The IFL Constitution is the official rules for the IFL. The constitution can & will be updated by the commissioner if rules change or certain aspects of the league need further clarification.
RULE PROPOSALS Proposals by membership are always welcome. However, a two-thirds voting majority is required for passage.
THE GAME The Independent Football League (IFL) is computer football league that will use Action! PC Football (APCFB) by DKS to play all of its games. All members of the IFL must own a legal copy of the most current version of APCFB and its most current season disk. IFL members are also required to download and install ASAP any official patches posted on the DKS web site.
THE COMMISSIONER The commissioner of the IFL is John Storer. He will remain commissioner if and until he decides to step down from the position. The commissioner will interpret rules, settle all league disputes, and run the day-to-day operations of the league. He may however appoint other league members to assist him with certain aspects of league operation. The commissioner is the final authority on all league matters.
LEAGUE STRUCTURE The IFL will consist of 30 teams divided equally into two conferences, the AFC, and the NFC. Each conference will consist of three divisions, the East, Central, and West. Each division will consist of five teams. All teams will use current NFL cities and corresponding nicknames. Teams will play home games in the current home stadium of their corresponding team. Teams will be placed into the six divisions by the commissioner with close regard to what actual NFL division that they play in. In some cases teams may not be able to be placed in their actual NFL conference or division for logistical reasons.
BASIC RULES
Rules Year: Current
Season Length: 16 games (regular Season) plus postseason
Goal Post Location: Endline (will change to correspond with NFL rules if they are changed)
Field Goal Miss Line: Kick Spot (will change to correspond with NFL rules if they are changed)
Kickoff Line: 30 yardline (will change to correspond with NFL rules if they are changed)
Home Field Advantage: Yes. HFA is set at 2.
Play Clock: 45 seconds
2 Point Conversions: Yes (will change to correspond with NFL rules if they are changed)
Replay/Challenge: 2 Challenges per game.
Season Fatigue: Yes (Mild 110%) (Moderate 120%) (Major 140%)
Game Fatigue: Yes (Mild 10%) (Moderate 20%) Major 30%)
INJURIES: Multi Game Injuries: Realistic (Injuries WILL carry over to the playoffs). Limit Games Missed to Real Life Total. Partial Game Injuries: None Temporary Game Fatigue: Realistic
Salary Cap: No
Quarterback Game Fatigue: No Regular Season Yes for Playoffs
Special Teams Season Fatigue: Yes
League Type: Draft
Penalties: Will be set to level 3 for all teams
Audible: Limited to 3 per half.
Trick Plays: Limited to 2 per half. This includes Flea Flicker, End Around, Reverse, Double Reverse, Trick Pass, Hook & Ladder, Reverse Flicker, and Pass to QB.
Note: The Jet Sweep is not considered a trick play.
Ownership: No single person may "own" more than one team in the IFL at a time.
GAME CRASH In the event that a disconnection occurs when playing online either by the game crashing or a dropped connection DKS recommends to resume via "PREVIOUS PLAY" if a crash with an error message or "CURRENT" if a dropped connection. The hosting coach must try to resume the game by both methods above in hopes of resuming the game with the last play before the disconnection. If an event is not retained due to the crash or dropped connection play will continue as is.
ANNUAL DRAFT PROCEDURE A) Draft order will be determined using the exact manner that the NFL uses, by won-loss record from the previous IFL season. The team with the worst record will draft first, the team with the second worst record will draft second etc. The Super Bowl winner will draft last and the Super Bowl loser will draft second to last. All Ties for draft placement will be broken using the NFL method & rules.
B) The annual IFL rookie/free agent draft will be held on a date determined by the Commissioner. Each pick will be assigned a date and time. Members will post their selection on a website draft board. If a member fails to make a selection during the assigned time of the draft, he will be passed over and he can jump back in and make his selection at the first opportunity. Teams may send the draft monitor a list if they are unavailable to make their selection.
