CONSTITUTION - 2009
last revised 01/04/09
Contact Commish Chad: cweyenberg@comcast.net
Table of Contents
The purpose of the OTFBA shall be FUN (ok, plus win it all and take home some $$$). Our constitution is perhaps not as detailed in many areas as other league constitutions, and more detailed in a few areas. The reason for this is simply that in a league where competition is secondary, history tells us that it is just not necessary to have many inviolable rules. However, the Commissioner does reserve the right to investigate any allegations of improper play.The constitution may be amended by the Commissioner, subject to approval by a majority of league owners.
We are a head to head league and will strive to play all of its games live over the internet.
There shall be two conferences, with each conference consisting of three divisions of four teams (24 teams total).Expansion of the league shall be undertaken when appropriate, based upon a majority vote of the league membership.
Each team shall play in a real life professional football league ballpark used in ANY Action PC league disk. Changes in these assignments are allowed to occur only when a new manager joins, changes stadiums, thus making another park available (no stdm. may be used twice and changes in stadiums may only occur during the off-season).
League will schedule games corresponding with the number of game actually played with the season disk used. Example: 1970 season disk used = 14 game schedule.
Changes to this Constitution may made when an amendment receives 2/3 majority vote of the voting participants. All proposals shall be made in writing to the Commissioner by the date he sets. **All rules proposals NEED to be either put up for vote PRIOR to the draft, if they are to go into place for the upcoming season, or if done after the draft, be for the season following the one set to begin.
3.0 Requirements for Membership
To participate in the league, each member must own the current version of Dave Koch Sports' Action Football Game and the appropriate season's data disk. In addition, before beginning the season, members must be in good standing with respect to dues owed .League dues of $15.00 must be paid by yearly draft or date set by commissioner
Current, active, e-mail address
There will be a league payout at the end of the season for Super Bowl Champions, SB Runner up, division winners and the next 10 best records. Payout system grid can be viewed here: PAYOUT GRID NOTE: over 1/2 the league will receive something back.
5.0 Format of Play - Weekly Deadlines
Before the season begins, a pre-season file shall be distributed which includes the season's schedule for all teams.5.1 Manager's Duties - Weekly Disks
- Only the current version of Action PC Football software may be used (currently Action PC 2008) to play your games. Only the master OTFBA league disk may be used (as sent to you by the commish each week) to play your games.
- Overtime/Sudden Death: overtime/sudden death was not instated in the NFL until 1974. So, we will not play overtime games in the OTFBA until '74. Therefore, if your game ends in a tie at the end of regulation time, it remains a tie.
- League disk will be distributed Sunday of each week and coaches will have 7 days to play their games and return XBX game file to commissioner. Extensions may be granted on case by case basis.
5.2 Method of Game Play
All games are played in one of the following formats:
a) - Face to Face versus the opposing coach (RECOMMENDED)b) - Home team for a Half and Visitor for a Half: The home team may also choose to play half by half. Under this option the home team may choose which half of play they will control. The appropriate team will play the first half, zip the required files and send them to the other owner for game conclusion. When using this option, whoever plays the second half also controls any resulting overtime session. The "required files" will be found in the Player Disk subfolder (usually C:/Program Files/Action/[Player Disk] and consist of the following: Previous Play.HAL and [AWAY] @ [HOME].HAL where AWAY is the visiting team's three character abbreviation and HOME is the home team's three character abbreviation.
c) - Solo versus the computer coach/or default coach that is sent from your opponent/or
included w/ master diskd) - Computer vs. Computer using coaching profiles set by both coaches (This method will
be used ONLY if both human coaches can not play their games and the games will be
then run by the commish.)NOTE: in a solo vs. computer game, the human coach must make any changes to the computer coached team as specified by the non-coaching owner. If nothing is specified, then you can use the default settings. If a game is contested because of not adhering to specific instructions sent by the computer coached owner, the game may be subject to being replayed.
