Rulebook

*__BASIC RULES__*

- *Sportsmanship:* The cornerstone of our league is sportsmanship. While trash talk and  competition is encouraged, personal attacks and behavior that discourages others from playing will not be tolerated and may result in being banned from the league.

- *Game Scheduling:* This is a 48-hour advance league. All games must be scheduled within the first 24 hours. If no time is arranged, the game may result in a fair sim, or a commissioner will decide if it's a forced win (FW) with no exceptions. Failing to meet a scheduled time will result in an FW for the team that was ready to play.

- *Trade Regulations:* All trades must receive prior approval. Unapproved trades will be reversed, and the cap penalty will apply, along with potential suspension. This policy ensures the integrity of the league and prevents unfair or damaging trades. *CPU Trades are prohibited.*

- *Conduct Rules:* Hack and glitch plays are strictly forbidden and will lead to a ban from the league. Tanking is discouraged; however, we recognize it may occur. Playing for draft picks is acceptable at times, but we expect everyone to strive for improvement in their gameplay. There will be perks and incentives in place for upsets when you've been eliminated from playoff contention.

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__*4TH DOWN RULES*__

 

*When You Can Go for 4th Down:*

- 4th & 1 at any location on the field
- 4th & Goal at any location
- 4th & 2 or less
- When trailing by 14 points in the second half, past the 50 yard line

*When You MUST Punt/Kick:*

- 4th & 3 or more 
- Winning by 14 points or more

 

*Exceptions to 4th Down Rules:*

- Losing by 14 or more points in the second half, past the 50 yard line

 

*Coach's Decision:*

- Each team has one Coach's Decision per game where the 4th down rules won't apply
- You MUST declare in the game chat that you are using your Coach's Decision, or it will be considered a violation of the 4th down rule

 

*"Closing Out a Game" Scenarios:*

- If you are winning by 7 or fewer points and there are under 3 minutes left in the game, you may go for it to try to seal the victory

 

*Rule on Play Cool Downs and Playcalling Limits:*

In the interest of fair competition and to prevent the repetition of the same play, the following restrictions will be put in place in the league settings:

1. *Play Cool Downs:* After a specific play has been called, there must be a minimum of 5 different plays before that same play can be called again. This ensures a varied gameplay experience and prevents a repetitive strategy.

2. *Playcalling Limits:* A specific play may only be called a maximum of 6 times in a single game. This limitation is in place to encourage strategic diversity and challenge players to utilize various plays and formations throughout the game.

 

The primary goal of these rules is to foster a more engaging and competitive environment, discouraging the spamming of the same play over and over in games.

 

__*Sportsmanship Guidelines:*__

 

*Scoring Limits:*

- If leading by 28 or more points, turn on chew clock.

- If you intercept while up by 28 or more, fall down and run the ball to use up time. Further scoring will be considered stat padding and may result in penalties.

 

*Forced Concedes:*

There is no conceding during league play. Ensure you play the full game.
 
*Control Your Rage:*

- Madden can be frustrating, but name-calling, being rude, or generally unfriendly behavior is not acceptable.
- Post-game conduct should be respectful. Write to a Commissioner for any issues or complaints.

 

*Fair Play Calling:*

- Running the same plays repeatedly and using "cheese" offense/defense is prohibited.
- Change up your play calling and spread the ball around.

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__*STAT CAPS*__

 

__*Single Game Caps:*__
- *QB:* 600 yards max, 6 TDs max
- *RB:* 325 yards max, 5 TDs max
- *WR/TE:* 350 yards max, 5 TDs max, 23 catches max

 

__*Single Season Caps:*__
- *QB:* 5800 yards max, 60 TDs max
- *RB:* 2500 yards max, 32 TDs max
- *WR:* 2250 yards max, 27 TDs max

 

*—Penalty:—*

*Single Game* - Offending Player will be benched 1 game

*Single Season* - Offending player will be benched 2 games

These caps are set to ensure a balanced and competitive environment within the league, reflecting realistic and fair performance standards.

 

__*NO HUDDLE Regulations:*__

*Unlimited No Huddle Allowed If:*

- Losing by 14 or more points
- Winning by 8 or fewer points in the fourth quarter
- During the 2-minute warning at the end of the second quarter

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*Restricted No Huddle Allowed If:*

- Max of three times per drive, unless leading by three or more scores (consecutive or sporadic)

 

These rules are set to maintain fair play and sportsmanship, reflecting realistic gameplay and competitive balance. Violations may result in penalties or further disciplinary actions.

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__*Player Positions: Rules and Restrictions*__

*Acceptable Position Switches:*

- Offensive Linemen (OL) can switch to any other OL position.

- Tight End (TE) can switch to Fullback (FB) and vice versa.

- Defensive End (DE) can switch to Linebacker (LB) and vice versa.

- Cornerback (CB) can switch to Safety (either SS or FS) and vice versa.

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*Illegal Changes (without specific exception from the commissioner):*

- Wide Receiver (WR) to Running Back (RB).

- Running Back (RB) to Fullback (FB).

- Running Back (RB) to Wide Receiver (WR).

- Tight End (TE) to Offensive Linemen (OL).

- Tight End (TE) to Wide Receiver (WR).
- Offensive Linemen (OL) to Tight End (TE).

