(Pre-Season Meeting Version: Edition L, Updated May 30, 2005)
1.1 Managing a Franchise
The league owns all franchises. These policies are in place to protect the franchises and ensure a fair, balanced system. To manage a franchise, one is required to apply to the league commissioner. Upon availability and approval the manager will be awarded control of a franchise. A franchise can only have a single manager, however, that manager can have an assistant. Assuming management of a franchise is implied acceptance of all league policies and requirements.
1.2 Manager’s Obligations & Rights
Managers have an obligation to:
· Manage their football club to the fullest extent of their capabilities, providing that those operations comply with all restrictions set forth by the league.
· Take part in all meetings as required by the league or have a proxy present, upon approval by the league, in your absence.
· Pay all fees at each season’s auction.
· Come prepared for the auction to ensure its smooth operation.
· Know the league policies and follow them, any questions should be asked to insure a complete understanding.
Managers have the right to:
· Take part in all meetings and be informed about any information pertaining to the league and their football club.
· Ask for a review of a trade by the commissioner if collusion is thought to have occurred.
· Ask for a review of any rulings made by the commissioner if the manager feels that the commissioner was not acting in good faith.
· Ask for a verification of statistics if an error is thought to have occurred or the official statistics website is in error.
1.3 Annual Fees
The annual fee is collected from each manager before the start of each season or by arrangement made with the commissioner. The total sum collected will go towards the trophies, medals, ribbons, S&H charges, & other awards that are to be distributed after the conclusion of the season. The fee is stated before the start of every season and can change from year to year. The current fee is $20 per year.
1.4 Manager Retirement
If a manager, for whatever reason, retires from a franchise there is no guarantee that he will be entitled to a franchise in future seasons without re-applying. In no way will the previous participation entitle him to have priority over other potential managers.
1.5 Revoking a Manager
If a manager fails to properly care for the football club (missing roster submission deadlines, continuously starting injured players, demonstrating a general lack of interest that adversely affects his football club’s competitiveness, or benching the team at any time) then that franchise may be stripped from the manager for the current and future seasons. Also any club that exhibits collusive behavior throughout any part of the season may have his manager position revoked for the current and future seasons. If a manager meets or exceeds $50M in fines in a single season he will automatically be fired.
1.6 Replacement Managers
In the event that a manager retires or is replaced, the replacement will take control of the franchise. The club’s roster, funds, stadium name, and franchise history will remain the same. The replacement manager will be reimbursed for all fines charged to the previous managers. In the event that the replacement is taking over a franchise during a season, he will be reimbursed for all fines of that season. In the event that he is replacing a manager in the off-season, he will be reimbursed for the previous season’s fines.
1.7 League Control of a Franchise
If a manager, for whatever reason, cannot properly care for their football club during a season then it is the duty of that manager to let the commissioner know as soon as possible so a replacement can be found. Once a manager submits an invalid roster or demonstrates an action or attitude that is detrimental to the league or franchise, the league reserves the right to take control of the franchise.
1.8 Switching Franchises
Managers cannot switch franchises or club names or rosters once the startup auction has begun. If a franchise is left vacant, one of the remaining managers cannot take control of the vacated club. To attempt to implement franchise switching into the system could result in an unfair advantage or disadvantage. If a franchise is left vacant, a new manager will fill it. If a manager leaves and then returns he will receive whichever franchise is available and has no rights to his previous club.
1.9 Franchise Stadium
Each franchise has a stadium on their team page. Each of the stadiums was given a generic name at the beginning of the league. These names will remain as they are until the franchise wins a championship; the manager then gets to dedicate the stadium and rename it anything he wishes. The new name will stand until the franchise wins another championship, even if a new manager takes control of the club.
1.10 Age Restrictions
All franchise managers and their assistants must be 21 years of age or older. Exceptions can be made for assistant upon unanimous league approval.
1.11 Posting
Posting is the primary method of manager action during the season. All league actions need to be posted including contract signings, players being placed on the Farm, trade incentive details, player purchase details, etc. to insure all managers are aware of the actions. Officially speaking- nothing happens unless it is posted. Other posting is done to add friendly gamesmanship to the league and communication to all league members. Acceptable posting includes “dogging” the franchise name, franchise record or history, their players, specific games, or anything associated with the franchise, except the manager. Attacking or calling out any manager or assistant will not be tolerated and will incur fines for poor sportsmanship.
