Rules
Section 1
General Info, Contacts, Responsibilities
Tecmo Super Bowl is a lifetime head-to-head football league that was started in 2002. The commissioner of the league is myself, Rick Londberg, and is kept up by 13 other great GMs. We want GMs who will always attempt to improve their team, and will spend the time necessary in order to facilitate this. The GMs here are serious competitors, and we all want what's best for the league. Following the links to the left you can find information on teams' records, players, and contact information.
League Contacts
| League website | www.geocities.com/londberg21/baseballindex.htm | |
| League Management Team | ||
| Commissioner/Website Administrator | Rick Londberg | [email protected] |
| Vice Commissioner | -Vacant- | |
| Rules/League Improvement Committee | Greg Londberg | [email protected] |
| Ted Len | [email protected] | |
| Brody Glass | [email protected] | |
| Rob Thompson | [email protected] | |
| Chris Rupe | [email protected] | |
|
Responsibilities Commissioner Runs draft, recruits new GMs, interprets rules, runs league in general Vice Commissioner Performs duties of commissioner when commissioner is unavailable, or if dispute involves commissioner Rules Committee The rules committee will meet several times a year to discuss possible rule changes for the upcoming season. Any rule changes that can be applied immediately with minimal affect will be done as such, but any clearly affecting gameplay will be held out until the following offseason. The commissioner's vote, in any rule challenge or vote will be used as a tie-breaker if it occurs. Rule changes made by the rules committee will be distributed after meetings. All decisions made by the committee are final and may be followed by a majority vote of the ownership group. The commissioner and vice-commissioner reserve the right to modify rules or procedures as abuse or conditions warrant at any time during the season. These modifications may or may not involve ownership votes depending on the situation. |
||
Part 2
General Rules & Operations
Terms of Termination
All Owners/General Managers may be given notice of termination for any of the following reasons:
1. If it becomes apparent that a General Manager is not participating in any league activities, (roster changes, voting, and viewing results), or otherwise disrupting the league by their actions or communications they may lose their franchise and another General Manager will be appointed.
2. Any General Manager may propose that another General Manager be removed from the league. Email reason to
[email protected] and if there are sufficient reasons to support your case that General Manager could be terminated.3. The leagues head office will determine how much notice a General Manager will be given before dismissal and can perform actions without warning if the need is felt.
4. At the end of each season, the commissioner will ask the league GMs if they wish to nominate anyone to be removed from the league. Should someone be nominated, they will be notified by the commissioner and asked to state their case for staying in Tecmo Super Bowl. The reviewal process will then begin, with the rules committee deciding on said GM's final fate. All decisions are final; it's in the best interest of everyone in the league to have most competitive and active GMs available, and that is our goal.
Participation Level
Each member of this league carries a certain amount of responsibility to field and keep a competitive team. We're not asking to check in 6 times a day, but I don't think it's too much to ask to check in, and participate in the use of instant messenger, on a daily basis. AOL Instant Messenger participation is mandatory, and is generally one of the clear indicators that a team is not putting forth the effort it should. For instance, let's say a player is injured, and he sticks in your lineup for two weeks; or say a star player comes back from injury, but he stays on your bench due to your lack of interest. Those have been the most common reasons for termination in the past. Be sure to note the conditions listed above if you have any further questions in regards to what the league looks for.
The participation aspect also includes responding to league emails, voting in polls, and helping the league grow and improve. All polls sent out should be considered mandatory. These are created in order to better the league and to find out how people feel in regards to league operation issues. It is in everyone's best interest to be on the same page; too many times rules are changed, and then a fight ensues because it's the opposite of what people had wanted. That's the reason you are asked, so we're all on the same page. It takes time for us to create polls and questions for the GMs, and we simply ask that you show enough effort to give us a response, even if it's only a few words. It goes farther to help than you could ever imagine. Also, upon joining the league, you were told it was mandatory to leave the commissioner power to edit your roster. Farm pickups and other things can be avoided by this permission, as well as team abandonment, so it's essential you do so.
