Post by OCFL Commish on Feb 10, 2004 19:10:14 GMT -5
QUICK REVIEW (Gameplay Specific Rules)
GAME PLAY SETTINGS
Game play: 6 minute quarters with EA FAIRPLAY ON, and ALL-AMERICAN difficulty.
Remember:
1. Please use a variety of Offensive and Defensive plays. Calling the same offensive and defensive play for an entire game is not only unrealistic but boring to play against.
2. Players who use only one play or the same 2-3 plays an entire game may be subject to warnings. Any money plays that are found will be dealt with as they are discovered. PLEASE submit any money plays you have encountered in the Technical Difficulties/Complaints section on the OCFL Message Boards to be addressed by the OCFL league officers.
OFFENSE
1. Offensive shifting of players (Motion) is limited to 1 individual player movement per play. HOWEVER, if the DB runs with the motion man (Man-to-Man Coverage), the DB must be allowed to set before the ball can be snapped. Meaning, if the Defense is in man coverage, you can not snap the ball while the Motion man is still in motion. Hot routes are not considered audibles therefore there are no limits on hot routes. You can mix your motion up to try and confuse the opponent, meaning, you can motion your WR, then take him back to his original spot then maybe motion your TE or FB. This is LEGAL. HOWEVER, if a player (WR or TE) goes in motion and enters the pocket (area between the offensive tackles) the offense CANNOT snap the ball prior to the player clearing the Offensive Tackle on the side of the formation to which he is motioning. To further clarify, you may use your WRs and TEs as extra blockers on running plays as this happens in real football, but having a WR/TE/RB in motion and hiking the ball while in motion as he is between the Offensive Tackles in order to get match ups advantages with WRs being covered by LBs is ILLEGAL. Mutliple motion with the same across the formation several times just to frustrate your opponent is not legal. ***So in essence to sum it all up your motion man must clear the Tackle before you can snap the ball on any play (run or pass) that uses MOTION.***
Note: Motion is an integral part of both College and Pro Football. Use it responsibly and please do not cheese or cheapen the game with it. Also do not motion just to be motioning. Mutliple motion with the same across the formation several times just to frustrate your opponent is not legal.
2. No Huddle -- DO NOT ABUSE THE NO HUDDLE RULES -- Quick huddles are only permitted within the final 2 minutes of each half and any OT period. Offense must allow defense to get back onsides and set. If an offsides penalty is called, the defense decides whether or not the penalty is accepted or declined by pausing the game and announcing their decision. You MUST HUDDLE after a play that results in the clock stopping. ex: Incomplete passes, out of bounds -- ANY PLAY WHERE THE CLOCK STOPS YOU MUST HUDDLE. Excessive audibling RULES APPLY for when running NO HUDDLE offenses. YOU MAY NOT AUDIBLE 3, 4 or 5 times when no huddling and you MUST let the Defense set. If we find coaches beginning to abuse the no huddle rules of the league, the no huddle offense may be banned period. PLEASE DO NOT ABUSE IT!
3. Substitutions -- mentioned above.
4. Goal Line Offense -- Goal Line is for Goal Line (inside the 10 yard line) and for SHORT YARDAGE (3rd/4th down and 3 or less) ONLY! Note: Every playbook has enough short yardage sets that goal line is NOT necessary on 1st and 2nd down. DO NOT USE GOAL LINE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN THE FIELD.
5. Punting & Kicking rules:
Punting -- In the first half, You MUST PUNT on 4th down on YOUR SIDE OF THE FIELD (before the 50) regardless of the "To Go" yardage including "inches", UNLESS you are trailing by 21+ points or more and the "To Go" yardage is 3 yards or less.
In the second half, if you are down by 10+ points the offense has the option of going for it at any time as long as the "To Go" yardage is 5 yard or less and they are within there opponents 40 yd line. Otherwise they must punt or kick a FG.
In the 4th quarter only the following special rules apply:
1. The losing team can go for it from anywhere on the field regardless of "To Go" yardage.
2. In a tie game or if you are a team leading by 8 points or less if it is 4th and 1 yard or less on your opponents side of the 50 the team may go for it. If you have the ball on your side of the field you must punt.
