FFL RULEBOOK CREATED: 8/24/00
UPDATED: 7/29/07
BEGINNING IN 1994 MANY TEAMS HAVE COME AND GONE, MANY TEAMS HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT, THE LOWEST LEVELS OF DEFEAT OR BOTH. BUT THE ONE THING EVERY TEAM HAS HAD IN COMMON IS THE RULES WE PLAY BY. THE FOLLOWING IS THE OFFICIAL RULEBOOK FOR THE FFL.
SECTION 1- (THE DRAFT)—THE DRAFT IS THE DAY IN WHICH OUR TEAMS CHOOSE THE PLAYERS THAT MAKE UP THE TEAMS. THE DATE IS CHOSEN ENOUGH IN ADVANCE TO ACCOMIDATE EVERY COACH. AFTER THE EXACT DATE IS CHOSEN THE DRAFT DAY WILL NOT BE CHANGED AND ANY COACH THAT CAN’T BE PRESENT HAS AN OPTION TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE. IF AN EMERGENCY ARISES AN APPROVED CHEAT SHEET WILL BE USED IF THE COACH CONTACTS THE COMMISH PRIOR TO THEIR PICK. IF AN EFFORT HAS NOT BEEN MADE TO CONTACT THE COMMISH THE TEAM WILL BE UNDER LEAGUE CONTROL, AND WILL BE SOLD. THE DRAFT COULD BE SWITCHED IF THE COMMISH IS IN AGREEMENT AND EVERY COACH IS IN AGREEMENT (IF ONE COACH CAN’T BE PRESENT ON THE CHANGED DATE THE DRAFT STANDS).
SECTION 2-(THE ROSTER)—AT THE COMPLETION OF THE 12TH ROUND OF THE DRAFT THE ROSTER MUST FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
2 QUARTERBACKS
3 RUNNINGBACKS
3 WIDE RECEIVERS
2 TIGHT ENDS
1 KICKER
1 DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS UNIT
THE 13TH AND 14TH ROUNDS OF THE DRAFT GIVES EACH COACH 2 EXTRA POSITIONS TO DRAFT ANYTHING HE/SHE FEELS IMPORTANT.
ABSOLUTELY, AT NO POINT AFTER ROUND 12 OF THE DRAFT, NO TEAM MAY DROP BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE OR ALL TRANSACTIONS FOLLOWING THE VIOLATION WILL BE TERMINATED AND THE PLAYERS WILL BE AWARDED TO THE NEXT IN LINE.
AFTER ROUND 14 OF THE DRAFT, NO TEAM MAY DROP BELOW 14 PLAYERS. THE TWO EXTRA POSITIONS ARE NOT OPTIONAL. THE EXTRA SPOTS CAN BE USED FOR WHAT EVER POSITION THE COACH FEELS NECESSARY, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE FILLED.
THE PLAYERS POSITIONS ARE DETERMINED BY NFL.COM DEPTH CHARTS. IF THERE IS ANY DOUBTS THE COACH TRYING TO ACQUIRE THE PLAYER CAN CHALLENGE THE POSITION AND THE COMMISH WILL RESEARCH THE PLAYER IN QUESTION AND DETERMINE THE CORRECT POSITION.
SECTION 3-(FREE AGENCY)-- FREE AGENCY IS A SYSTEM CREATED TO ALLOW COACHES TO REPLACE PLAYERS NO LONGER WANTED ON THE TEAM. AFTER DRAFT DAY FREE AGENCY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL SATURDAY AT 8:00 PM BEFORE THE WEEK 1 GAME. DURING THE SEASON ANY COACH MAY CALL OR E-MAIL THE COMMISH BEGINNING AT 7:00 AM ON TUESDAY AND ENDING 8:00PM EACH SATURDAY.
EACH COACH THAT WOULD LIKE TO PICK-UP A PLAYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CALLING AFTER 8PM THAT NIGHT TO VERIFY THE PICK-UP.