5.3 Contacting Your Opponent and Hosting
- All owners must contact their opponent by WED. of each week- If you have not heard from your opponent by then, please contact me and I'll try.- Phone numbers are listed on the game disk- If still no contact through THR., games will be granted to play solo vs. computer or by finding a sub coach - by Friday 3pm EST.
- The Home team will be the HOST of the game, but may be changed to the Visiting upon mutual agreement5.4 Playoffs
The six division winners qualify, and each league will have three wild card teams. Any ties for playoff spots will be broken according to tie breaking procedures listed below in section 5.5.
2 - Playoff Usage will be 10% of actual NFL usage, rounded off to the nearest whole number, per game for all limited players.
3 - PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
Wild Card Round : (per conference) Seed 3 vs. Seed 6 / Seed 4 vs Seed 5
.....Seeds 1/2 get byes.Round 2 : Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining.
2nd Lowest remaining seed at 2nd Highest.League Championship Series : Lower seed at Higher seed
Super Bowl: Super Bowl site is played on a NEUTRAL site, which will be determined by
the actual NFL Super Bowl site for that appropriate season (meaning, if we use the 1999 player
disk, we would use the SB site for 1999. Home field advantage would be turned OFF.5.5 Playoff Player Usage and Injuries - See Section 8.3
5.6 Playoff Tie-Breaking Procedure
DIVISION TIES - Two Clubs
1 -Head-to-Head (best won-lost percentage in games between the clubs).
2 -Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3 -Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games if applicable.
4 -Best net points in division games.
5 -Best net points in all games.
6 -Strength of schedule (strongest schedule wins tie).
7 -Best net TD's in all games.
8 -Last team not to make the playoffs.
9 -Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
Note : If two clubs remain tied after other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie-breaker
reverts to step #1 of two-club format.1 -Head-to-Head (best won-lost percentage in games between the clubs).
2 -Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3 -Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games if applicable.
4 -Best net points in division games.
5 -Best net points in all games.
6 -Strength of schedule (strongest schedule wins tie).
7 -Best net TD's in all games.
8 -Last team not to make the playoffs.
9 -Coin toss.
WILD-CARD TIES
- If necessary to break ties to determine the four wild-card teams, the following steps will be
taken.1 -If all tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie-breaker
2 -If the tied clubs are from different divisions apply the steps below.
3 -When the first wild-card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated each time as
necessary to name the four wild-card teams. In situations where three teams from the same
division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for
subsequent applications of the tie-breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for
a wild-card berth.
Two Clubs
1 -Head-to-Head, if applicable.
2 -Best W-L-T % in common games, 4 min.
3 -Best net points, all games.
4 -Strength of schedule.
5 -Best net TD's all games.
6 -Last team not to make the playoffs.
7 -Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
Note : Once two teams remain, revert to step #1 in Two Club tie-breaker.
1 -Apply division tie-breaker to eliminate all but highest-ranked club in each division prior to step #1.
The original seeding within a division upon application of the Division tie-breaker remains the
same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the four
wild-card teams.
2 -Head-to-Head sweep (only if one club has either defeated or lost to each of the others).
3 -Best net points, all games.
4 -Strength of schedule.
5 -Best net TD's all games.
6 -Last team not to make the playoffs.
7 -Coin toss.
Members wishing to protest the decisions made in a game must notify the Commissioner within 2 days of receiving the game results). When notifying the Commissioner, the protesting member must list the reasons for the protest, and demonstrate flagrant misplaying of his team. The Commissioner will then rule as to whether or not the game(s) in question must be replayed. If the games shall be replayed, the results from the protested games shall be wiped clean, and those games (and statistics) will not count towards league standings.
Each OTFBA roster will consist of 45 active players, which may include players which were Non-Rated by Action PC during that season. ..See 7.2
...NOTE: It DOES NOT apply to Rookies or players who have never existed on your roster before.
