Rules

Everyone has a play style of their own. These differences are more than welcomed as it makes for a diverse league, but it's still important to mix up your play calls. Mix up running and passing. Go inside and outside, shallow, medium, and deep. Call varying types of man defense, zone defense, blitzes, and zone blitzes.

While people have favorite plays in key situations, running it over and over in that situation should be avoided. Examples include screen passes on multiple 3rd and longs or FB Dives on every 3rd and Short, or defensively calling the same 3-4 Cover 2 Man or Max Zone as a base defense or a Cover 3 Zone every third and long.  Hot routing every play should be avoided as well. Run the plays how they're intended to be ran. Hot route combos should not replace your playbook. You should have a diverse enough play-calling that multiple matchups with the same opponent should not feel the same.

Variety is risky, but it's part of the game.  You're expected to take those risks, just as your opponents is expected to take risks.

>> Live streaming of all games is mandated. 
>> >> During user vs user matchups, if lag is affecting the experience, one user can opt to stop their stream to save bandwidth.
>> >>Under [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] select the option to "Automatically archive my broadcasts"
After each game/stream go to your Twitch "Dashboard" and select "Video Manager" where you will then create a "Highlight" of your game.  All you have to do is set the beginning point of the video, the end point, and give the highlight a title and some details. It's really simple and quick. Twitch will only hold on to your past broadcasts for 14 days. However, highlights will last forever (basically).

>> If you have a YouTube account, you can also export your videos and highlights to YouTube.  Subscribe to the AALoA YouTube Channel and we can compile playlists of Seasons and highlights.

Also, if you have the proper setup, you can substitute a live YouTube stream for twitch.

The league will advance at irregular intervals dependent on user vs user games getting played.  There is not a set time I will be able to advance.  It can range anywhere from 12 pm to 12:30 am the next morning.  The point being, get your games in. Schedule games with your opponents early to keep things rolling. Once all user vs user games are completed, CPU games will have 24 hours to be completed.

When scheduling with your opponent, use any means of communication necessary to set up a game. You're both responsible for trying to work a time out.  HOWEVER, if your opponent is not scheduling games, Auto-Pilot games can be awarded to speed things along.  An auto-pilot can only be awarded if a scheduling thread is created on the forum. It's the only public means of tracking users and is accessible via a computer/tablet/phone/PS4/PS3/Vita browser, both in Desktop and Mobile website styles. Post your availability, and regularly post via the thread.

>> While EA has done a decent job of removing AI flaws in their games, should any cheap tactics like rocket user catching, nano blitzing, and LB shaking be found, they will not be tolerated.
>> Play the game against your opponent, not the AI. 
>> If an exploit is found down the road that you've been using, you will be booted immediately.

>> Moving a defender is allowed. Any player can be moved horizontally, but cannot cross another player's position.
>> >> So you cannot move an OLB to the other side of a MLB. 
>> >> You cannot move LBs or Safeties into gaps.
>> >> Safeties must remain 3+ yards deeper than LBs. 
>> >> If you show blitz (Triangle + Left), the SS acts as a LB and the FS must stay deep and cannot be moved forward.
>> >> You cannot drag a player across the field out of position. D-Line must stay on the line. You can not pull them back and reposition them elsewhere.

>> QBs may not drop back more than 10 yards (HB Screens are exempt). 
>> QB's may not immediately sprint out of the pocket to game the passing angles/defense for an easy throw outside of called bootlegs.  Sim play as your QB is mandated. 
>> Should you be flushed from the pocket, or be scrambling to avoid a sack, anything goes, that's legit.  Learn to be aware of the pocket, and the only time you should be leaving the pocket on a pass are the two situations above, pressure and bootlegs.
>> Continuously dropping straight back to avoid pressure is unsim. Learn to use the right stick to dodge defenders.

>> Mix up play calling on both offense and defense. Expand your playbook by trying new plays and formations in Practice Mode if you're not comfortable with a big playbook.
>> Madden 15 is a new game, plays that may not have worked last year need to be re-tried this year. You'll be surprised. 
>> Defenses must match personnel.
>> >> If the offense calls 2 WR or fewer, defenses call base 4-3, 3-4, 4-6, or 5-2 formations. Now if an offense has a receiving TE that they are known to flex out wide or in the slot, Nickel becomes fair use as a counter.
>> >> If the offense spreads the field with 3+ receivers, defenses should respond with Nickel, Dime, or Quarter looks. 
>> >> When in the red zone, any formation is allowed. The new Suggestions do a great job matching personnel, but be aware when it's not.
>> Defenses must rush a minimum of 3 players at all times.

>> No huddle is allowed at any time.
>> You cannot snap the ball until the play clock is below 30 seconds.
>> This does not apply to the final 2 minutes of any half.
>> >> If down by 2 possessions (9-16 pts), you can no huddle quickly inside 4 minutes.
>> >> If down by 20+ points, you can no huddle quickly inside 6 minutes.
>> You cannot chew clock unless inside the last 4 minutes of the game, or if your opponent is asking for mercy.

>> Home team gets priority.
>> Away team wears opposite of home team. If Home wears a dark jersey, Away wears white. If the Home team wants to wear white, Away team has to switch to a dark jersey.
>> No clashing by trying to use a grey or light colored jersey instead of white.

>> Only the two owners playing the game really know how the flow of the game was going.  Should a disconnect happen, please take the time to discuss how to proceed via mics, text, AALoA chatbox, PSN, etc. If you both agree, fantastic! 
>> If you can't come to a consensus, these are the agreed upon guidelines to follow. Replay the game unless it is late in the game and out of reach (up by 17+ with <4 min in the 4th). Other users lock the 1st half score and play the first half to decide a winner and then just rush through the 2nd half to finish.

>> QB Sneak.

Stream your CPU games via Twitch.
If not challenged, bench your starters when they reach key stats:
QB: 300 yards passing; 3 TDs
RB: 125 Yards rushing; 2 TDs
WR: 125 Yards receiving; 2 TDs
DEF: 2 Sacks; 2 INTs
KR: 1 TD

Disconnects: We can't help loss of power or internet disconnections. However, these are extremely rare occurrences, and multiple CPU game restarts will lead to a quick dismissal from the league. The sliders will be set in a way that you should be able to lose.

Probation Period:
>> Each owner must complete 1 user vs user game in the regular season before they can trade players. Before you can post a Trade Block on the forum, they must write at least 1 Scouting Report about an opponent. They must also have an opponent write a scouting report about them.
Restrictions:
>> Players rated 88 Ovr and higher cannot be traded.
>> No CPU trades.
>> All trade offers must be posted and approved by both parties in a trade thread providing Player Position, Ratings, and salary cap numbers.  Then it has to be approved by the commissioner, or co-commissioner.
Trade Exceptions:
>> A trade exception to allow players rated 88 Overall and higher might be in the works if the details can be worked out. This will not take affect until after season 1 concludes and we reach the first offseason.

No attacks or harassment publicly, nor privately. Create a highlight via the archived twitch stream and send me a PM with the evidence.

Should an owner break a rule, the infraction will be taken into consideration and 1 of 2 scenarios can take place.
1) Suspension of star/key player(s) for a number of games. The player will need to be completely benched in all phases of the game for the duration of the suspension.
2) Booted from the league.
Just a heads up, getting booted is the most likely course of action.