IN THE CASE OF A TIE FOR THE SAME PLAYER ON THE SAME DAY WE DRAW NUMBERS TO DETERMINE THE PRIORITY ORDER. AFTER THE ORIGINAL PRIORITY ORDER IS DETERMINED THE COACH WILL GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PRIORITY LIST WITH EACH TRANSACTION MADE. ON EACH BUSINESS DAY THE COMMISH WILL REVIEW THE TRANSACTIONS MADE BY EACH COACH BALANCING THE PRIORITY LIST AND THE ORDER OF EACH TEAMS TRANSACTIONS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REQUEST PLAYERS IN THE ORDER OF PREFERENCE TO BE AWARDED IN THE PROPER ORDER. IF THE COACH DOESN’T STATE THE ORDER OF PREFERENCE THEN THE COMMISH MUST ASSUME BY THE ORDER STATED IN THE MESSAGE OR E-MAIL.
THE EXCEPTION WILL BE ON SATURDAY, THE TRANSACTIONS WILL BE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE FOR ALL TRANSACTIONS THAT DOESN’T INVOLVE A PLAYER CUT ON FRIDAY. ANY PLAYER CUT ON FRIDAY WILL HAVE TO BE AWARDED BASED ON PRIORITY. ALL TRANSACTIONS ON SATURDAY WILL EFFECT THE TEAMS POSITION ON THE PRIORITY LIST.
THE WEEK NUMBER IS DETERMINED BY THE WEEK FOLLOWING THE GAME. (EX. WEEK 5 BEGINS THE TUESDAYAFTER NFL WEEK 5)
PLAY-OFF TEAMS MAY MAKE TRANSACTION DURING WEEK 13 THRU WEEK 15. ONLY ACTIVE PLAY-OFF TEAMS ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE TRANSACTIONS. TOILET BOWL TEAMS AND ELIMINATED TEAMS ARE LOCKED FROM MAKING ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS. IF A TEAM IN THE PLAY-OFFS CUTS A PLAYER, HE MUST WAIT TWO DAYS TO RE PICK UP THE PLAYER, WHILE OTHER TEAMS ONLY HAVE TO WAIT 1 DAY. PRIORITY WILL BE DETERMINED BY A COIN FLIP UNLESS MORE TEAMS ARE INVOLVED THEN PRIORITY WILL BE DRAWN FROM A HAT.
SECTION 4-(TRADES)— ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO OR MORE COACHES NEEDS TO BE, AND WILL BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISH UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
A TRADE DEADLINE IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY WEEK 10 AT 8:00PM.
IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE TRADE TO MAKE SURE THE ROSTERS CONFORM TO “SECTION 2” OF THE FFL RULEBOOK. IF A ROSTER DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF “SECTION 2” THE TRADE WILL BE REJECTED UNTIL THE ROSTERS ARE IN ORDER.
SECTION 5-(DRAFT ORDER)— SEE SCHEDULE FOR ORDER…SECTION 11…THE TEAM WITH THE FIRST CHOICE FOR DRAFT ORDER MUST DECLARE TO COMMISH BEFORE THE RULES MEETING. AFTER THE FIRST TEAM DECLARES THE SECOND TEAM WILL BE CALLED AND ASKED FOR THEIR CHOICE. AS WILL BE THE PROCESS FOR ALL DRAFT CHOICES.
THE TEAMS IN EACH DIVISION WILL CHOOSE A NAME FOR THE DIVISION BY USING A FORMER PLAYER OR COACH.
IF DRAFT PICKS CHANGE HANDS VIA A TRADE THE TEAM NAME WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR SCHEDULES AND DIVISION PLAY.
SECTION 6 (STARTING LINE-UPS)-- ALL STARTING LINE-UPS ARE DUE NO LATER THE 11:00 AM ON SUNDAY. THEY ARE DUE TO THE COMMISH VIA PHONE (ANSWERING MACHINE IS ACCEPTABLE) OR E-MAIL. E-MAIL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR LAST MINUTE LINE-UPS. ALL STATERS THAT COMPETE ON OR BEFORE 11AM ON SUNDAY MUST BE PHONED IN PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME OR THE STATS WILL NOT COUNT.