SECTION 2: SEASON INFORMATION
2.1 Regular Season
The regular season is when each club faces other clubs within the league using a pre-determined schedule in head-to-head competition. The goal for each club is to win as many games as possible to qualify for the post-season. Each franchise will play a fourteen-week schedule and will play against each other franchise twice per season.
2.2 Playoffs
The post season also referred to as the playoffs occurs in weeks 15 and 16 of the season. There will be four clubs qualifying for the playoffs and they will include the top four ranked teams after week fourteen of the regular season. Playoffs will be scheduled and played according to the league settings at Yahoo! The winner of the playoffs, or Superbowl Champion, will receive a full size trophy and gold medal. The Superbowl Team (2nd place) will receive a smaller trophy and a silver medal. The franchises that lose in the first round of playoffs will receive bronze medals.
2.3 Points Competition
Running simultaneously with the regular and post season will be the Points Competition. This total-points competition will run from Week 1 to Week 16. All franchises will be involved and have opportunity to win despite their playoff status. The winner of this competition will be the franchise that has acquired the highest total season points at the end of Week 16 and will receive a full size trophy and gold medal. The second place winner will receive a smaller trophy and silver medal. Third place will receive a bronze medal.
2.4 Championship Awards
The total points leader at the end of week 16 will be crowned Points Champion. The winner of the Superbowl will be crowned Superbowl Champion. Both are considered equal in prestige. A franchise may win both Championships, a Dual Champion; this is the highest possible honor.
2.5 Sportsmanship Awards
The Sportsmanship Award will be given to the manager(s) that display good sportsmanship in overcoming a problem during the season and still contribute to the league. Managers can and should nominate other worthy managers for this award. There can be multiple Sportsmanship Awards each season.
SECTION 3: WEEKLY GAME PLAY
3.1 Starting Line Up
Each week in the regular season (and post season for those franchises that are still active) each franchise must submit a legal starting line up that meets the criteria as defined by these policies. The starting line up is 2 QB, 3 RBs, 4 WRs, 2 TE, 1 K, and 1 DEF. If for any reason a manager cannot access the roster submission webpage they may contact the commissioner with their starting line up, if the commissioner is unable to access the webpage for the manager, the responsibility fails back to the manager.
3.2 Game Play
Each week one club shall face another club in head-to-head competition as determined by the season schedule. Players in the starting line up shall score points for each team based on their performance in the NFL games in the corresponding weeks. Each player’s individual performance shall be tallied to come up with a club’s total score. The franchise scoring the most points in the head-to-head competition will be awarded a win and the franchise with the fewest points will be given a loss. In the event of a tie, the franchise with the highest optimal game points will be awarded the win and a change will be made in the line up to give the franchise the smallest amount of extra points to achieve that win.
3.3 Scoring System
Maximum Number of Teams: 8
Maximum Moves: Unlimited (Whatever is allowed by team funds)
Maximum Trades: No maximum
Scoring Type: Head-to-Head League
Waiver Time: 2 days
Post Draft Players: Follow Waiver Rules
Last Trade Date: Though Week 8
Trade Reject Time: 2 days
Playoffs: Week 15 and 16 (4 teams)
Fractional Points: Yes
(For Scoring see webpage)
SECTION 4: FRANCHISE ACCOUNTING
4.1 Accounts
Each franchise will be given $200M each season for the purpose of purchasing players, adding incentives to trades, acquiring players at Rookie Auctions, or any other legitimate business between clubs. This money can be saved or spent as the manager wishes according to the policies. If the franchise runs out of funds it cannot pickup players from FA, waivers, or acquire players at the Rookie Auctions (except for the free Draft Pick). Franchises cannot loan funds to another club. This fund is not to be confused with the Startup Auction salary cap.
4.2 Accounting Page
Each franchise has an accounting page that is linked to the team page where fund records are kept. This page will be updated as often as needed during the off-season and every few weeks during the season or more often if the situation calls for it.
4.3 Transaction Fees
There is a $10M transaction fee on all pickups from FA and waivers.
4.4 Bonuses
Bonuses are awarded after the season is completed and will be recorded on the franchise’s accounting page.
