1 OFFENSE
1.0 OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS

A) The offensive center in all plays, except kickoffs, must be immediately flanked by two true linemen. In that sense the line must be "balanced." There is no specific restriction on the placement of the offensive guards and tackles relative to each other. E.G. the placement of the line may be the traditional TGCGT or TTCGG or GTCGT or whatever as long as there are two linemen flanking the center and as long as other rules are adhered to.

[note: the outside lineman on each side will be called the offensive tackle for any rule definitions]

B) There may be no more than a body-width between offensive linemen on any non-kicking play. A 'body-width' is defined as the width of a player's body as seen on the chalkboard editor or on the game field (a player is 16 pixels wide).

C) All offensive players must be fully visible on the chalkboard editor and game field at the snap of the ball. Kicking plays (punts, kickoffs, and field goals) are exempted from the rule so long as the ball is actually kicked (fakes must adhere to the rule).

D) There can be a maximum of three eligible receivers outside of the tackles on one side. Outside the tackle is defined as any player whose helmet stripe is outside the helmet stripe of the player in the offensive tackle location.

1.1 THE QUARTERBACK

A) The quarterback must be lined up directly behind the center.

B) The quarterback must handle the ball, though not necessarily take the snap, on every play except any play in which the offense kicks the ball or 4th down in any situation.

C) The quarterback cannot receive a forward pass but is allowed to receive a backward lateral.

D) The quarterback may not lateral the ball after crossing the LOS.

E) The quarterback may not be lined up deeper than the back of his outline (the man box) touching the line marking 10 yards behind the LOS and may not drop back farther than 20 yards behind the LOS.

1.2 RUSHING PLAYS

A) To be legal, a ball-carrier must line up at least so that the back of his outline (the man box) touches or is behind the line marking 5 yards behind the LOS. The only exception to this rule is the quarterback who may run the ball from his normal position under center.

B) WRs and TEs may not run with the ball unless they line up outside of the offensive tackles. Outside the offensive tackles is defined as the player’s helmet stripe outside the helmet stripe of the offensive tackle.

1.3 BLOCKING OVER THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE ON PASS PLAYS

[Note: a pass play is any play in which the game transcript calls the ball transfer a pass as opposed to a lateral or handoff.]

A) The standard forward run block and the two push blocks (left and right) are allowed on pass plays at the LOS if they are the only assignment given.

B) No offensive lineman may be diagrammed to cross the LOS on any passing play. Nor may he be diagrammed to follow a path that would take him across the LOS before the ball is caught.

C) On a pass play, any blocker with a run or pass block assigned with a path attached must have both the path and block assignment fully behind the LOS as viewed in the Chalkboard Editor. No part of the path or block may touch or cross the LOS.

D) Eligible receivers may block on pass plays. If the eligible receiver is on the LOS, he must conform to all other blocking rules that apply to offensive linemen. If the blocking eligible receiver is not on the LOS, he may block as long as no part of his assigned path or block touches or crosses the LOS.

E) The continuous block (i.e., pitchfork block) is not allowed on any pass plays whether a screen or pass beyond the LOS.

*Run blocks are: the standard forward run block, the two push blocks (to the left and to the right), and the continuous or "pitchfork" block.

1.4 'PICK' PLAYS

A) No pass play may employ a technique where an eligible receiver's pattern is diagramed through the block (any type of run block* and/or blocking pattern that ends in a run block) of any offensive player if the ball is or may be passed to that eligible receiver. A receiver's pattern may be diagramed thru a pass block.
*Again, run blocks are: the standard forward run block, the two push blocks (to the left and to the right), and the continuous or "pitchfork" block.

B) No pass play may employ a technique where an eligible receiver's pattern is diagramed to touch or pass through a pause, "pump fake" command, nor any other command except the path itself and blocking as described above. If a play has the effect of "picking" the intended defensive coverage, it can only be achieved through the use of the path assigned and the timing of the receivers.