THE STARTING LINE-UP OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1 QB OR 1 QB OR 1 QB OR 1 QB
2 RB 1 RB 1 RB 2 RB
2 WR 2 WR 3 WR 1WR
1 TE 2 TE 1 TE 2 TE
AND 1 KICKER AND 1 DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
AN EXTENSION PERIOD HAS BEEN APPROVED TO ACCOMDATE LAST SECOND CHANGES. AFTER 11:00AM ON SUNDAY UP UNTIL 12:59PM ON SUNDAY ANY COACH THAT ALREADY TURNED IN A LINE-UP MAY MAKE CHANGES TO THE LINE-UP, AS LONG AS THE PLAYER DIDN’T ALREADY PLAY ON SATURDAY OR THURSDAY AND THE REQUEST MUST BE MADE ON THE PHONELINE OF 962-4664 OR IN PERSON. NO E-MAILS OR CELL PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. MY PHONE LINE WILL BE BUSY DURING SOME OF THAT GRACE PERIOD, BUT THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR MISSING THE GRACE PERIOD.
SECTION 7-(LATE ROSTER)— IF A COACH DOES NOT TURN IN A LINE-UP THE TEAM WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THAT GAME, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A FORFEIT. THE TEAM PLAYING AGAINST THAT TEAM WILL HAVE TO BEAT THE SCORE OF 70. THE TEAM THAT TURNED IN A LINE-UP WILL WIN THE GAME WITH A SCORE OF 71 AND BOTH TEAMS LOSE IF THE TEAM SCORES 70 OR LOWER. THE TEAM THAT FAILED TO TURN IN A LINE-UP WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR POINTS SCORED.
IF THE COACH DOESN’T TURN IN A LINE-UP BEFORE 11:00AM ON SUNDAY THE GRACE PERIOD CAN’T BE USED TO HELP. THE TEAM WILL BE CONSIDERED LATE AND THE TEAM WILL LOSE AUTOMATICALLY.
SECTION 8-(GAMES SCORING)--
ALL YARDS ARE FIGURED EXACT WITHOUT ROUNDING.
(ALL POSITION PLAYERS)
1 POINT/25 YDS PASSING
1 POINTS/10 YARDS COMBINED RUSHING AND RECEIVING
1 POINT/4 RECEPTIONS
1 POINT/10 RUSHES
6 POINTS/TOUCHDOWN
-3 POINTS/ INTERCEPTION THROWN
2 POINTS/ 2PT CONVERSION
-3 POINTS/ FUMBLE LOST (FOR RB, WR, & TE ONLY)
(KICKERS)
1 POINT/EXTRA POINT KICKED
3 POINTS/FIELDGOAL
1 BONUS POINT/40-49 YD FG
2 BONUS POINTS/50-59 YD FG
3 BONUS POINTS/60-69 YD FG
ETC…
(EX. 57 YARD FG IS WORTH 5 POINTS)
(DEFENSIVE UNITS)
