Spirit of the Game
We have no intention of bogging down owners with a ton of rules. We do expect everyone to play within the "spirit of the game". That means good sportsmanship, being competitive, not performing acts that uniformly degrade the talent level of your team and simply not being a full-fledged d1ck to anyone else.
It's understood that things will happen in the heat of the moment and that will always be in consideration of someone brings up a complaint.
Gameplay
NGML will run with 6:00 minute quarters, without the accelerated clock.
Glitches are strictly forbidden. If you need to use glitches then this is not the league for you.
Owners are encouraged to mix up their plays but it's not a requirement. If someone is running the same play every down, we suggest you learn how to stop it. Making adjustments to combat what your opponent is doing is part of the game, welcome to football Coach!
Owners are free to run their offensive and defensive schemes as long as they do not use anything identified as a glitch.
If you feel you have a legitimate gripe, use the Highlight Replay upload in the game for evidence of your beef if possible. You can contact DJKianoosh or any other member of the Rules Panel to look into the situation and decide what to do about it. Usually, a first offense on anything will result in a verbal warning. Multiple offenses could result in further actions, i.e, losing a draft pick, a star player or anything else that we feel compensates for the crime.
4th Down Rules
During the first 3 quarters, teams can go for it on 4th down anytime they wish, regardless of score, as long as they are outside their own 35 yd line (this is to protect some owners from self-destructing themselves). The 35 yd line itself does not count as outside, the marker must say 36 yd line or further.
During the 4th quarter, owners who are losing, tied or ahead by 16 pts or less can go for it anytime. If you are ahead by 17 or more points in the 4th qtr, you MUST punt or kick a FG.
When the game is at - or inside - 2:00 to end the game (not halftime), owners may go for it at anytime regardless of score or field position. Yes, this trumps the 17 pt lead during the 4th qtr rule stated above.
No Huddle/Hurry Up Rule
No Huddle/Hurry Up Offense can be used but the playcall screen must be used after any play that ends out of bounds or after an incomplete pass.
Added 11/11/2012:
Due to the inability of defenses to make play changes as quick as an offense does in no huddle situations, the following restriction is being added to those who choose to run no huddle:
When running no huddle, the offense must wait until the PLAY CLOCK has reached 28 (twenty-eight) seconds before they snap the ball.
Exceptions:
1) under 2:00 going into halftime.
2) When trailing by 2 possessions or more in the 4th quarter. (2 possessions is any combination of points that would require someone to have the ball twice to tie or take the lead).
3) When trailing by 1 possession or more with under 2:00 to go in the game.
In the above scenarios, offenses may snap the ball when they are ready.
Added on 8/14:
Special Teams - It is forbidden to move ANY defensive player from their default position before a FG, XP or Punt is snapped.
Added on 8/16:
Connected Career Coach: Everyone will be REQUIRED to create their own coach with their own backstory. Create yourself or fictional character as your coach. If you are fired from your coaching job after Season 1 and not offered a job from another team, you may come back as another created coach, existing coach or legendary coach. You FIRST SEASON must be with a created coach.
Added on 8/20:
Advancement: As usual, NGML will advance play weeks every Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10pm PST. There will be NO exceptions unless there are some incredible mitigating circumstances that prevented playing the game. "I was unable to get a hold of/didn't hear back from my opponent" is NOT one of them. If you were with us last year, you know this goes like clockwork. If you are new to NGML now you know it goes like clockwork. It is imperative that we keep things moving and keep everyone engaged. Do your part and keep it rockin'!
Owner Availability: The responsibility of getting in touch with your opponent lies with BOTH owners. Always waiting for someone to get in touch with you but not reciprocating the effort isn't fair to everyone else. If an owner has been unreachable and they are having games simmed because they are not responding, they WILL lose their teams. Enforcement and penalty will be at the discretion of the Rules Panel.
Added on 10/3
Squib Kicks - You are now only allowed to squib kick ONCE per half.
Defensive Offsides on Kneel Outs - It was discovered that if a team is trying to kneel out, the defense can jump offside and that would stop the clock - even if the penalty is declined. From this point on, defenses are NOT allowed to take advantage of this bug. The penalty could be severe.
Amended on 9/2:
Rule on Coaches changed to allow existing or legendary coaches AFTER Season 1 IF you were fired and not offered a job from another team.
Added On 9/12
No Huddle Rule
Added on 1/16/2013
WR Depth Chart Rule
From this point on (1/16/2013), players whose position is stated as Wide Receiver are not allowed to be put under Tight End on Depth Charts. This is to prevent WRs lining up in a 3-point stance in formations they normally would not do that in.
Package substitutions that provide this are still allowed.
What is NOT allowed is arranging your Depth Chart under Tight End to include any Tight Ends.
*** These rules are subject to change or added to before/after Madden 13 has been released.