C) Prior to the draft, teams may release players to create room on their roster to use their draft picks. After a player has been released, teams may not reverse the decision. Once the deadline for making pre-draft roster cuts has passed, teams may not release additional players during the draft.
D) The annual rookie/free agent draft will consist of however many rounds are required for each team to reach the 55 player limit. Teams must stay at or under the 55 player roster limit at all times.
E) Only players appearing on the season disk that we are using and are not members of another IFL team's roster are eligible to be drafted.
F) When drafting, once a team post a valid pick, they may not change their pick under any circumstances. The pick is final.
ROSTERS A) IFL Rosters will consist of no more than 55 players at any given time. There will be no positional requirements except for QB (No team may carry more than 4 quarterbacks on their roster at any given time).
NOTE: If a player rated at QB and another position, RB or WR has more total rushing attempts or pass receptions than passes thrown in a season he will be considered a "gadget" QB and not count toward the limit of four.
B) Teams will retain the rights to "their" players until they cut them or trade them. There will be no mandatory cuts prior to each season or at any time but teams must remain at 55 players or below even when drafting. Players that are members of an IFL team but do not appear on the following years APCFB Player Disk can be retained (at the owners request) but will count towards the 55 man roster limit.
C) All IFL teams are required to carry players on their roster at all times that combined meet the following minimum "real life" totals.
Pass Attempts: 300
Rushing Attempts: 200 (combined all positions QB, RB, WR, TE)
Pass Receptions: 150 (combined all positions RB, WR, TE)
Kickoff Returns: 10 (combined all kick returners)
Punt Returns: A combination of returns and fair catches that equal 20.
Field Goal Attempts: 25 (combined all place kickers)
Example: Quarterback "A" has 150 attempts, QB "B" has 100 attempts, QB "C' has 50 attempts = 300
These are very low minimum requirements. These are team totals so they should be very easy to obtain. This rule remains in affect at all times during the season so keep it in mind when making trades.
D) Players are limited to only positions rated in the game. The only exception is a player may play out of position due to an in-game injury. If the injury carries over, teams must use the waiver wire to assure that the position is adequately filled (with at least one player rated at that position) for the remainder of the injury.
E) Starting with the 2015 season each IFL team will be required to reach the below minimum roster requirements before the start of each season:
QB - 2 (Total durability must add up to 10) RB - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20) WR -4 (Total durability must add up to 30) TE - 2 (Total durability must add up to 10) OT - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20) OG - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20) OC - 2 (Total durability must add up to 10)
DE - 4 (Total durability must add up to 30) DT - 4 (Total durability must add up to 30) OLB - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20) ILB - 2 (Total durability must add up to 10) CB - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20) SA - 3 (Total durability must add up to 20)
K - 1 P - 1 LS - 1 H - 1
This covers 42 spots. However, many players can cover more than one requirement.
If a team(s) are not compliant with the above when the week one league file is ready to be released the Commissioner will assign the required player(s) by releasing the last drafted player(s) that do not affect the above roster requirements.
F) A Stat package may be requested to assist those teams wanting more attempts using the following guidelines...
For every instance that a team uses a stat package they will lose one roster spot. If an uncarded player is stat packed it will cost an additional roster spot besides the spot to carry the uncarded player on a roster.
The stats package will not be issued to any players until roughly one week prior to the start of the IFL regular season.
Once a player has received the stats package he cannot be traded or released during the season.
The stat packages replace any attempts during the previous NFL season.
Teams may only be issued a maximum of 50 receptions combined between wide receivers and tight end.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so chose) the following stat package to any one quarterback on their roster (per season) with less than 100 real-life attempts with a pressure or audible rating not higher than 5.
