4th and 1 Madden 18 Rules and Sliders

[BChristensen75]

League Commissioner:

Brandon - xFOMFxPatsNation

League Admins:

BigTuna - xFOMFx BigTuna
Emmitt - EmmittSmithx22x
Marc - Marc_Jones10
Wheezy - daywheez
Wonka - xFOMFxSuperSalad


League Settings:

Quarter Length - 12 Minutes
Difficulty – All-Pro
Game Speed – Slow
Advance – 72 Hours


Game Play Options:

ALL USER TEAM HELP MUST BE MANUAL
ALL TEAM SETTINGS MUST BE OFF
Gameplay Helpers:
Auto flip – ON/OFF
Ball carrier moves – ON
Auto Strafe – OFF
Ball Hawk – ON/OFF
Heat Seeker – OFF
Switch Assist – OFF
Visual Feedbacks – OFF
Coverage assignment assist – OFF
Graphics – OFF

~~You must have a youtube or twitch account and stream games (home team has to unless agreed upon to have the away team stream) make sure your games are saved and archived to watch again.~~


Section 1: Scheduling games

Spoiler

Article 1 – We advance every 72 hours so we abide by the 24-48-72 hour rule. Meaning you should contact you opponent within the first 24 hours and schedule within the first 48 and then play in you have not already.
Article 2 – We use the weekly scheduling threads in discord to schedule games and obviously their PM. If you can’t make it just be open and say it doesn’t work. Don’t hold up the league.
Article 3 – If you do not contact your opponent within the first 24-48 hours expect to be on auto. If you are 30 minutes late to a game, expect to be on auto. If you miss multiple games in a season and it is a problem you will be removed. We have three days to play games so this shouldn’t be an issue.

Section 2: Offensive Gameplay Rules

Spoiler

Article 1 – We are a sim league so what that means is that we will try to replicate what we see on Sundays with absolutely no exploiting of the AI in any way. Exploiters will be removed immediately and banned from 4th n 1 and put on the OS bad user list.
- We also do not allow switching to make a catch or holding down the catch type icon. The WR will make the choice for you.

Article 2 – Zig zag running is prohibited. Zig zag running is using the left analog stick to make a hard cut rather than using the right stick to make a juke/cut. It is also running horizontal to beat the defenders to the edge, sideline, or wherever else you are running. Watch this video on how to avoid zig zag running and how to cut in the proper way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e89A...pFanaC&index=5

Article 3 – Quick snapping is also banned. When you offensive players break the huddle you must wait three full seconds before snapping the ball. THIS INCLUDES NO HUDDLES. Unless you need every last second in a 2-minute drill trying to win a game (like 4 seconds left and counting) or you are about to get a delay of game and it’s a once in a while type of thing. This is a simple rule.

Article 4 – Play Calling – Obviously you need to mix up your play calling. Running only inside zone out of every formation is not sim. Teams in the NFL run more than just spread inside zone. Mix up your play concepts and types of plays. I will expand on this below
Article 4 section 2 – You should never pass more than 75% of the time or run more than 60% of the time unless obviously the situation calls for that (sim football)
Article 4 section 3 – Mix up your formations and try to limit your compressed formation usage, Compressed formations are cheesy and lobby ball. They are not banned but do not rely on them.
Article 4 section 4 – If you are losing big you can try to fight back or kill the clock. But do not expect your opponent to kill the clock and run every play if you are trying to comeback.
Article 4 section 5 – You should never run the same play out of the same formation 3 times and even running the same thing more than twice can result in issues. If you have 55 offensive plays and only run 27 different plays that is an issue. You have a playbook with 450-500 plays. Use them uniquely.

Article 5 – No Huddle is allowed in these situations . . . in the final two minutes of the second quarter, if you are down by 21 at all in the fourth, down by 14 with 7 minutes left, or down by a score with 4 minutes left (and obviously final two minutes if tied) main reason for this is that the teams cannot logically switch formations and plays.

Article 6 – Fourth Down Rule – If it makes sense and can be backed up with a real football situations then go for it… but follow these guidelines
- Fourth and two or less inside your opponent’s territory is your call.
- Fourth and goal from one yard out is you call

Article 7 – Goal Line formations is banned unless inside the 5 of either side. As are other formations with no wide receivers.