Playoffs $10M
Superbowl Champion $20M + Playoffs
Superbowl 2nd Place $10M + Playoffs
Points Champion $20M
Points 2nd Place $10M
Points 3rd Place $5M
Sportsmanship Award $10M (can be more than one Sportsmanship Award)
4.5 Fines
Fines will be immediately handed to managers that violate the league policies.Fines are recorded on the franchise’s accounting page.
Starting Line Up “Out” or on Bye Week: $10M per offense for the first violation.
Starting Line Up “Out” or on Bye Week: $20M each offense thereafter.
(Note: The player must be listed as O, NA, or IR for this fine. If the player is P, Q, or D and they do not play, the manager is not held responsible because there is a chance the player will play, this is considered a management decision.)
Poor Sportsmanship: $25M minimum fine & loss of Draft Pick.
Rules Violation: $10M per offense for the first violation, $20M each offense thereafter.
4.6 Maximum Season Fines
There is a $50M limit on fines. If a manager’s seasonal fines meet or exceeds $50M he is automatically fired.
4.7 Manager Responsibilities
The policies are easy to follow and managers should have no problem submitting line-ups and following the basic rules. The manager is fully responsible to manage his club. Any questions will be answered, but it is vital that managers ask the questions before any problems arise. Each manger is expected to behave in an intelligent and professional manner, especially when problems arise.
SECTION 5: DYNASTY ROSTERS
5.1 Dynasty Format
All franchises will keep their basic rosters year to year. This differs from a redraft league that draft an entirely, or mostly, new roster each year. Managers will build their initial roster at the startup auction but then will have to acquire new players from trades, FA, waivers, purchases from other franchises, or at a Rookie Auction.
5.2 Maximum Roster Size
The maximum number of players a franchise may have on its roster at any one time is 30.
5.3 Player Positions
All players are eligible to play only one of six positions. The positions are Quarterback (QB), Running Back (RB), Wide Receiver (WR), Tight End (TE), Place Kicker (K), and Team Defenses (DEF). Yahoo will be the league's official position website. Any discrepancies as to what position a player is eligible for shall be resolved by the Yahoo player database. Note that Fullbacks (FB) are considered Running Backs (RB).
5.4 Starting Line Ups
There are thirteen positions in the starting lineup that a franchise must fill each week. The starting line-up of each club is two QBs, three RBs, four WRs, two TE, one PK, and one DEF. Franchises at all times must have enough players on their roster that will satisfy the starting line ups outlined above. If for whatever reason, other than intentionally throwing a game (at Commissioner’s discretion), a franchise dresses less than the players allowed for the legal starting line up then that line up will be accepted as submitted, however the manager will be fined according to league policy.
5.5 Contract Years
Each franchise has 60 “Contract Years” to distribute among their entire roster as to how long they wish to keep each player. Contract Years become available after each season (as the player’s contracts shorten) allowing the managers to use them on newly acquired players, but the total Contract Years will never exceed 60 years. Contract Years not assigned to players can be held and used as needed. All players will require at least a one-year contract. Managers need to assign Contracts as soon as players are acquired (except at auctions). If the manager does not immediately post the player’s contract years it is assumed to be a one-year contract.
· Short Contracts (or Scrub Contracts) are contracts originally signed for one or two seasons. Players from Short Contracts can be dropped at any time; the club will immediately regain the Contract Years.
· Long Contracts are contracts originally signed for three or more years. Players that have Long Contracts can only be dropped in the off-season (Jan-July); the club will immediately regain the Contract Years when a player is dropped.
· Players can be traded normally, but their contracts will be carried over to the new club making the new manager responsible to provide the Contract Years.
5.6 The Farm (Developmental Squad)
The Developmental Squad, or Farm, allows clubs to hold players for future use without having to sign them to a contract. Only players acquired at an auction are eligible for the Developmental Squad. The Farm may contain up to five 1st, 2nd or 3rd year NFL players. Players entering their 4th NFL season are not eligible. Eligible players can be added to the Farm by the contract deadline (rather than signing a contract) following an auction. These players may be made active at any time the manager wishes by signing them to a contract or can be dropped according to the same rules as all other players. Traded players may be put onto the farm only if they were on the other franchise’s farm before the trade. Farmed players count against the 30 roster spots. By placing a farmed player in the starting lineup, he is automatically active and all contract rules apply.