3. The team with a lead of 9 or more points (two scores) must kick a FG or punt on 4th down no matter what the yardage.
Teams are allowed one fake punt and one fake FG per game. Punter must be in punters position on fake punts.
Note: In the case of overtime you may have 1 fake kicks and 1 fake FG per overtime.
6. Onside Kicks -- You may onside kick ONLY in the 4th quarter and only if you are down by 14+ points. HOWEVER, in the final 3 minutes of the game you may onside kick being DOWN any amount of points. If there is a tie score, then you MAY NOT go for an onside kick.
Note: Abusing the onside kick in not encouraged; however, using onside kicks as a last ditch effort to attempt to catch up in the 4th quarter is permitted. However, onside kick recovery is not the norm but the exception. So, if there is found to be a glitch or means of always recovering an onside kick, then that glitch will be banned! PERIOD! If you ARE LEADING at any time, you may also not onside kick at any time.
7. Quarterback Play -- You MAY NOT drop your QB more than 10-12 yards UNLESS you are under extreme pressure, or it is a designed screen play. --- See QB Drops Section Above.
IMPORTANT: Players who drop their QB excessively deep in the pocket FOR THE PURPOSE of using the QB to escape the D-Line pressure, break the DBs coverage of your WR, and use the QB to get outside the defensive line to run the football on a passing play will be considered in violation of league rules. There are more than enough designed QB plays for running the football. DO NOT EXPLOIT DEFENSIVE AI by excessively DROPPING YOUR QB in the pocket.
8. Overtime quarter/quarters are treated like the 4th quarter.
DEFENSE
1. Defense must always choose a play instead of letting the computer choose it. Players are required to control one player when they are on defense.
2. Defensive Shifting - Defensive shifting of players is limited to one individual player movement per play. Defensive tackles must stay within the bounds of the defensive ends and defensive ends cannot be moved outside of their normal shifts on an individual basis. There is no limit on group shifts or audibles on defense. Punt return is also considered a defensive play and players are allowed to move one player back to block as long as it is not the defensive ends or tackles. Speed rushing the DE is completely banned and is 100% Illegal. Speed rushing is taking control of the DE and bypassing, or not engaging the tackle, then running around him to get to the QB for an easy sack. Using your DEs and DTs to create your own interior stunts and twists is LEGAL.
3. Defensive Lineman in Coverage - You MAY NOT MOVE your defensive line off the line of scrimmage pre-snap. ALL defensive linemen MUST be in their 2, 3 or 4 point stances until the snap of the ball. AFTER the snap YOU CAN drop them into coverage (zone blitz, etc.) BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER THE SNAP.
4. IMPORTANT: YOU MAY NOT "STACK" defensive linemen by putting them on top of or behind one another TO EXPLOIT Offensive Line blocking AI, as Defensive shifting of players is limited to one individual player movement per play. Defensive tackles must stay within the bounds of the defensive ends and defensive ends cannot be moved outside of their normal shifts on an individual basis.
5. Linebackers/Defensive Backs -- AGAIN, YOU MAY ONLY MOVE THE PLAYER YOU CONTROL PRE SNAP.
6. Defensive Audibling -- EXCESSIVE AUDIBLING ON DEFENSE IS DISCOURAGED.
IMPORTANT: Repeated audibling from a pass coverage formation (dime, nickel) that employs 5-6 DB's to a "Base" formation (4-3, 5-2) SO THAT DBs FILL THE LB's SPOTS in the "base" defensive formation is ILLEGAL AND IS CONSIDERED A CHEAP PLAY.
7. Goal Line Defense -- May ONLY be used in short yardage (3rd/4th down 3 or less) situations.
Additional Recommendations - The following are strongly discouraged:
1. Use of Goal Line defense/offense in inappropriate situations
2. Running of the same 3 or 4 plays the entire game or the excessive use of "Money Plays" on Offense
3. Inappropriate substitutions designed specifically to create AI mismatches against the defense.
4. Running the same 2 or 3 plays the entire game on defense or blitzing every play
5. Use of Punt Block formation for field goal defense
6. QB dropping back an excessive amount of yardage
7. Running up the score
GAME PLAY SETTINGS
Game play: 6 minute quarters with EA FAIRPLAY ON, and ALL-AMERICAN difficulty.