Article 8 – No HB may have over 28 carries in a game.
Article 8 Section 2 – No player may have more than 80% of team carries. We will be doing checks during the season at random points. Our ration is 8:2 so for every 10 carries you have only 8 can go to one player. QB scrambles do not count.

Article 9 – QB Sneak is banned. QB Draw, Read Option, QB Wrap, QB Power, and other things are allowed. But QB Sneak is banned.

Article 10 – As long as there is more than 1 yard to go or you are not on either 1 yard line he may run the ball

Article 11 – Hot routes – You may only have two hot routes per play (excluding players blocking)
- Article 11 Section 2 – You may not create a new play with hot routes. We all have to live with Ea and their awful playbooks. Audible the play instead or call a better play.
- Article 11 section3 – Avoid hot routing drags and slants every damn play like some people seem to do

Article 12 – If you wait for a slant to run all the way to the other side of the field your WR will be suspended one game. Slats and drags are not meant to be long developing plays. They are three-step drop and throw plays.

Article 13 – QB Scrambling – If you bolt off with your QB without trying to make a read or on roll outs that is an AI exploit and will not be tolerated. Watch how you run. So is rolling all the way the hell out on pass plays waiting for things to open. If you are pressured sure but don’t make it a multiple times a game kind of thing.
Article 14 - Four Verticals - The play 4 verts cannot be called in situations where it does not make sense. Like 1st and 10. Call a verts shot play, or verts concept where only three guys go vertical.

Article 15 - Concepts - Do not call the same 5-6 concepts all game. It is annoying and takes advantage of AI not picking up on this.

Article 16 - Shotgun: Unless you are running the RNS you should not be in shotgun all game. This is not realistic whatsoever. Run and Shoot is okay with me because it is a legitimate system that is built into the game and does work and run at a ton of levels.

- This is a sim NFL league, not a sim NCAA league, we do not want this spread option bull**** the entire game. It is very boring, lame, and cheesy running because 75% of your runs are inside zone if you run this type of offense. If you have issues talk to me about this.

Section 3: Defensive Gameplay Rules:

Spoiler

Article 1: No Switch – We are a no switch league. That means when the ball is in the air you cannot switch on either side of the ball. We do allow you to switch after a catch is made or it is a run to make the tackle

Article 2: You cannot manually move players around unless the game moves your players out of place and it makes realistic football sense to move them back

Article 3: Run Commit – Run Commit is only allowed on the goal line and 2 yards or less to go. But be warned. If you run commit late in the game and your opponent throws over your head and scores, you may not call them out for running up the score.

Article 4: Switch Hit Stick – This is what we call the good ole “Switch n Flick” this is completely banned. You may switch after the catch is made but give them a step or two. OR switch and make a normal tackle. It causes unrealistic fumbles and drops that count as fumbles. Switch and hit stick penalties are strict.

Article 5: Try to vary your formations. Sitting in 43 normal, Nickle 335 stack, and dollar 236 the whole game is unsim and will not be tolerated. Mix it up. A rule of thumb is to have as many corners as receivers… 1 or 2 WRs = base defense (43 or 34), 3 WRs = Nickle, 4 or 5 WRs = Dollar, Dime, and Quarters formations.

Article 6: Coverage Mix-Up – New this year we will require a 75:25 zone to man or man to zone ratio. This means for every 3 zone coverage plays you call (or man) you must run at least 1 man coverage play (or zone). And no, running three zones and a cover 0 man blitz is not okay every four plays.

Article 7:
Base Align - never use base align UNLESS the game for some odd reason messes up your alignment or it vs compressed formations (light bunch, tight, etc.)

Article 8: Player movement post snap - We need to try and keep this as sim as possible, stay in your zones as much as possible, do not run around the whole field like a moron. If you choose to do so, do not complain if your opponent runs the same plays because you play like a lobby ball moron.

Section 4: Roster Management Rules:

Spoiler

Article 1: You must have 53 players on you roster at all times. No exceptions.

Article 2: Trades – We do keep them realistic and we will not bend. If you
don’t like it, leave the league then. This is a sim league, not you solo fairly land league. Aaron Rodgers will never be traded IRL and never will in this league. Sorry to disappoint some unsim users.

