OFM Rules?

ROSTERS & ROSTER SPOTS

Rosters are limited to 53 (46 active players +7 taxi squad players) + 0-8 “X” players. Roster limits, including X-players is as follows.
QB-4
RB-6
TE-4
WR-6
OL-12
DL-10 LB-10
DB-10 K+P-3
KR+PR-4

• Just like in the NFL, all teams shall have a 53 man roster of which any 46 players can be active for a particular game. Just like in the NFL, the inactive players must be announced prior to the start of the game.
• X-Players shall be “phased out” over time as follows … All teams shall retain their earned XPlayers under the current rule so long as they do not make the playoffs. Once a team makes the playoffs, all X-Players are lost forever. The first year 2010 (which is based upon the 2009 season results), one half the league will not have X-Players, eventually all teams will have no X-Players.
• It has become common practice to award 8 X-Players to new owners taking over a team, with league approval.

If, due to injury, a team cannot field a 46 man roster for a particular game (meaning 8 or more players are injured at the same time), then that team shall be able to “sign one or more street free agents” as necessary to raise his available players back up to the 46 limit. This "street free agent" must be designated before the start of each game to play as the generic at the same position as one of the injured players for the specified game(s).

If a coach cannot obtain via trade or draft a PR, KR, K or P he is allowed to use that year's generic as his teams player at that position provided he assigns a roster spot as such. Insert GENERIC [KICKER] as the players name on the roster. Please note that that team does not actually own that player, it is "renting" a comparable player for the current year.

Beginning with the 2015-2016 season, old roster requirements for special teams are eliminated and replaced by the following.
Every team must have a Punter.
Every team must have a Kicker.
A Field Goal kicker that does not kick-off may use the generic kick-off chart. A Kicker that only kicks-off may use the generic Field Goal chart. A N/C Kicker may use both.
Teams are not required to have Kick Returners or Punt Returners.
A coach may elect to designate any wide receiver, running back, or defensive back on his active roster as the “generic” kick returner or punt returner and use that player instead of drafting or trading for a kick or punt returner. The roster spot used for that player must be that of his actual position, not that of a kick or punt returner.
Requirements for the use of 1 or 2 kick returners or 1 or 2 punt returners does not change. However, if using only generics at either KR or PR, then only 1 designated WR, RB, or DB is required.


Positional roster limits cannot be exceeded but only apply at the time they are finalized before the start of the season. A multi-positioned player is counted as any one of the positions played. A player without a card or rating counts toward the limit of one of the positions he played the last time he had a card or rating. A team must always have enough players at each position to “field a team” on the active roster.


(The following X-Player rule no longer is applicable but is left here as some teams have X-Players currently)
An additional roster spot, (X-player) may be held by any team that was in the lottery in the previous season. An additional roster spot may also be held for each consecutive year backward that the team qualified for the lottery, going back no further than the result of the OFM 1999-2000 season. No team may hold more than EIGHT additional roster spots total resulting from this or other rules. These additional roster spots will be held in accordance with the rule regarding roster spots earned by winning the final games of the season. ie. the player is ineligible.
A team shall earn an extra roster spot (X-player) for each victory during the final two regular season games. The game must be played by the owner of the team. Victories played by someone other than the owner of the team do not earn extra roster spots. X-players are not eligible to be played or traded during the season earned.
One-half of a roster spot for the next season (X-players) is gained by each team that is in the lottery for each win in a game that was played by the team’s owner. Round half roster spots up if that teams 15th or 16th game (last 2 regular season games) is played and won by it’s owner. Otherwise round down. X-players are not eligible to be played or traded during the season earned.

If a coach has more than one team, that coach may not acquire or trade for a player, defensive cards, or draft pick that was on another of his teams during the current season. The “current season” for the purpose of this rule is … from the time a team becomes eligible to trade (usually sometime in June or July, when that team’s season and postseason, if any, is complete) until the trade deadline, currently February15th or the start of game 10.

Players on your active roster that do not have a rating or card in the current set but had a rating or card in the previous year’s set may be played with the generic rating of card at any position that he had rated or carded in the previous year.

Any draft pick that has a contingency on it that has not been definitely resolved cannot be traded until resolved.


SCHEDULING & DEADLINES

Players are required to play 75% (currently 12 of 16) of their own games. If the team does not meet this requirement then the team is disqualified from post-season play. Also the team’s draft picks for the next draft drop to the end of each round. Draft picks traded away before the disqualification are moved to the end of that round’s lottery picks.

After the first deadline of a regular season game has past either player may play that game against another opponent. Players with an interest in winning that game are preferred. If the second deadline passes and the game has not been played and an extension is not obtained by the league, then both teams are disqualified from post-season play. Also those teams’ draft picks for the next draft drop to the end of each round. Draft picks traded away before the disqualification are move to the end of that round’s lottery picks.