- Linebacker (LB) to Defensive Tackle (DT).

- Cornerback (CB) to Middle Linebacker (MLB)/Linebacker (LB).

- Strong Safety (SS)/Free Safety (FS) to Linebacker (LB).

 

*Additional Guidelines:*

- No other changes are allowed without specific permission from the commissioner board.

- If using a safety or corner at sub LB, they cannot have more than 89 speed. LBs can have any speed.

- Do not manually bring safeties/DB’s into the box.

 

All players must adhere to these guidelines to ensure a balanced and fair competition. Failure to comply may lead to penalties or other actions as determined by the league's management. These rules aim to preserve the integrity of the game and promote an even playing field.

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__*PLAYING CPU:*__

- *CPU Games Policy:* All CPU games will result in a force win in order to preserve the integrity of the game and ensure that users don't take advantage of the CPU.

- *Respecting Fair Play:* Non-compliance may lead to penalties, as determined by the league's administration.

 

These guidelines are set to maintain integrity and sportsmanship within the league. Always consult with a commissioner if you have any questions or need clarification on any points.

 

__*Game Streaming Requirements:*__

- *Regular Season Games:* The away team is responsible for streaming the game. 

- *Playoff Games:* The team with the lower seed must stream the match.

- *Stream Quality:* An effort must be made to provide a clear and consistent stream. If lag issues occur, the stream may be interrupted, but the initial attempt must be evident.

- *Failure to Stream:* If a game is not streamed and a dispute or issue arises, the commissioner team will have no means of verification, and thus will be unable to assist or resolve the matter.

- *Archiving Streams:* It is advisable to save or archive streams whenever possible. This archival can be beneficial in resolving potential disputes or clarifying gameplay situations.

- *Cooperation:* All players are expected to cooperate with these requirements.

 

Disregarding the streaming rules may lead to penalties or disciplinary action as determined by the league administration.

 

These rules are designed to create a transparent and fair environment, allowing all players to enjoy the game and trust in the integrity of the competition. By following these streaming guidelines, participants help build a respectful and engaging community.

 

*Trade Rules and Guidelines:*

1. *Initiating Trades:* All trades must be submitted on neon sportz 

2. *Pending Period:* All trades will be pending for 24 hours at most. Please do not hound the committee or leads, as everyone has lives outside the game.

3. *Approval/Denial Process:* Once the committee votes on your trade, it will show on approved/denied trades. If denied, a commissioner or the trade lead will get with both users to discuss what needs to change for approval.

4. *Trade Deadline:* The trade deadline is after Week 8. No trades will be allowed beyond this point in the season.

5. *Playoffs and Resigning Restrictions:* Specific guidelines apply during playoffs and for players who need to be resigned.

6. *Backing Out of Trades:* Trades may be backed out of or altered by mutual agreement between the trading parties *only prior to committee approval*. Once a trade is approved by the trade committee, it must happen with no backing out.

7. *Unauthorized Trades:* If a trade is initiated without submission to neon and without committee approval, it will be reversed. Cap penalties will apply, along with additional penalties at the commissioner board's discretion.

8. *Encouragement to Trade:* Trades make the league more interesting; don't be afraid to move those superstars for multiple players to fill holes in your roster.

 

These rules are designed to maintain a fair and competitive balance within the league and to uphold the integrity of the trading process. Always consult with a commissioner if you have any questions or need clarification on any points.

 

*Out-of-Town Notice Rule:*

If you are planning to be out of town or otherwise unavailable to participate in the league, please make sure to post a notice in the <#1138191779724804188>  section under the "Member Info" category. We understand that everyone has a life outside of Madden, and this communication helps us ensure we don't mistakenly think you're missing in action (MIA) and replace you by mistake.

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Your timely notice helps us maintain the integrity and smooth operation of the league, and we appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to our helpful commissioners. Enjoy your time away, and we look forward to your return to the game!

 

*Inactive and Unresponsive Users Rule:*

In our Madden league, active participation and communication are essential. As part of our commitment to maintaining a lively and engaging community, we have implemented the following guidelines for handling inactive and unresponsive users:

 

**Minimum Activity Requirement:**

All members must participate in at least two games within a given time frame. Failure to do so without prior notice may lead to replacement.
 

*Communication Expectation:*

If a member is unresponsive to league communications and fails to respond within a reasonable time, they will be considered inactive. In such cases, replacement may occur.

 

**Replacement Policy:** We are always recruiting new members and building a waitlist to ensure that our league remains vibrant and competitive. If a member is found to be inactive or unresponsive according to the criteria above, they may be replaced with someone from the waitlist.

 

**Understanding Life Outside Madden:** We acknowledge that unexpected life events can occur. If you anticipate being unavailable, please  notify us in advance.and please post it in discord

 

**Appeal Process:** If you believe you have been replaced unfairly, you may contact the commissioners to discuss the situation.

 

**Important Notice:** If you leave the Discord server, that will trigger a notification to be sent to the commissioner board, and they will proceed to add someone in your place from the wait list. Please notify us if you intend to stay; otherwise, they will move forward without you. Thank you for your cooperation!

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By adhering to these guidelines, we foster a fair and enjoyable environment for all members. Thank you for your commitment to our league, and happy gaming!