- Article 1 Section 2 – Once you have agreed to a trade you can post it in the approval section and tag me and the co-pilots. Be patient. We have a lot of things to discuss.

- Article 1 Section 3 – If your trade is denied do not take it personally. Usually it is just a few things that need adjusting.

- Article 1 Section 4 – You are allowed two trades in season and two during the offseason. Pick for pick does not count towards this limit.

- Article 1 Section 5 – Draft Day Trades –We will now allow players to be traded on draft day. The kicker is I will not pause to let you negotiate.

- Article 1 section 6 – Rookies and players who are on the first year of their deal cannot be traded until the following offseason. Franchise tagged players may be traded after week 4 of the regular season in which they are playing under the franchise tag.

Article 2: If a new team opens up you must ask me to switch and the committee will vote.

Article 3: Roster position Minimums:
QB: 2
HB: 3
TE + FB: 3
WR: 5
OL: 8
DT: 3 if 43 and 2 if 34
DE: 4
OLB 4 if 43 and 5 if 34
MLB: 2 if 43 and 3 if 34
CB: 4
S: 4
K and P: 1

Article 4: At the beginning of every season we will declare the playbooks we are using. If you are caught switching you will be suspended.

Article 5: Practice squad – If you sign a player from another teams’ squad you must post it in discord and say who, position, and what team they were from. They must stay on your roster the whole season.

Article 6: Position Switching - You must post in the position switch thread to switch a player to a position. Here is a guideline for you . . . Position movements - Every player that is not moving from a left ot right position needs to be posted (example LT -> RT, ROLB -> LOLB, FS -> SS, LG -> RG) Everything else needs approval


3-4 DE: 275 lbs
3-4 DT: 315 lbs
3-4 OLB: 250 lbs

4-3 DE: 250 lbs
4-3 DT: 285 lbs

Corner to safety: player must have at least a 70 tackle/hit power, better zone than man, or an aging player

Section 5: Free Agency/Contract rules:

Spoiler

Article 1: We use the 3+1 rule here. That means you are only allowed to resign three players before free agency and then use your franchise tag to tag one player. Then everybody else must hit free agency. This is to allow a realistic free agency. You may bid on them in free agency but they have to hit the market.

Article 2: Contracts – Bonus requirements (min/max)

1 Year Deal - Min 0% Max 50%
2 Year Deal - Min .1% (any bonus amount) Max 50%
3 Year Deal - Min 20% Max 50%
4 Year Deals and Longer - Min 20% Max 40%

MAX DEALS

You may only offer 1.5X more than what the player is asking. So if he wants a 3 Year 10 million dollar deal . . . you may offer 15 million over three years (this will need adjusting if you offer 2 years or 4 years)


- Article 2 section 1 – During the off-season resigning period you may only offer the years they are asking for plus or minus one year. (there are two exceptions to this rule)

Ex) QB Tim Tebow asks for a 4 year 900 million dollar contract, you may only offer him 3 years, 4 years, or 5 years. No more or no less.
EXCEPTIONS: If a HB is over 28 years old or a player is over 29 you may offer him what he asks for and any years under that or add on a year like a normal contract
- NOTE - the max years you can offer in free agency is 5 years

- Article 2 Section 2 – You may never offer more than five years in free agency.

- Article 2 section 3 – You must post a picture of the player you are resigning during the season so we know we are offering him a fair deal.

- Article 2 section 4 – During Stage one of free agency the minimum bid allowed is 50 points (I will post when this changes as we advance)


Article 3: If you cut a player during the season you may not resign him during the year (unless you ask the committee and it is due to an injury)

Article 4: We will have a waiver system for preseason bidding.

These are the official rules but I am always will to update and change based on feedback. So send me a DM or in the rules page or even to another admin and we will do our best to make everyone happy and make everything fair and sim.

[BChristensen75]

Patriots read and accept rules

[widge567]

Eagles have read and understood.

[asmmargod]

Read and understood.

[lawflaw]

Lions have read and accept these here rules

[shilobad]

Titans read and accept.

[trenn15]

Read and accept

[madman53191]

Read and accept