SECTION 6: PLAYER MOVEMENTS
6.1 Free Agency
Any player that is not drafted via the auction is a free agent and is eligible to be picked up off of Free Agency. Yahoo will determine the eligibility of Free Agents. Free Agency is closed in the off season.
6.2 Waiver Wire
A player dropped by any franchise will spend two days on the Waiver Wire on the Yahoo website. A club that drops a player cannot put in a waiver claim on him; however that club can re-acquire the player from Free Agency. Waivers are closed in the off season.
6.3 Seeding Systems for Waiver Wire
Franchises will be given a priority order for waiver claims. The manager with the highest waiver priority requesting the player will acquire him after the mandatory two days. Once a manager makes a waiver pickup he will be given the lowest waiver priority available and the other franchises will advance forward one waiver priority position. Yahoo determines the initial waiver priority. Waiver priority will carry over from year to year.
6.4 Picking Up Players
Any franchise may make a claim on an eligible free agent player any time the Free Agency is open during the regular season. Players on the Free Agency are considered ‘first come, first serve’. Free Agency will be open or closed according to Yahoo! Default settings but will always be closed in the off-season. A $10M transaction expense will be deducted from the franchise’s funds on all FA pickups.
6.5 Trading Players
A trade is an exchange of players amongst two or more clubs in an attempt to benefit all clubs involved in the trade. If a trade seems collusive or one-sided then the commissioner may, on his own accord or at the request of a league member, decide to veto a trade in order to keep a competitive balance within the league and preserve the integrity of the game. If at any time, due to the consequence of a trade, a franchise goes over the maximum 30 spot roster limit that franchise must waive the appropriate number of players to meet the maximum roster restriction. Trades are allowed in the off-season and through week 8 of the regular season. No trades are allowed from August 1st through the beginning of the NFL season and no trades are allowed after Week 8 during the regular season.
6.6 Purchasing and Selling Players
Franchises may purchase or sell players directly to or from other clubs. No purchases are allowed from August 1st through the beginning of the NFL season and no purchases are allowed after Week 8 during the regular season.
6.7 Roster Change Deadline
July 31st is the deadline for all drops, trades and player purchases between franchises. Each franchise must drop all the players they are not wanting before this deadline as no drops are allowed until the auction is complete. It is vital that the mangers free up the roster spots they will need for each Rookie Auction before the deadline. All rosters will be frozen from August 1st until after the auction.
6.8 Commissioner Veto and Collusion
The commissioner has within his power to veto any and all trades or negate roster movements where he feels collusion has occurred. Collusion includes, but is not limited to, the trading of players for the sole purpose of improving one club without improving the other, any trades where there is a previous agreement to trade any or all of the players back at a later date (roster sharing), waiving a player so that a team with the highest waiver priority may claim that player, and/or purposely throwing a game for any reason. The Commissioner will not veto “bad” trades that are not collusive in nature.
SECTION 7: ROOKIE AUCTIONS
7.1 Auction Arena
The auction arena, the place and time where the auction draft is to be held, will be set by the league to accommodate as many league members as possible. If for any reason a league member cannot attend the auction at the specified time and place then the manager may use a proxy bidder, upon league approval, to represent the franchise in all matters. If a proxy bidder cannot be found then the manager shall forfeit his right to a club. It is of utmost importance that all managers are represented before the auction commences to maintain the competitive balance within the league.
7.2 Pre-Auction Preparation
It is vital that managers drop players before the July 31st deadline each year to make spots available on their rosters before the auction. Rosters will be frozen as of August 1st of each year so no players can be dropped during August, this allows for all managers to know exactly who is taken and which players are available.
7.3 Draft Picks
Before the auction begins, there will be one round of Draft Picks. Each franchise can draft one rookie player (not veteran players that are not owned, just rookies) for free. All eight clubs will have one free pick. These Draft Picks can be traded, made part of any trade as incentives, or bought and sold up to the next two future rookie auctions in advance. The draft order will be determined by the previous year’s final rankings, end of regular season for non-playoff clubs and end of post season for playoff franchises. Draft Pick Order: 1st Pick (5th place), 2nd Pick (6th place), 3rd Pick (7th place), 4th Pick (8th place), 5th Pick (Playoff 4th place), 6th Pick (Playoff 3rd place), 7th Pick (Playoff 2nd place), and 8th Pick (Superbowl Champion). Note: The reverse pick-order for non-playoff clubs removes the incentive to come in last place and helps prevent disinterest when a club isn’t going to make the playoffs by providing a goal for continued winning. Draft Picks must be signed to a contract as normal or placed on the farm.
