League rules

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Current season

1

Current week

18

XP rules

1 played / 4 win

Gameplay Hot Seat GM Reputation Team Identity Coaching Identity

In-game settings, offense, defense, and enforcement

Main rule

Everything else supports this standard.

Play realistic football. Do not spam plays, abuse broken mechanics, manipulate AI, or use loopholes for an unfair advantage.

If something is not specifically listed but is clearly cheesy or unrealistic, do not do it. Commissioners have final say and can issue warnings, replays, force losses, suspensions, or removals.

Quarters

8 minutes

Play clock

25-sec accelerated

Passing

Revamped only

Pass/run

At least 50% pass

Advance

Every 48 hours

Streaming

Home team streams

Coaching Carousel & contracts

All coaches begin on a 3-year contract and start at 85 (B) coaching reputation.

At season end, carousel opens before free agency: re-sign, extend, or enter the market.

Re-sign/extend requires 75+ coaching reputation and costs 0 XP.

Changing teams requires 75+ coaching reputation and costs 25 XP.

Market pick order runs by coaching reputation first, then career winning percentage.

Fired coaches lose their team immediately. They can pursue open jobs during carousel; if none are open, they enter an autopilot season.

See Hot Seat & firing rules

League settings

8-minute quarters
25-second accelerated clock
Revamped passing only
Timing-based catching on, set to 0 yards
Custom coaches allowed
No custom offensive or defensive playbooks
Use your NFL team’s default playbook or an approved generic playbook
Home team must stream user games on YouTube
League advances every 48 hours
Contact and make a real effort to schedule at least 24 hours before advance
No lying or fabricating messages to get a force win
Force wins need a reason: the game cut out (both coaches get game-played XP) or the opponent could not play (only the available coach gets XP)
Game scores and coach XP come from the Madden Companion export. Coaches submit Sim Scores, not the final score
A Madden game that was actually played awards game-played XP to both coaches. CPU sims after the week is done award play XP only to the winner if nobody filed a force win
Manual player progression is not allowed
No player edits or attribute changes unless approved by a commissioner

Games and CPU

Do not quit games
If you disconnect, notify a commissioner immediately and provide proof if requested
A rage quit is a force loss and may result in suspension or removal
Do not restart CPU games without commissioner approval
Play all scheduled CPU games unless a commissioner approves a sim
CPU games follow the same gameplay rules as user games
No stat padding, score running, or exploiting CPU logic

Playbooks and rosters

No custom playbooks
No unrealistic position changes to unlock abilities, exploit ratings, or create unfair mismatches
TEs must weigh at least 220 pounds
Safeties moving to LB must be at least 220 pounds, have less than 85 change of direction, and 86 speed or lower
No WR-to-RB, QB-to-RB, or OL-to-TE changes
Commissioners may approve realistic player exceptions

Offense

Do not run the exact same play twice in a row, including flipped plays or no-huddle repeats
Do not repeatedly use the same concept from multiple formations just to exploit the defense
Do not immediately sprint or roll out of the pocket every snap
HB Direct is banned
Plays labeled “RZ” or “Red Zone” may only be used inside the opponent’s 20-yard line
Slip screens and angle screens are limited to two total calls per game
WR screens, TE screens, and HB swing routes are allowed, but do not spam them
On screen passes, throw only to the designed target
Quick slants and Texas routes must be thrown quickly; do not wait until they turn into deep crossing or post routes
Keep your offense pass-first: at least 50/50 pass/run, with passing prioritized because NFL teams pass more than they run. Pass at least 50% of your plays; do not run more than 50%. No more than 69.9% pass
RBs may account for no more than 20% of team receptions; 25% if RB1 has Safety Valve
Do not fake snap simply to draw an offside unless it would result in a first down

No-huddle

No-huddle may only be used after a positive play
Outside of the two-minute drill, let the play clock reach 25 seconds before snapping
There are no no-huddle restrictions during a two-minute drill
Outside of the two-minute drill, no no-huddle after an incompletion, sack, tackle for loss, or other negative play
Outside of the two-minute drill, no no-huddle inside the opponent’s 25-yard line
Outside of the two-minute drill, no no-huddle after failing to convert third down
Outside of the two-minute drill, no no-huddle when losing by 21 or more in the fourth quarter

RPOs and play action

No play-action or RPO on third-and-6 or longer
No play-action or RPO on fourth down, except RPOs on fourth-and-1 or fourth-and-2 in legitimate four-down territory
Under-center RPOs are banned
On a read-option RPO, if the QB pulls the ball, the QB must run before throwing
Do not abuse RPOs or make them your entire offense

Hot routes

Only one hot route per play
Hot routes may only be given to outside WRs
The QB or WR receiving the adjustment must be 90 overall or higher
Allowed hot routes: slant, hitch, go, and out
No other route adjustments are allowed

User defense

You may user any defender, including defensive linemen
Rush at least three defenders on every snap, including a QB spy
Clicking on is allowed
Do not click off a defender just to let the CPU make the tackle; if you click on, make the tackle yourself
You may only manually move the player you are currently controlling
Use group adjustments for other defenders; do not manually reposition multiple defenders before the snap
If you manually cover an HB or TE in man coverage, stay with that assignment; do not abandon it to lurk another route
If a defender is assigned to blitz, let him blitz; do not send him toward the line and then drop him into random coverage

Coverages

Effective immediately.

No Cover 0 on 1st-and-10
No Cover 2 Man, Pounder, or Roll Ring unless it is a high-leverage passing situation: 2nd-and-10 or longer, 3rd-and-7 or longer, or a two-minute drill

Defensive personnel

No safeties at sub-linebacker unless they have purple or gold Instinct or Team Player abilities
Goal-line defense is only allowed inside the 10-yard line or on inches-to-go
DL stunts and twists are only allowed from Load, Rush, or Mug fronts
TOM stunts are allowed from any front

Fourth down

Q1–Q3: Punt when backed up inside your own 40
Q1–Q3: Between your own 40 and the opponent’s 40, go for it at your discretion
Q1–Q3: Inside the opponent’s 40, you may go for it on fourth-and-5 or shorter
Q4: Go for it whenever you choose
Fake punts are only allowed between your own 40 and the opponent’s 40

Clock management

Chew clock cannot be used until the final four minutes of either half
Do not drain clock early solely to limit possessions
In the final four minutes, protecting a legitimate lead is allowed

Enforcement

First issue: warning or correction
Repeated issue in the same game: replay, penalty, or commissioner ruling
Repeated violations across games: suspension, force loss, roster restriction, or removal
Accidents happen; repeated “accidents” are violations