Remember:
1. Please use a variety of Offensive and Defensive plays. Calling the same offensive and defensive play for an entire game is not only unrealistic but boring to play against.
2. Players who use only one play or the same 2-3 plays an entire game may be subject to warnings. Any money plays that are found will be dealt with as they are discovered. PLEASE submit any money plays you have encountered in the Technical Difficulties/Complaints section on the OCFL Message Boards to be addressed by the OCFL league officers.
OFFENSE
1. Offensive shifting of players (Motion) is limited to 1 individual player movement per play. HOWEVER, if the DB runs with the motion man (Man-to-Man Coverage), the DB must be allowed to set before the ball can be snapped. Meaning, if the Defense is in man coverage, you can not snap the ball while the Motion man is still in motion. Hot routes are not considered audibles therefore there are no limits on hot routes. You can mix your motion up to try and confuse the opponent, meaning, you can motion your WR, then take him back to his original spot then maybe motion your TE or FB. This is LEGAL. HOWEVER, if a player (WR or TE) goes in motion and enters the pocket (area between the offensive tackles) the offense CANNOT snap the ball prior to the player clearing the Offensive Tackle on the side of the formation to which he is motioning. To further clarify, you may use your WRs and TEs as extra blockers on running plays as this happens in real football, but having a WR/TE/RB in motion and hiking the ball while in motion as he is between the Offensive Tackles in order to get match ups advantages with WRs being covered by LBs is ILLEGAL. Mutliple motion with the same across the formation several times just to frustrate your opponent is not legal. ***So in essence to sum it all up your motion man must clear the Tackle before you can snap the ball on any play (run or pass) that uses MOTION.***
Note: Motion is an integral part of both College and Pro Football. Use it responsibly and please do not cheese or cheapen the game with it. Also do not motion just to be motioning. Mutliple motion with the same across the formation several times just to frustrate your opponent is not legal.
2. No Huddle -- DO NOT ABUSE THE NO HUDDLE RULES -- Quick huddles are only permitted within the final 2 minutes of each half and any OT period. Offense must allow defense to get back onsides and set. If an offsides penalty is called, the defense decides whether or not the penalty is accepted or declined by pausing the game and announcing their decision. You MUST HUDDLE after a play that results in the clock stopping. ex: Incomplete passes, out of bounds -- ANY PLAY WHERE THE CLOCK STOPS YOU MUST HUDDLE. Excessive audibling RULES APPLY for when running NO HUDDLE offenses. YOU MAY NOT AUDIBLE 3, 4 or 5 times when no huddling and you MUST let the Defense set. If we find coaches beginning to abuse the no huddle rules of the league, the no huddle offense may be banned period. PLEASE DO NOT ABUSE IT!
3. Substitutions -- mentioned above.
4. Goal Line Offense -- Goal Line is for Goal Line (inside the 10 yard line) and for SHORT YARDAGE (3rd/4th down and 3 or less) ONLY! Note: Every playbook has enough short yardage sets that goal line is NOT necessary on 1st and 2nd down. DO NOT USE GOAL LINE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN THE FIELD.
5. Punting & Kicking rules:
Punting -- In the first half, You MUST PUNT on 4th down on YOUR SIDE OF THE FIELD (before the 50) regardless of the "To Go" yardage including "inches", UNLESS you are trailing by 21+ points or more and the "To Go" yardage is 3 yards or less.
In the second half, if you are down by 10+ points the offense has the option of going for it at any time as long as the "To Go" yardage is 5 yard or less and they are within there opponents 40 yd line. Otherwise they must punt or kick a FG.
In the 4th quarter only the following special rules apply:
1. The losing team can go for it from anywhere on the field regardless of "To Go" yardage.
2. In a tie game or if you are a team leading by 8 points or less if it is 4th and 1 yard or less on your opponents side of the 50 the team may go for it. If you have the ball on your side of the field you must punt.
