Jeasus Football League Rules

Console & Requirements:  XBOX 360 consoles, Madden 2008 game cd, and controllers are provided.

Teams: We are pleased to be able to offer 2 divisions this season allowing a total of 20 people to participate.  On the first meeting night (either Monday, Sept. 10 or Thursday Sept. 13 depending on your division) each participant will draw a number which will determine the order that you will select your team.  The team you choose will be the one that you will use for the entire season.  Duplicates will not  be allowed so have a back-up team in mind should yours be selected by another player choosing before you.  Only default rosters are allowed.  Teams with custom rosters or alterred player attributes are forbidden.

Pre-Season: The season will begin on Monday Sept. 10th for div. 1 and Thursday, Sept. 13th for division 2.  On the first meeting night we choose our teams and will have 1 preseason game which will not count in the standings and the regular season will begin the following week.

Regular Season: The season will be comprised of 10 games with no bye weeks. Playoffs will consist of the 4 top teams in each division playing a seeded, single elimination tournament.

Game Format: Each and every game will be run using 5 minute quarters with the  difficulty set to All-Pro.  Playoffs and the SuperBowl will use the same gameplay format as the regular season. Until game developers allow a neutral stadium to be used for online game play, the Super Bowl will be hosted at the stadium selected for the current year’s NFL Super Bowl.

Matchups: Each head-to-head matchup scheduled will be one person vs. one person. Multiple players competing on the same team is not permitted.


Team Selection: Each participant will choose 1 team to use the entire season. 

Team Setup: Teams will be made up of the roster set provided to us by EA Sports at the start of each new season.   Substitutions, depth chart changes, and setting audibles are acceptable but it is asked that you respect the time and patience of your competitor.  In otherwords, substitutions should be made prior to kickoff or as quickly as possible.  Audibles should be set before the first kickoff and changed during halftime if necessary, unless the quick audible feature is utilized where it does not delay the progress of a game.  Again, be considerate of your opponent's time.

While depth chart adjustments may be made, it is required that players remain in their skilled positions.  In other words, a speedster WR or RB may not be placed on defense or in a position offensively that they would not normally be found in real life (e.g. WR as a TE).  The only exception would be for RBs where a FB and RB can be used inter-changeably (i.e. Mike Alstott or Zack Crockett to starting HB).  The reason for this exception is that a RB can be defined as a FB or HB, and some teams utilize their FB at the HB position.  Also note that any player may be added to any special teams position (i.e. CBs, RBs, WRs, etc. may return kickoffs/punts).

Team Playbooks: Provided the gaming software does not prohibit playbook switching, team owners are not required to use default playbooks if other options are made available. For example, the team owner of Arizona may use Minnesota's playbook if so desired.  The only stipulation is that a playbook from one of the standard 32 NFL teams must be used.  Pro-Bowl, All-Madden, vintage and fictional team playbooks are not allowed for gameplay.

Player trades: Player trades will be illegal.

Matchups: Each member of the JFL will be able to reference their schedule through the Website (www.Jesusfootball.com). In addition to the member contact information will be provided to each member prior to each new season. The games will all be played at the Beef O’Brady’s Restaurant on the specific day of meeting.  If someone is unable play his game than he will be forced to forfeit.  In that event, a substitution player will step in so that the player who is in attendance will be able to play a game.  The attending player will be awarded an automatic win but the game statistics will be recorded as if the game were authentic

Inability to Play Scheduled Matches: If two competitors are not able to complete a match during the appropriate scheduled week, both players will be given a loss.


Camera Views: Assuming the selection of camera views does not affect both gamers, any view is acceptable. However, if both players are forced to view a selected camera angle, then the "standard" view will be required.

Game Settings:
To be ON:   Fatigue, Advance Line Moves, Injuries, Trades
To be OFF:  Performance EQ, Coach Mode
Other Settings:  Game Speed set to Normal
Gameplay Sliders:  At this time, the Gameplay Sliders will remain in the neutral (middle) position.
Weather: Random process of selection

Scoring and Stats Tracking: Depending on whether the software supports league functions, gamers may be required to report their scores and specific statistics via a stat form provided on site.  The specific stats that we will track are wins, losses, total yards (off. And def.), pass yards, rush yards, and individual touchdowns per game character.

Playoffs: The top 4 teams in each division will be entitled to participating in the playoffs.  The playoffs will consist of a single elimination tournament and be played along with the Super Bowl on the final night.

Disconnection or Game Failure:  If a game gets disconnected in the 1st quarter where the difference in score is no greater than seven points, the quarter must be replayed.  

If a disconnection takes place in the second quarter, three quarters should be replayed with the pre-disconnection score applying to the replayed game.

