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Strat-O-Matic Stock Retro Football League Rules and Regulations

Updated on 08/06/10

Game Play

The SSRFL will utilize the latest Strat-O-Matic Computer Football game each season. 

Requirements

SOM Football latest computer version, the current season disk/key, an email account, subscription to the SSRFL Yahoo Group , and Yahoo instant messenger or AOL Instant messenger.  The league will cost no money.

Group Email Addresses

League Structure

The SSRFL is a "STOCK" team, continuous ownership league 1963 through each season SOM has produced in sequential order.  All NFL teams for the particular season we are playing will participate.  There are no player trades allowed.  There are no annual player drafts.  Each head coach operates his own NFL affiliated franchise as carded by Strat-o-matic each year with no adjustments.  ALL games are to be played live using the Net Play feature.

League Pace

I anticipate playing approximately 2-3 seasons per calendar year with each season taking about 20 weeks to complete.  

Team Distribution

The initial 1963 team distribution will be done via a draft.   The team draft order for the initial draft will be randomly selected via dice server.   I will first have the dice server assign random number for each team.   The dice server then will determine the order in which these teams will select their 1963 teams.

When the league has a waitlist no owner will be allowed to own a 2nd team.  Owners currently with 2 teams will be grandfathered and allowed to keep 2 teams.    Once there is no waitlist owners can be put on the waitlist for a second team.

League Format

We will play the exact regular season schedule and a playoff system identical to the actual NFL set-up.  The league will use playoff games for any tie-breakers where teams records are the same.

Switching Franchises

The SSRFL uses a ranking system during the regular season to distribute open teams.  An open team may become available if a coach has been removed from the league or if a coach has decided to drop from the league.  The ranking order is shown on the main SSRFL webpage.  Any coach that switches teams will be placed at the bottom of the list and so on.  In the OFF-SEASON, OPEN teams are distributed by the SSRFL ranking order of teams.  The only other way a team can switch teams is by trading with another owner.

League Sportsmanship

SSRFL is about having fun.  This league will have a zero tolerance policy for any head coach that cannot respect their peers nor the rules of this league.  All conflicts will be decided by the commissioner and his words are final.

League Voting

From time to time the commissioner might ask for a league wide vote on rule changes or new rules.   This is especially true for the first season as we figure out which rules and procedures work best.

Three Punts and your OUT

Any coach in the SSRFL that fails to meet three deadlines during the season will be instantly removed from the league.  A missed deadline is considered an act of non-communication to both the commissioner or their opponent on any given week.  If you cannot participate in any given week of play you must contact your opponent and the commissioner in advance to advise of your situation so a replacement coach can be assigned.  Failure to communicate will penalize that coach a PUNT.

League options

Penalties - YES
Player over usage - YES 150% (REGULAR SEASON) - NO (PLAYOFFS and COY)
QB end run limits - YES
QB overusage - YES 150%  (REGULAR SEASON) - NO (PLAYOFFS and COY)
Running back fatique - YES
Home field advantage - YES
Linebacker in run containment - YES
Use individualized fumble ratings - YES
Do not allow exceeding longest run - YES
Do not allow exceeding longest reception - YES
Dump off rule - YES
Updated sack rule - YES
In-game rest system - NO
Emphasize 6-rated LBs - YES
Great player impact rule - NO
Looser substitution restrictions - NO
Empty flat pass = guessed wrong - YES
Injuries - No injuries
Rules through the years - Use Home team rules

MANDATORY LEAGUE OPTIONS TO BE VERIFIED BEFORE KICKING OFF:

Auto save after each play - YES

GAME PLAY RULES:

1)  Running Backs must play the position they are rated for thus, a HB rated for HB and FB can play both.  Any formation that requires a FB/BB must use one.

2)  Wide Receivers – SE/FL may not be switched as per the looser substitution rule but in 3 WR & 4 WR formations, a teams 3rd and 4th WR must be the two weakest WRs on the team.  The term weakest will be defined as the two WR that have the least total yards receiving from that teams WR Group.

3) Once your Starting QB is relieved by the back-up QB, he may not return to the game unless the substitution was due to an in game injury.  Once your back-up QB is relieved by the third string QB, he may not return to the game unless the substitution was due to an in game injury.

Playoff Rules are the same as Regular season except for no overusage and unlimited overtime.

Teams cannot play teams in their division until it can't be avoided.

Tie Breakers:

All tie-breakers will be an additional game to determine the winner of the tie-breaker unless both teams are already in the playoffs.  
If both teams have qualified for the playoffs no game will be played.   Instead the the list below (Table A) will be used to break the tie.

TO BREAK A TIE
 If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, tie-breaking playoffs games will be played.

Two Clubs
Rules for two teams tied is just a playoff game with the home team being the team that wins the tie-breaker below.

Three Clubs
Rules for three or more teams tied.   The three teams would play a round robin.   If one team finished 2-0, it would be the champion.  In the case of a three way 1-1 tie, net points, then total points scored.

Four or more Clubs tied
A playoff tree will be created.   Team with the best record will win division.  In the case of tie, net points, then total points scored will determine the winner.

Table A:
Playoff games will be played with the home team being the team winning the first tie breaker below.
1. Head to Head games.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Head to Head net points.   (Points scored - Points Allowed)
5. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division net points (Points scored - Points Allowed)
6. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games net points.  (Points scored - Points Allowed)
7. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference net points.
8. Coin Flip via dice server.

Superbowl will be at played at neutral site with the AFC home in odd years and NFC home in even years.

SSRFL Coach of the year Tournament:

This tournament will be held for Non-Playoff teams only.  Entrance will be given to those teams in the SSRFL that have performed ahead of their actual affiliated NFL teams record in that given season.  Only current members can participate.  If more than one team per conference qualifies the commissioner will create a playoff tree.

COY teams will be seeded by team with the most wins over actual record.
If tie for seeding winner is team with the lower real life actual wins.  Additional tie breakers listed below in order.
 1. Head to Head games.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Head to Head net points.   (Points scored - Points Allowed)
6. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division net points (Points scored - Points Allowed)
7. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games net points.  (Points scored - Points Allowed)
8. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference net points.
9. Coin Flip.

Other COY Rules:
Rules for COY are same as regular season except for no overusage and unlimited overtime.
Teams will be re-seeded after each round of the playoffs in the COY.

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