3. The team with a lead of 9 or more points (two scores) must kick a FG or punt on 4th down no matter what the yardage.
Teams are allowed one fake punt and one fake FG per game. Punter must be in punters position on fake punts.
Note: In the case of overtime you may have 1 fake kicks and 1 fake FG per overtime.
6. Onside Kicks -- You may onside kick ONLY in the 4th quarter and only if you are down by 14+ points. HOWEVER, in the final 3 minutes of the game you may onside kick being DOWN any amount of points. If there is a tie score, then you MAY NOT go for an onside kick.
Note: Abusing the onside kick in not encouraged; however, using onside kicks as a last ditch effort to attempt to catch up in the 4th quarter is permitted. However, onside kick recovery is not the norm but the exception. So, if there is found to be a glitch or means of always recovering an onside kick, then that glitch will be banned! PERIOD! If you ARE LEADING at any time, you may also not onside kick at any time.
7. Quarterback Play -- You MAY NOT drop your QB more than 10-12 yards UNLESS you are under extreme pressure, or it is a designed screen play. --- See QB Drops Section Above.
IMPORTANT: Players who drop their QB excessively deep in the pocket FOR THE PURPOSE of using the QB to escape the D-Line pressure, break the DBs coverage of your WR, and use the QB to get outside the defensive line to run the football on a passing play will be considered in violation of league rules. There are more than enough designed QB plays for running the football. DO NOT EXPLOIT DEFENSIVE AI by excessively DROPPING YOUR QB in the pocket.
8. Overtime quarter/quarters are treated like the 4th quarter.
DEFENSE
1. Defense must always choose a play instead of letting the computer choose it. Players are required to control one player when they are on defense.
2. Defensive Shifting - Defensive shifting of players is limited to one individual player movement per play. Defensive tackles must stay within the bounds of the defensive ends and defensive ends cannot be moved outside of their normal shifts on an individual basis. There is no limit on group shifts or audibles on defense. Punt return is also considered a defensive play and players are allowed to move one player back to block as long as it is not the defensive ends or tackles. Speed rushing the DE is completely banned and is 100% Illegal. Speed rushing is taking control of the DE and bypassing, or not engaging the tackle, then running around him to get to the QB for an easy sack. Using your DEs and DTs to create your own interior stunts and twists is LEGAL.
3. Defensive Lineman in Coverage - You MAY NOT MOVE your defensive line off the line of scrimmage pre-snap. ALL defensive linemen MUST be in their 2, 3 or 4 point stances until the snap of the ball. AFTER the snap YOU CAN drop them into coverage (zone blitz, etc.) BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER THE SNAP.
4. IMPORTANT: YOU MAY NOT "STACK" defensive linemen by putting them on top of or behind one another TO EXPLOIT Offensive Line blocking AI, as Defensive shifting of players is limited to one individual player movement per play. Defensive tackles must stay within the bounds of the defensive ends and defensive ends cannot be moved outside of their normal shifts on an individual basis.
5. Linebackers/Defensive Backs -- AGAIN, YOU MAY ONLY MOVE THE PLAYER YOU CONTROL PRE SNAP.
6. Defensive Audibling -- EXCESSIVE AUDIBLING ON DEFENSE IS DISCOURAGED.
IMPORTANT: Repeated audibling from a pass coverage formation (dime, nickel) that employs 5-6 DB's to a "Base" formation (4-3, 5-2) SO THAT DBs FILL THE LB's SPOTS in the "base" defensive formation is ILLEGAL AND IS CONSIDERED A CHEAP PLAY.
7. Goal Line Defense -- May ONLY be used in short yardage (3rd/4th down 3 or less) situations.
Additional Recommendations - The following are strongly discouraged:
1. Use of Goal Line defense/offense in inappropriate situations
2. Running of the same 3 or 4 plays the entire game or the excessive use of "Money Plays" on Offense
3. Inappropriate substitutions designed specifically to create AI mismatches against the defense.
4. Running the same 2 or 3 plays the entire game on defense or blitzing every play
5. Use of Punt Block formation for field goal defense
6. QB dropping back an excessive amount of yardage
7. Running up the score