If a disconnection takes place within the final two minutes of the first half, with no team threatening to score, both parties may agree to simply replay a half, with the pre-disconnection score being carried over.

If a disconnection takes place in the third quarter, both teams are required to replay two quarters. 

If a connection is lost during the fourth quarter, the following must take place:

If a game is disconnected in the 4th quarter with the score being greater than a difference of 18 points, the game will be considered "Final."

If the game is disconnected in the 4th quarter with the score being 18 points or less, the quarter must be replayed with the difference of score being carried over to the new game.

Example: Team A is beating Team B 14-7 in the fourth quarter when a divergence error disconnects them.  Both players are required to replay one full quarter despite the time remaining in the previous game.  Team B would begin the new quarter with a 7 point disadvantage which he faced prior to the early termination.  The last person possessing the ball at the time of the disconnection will receive the kickoff to start the replayed kickoff.



Participation in team selection & Week 1:   Failure to choose your team by Sept. 10th or 13th or failing to come to the preseason game on that same day may result in automatic dismissal from the league.

Abuse of the Play Clock:  If a player is observed running down the play clock to under 15 seconds (or less!) where it indicates a normal gaming practice, a warning will be issued.  It is quite possible for a team to burn off an entire quarter or more of idle time by letting huddle animations run, or, simple refusal to choose plays within a reasonable amount of time.  Most plays should be selected with 17 or more seconds remaining on the play clock.

Please note that this is not a strict rule, but a closely monitored guideline.  Some teams may require more time to choose a play during crucial gaming situations - but for the most part, players should not be running down the clock as part of their normal gaming, regardless of whether it is intentional or not.

Killing the Clock to Preserve a Lead: While this is common in the National Football League in the fourth quarter around the two-minute warning, some gamers tend to start this tactic much earlier. This can be extremely frustrating for the opposing team if they need the ball back to tie or potentially win a game. All I can say is this: Think before you act. Are your actions/strategies sportsmanlike? Do professional teams do this in real life? Would you like this done to you if you were the other team? There is no ruling on this, but I ask that you show some class by not taking down the clock any sooner than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter since we are only playing five minute quarters..

Stacking the Line: Another well known and forbidden tactic is one that first gained popularity in NFL2K3 where on FG and punt attempts, the gamer operating his defensive special teams unit is given sufficient time to move most of his front line to one side, thus increasing his chances of penetration to prevent the kick/punt.  Quite simply, this is not allowed.  Moving one or two people is acceptable, moving the majority of the line is not.

Defensive Front Four:  The following tactics are not allowed by the JFL - 1) standing any of your front four in order to get a running start at the offensive line to shoot the gaps.  All linemen must be in a three point stance prior to the snap.  2) Defensive ends may not be moved further outwards in a spread front four alignment (via use of right analog stick).  In a standard or pinched alignment (on field), defensive ends may not be moved out past where the spread alignment would place them.  This rule is firm regardless of whether base, pinch, or fan is selected in the playbook.  3) Manually taking a defensive lineman and dropping him back into coverage.  Moving a DE laterally is acceptible.

Squib Kicks: One of the more annoying tactics (once again, first exploited in NFL2K3) is when a team uses the Squib Kick technique during kickoffs, that is, when a kicked ball is directed straight ahead and low so that it bounces several times and out of reach of the opposing special teams unit.  Because of the glitch in NFL2K3, the return men over-pursue the ball which eliminated almost any sort of return. It is understandable to use before the half or in the closing moments of the game to prevent a potentially big return, but it is not to be used for regular kick-offs unless to intentionally exploit this glitch.  The only allowable reason to squib kick is to kill the final few  seconds of the first half or end of regulation.

Strobing Player Icons During FG Attempts:  This is a new way of cheesy gameplay that was first identified with ESPN Football 2K5.  The player controlling his defensive special teams unit has the ability to display his players' icons on-screen and "strobe" them as an attempt to distract the opposing FG kicker.  This is obviously unsportsmanlike and will not be allowed within the JFL.  One may argue that fans offer a distraction behind the goal post in real life, but in this case, the player button icons overlap the goal posts, hence it being an illegal proceedure in the eyes of the JFL.

Other items:  Any tactics not detailed in this guide that are generally considered "un-sim like" or used with the intent to exploit a glitch in the game will not be tolerated.  The same rules of notice and issued warnings will apply.
 
League Entry Fee: There is no entry fee at this time to join and participate.

Summary:

In summary we are so happy to have you join us in the JFL.  We exist to reach the world for Christ through any necessary means, even video games!  If you register to join this league, you are indicating that you have read the above and agree to comply with all the rules, guidelines, and values this league holds. Don’t forget to go to the registration page to register your team!  See you at Beef O’Brady’s in September!