Passing Attempts: 400
Completions: 220
Yards: 2400
TDs: 18
INTs: 18
Long: will be set at 40 yards
Sacks: 40
Fumbles: 10
Fumble Rec: 2
Games: set at 16 (unless real-life games played is greater)
Durability: set at 9 (unless real-life durability rating is greater)
This works out to a 69.2 quarterback rating. All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so chose) the following stat package to any one running back on their roster (per season) with less than 50 real-life attempts, a receiving rating of 3 or less, and a 1 blocking rating.
Rushing Attempts: 200
Yards: 600
TDs: 2
Long: will be set at 20 yards
Fumbles: 6
Fumble Rec: 2
Short Yardage: 5
Breakaway: 5
Block rate: 1/1
Games: set at 16 (unless real-life games played is greater)
Durability: set at 9 (unless real-life durability rating is greater)
This works out to a 3.0 rushing average. All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so choose) the following stat package for two wide receivers on their roster (per season) with a receiving rating of 3 or less.
Catch Rating: Minimum of 2
Receptions: 25
Yards: 175
TDs: 1
Long: will be set at 20 yards
Fumbles: 2
Fumble Rec: 0
Games: set at 16 (unless real-life games played is greater)
Durability: set at 9 (unless real-life durability rating is greater)
All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
Note: A Stat Pack for one WR and one TE may be requested. The WR will be rated for the wide receiver Stat Pack and the TE for a tight end Stat Pack.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so choose) the following stat package to any one tight end on their roster (per season) with a receiving rating of 3 or less.
Catch Rating: Minimum of 2
Receptions: 25
Yards: 150
TDs: 1
Long: will be set at 15 yards
Fumbles: 2
Fumble Rec: 0
Games: set at 16 (unless real-life games played is greater)
Durability: set at 9 (unless real-life durability rating is greater)
All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so chose) the following stat package to any Punt or Kick returner. To be eligible for this stat package a player must be rated at RB, WR, or DB. RBs must have a block rating no higher than 1. DB must have a rating of 4 or less. The Punt and Kick return package can be added to a single player at the cost of one roster spot.
Punt returns
Ret 15
FC 5
Yards 75
Long 10
Fum 1
Kick returns
Ret 20
Yards 380
Long 30
Fum 1
All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
Each/Every IFL team will be issued (if they so chose) the following stat package to any one Place Kicker on their roster. The Place Kicker package can be added to a single player at the cost of one roster spot.
Field Goals Made = 21
Field Goals Attempted = 30
This equals a success percentage of 70%.
Extra Points Made = 32
Extra Points Attempted = 40
This equals a success percentage of 80%.
Long Field Goal = 40
All other stats will remain unchanged unless noted.
TRADING
Trading is allowed in the IFL with the following restrictions.
A) The trade deadline is Week # 8, meaning that trading is allowed thru Week # 8 of the IFL regular season. No trades may be made after the deadline to submit game files for week 8, Monday at 11:59 pm eastern.
B) No future draft picks can be traded until the season is over. For example, teams are not allowed to trade any 2010 draft picks until the 2009 season is completely over. Only picks to the "next" draft are eligible to be traded once the season is over. You cannot trade picks beyond the "next" draft ever.
C) Any proposed trade done solely to benefit one team at the total expense of the other can and will be rejected by the commissioner if he feels that the trade was not done in good faith. No collusion allowed.
D) All trades must be sent to the commissioner and league in writing. At least one team involved in the trade must email the commissioner and league with the exact details of the trade, first and last names, and positions, and the other team must confirm the trade. No trade will take affect until both parties have sent the commissioner and league an email stating their agreement to the trade. The Commissioner reserves the right to review all transactions.
E) In-season trades must be reported and confirmed no later than Monday evening at 11:59 eastern to go into affect for the upcoming week.
F) Draft picks beyond round 10 may not be traded.