6 POINTS/TOUCHDOWN (FUMBLE RECOVERY, INTERCEPTION, SPECIAL TEAMS)
3 POINTS/INTERCEPTION
1 POINT/25YDS COMBINED: PUNT RETURNS, KICKOFF RETURNS, INTERCEPTION RETURNS.
2 POINTS/SAFETY
1 POINT/TEAM SACK
POINTS WILL BE ISSUED FOR PTS ALLOWED. THE PTS ALLOWED IS THE DEFENSIVE TEAMS OPPONENTS TOTAL SCORE NO MATTER HOW THEY WERE SCORED THE PT SYSTEM IS AS FOLLOWS 0 (SHUTOUT) +5PTS
1-6 +3 PTS
7-13 +1PT
14-20 0 PTS
21-27 -1PT
28-34 -3 PTS
35+ -5 PTS
SECTION 9-(TIE BREAKERS)-- IF A GAME IS A TIE, THE TOTAL TEAM ROSTER WILL SETTLE THE TIE. IF IT IS STILL A TIE AFTER THE TIE BREAKER AND IT IS A REGULAR SEASON GAME THE GAME WILL END IN A TIE. IF IT IS A POST SEASON GAME WE WILL GO TO THE HIGHEST STARTER, THEN NEXT HIGHEST STARTER UNTIL ONE OF THE STARTERS BREAK THE TIE, IF IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THE TWO TEAMS ARE STILL TIED WE WILL CONTACT BOTH COACHES FOR A COIN FLIP.
SEASON TIE BREAKERS
DIVISION TITLE- OVERALL RECORD IF TIED WE WILL USE HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD. IF TIED WE WILL USE DIVISION RECORD AND THE FINAL TIE BREAK IS TOTAL POINTS.
POST SEASON RANKINGS-OVERALL RECORD IF TIED WE WILL USE TOTAL POINTS AND NEXT HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD.
(IF ANY TEAMS ARE STILL TIED AFTER ALL THE WRITTEN TIE BREAKERS, A COIN FLIP WILL OCCUR)
SECTION 10-(MONEY)-- EACH TEAM IS REQUIRED TO PAY $45.00 ON DRAFT DAY FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. ALL EXPANSION TEAMS MUST PAY A ONE TIME $10.00 ENTRY FEE.
ALL REGULAR SEASON FREE AGENT PICK-UPS COST 50 CENTS. WEEK 14 TRANSACTIONS WILL BE 3.00 AND WEEK15 TRANSACTIONS WILL BE 5.00. THE MONEY IS TO BE COLLECTED AT THE SUPERBOWL PARTY. ALL FREE AGENT DROPS AND ALL TRADES ARE FREE.
WE SET A GOAL OF $100.00 TO CARRY OVER FROM SEASON TO SEASON.
THE AUTHORITY WAS GRANTED TO THE COMMISH TO ENFORCE A $10.00 FINE IF PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS AREN’T MADE TO PAY ON DRAFT DAY.IF AN EXTENSION IS GRANTED AND IS NOT FOLLOWED THE COMMISH CAN FINE THE COACH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS IF NEEDED.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR LEAGUE IS FOR FUN AND IF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES ARRISE THE PAYMENT OF LEAGUE FEES CAN BE POSTPONED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
· THE COACH IS NOT A ROOKIE
· THE PAYMENT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE COMMISH HOUSE
· A PAYMENT PLAN BETWEEN LEAGUE OFFICE AND THE COACH IS STRICTLY ADHERED TO.
IF THE COMMISH HAS TO GO AND COLLECT THE LEAGUE FEE THE $10.00 FINE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY IMPOSED.
SECTION 11-(SCHEDULE)-- OUR TEN (10) TEAM LEAGUE USES A SCHEDULE THAT FACES EACH TEAM ONCE AND FACES EACH TEAM WITHIN THE DIVISION A SECOND TIME. THE REGULAR SEASON IS 13 WEEKS LONG. WEEK 14 IS THE WILD CARD PLAY-OFF GAMES, THE TWO DIVISION CHAMPS GET A BYE WEEK 14. THE #1 SEED WILL PLAY THE LOWEST SEEDED WILDCARD WINNER IN WEEK 15 AND THE SUPERBOWL WILL BE WEEK 16.