Playoff game deadlines: For the 1st Game (Wildcard Game), the first deadline shall be 14 days after the second deadline of the last regular season game (currently June 21st). For the 2nd Game (Conference Semi-Finals), the first deadline shall be 14 days after previous playoff game(s) necessary to play this game have been completed. For the 3rd Game (Conference Finals), the first deadline shall be 14 days after previous playoff game(s) necessary to play this game have been completed. The second deadline for ALL playoff games is 7 days after the first deadline as outlined above. The third deadline for ALL playoff games is 7 days after the second deadline as outlined above. Penalties for missing ANY deadline shall be that EACH team loses a roster spot (may be an X-player) for the next season. These roster spot losses are cumulative with each missed deadline. After any second deadline is missed, the league may take action.

Players may petition the league for extensions and exemptions.

GENERAL RULES OF PLAY

False starts cannot result in an injury.

Falling on the ball cannot result in an injury.

Falling on the ball results in a 15 or 30 or 45 second play at the option of the offensive player.

Falling on the ball shall result in a one, two, or three yard loss at the option of the offense.

Falling on the ball is only allowed in the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.

With regard to blocking back ratings: A FB/TE, HB/TE, or RB/TE shall be treated the same as a BB/TE when he is lined up as the 2nd tight end.

If a “must run” occurs on a scramble roll and the quarterback card reads “will not occur” under must run, re-roll as a normal sack.

If a flat pass or look-in pass (including an intercepted flat pass) is rolled on a scramble inside the opponents 10 yard line, read it as an incomplete pass.

A receiver that has no completions in the long pass column cannot be thrown a long pass. A receiver that has no completions in the short pass column can be thrown a short pass.

Inside the opponent’s 20 yard line long passes may be thrown but an extra defensive player equal in rating to the defender is assumed to be in the zone.

Dice are tumbled in a flat bottom glass. If any die is cocked or on top of another die the results of all dice are ignored and the dice are tumbled again.

A normal 6 sided die is used in place of the X die. 6=X. 4or 5=D.



Fumbles by kick-off returners and punt returners are not automatic. If a fumble is rolled by a returner, check the third die, If third die is a 1,2,or 3 then there was no fumble. Use the yardage attached to the fumble roll.

Blocked punts are not automatic. If a block is rolled, check the third die. If the third die is a 1,2, or 3 then there was no block so roll the punt again and use the result of that roll. A second roll of a blocked punt results in a blocked punt.

Short pass “Defender X or 15 yards” is hereby changed to “Defender X or Short Gain.”

Penalty yardage of a “Defensive Pass Interference” call on a short pass is determined by a roll on the short gain chart. Penalty yardage of a “Defensive Pass Interference” call on a long pass is determined by a roll on the short gain chart multiplied by two.

On a linebacker in zone result on a double teamed receiver the result is incomplete.
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FORMATIONS & PLAYER MOVEMENT

Pass block ratings are not adjusted. Refer to following chart for formation effects.

MODIFY MODIFY
RUN PASS
BLOCK RBs TEs WRs RUSH

0 2 1 2 0
0 1 2 2 -1
0 2 2 1 -2
+1 3 1 1 -2
+1 3 2 0 -2
+1 2 3 0 -2
-1 1 1 3 +1
-1 1 0 4 +2
-1 2 0 3 +1 [br


A players # may not be applied to 2 different positions during the same play.

Any linebacker may be removed from play when changing to a Nickel defense

If only one linebacker is on the field in a dime defense, he may start in the look-in zone and play as a MLB even if he is an OLB. He keeps his rating.

Runners and quarterbacks can be keyed in any offensive formation.

A receiver must be defended in order to be double-teamed.

If no viable player is available to play a position due to injury, another player may be assigned to that position as a “generic.” Generics are 0s or 0-0s or, in the case of carded or special team players, the worst available player of that year’s set as decided by league vote prior to the season. Regardless of actual block ratings, generics are always the lowest available. Usually 0s or 0-0s except in the case of tight ends, usually 4s. Regardless of actual fumble ratings, generics are always the highest available.

Right inside linebackers may move to the right flat zone.

Left inside linebackers may move to the left flat zone.

Middle linebackers may move to either flat zone.

The defensive contestant may substitute the nickelback for the right flat defender coverage vs. 2nd tight end in a one back offense by announcing so before the offensive contestant picks his play.

Offensive players are chosen before defensive players.

If the defensive contestant wants to change his players or include “before the play” options etc. after the offensive contestant has chosen his play, the offensive player may then change his play.

The defensive contestant may switch defenders between the 2 tight ends by announcing so before the offensive play is selected.

Left cornerback & right cornerback, left guard & right guard, left tackle & right tackle, split end & flanker, Strong Safety and Free Safety are interchangeable.