Vacation
If you're going to be out of town, simply let someone know (preferably the commissioner), and leave him the powers to make lineup changes as needed. The commissioner WILL NOT make judgement decisions for your weekly lineup, he will only remove players who are injured and play those who return. The commissioner bears no responsibility on the performance of your team while you were away. He will follow your instructions to a T, so it is not within his realm of responsibility to turn your team around. He CANNOT view/accept/decline/propose trades for you, only add/drop players and edit the next day's lineup.
Three Strike System
The ways to levy strikes are the
following:
1. More than one team comments on a lack of messenger presence over a prolonged
period of time. If I feel this complaint is justified, then I will give the
person a strike, and notify them via email.
2. Failure to participate in a poll within 3 days of its release. I don't send
these out for my health, and I only send them out for important issues. That's
why it's usually best to talk to me first before calling for a poll, because I
don't want to dilute their importance and have us voting three times a week on
trivial matters. I know you're busy, but I'll never make a poll that takes more
than 10 minutes. if I do, work for ten minutes, then send it in. Anything at all
is better than nothing.
If you do
indeed receive 3 strikes, you will automatically go up for review for
replacement at the end of the season. The replacement process will entail
communications among the rules committee and a unanimous vote among the
committee will result in GM replacement.
Part 3
Specific Gameplay & Definitions
Draft
The Tecmo Super Bowl draft consists of 18 rounds in a slow-live draft format. A slow-live draft gives each team a minimum of seven hours to make their selection, to ensure that everyone has a hand in every pick that is made. Here is a breakdown of the hourly definitions:
7 hour time limit if you go on the clock between 8 AM to 11
PM
9 hour time limit if you go on the clock between 11 PM and 8 AM
If a team goes beyond their time to make a selection, they cannot make-up that selection until the same spot in the very NEXT round. Even if the timed-out team returns before the team "on the clock" makes their selection, they still must wait and serve the penalty. Should a player be selected after a timeout, the player will be returned immediately to the draft pool. If a team is skipped, they must contact the league commissioner or a member of the rules committee to show they have returned from their absence.
The draft will begin every season on August 1, subject to change.
Injured Reserve
To be placed on injured reserve, a player has to be deemed "out" by his NFL team for the upcoming game. Rumors of a player missing a game isn't good enough, the player must be designated as "out" and nothing else! In the preseason, players who go down with injury can be placed on the IR once they are deemed out for week 1 or placed on the NFL Injured Reserve (which in turn ends their season anyway).
Said player must stay on IR for at least TWO of his NFL team's games. Upon his playing again, the Fantasy team with his rights must reclaim him the Tuesday following, or he becomes a free agent. If a player only misses one game, he still has to stay on IR for a second game, though the team with his rights still gets until the Wednesday following the second IR game to reclaim him.
There is also a minimum roster stay before a player can
be sent to IR; a player must be on the roster 7 days (again judged by Pacific
Time) as is in baseball) if picked up prior to the opening of the NFL regular
season, or be on the roster for two team games if an in-season pickup.
If a player gets hurt after you added him then he'll be available to be put on
IR before the 2 team games or 7 days, the new implementation is just so people
aren't adding and then immediately reserving WW guys. I'm informed, so please
don't try to tell me that he got hurt after your addition. Even if you want to
tell me that you "didn't know" it's not going be enough. It's really very easy
to find the first release of a player's injury, so don't try to cheat the
league. If there happens to be a habitual offender (3 false claims in one
season), they will have their IR rights suspended until the following season.
The commissioner also reserves the right to make any rulings based on things above and beyond the mentioned circumstances above.
Rookie Keeper
Each offseason, ever franchise will be permitted to select one rookie player to keep into the next season. This player must be one year removed from college, and the same player may not be used twice as a rookie keeper. Injured players also fall into this category, as they are only eligible to be a rookie keeper the year after being selected in the NFL Draft.
Developmental Roster
Each franchise may carry two collegiate players from season to season. The collegiate moves are frozen the night before the NFL Draft (late April) and can only be manipulated during/following the regular season Tecmo Bowl draft.
Players can be of any position used in the league and any class.