7.1 Ownership of Players
Teams shall retain continuous ownership of FIFTEEN (15) of their players from year to year (this includes Non-Rated Players).7.2 Uncarded/NonRated Players
Uncarded players may not be drafted. However, if a player is carded for one year, and uncarded the next, the owning team retains the rights to that player. Player rights may also be traded. If a team wishes to retain uncarded players, it may do so by counting the uncarded players toward the 10 man limit. Teams doing so must still be able to meet seasonal usage limits at all positions.7.2 Roster Minimum Requirements
IMPORTANT - Each team's roster must have enough players to fill all positions and have at least one backup for every position.
To begin each season you MUST have at least:- QB - 2 RB - 3 WR - 3 TE - 2 OT - 3 OG - 3 C - 2 - DE - 3 DT - 3 ILB- 3 OLB- 3 CB - 3 S - 3 - FG Kicker with 14 Attempts - Punter with 22 Punts - Kickoff Returner with 16 Returns OR 19.9 or LESS average and no TD's. - Punt Returner with 16 Returns OR 8.0 or LESS average and no TD's. NOTE 1: No team may carry more than 3 QB's, but must carry at least 2. NOTE 2: The following positions can be counted as a roster spot towards multiple player positions: HB - for a RB and TE positions OL - for C, G & T positions DL - for DE and DT positions LB - for ILB and OLB positions DB - for CB and S positions (example: ILB and OLB requires 6 roster spots, 3 at each position. If you carry a player that is rate at LB, then this player can be counted toward the total at BOTH positions. Thus, you could legitimately only be carrying 5 players at the linebacker position and be within roster requirements.) **Players can ONLY play the positions they are rated UNLESS a team is forced to play a player out of position because of injury. -----So draft wisely!!!!
Modified player usage. Let Action PC fatigue system work by eliminating all player usage limitations, EXCEPT for, minimum valued categories. (EX: for rushers under 50 carries, receivers under 16 receptions, QB's under 50 atts. would be restricted to ACTUAL numbers).8.1 Position Player Limits
RUSHES - Any rusher who has 50 or more NFL carries will have no restrictions.
a. Any runner who had less than 50 carries is limited to his actual NFL attempts.
b. No rusher may attempt more than 50 rushing attempts in a game.
c. Rushing does not apply to QB's as it is almost impossible to track...we will let ActionPC game
handle QB rushing though the fatigue system.RECEPTIONS - All player who had 16 NFL receptions and over will have no restrictions.
a. Any player with LESS than 16 Receptions is limited to his actual NFL catches.
b. No receiver may have more than 20 receptions in a game.QB's with an actual NFL attempts of 50 or greater OR any QB with an average season passing rating of less than 60.0 will have no restrictions.
a. - QB's with actual NFL attempts under 50 can use up to 110% of his actual NFL total attempts.
b. No quarterback may attempt more than 75 passing attempts in a game.Trick Plays - Skill position players used on trick plays are limited to twice their actual number of NFL attempts.
PLACE KICKERS and PUNTERS - Any kicker who attempted at least 14 FGs may be used without limit. Any punter who attempted at least 22 punts may be used without limit. Otherwise, they are limited to their actual NFL attempts
KICKOFF RETURNERS: A player is considered "unlimited" if he had in the previous NFL season EITHER 16 Kickoff Returns OR had a Kickoff Return Average Yards Per Return of 19.9 or LESS yards WITHOUT a touchdown return. All other players are LIMITED to their actual number of NFL Kickoff Return Attempts. If you have only one unlimited returner, you should have limited returner's that total at least ten returns on your team.
PUNT RETURNERS: A player is considered "unlimited" if he had in the previous NFL season EITHER 16 Punt Returns NOT counting Fair Catches OR had a Punt Return Average Yards Per Return of 8.0 or LESS yards WITHOUT a touchdown return. All other players are LIMITED to their actual number of NFL Punt Returns NOT counting Fair Catches. If you have only one unlimited returner, you should have limited returner's that total at least ten returns on your team.