In a 1 back, 3 or 4 wide receiver offense, the back (and his defender) is HB or FB as listed first on the run side on the card of RBs.

Free safeties may play strong safety at their actual rating. Strong safeties may play free safety at their actual rating.

If the free safety is responsible for covering a receiver (3WR, 1RB, 1TE offense vs. normal defense) the free safety may only move to the short pass zone or stay in the long pass zone.

Contestants may only play formations that their rosters allow. (exception: defensive ends may play the position of the extra defensive tackle(s) in a 5-6 defense as 0-0s)

The defensive player is not required to bring in a nickelback when facing a 4 Wide Receiver 1 back offense. If no nickelback is brought in, then the Free Safety defends one of the Wide Receivers and may be placed in either the Long Pass Zone or the Short Pass Zone before the offensive play is called. Additionally, the Free safety may not move. If the Free safety is in the Long Pass zone and a pass is thrown to the receiver he is covering, normal penalties apply.

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SPECIAL TEAMS

The kick-off portion of a special teams card can only be utilized by the majority-related-named (name on card) player. Hence, if the majority-related player is not named, no one else may utilize that kick-off portion. Each year a member of the league shall determine who kicks off and who doesn’t for each team, this chart must be approved by the league each year. If a team’s field goal kicker does not have a kick off card, he may use the generic kick off chart.

2 kick returners & 1 or 2 punt returners must be assigned to return kickoffs & punts. Exception:
A team may elect to use a lone kick returner provided that kick returner was the only kick returner on that year’s special team card.

A coach may elect to designate any wide receiver, running back, or defensive back on his active roster as the “generic” #2 kick returner and use that player instead of drafting or trading for a kick returner. The roster spot used for that player must be that of his actual position, not that of a kick returner.


Injuries on special teams;
Quarterback = kicker or punter
Free safety = #1 returner
Strong safety = #2 returner
All other special team injuries are decided randomly from a prepared list of special team players.

On-sides kickoffs recovered by the receiving team may be returned using the fumble return chart at the option of the receiving team.

On-sides kickoffs not returned or returned for zero yards or recovered by the kicking team uses no time.

Squib kicks and On-sides kickoffs are not affected by wind.

Kickoffs may be fair-caught in the same manner as a punt but uses no time.

Squib kicks always take 15 seconds.

A punt returner that is a #1 returner may be used as a lone returner even if the team he was on has a 2d punt returner. A punt returner who is listed as a #2 punt returner on the cards cannot be used as the lone punt returner for a team. He may be used as a #1 returner, but then the team must use a #2 returner as well. The #2 returner can be any other carded returner or the generic.


PENALTIES

When a penalty results in an “offsides” call against the offensive team on a play from scrimmage, the penalty must be enforced and cannot be declined by the defense. This is a “False Start”

Holding in the end-zone.
If a holding penalty occurs on a PASS PLAY that originates inside the offense's 6 yard line (1-5 yard lines), the possibilty of a holding penalty in the end zone occurs, resulting in a safety.
To determine exactly where the holding penalty took place, you use the result of the 4th die from original penalty roll and subtract 1, 2 or 3 from that roll based upon the type of pass attempted as follows:
For a flat or lookin pass subtract 3 from the die roll
For a short pass subtract 2 from the die roll For a long pass subtract 1 from the die roll
The number rolled is the number of yards back from the line of scrimmage at which point the holding actually took place.
Roll Result Chart:
LONG PASS SHORT PASS FLAT OR LOOKIN
6 = -5 yards -4 yards -3 yards
5 = -4 yards -3 yards -2 yards
4 = -3 yards -2 yards -1 yard
3 = -2 yards -1 yards at L/O/S
2 = -1 yard at L/O/S at L/O/S
1 = At line of scrimmage at L/O/S at L/O/S
(This rule does not apply to holding penalties on running plays based on the assumption that the offensive line is firing out in a run block situation and not back pedaling as they do when pass blocking.)

A roll of "2" on a penalty card will result in “visiting team offsides” if the visiting team is on offense. It is a false start and cannot be declined. This rule applies to any play that begins by with a snap (not Kickoffs or Free Kicks). No team is the home team in the Superbowl, so read the penalty card as written in the Superbowl.

Which teams violated which rules?

Please provide documentation.

Every team was late several times this last season. I propose that we move the deadlines back by 1/2 month starting with the first game due bySeptember 30th keeping December and February one game months. This last season game 1 was due 5 days after the rosters were due. I think one game was played before this deadline. It’s hard to enforce deadlines when the whole league starts behind schedule. As far as games played I don’t think any team exceeded 4 games and if any did I think we should allow it THIS season. Next season if anyone sees that he is going to miss a deadline he MUST notify the league and advise the league of reschedule plans.

I vote
Yes
John