A waiver system is also in place for developmental roster pickups. If a player is released from another team and you wish to put in a claim, simply email the commissioner with the claim within two days of the drop. Should your team happen to have the highest claim of all teams interested, you will receive the player. Upon receiving a player, you will be moved to the bottom of the waiver priority order; so use your claims wisely. The initial waiver priority is the inverted draft order, or the order of finish from 1-16 in the previous season. In addition, you may not re-claim a player you release until he clears waivers. Any claims you send will be ignored.
Keepers
Each offseason, the teams will designate 6 players to be their "keepers". These keepers must be in the following format- 4 offensive players, 1 defensive player, and 1 rookie of any position. They must be declared by July 1 of the upcoming season. If you fail to submit your keepers, you will be automatically nominated for removal from the league, and your case will be discussed by the committee. It's blatant disregard for the league, as it only takes a few short seconds to submit keepers. Should it result to this, barring a miracle, you should expect to be removed. The number of keepers will be reviewed at the end of each season and will be altered, if necessary, ONLY at this time. Too much preparation goes into counting on a specific number of keepers, that it is terribly taxing for everyone to change things as the season wears on.
Playoffs
Championship Bracket
At the conclusion of the 13-week regular season, the playoffs will begin. Their will then be 2 sets of playoffs. Teams from one to eight will vie for the championship, of course. In the championship bracket, team one will face eight, two seven, three six, and so on.
Consolation Bracket
In a bit of a twist, we're going to add a bit for the finishers in the lower part of the standings. Teams 7 through 14 will play for the consolation bracket championship. Team 9 will play 14, 10 versus 13, and 11 versus 12. The winner of the consolation bracket receives the top pick in the following season's draft, so hopefully everyone will be playing it out until the end.
Scoring
The scoring will be recorded as follows:
Passing Yards (35 yards per point)
Passing Touchdowns (6)
Interceptions (-3)
Rushing Yards (15 yards per point)
Rushing Touchdowns (6)
Receptions (.35)
Reception Yards (15 yards per point)
Reception Touchdowns (6)
Return Yards (50 yards per point)
Return Touchdowns (6)
2-Point Conversions (2)
Field Goals 0-19 Yards (3)
Field Goals 20-29 Yards (3)
Field Goals 30-39 Yards (3)
Field Goals 40-49 Yards (4)
Field Goals 50+ Yards (5)
Field Goals Missed 0-19 Yards (-4)
Field Goals Missed 20-29 Yards (-3)
Field Goals Missed 30-39 Yards (-2)
Field Goals Missed 40-49 Yards (-1)
Field Goals Missed 50+ Yards (0)
Point After Attempt Made (1)
Point After Attempt Missed (-2)
Sack (2)
Interception (2)
Fumble Recovery (2)
Touchdown (6)
Safety (2)
Block Kick (2)
Points Allowed 0 points (10)
Points Allowed 1-6 points (7)
Points Allowed 7-13 points (4)
Points Allowed 14-20 points (1)
Points Allowed 21-27 points (0)
Points Allowed 28-34 points (-1)
Points Allowed 35+ points (-4)
Tackle Solo (.75)
Tackle Assist (.25)
Sack (3)
Interception (3)
Fumble Force (3)
Fumble Recovery (3)
Touchdown (6)
Safety (2)
Pass Defended (1)
Block Kick (3)
And furthermore, the positions:
QB, WR, WR, WR, RB, RB, TE, TE, WR/RB, WR/RB, WR/RB, K, K, DEF, DB, DB, DB, DL, DL, DL, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN
Bye Week Kickers
Mathematically, it is impossible to have fourteen teams start two kickers per week and have each team field a full roster. Because of this, we've implemented the bye week kicker system, in which a kicker on a bye is placed on a kickers-only reserve list and an active free agent is added in his place. Those on kicker reserve must be reclaimed by 9 PM Wednesday following the week they were on bye. Anyone not reclaimed by then becomes a free agent.
We're always interested in new ideas and new ways to play the game. Each suggestion will be taken seriously, and will be discussed amongst the rules committee, if not the entire league. We encourage your suggestions and look forward to hearing them.