8.2 Season & Game Fatigue
SEASON : Mild - 100%, Moderate - 110%, Major - 120%
GAME: Mild - 10%, Moderate - 10%, Major - 10%
QB game fatigue - NO (no check mark in box)
Special Teams Season fatigue - YES (check mark in box)
Injuries set to low frequencyPlayoff Usage will be 10% of actual NFL usage, rounded off to the nearest whole number, per game for all limited players.
- 0 to 4 attempts = NO playoff attempts
- 5 to 14 attempts = 1 playoff attempt
- 15 to 24 attempts = 2 playoff attempts
- 25 to 34 attempts = 3 playoff attempts
- 35 to 44 attempts = 4 playoff attempts
- 45 to 49 attempts = 5 playoff attemptsINJURIES: Regular season injuries WILL carry over into the postseason. Bye teams will get 2 days rest credit for injury and fatigue relief.
Trades may be made between teams. All trades must be for carded players, player rights and/or subsequent draft choices. No trades may be made for "players to be named later" or which are conditional based on team drafting order. The only draft picks which may be traded are picks in the next scheduled draft (ie. no trading of draft picks more than one year in advance).Both teams involved in the trade must notify the Commissioner before the trade takes effect. The Commissioner has the power to disprove of any trade which is blatantly one-sided.
Trades become effective at the start of the series following approval of the trade. Players may not be used until the trade has been approved.
9.1 Trading Deadline
Trading is allowed during the season up until the 11th week of play...no trading after week 10.
9.3 Trade Restrictions:
Only 2 trades between the same teams will be allowed during the regular season.
Uneven trades are not allowed (2 for 1, etc.) and you must maintain a 45 man total roster.
Between the roster cut down date and the draft, trading is limited to a one for one basis, BUT that draft picks and players each be counted as one....you can for example trade a player for a pick straight up.
Draft picks may only be traded from Rnd 1 thru Rnd 15.
9.3 Trade Confirmation
Trades must be confirmed by both parties and sent to the commissioner via e-mail in the following manner:
GREEN BAY receives: Bart Starr QB, Ray Nitschke LB, and #7 pick in '01
MIAMI receives: Bob Griese QB, Larry Csonka RB, and #1 pick in '01**please report the TEAM NAME in ALL CAPS and list the player position after the player FULL name...please do not take this reporting method lightly, it will save me tons of time and allow you to have the trade proccessed on a more timely basis.
Owners wishing to resign should notify the Commissioner of their intention to do so 30 days before resigning. The Commissioner shall then secure a replacement owner. However, if a replacement owner is not readily available, the league shall be responsible for playing the team's games, but shall not be involved in any trades of any sort.
Inaugural draft will be a snake-order style draft with drafting order drawn randomly.Following Drafts - There shall be a draft of rookies and free agents annually. The draft shall be a round by round draft proceeding as follows:
11.1 Round One
Round 1 will be a reverse order draft, with the following exceptions: (1) A weighted lottery will be conducted among the four lowest ranking teams (based upon winning percentage) for draft positions 1 through 4 in the first round; and (2) The Super Bowl teams will draft in the last two positions, with the winning team drafting last.11.2 Subsequent Rounds
Rounds two through five shall be conducted in reverse order of finish, with the Super Bowl teams drafting last. Teams must cease drafting when their roster reaches 45 players. Players may not be released during the draft to allow a team to continue drafting.
Claiming Free Agents: Free Agents will be available to all teams on a first come first serve basis up until week 8 of the season. From week 8 thru week 10 free agents may be claimed but will have to go through a 24 hour waiver period. At which point if a free agent is sought after by a team, the FA pickup will be announced to the
entire league, and he may first be claimed by teams with the worst record(s) in the league. If two teams with the same record wish to claim the player, I will use head to head play, point differential and then a coin toss to settle the tie(s).From week 11 through the end of the Super Bowl, there will be NO free agents claimed....rosters will be frozen.
League Dues of $15.00 shall be set by the Commissioner. Members shall send the dues payment by deadline set by the Commissioner, or they shall be penalized appropriately (all dues MUST be received before the draft).