile Draft you will need to submit cuts and claims in your draft wish list.
> The Garbage Pile Draft lasts until the start of the regular season.
J. Rules Changes & Miscellaneous
> Rules change proposals can be made to the commissioner anytime after the conclusion of the season.
> It will be up to the commissioner after reading/reviewing any rules change proposal whether it merits a league discussion and/or vote.
> Any rules proposal put to a vote will require a 2/3 majority vote to be implemented.
|