Waiver Process A) Once the regular season starts, players can be claimed off of waivers any week of the regular season (1-16). To claim a free agent via waivers, the team must send in a claim to the commissioner (does not have to be sent to the entire league once the season starts) by Sunday night 11:59 PM Eastern. Any claim made after the weekly deadline will not go into affect until the following week. Teams wishing to claim multiple free agents, a particular week, must list them in order of preference. Claims will be filled in order of lowest winning % - best winning %. (ties will be broken by a flip of the coin). Once a team has been granted a waiver claim on a particular week, they move to the back of the waiver team rankings. The process continues until all possible waiver claims are completed. The waiver team rankings DO NOT carry over. Teams must send a list of the player(s) to be cut corresponding with the claim (if the claim puts you over the 55 player roster limit) when requesting a waiver claim. The commissioner will send a complete list of waiver wire action each week with the new files.
B) Teams that claim a free agent via waivers after the IFL regular season starts will lose that player back to the free agent pool once the IFL season (regular & post season) ends. Teams will not get back the player(s) that they cut to pick up said player(s).
C) No Waiver Claims will be allowed during the playoffs.
D) Waiver Claims will not be allowed prior to the start of the regular season.
E) If a team has four quarterbacks and three are injured and not available for the upcoming week, a team may claim a street free agent quarterback for that particular week and future weeks. The claimed quarterback MUST be released as soon as one of the injured quarterbacks is available.
INJURED RESERVE
A) If a player sustains an injury that is greater or equal to the total of games remaining during the IFL season he may be placed on Injured Reserve by contacting the commissioner. The IFL team placing a player on I.R. may use the roster spot to sign a free agent.
B) At the end of the IFL season any free agents signed during the season go back into the IFL draft pool (if they are carded by DKS).
C) Players placed on Injured Reserve are not eligible for the postseason.
SCHEDULE
A) All IFL teams will play a 16 game (8 at home & 8 on the road) regular season schedule. Teams will play all other teams in their own division twice (once at home and once on the road). The remaining 10 games will be scheduled at random with no team playing a team not in their own division more than one time.
B) The IFL schedule for each year will be generated randomly (keeping the above rules in mind) by the commissioner or a IFL league member assigned to the task.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE/PROCEDURE
A) The IFL is a Head-to-head (H2H) league and members are required to play at least 12 of their 16 games H2H to remain in good standing. If a game is played and one of the required coaches does not participate, the Commissioner must be notified. The coach replaced by a sub will not be credited with a game played. If a game is simmed neither coach will be credited with a game played.
B) The IFL week starts on Wednesday morning after the File Coordinator sends out the weekly league files and ends the following Monday night at 11:59 PM Eastern time when ALL games files are due back to the File Coordinator and Commissioner.
C) The home coach must email his opponent by 9:00 p.m. eastern on Wednesday to set up a game time. The Commissioner must be copied on this email. The Commissioner recommends the home coach emails his opponent on Monday or Tuesday, even before the league file is released on Wednesday to set up a game time. The home coach must offer at least two different dates and times he is available to play. If a mutually agreeable date and time cannot be agreed to the Home Coach may request, with the visiting coach’s permission, a substitute coach. The visiting coach, with the home coach’s permission, may also request a substitute coach. The coach waiving his right to play must email the Commissioner of his intentions. If both parties cannot agree to a date and time, the game will be simmed.
D) If the visiting coach has not received an email from the home coach by 10:00 p.m. eastern of that Wednesday, the visiting coach should notify the Commissioner. If the home coach does not reply to the Commissioner within 24 hours (Thursday 10:00 p.m. eastern), the Commissioner has the authority to allow the visiting coach to find a substitute coach.
E) If the visiting coach fails to reply to the home coach’s email to set up a time by Friday, 12:00 noon eastern, the home coach must contact the Commissioner. If the visiting coach fails to respond to the Commissioners’ email within 12 hours (Friday12:00 midnight, eastern) the Commissioner has the authority to allow the home coach to find a substitute coach.