THE TOILET BOWL PLAY-OFFS HAVE CHANGED. THE TOP SEED WILL PLAY THE LOWEST SEED WEEK 14. THE WINNERS OF BOTH GAMES WILL ADVANCE TO THE “DRAFT PICK BOWL” THE TWO LOSERS WILL PLAY IN THE TOILET BOWL. THE WINNER OF THE “DRAFT PICK BOWL WILL GET THE TOP CHOICE IN THE NEXT SEASONS DRAFT. THE LOSER OF THE “DPB” WILL GET THE SECOND PICK IN THE DRAFT. THE WINNER OF THE TOILET BOWL WILL GET THE THIRD CHOICE IN THE DRAFT AND THE LOSER OF THE TOILET BOWL WILL BE THE TOILET BOWL CHAMP AND SELECT 4TH. THE PLAY-OFF TEAMS WILL SELECT IN REVERSE ORDER OF FINISH AND THE TIE BREAKER WILL BE 1. RECORD (WORST RECORD GETS TO PICK FIRST) 2.TOTAL POINTS (POINTS INCLUDE PLAY-OFFS AND THE LOWERE TOTAL PICKS DRAFT PICK FIRST), 3. HEAD-TO-HEAD (LOSER GETS TO PICK DRAFT FIRST.)
SECTION 12-(INFORMATION)—A PHONE AND E-MAIL LIST IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE COMMISH. ALL STATS, FREE AGENT MOVES, AND LEAGUE BUSINESS WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEB PAGE www.geocities.com/maxjen_81 AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
NO E-MAILS OR PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB.
TEAM PAGES WILL BE MADE FOR EVERY TEAM. WE HAVE LIMITED SPACE, BUT I WILL HONOR EVERY REQUEST TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO ADD ANY STAT, PICTURE, LINK, LOGO OR ANY INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPRESENT YOUR TEAM.
SECTION 13-(MEETING)—IN JANUARY IS A SUPERBOWL PARTY HOSTED BY THE LEAGUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUN, FOOD, AND AWARDS. NO LEAGUE BUSINESS IS VOTED ON DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE IT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE SEASON AND ALL THE COACHES NEED TO UNWIND BEFORE THEY CAN THINK IMPARTIALLY.
IN THE SPRING WE WILL HOLD A RULES COMMITTEE MEETING. IF THE MEETING IS EARLY WE WILL SHEDULE A SEPARATE MEETING IN JUNE TO SET THE DRAFT DATE AND REVIEW ANY RULE CHANGES. OTHERWISE THE RULE MEETING IN THE SPRING WILL SET THE DRAFT DAY AND ATTEND TO ALL RULE PROPOSALS.
AS STATED IN A VOTE BY THE COACHES, THIS LEAGUE WILL NEVER BECOME A KEEPER LEAGUE. THE FFL WILL START OVER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SEASON.
COACHES MUST HAVE PLAYED IN AT LEAST ONE GAME IN ORDER TO VOTE AT THE MEETING, BUT ALL ROOKIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
SECTION 14-(NEW TEAMS)—. ANY COACH, CURRENT OR RETIRED CAN SPONSOR A NEW COACH FOR POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP. ALL NAMES MUST BE TURNED IN BEFORE THE APRIL MEETING AND THE SPONSOR SHOULD ATTEND THE APRIL MEETING, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CANDIDATE. ANY FORMER COACH LOOKING FOR RE-ADMITTANCE CAN SPONSOR THEMSELVES BUT MUST ATTEND THE APRIL MEETING OR HAVE A ONE ON ONE MEETING WITH THE COMMISH. ALL CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED AND EXPERIENCE IN FANTASY FOOTBALL IS NOT CONSIDERED. WE JUST WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE FUN, LOVE FOOTBALL AND CAN TAKE TRASH TALK.
SECTION 15-(FINALIZATION)—ALL GAMES ARE FINALIZED ON TUESDAY OF THE SPECIFIC WEEK. IF YOU FIND A SCORING ERROR IT MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISH VIA PHONE OR E-MAIL BY THURSDAY 8PM ON THE SAME WEEK IN ORDER FOR THE ERROR TO BE RESEARCHED AND CORRECTED. OTHERWISE THE SCORE STANDS. THE LEAGUE USES NFL.COM FOR ALL STATS EXCEPT DEFENSES AND USATODAY.COM FOR DEFENSIVE UNITS.