7.4 Rookie Auction Budget
The Rookie Auction budget will be what franchise funds each club has available at the time of the auction. Each club will have a different amount of money to spend and a different number of roster spots to fill. The franchise’s accounting page will tell them exactly how much they have available to them. A franchise does not have to spend all or any of their funds at the auction; all remaining funds will be carried over.
7.5 Auction Format
· Franchises can acquire up to a total of 30 players, but are not required to fill all 30 spots.
· A manager brings up a player with a bid giving the players name and position.
· The assumed dollar amount is $0M for the initial bid if no specific amount is stated.
· All managers can bid higher or pass on the player.
· All bidding is to be done in $1M increments or multiples thereof.
· This process continues until a high bid is reached and the high bidder gets the player.
· The next seated manager calls up a player and the bidding process is repeated.
· The auction is over for individual managers when they “pass” rather than nominating a player for bidding.
· The entire auction is complete when all managers have passed. There are no required limits on roster spots.
· Contract Years must be assigned by the date given at the auction; this date will be one week after the auction.
· The Commissioner will decide upon any discrepancies.
7.6 Available Players
To find what players are available, check each of the franchise’s rosters on their team page. A complete list of available or taken players will not be provided in order to avoid oversights. Each manager is responsible for making his own list of available players for each of the Rookie Auctions according to their research.
7.7 Etiquette
There is no assigned seating. When you call out a player for the auction, you need to announce his name and position every time. You cannot ask other managers any questions about which player is up, how much he went for, what position he plays or any such questions; you need to ask the auctioneer for this information. The important thing is that the other mangers are not distracted. All managers should arrive at the auction fully prepared.
7.8 Assigning Contract Years
Following the Rookie Auctions, all managers will have one week to assign Contract Years to their players or place them on the Farm. An exact due date will be given at the auction. Managers may drop players during this week but cannot pickup any players.
SECTION 8: STARTUP AUCTION
8.1 Auction Arena
The auction arena, the place and time where the auction draft is to be held, will be set by the league to accommodate as many league members as possible. If for any reason a manager cannot attend the auction at the specified time and place then the manager shall forfeit his right to a club. It is of utmost importance that all managers are represented before the startup auction commences to maintain the competitive balance within the league. The startup auction is the most important event and will establish your franchise roster for years to come. The startup auction is a one-time event; all other auctions afterwards are Rookie Auctions.
8.2 Startup Auction Salary Cap
Each club is given a fantasy salary cap of $200M to bid on players. The salary cap is only to be used for the buying of players at the auction and has no significance throughout the remainder of the season. Managers cannot sell or trade players to other clubs during the auction. (Important Note: The Startup Auction salary cap is NOT the same as the $200M acquired by each franchise on Sept. 1st as the franchise fund)
8.3 Auction Format
· Franchises must acquire a total of 25-30 players.
· A manager brings up a player with a bid giving the players name and position.
· The assumed dollar amount is $0M for the initial bid if no specific amount is stated.
· All managers can bid higher or pass on the player.
· All bidding is to be done in $1M increments or multiples thereof.
· This process continues until a high bid is reached and the high bidder gets the player.
· The next seated manager calls up a player and the bidding process is repeated.
· When an individual manager has finished his roster, he needs to “pass” rather than nominate a player showing he is out of the auction. A manager that has passed cannot bid on or nominate any more players; he has finished the auction.
· The auction is over when each manager has passed and the auctioneer declares the auction over.
· Contract Years must be assigned by the date given at the auction; this date will be one week after the auction.
· The Commissioner will decide upon any discrepancies.
8.4 Etiquette
There is no assigned seating. When you call out a player for the auction, you need to announce his name and position every time. You cannot ask other managers any questions about which player is up, how much he went for, what position he plays or any such questions; you need to ask the auctioneer for this information. The important thing is that the other mangers are not distracted. All managers should arrive at the auction fully prepared.
8.5 Assigning Contract Years
Following the Startup Auction, all managers will have one week to assign Contract Years to their players or place them on the Farm. An exact due date will be given at the auction. Managers may drop players during this week but cannot pickup any players.