F) If for one reason or the other, a coach cannot make the time agreed to he should contact his opponent and the Commissioner as soon as possible. If it is after the fact, he should contact his opponent, with a letter of apology, and the Commissioner as soon as possible. If both parties cannot agree to an alternate date and time, the Commissioner has the authority to allow the coach who was “stood-up” the right to find a substitute coach.
G) The home team is designated the "host" and has the "right" to host the game. If for some reason the home team cannot host the game, the visiting team may host. The team that ends up hosting the game is responsible for emailing the File Coordinator and Commissioner the game file. Members (doesn't have to be the home team) are encouraged to include a post game summary/game write-up when submitting the game file. If neither team can host, the game will be simmed.
H) Penalties for lack of participation include loss of draft choices and possibly expulsion from the league. The following guideline will be used to determine penalties:
13 or more games played H2H = No penalty
11 to 12 games played H2H = loss of sixth round pick.
10 or less games played H2H = review of membership status by Commissioner.
Failure to communicate within the weekly guidelines may also result in loss of a 6th round draft choice or expulsion from the league.
The Commissioner also reserves the right to remove a member from the league who fails to play a game for three consecutive weeks during the regular season.
The Commissioner and the League Membership understand that hardships can come up in real life. If a situation arises that affects your availability to the league, please contact the Commissioner. Special considerations will be considered.
KEN GRIFFITH MEMORIAL SUB AWARDS
A) The draft pick awards described below reflect the spirit and contributions of late IFL member Ken Griffith. Ken was always willing to help out the league if someone needed a sub.
B) While it would be ideal for each member to coach each of his games, the league realizes that this probably won’t happen. In order to reward those members who help out the league by substitute coaching, the Commissioner will reward the coach who substitutes in the most games (minimum of four games) with an additional draft choice at the end of round four. The coach who substitutes in the second most games (minimum of four) will receive an additional draft choice at the end of round five. In the event of a tie, the coach with the higher winning percentage will receive the 4th round pick. If the winning percentage is identical a coin flip will determine who receives the 4th round pick. In order to be eligible for either reward a coach must have coached in a minimum of 12 of his own teams 17 games.
In the event a franchise has both a Head Coach and a General Manager/Assistant Coach, the General Manager/Assistant Coach collects 1/2 a sub point for each game he subs. If both the Head Coach and General Manager/Assistant Coach sub in any week they collect 1/2 a sub point each. If the Head Coach subs and his assistant does not in any week, he collects a full sub point. Finally, a Head Coach is awarded one sub point for every additional game he subs as compared to his assistant.
POST SEASON
A) The 3 division winners, plus the 4 non-division winners with the best records (the Wild Cards) in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. Teams will be seeded 1-7 and will be bracketed using the exact method that the NFL currently uses. The higher seeded team for each playoff game will be at home and will get the HFA except for the Super Bowl. All ties for positioning will be broken using NFL tie breaking rules.
B) All stats will be carried over into the post season. Instead of getting a clean "fatigue" slate for the playoffs, a 10% increase in season fatigue will be added for each additional round of the playoffs.
C) All injuries will be carried over into the playoffs. Teams earning a first round bye will have one "injury" game knocked off of their injured players during their bye week.
IFL SUPER BOWL
A) The IFL Super Bowl will be considered scheduled to be played two weeks after the conference championship games. Injured players will receive one week of "healing".
B) The Super Bowl will be played at a neutral site and the HFA will be turned off.
C) The AFC will be considered home team in odd season years and the NFC will be considered home team in even season years. For example, if the just played IFL season is 2016 the NFC will be home team.
B) An IFL Google Group is in operation to make it easier for league members to communicate with one another and the commissioner via email.
C) The commissioner's email address is [email protected]. Feel free to send any questions or comments to the commissioner at any time.
D) The IFL was designed for the enjoyment of its members. Members must be courteous and responsive. The rules were put in place to give the league structure but it is the members that are its foundation.