C) The use of multiple pauses in the form of a screen or even a moving screen is illegal. Receivers or decoy receivers can use the pause or pump fake assignment, but the intended receiver cannot be run through the symbol or within a 5-yard radius of a pause assignment on another player to catch the pass. Decoys can be multiply paused or faked, but not near the receiver of choice. Pauses cannot be used in such a fashion as to form in effect a screen in front of a receiver.

D) Wide-split receiver groups cannot use multiple pause assignments to create a screen nor can they use even one pause if the effect, as a group, is to pick or screen the wide* set receiver.

E) Any player who can legally be across the LOS on a pass play may act as a "moving screen" by use of the path assignment only. If pauses, pump fakes or multiple "dots" (extremely short path segments repeated so as to cause the player to stop and start repeatedly) are used, it may be challenged as a pick with intent to illegally screen defenders.

* Definition of "wide-split receiver" is any eligible receiver set wider than 10 yards from the nearest OT.

1.5 SCREEN PASSES

[Note: a screen play is any play in which a pass is thrown behind the LOS and at least 2 players are within a 7-yard radius of the recipient of the pass.]

A) Only the quarterback/kicker may throw a pass that is intended to be caught behind the LOS. Any other eligible receiver (halfback, fullback, wide receiver, and tight end) may throw a pass if the pass is diagramed to be caught over the LOS.

B) No more than 3 blockers (any player with a block command within a 10-yard radius of the receiver) may block for the receiver of a screen pass.

C) Only 2 screen plays may be in the playbook and may be called no more than 20% of your offensive plays called. Any violation of this will cause all screens in the playbook to be removed for the rest of the tournament and the game will be reran with the new playbook if the offender won the game.

1.6 RUNNING OUT OF BOUNDS

A) No play may employ a technique where a player's pattern is diagramed out of bounds (e.g., running a player out of bounds and down the sideline on kickoffs or pass plays or paths designed to draw man coverage off the field). Coaches should be especially careful of the effect of the hash marks in this regard in their play design. A player's path should always end parallel to the out of bounds line or directed back towards the center of the field to avoid inadvertently going out of bounds.

B) No play may employ a technique where a player's pattern is diagramed off the edges of the practice field (e.g. drawing a fly pattern down the sideline then sliding the player almost completely off the chalkboard so that his pattern is no longer visible).

1.7 KICK COMMANDS

No play may employ a technique where a player is given a kicking symbol (punt, free kick, and tee kick) to subvert the simulation. Kicking commands are only to be given to the kicker or to someone who is actually kicking the football.

1.8 FAKES

No player may be assigned a fake command past the LOS.

2 KICKOFFS, PUNTS, & FIELD GOALS
2.0 KICK & KICK RETURN PLAYS

A) Onside kicks are only permitted when the kicking team is losing or tied. Opening the game with an onside kick is legal. Calling an onside kick after a safety is not allowed. Non-kicking kickoffs are not allowed.

B) On kick-offs, the kicking team may not run players from one side of the field to the other. Players are only to move in a vertical direction before the ball is kicked.

C) There must be at least five (5) players from the kick-off return team in view on the screen at the start of the play. Each of the five (5) players must show up on the screen that shows the kick-off tee. (The view of the screen is 23 yards for both sides of the ball)

D) Punts designed to cause a fumble, touchdown, or safety by exploiting a flaw in the simulation are not allowed. No player on the punting team may have a "receive" command.

E) No onside kicks in which the kicker intentionally kicks the ball into the lineman, guaranteeing a fumble which is a live ball.

3 DEFENSE
3.0 DEFENSIVE USE OF 'RECEIVE' COMMAND

The use of "receive" command or run and pass blocks are not allowed by any player on the defensive side of the ball except on any play in which the offense kicks the ball.

3.1 RUN/PASS RUSH

At least one defensive player must have a run or pass rush command on every play except on any play in which the offense kicks the ball.

4 OTHER
4.0 MISCELLANEOUS

A) Any play which always runs in an illegal fashion on the practice field is an illegal play, regardless of the commands drawn in the chalkboard editor.

B) General NFL rules apply for anything not covered in the above rules