Note: Certain "TECMO BOWL" playing rules may differ slightly from professional football rules.
House Rules
These are the rules we've settled on after years of playing that we feel make Tecmo Bowl most playable between 2 players.
#1 - NEVER THROW THE BALL WHILE THE RECEIVER IS MAKING A CUT, SLANT, or CURL EVER. The game is unplayable without this rule being followed since the offense would never be stopped. This is THE most important rule to follow.
#2 - No quarterback running. If the quarterback took off running everytime the offense could not be stopped, so it is outlawed.
#3 - No gaining yards when the defense has called your play. This includes no passing, running or quarterback running. You must either stop or step out of bounds at the line of scrimmage. This rule also prohibts the offense from gaining a 1st down or a touchdown on a playpick. The defense should not be punished for calling exactly the right play. This rule also prevent throwing to an inexplicably wide open Pat Beach on Indy when their Pass 1 has been called.
#4 - If you thrown a clear INT but the game doesn't register it, announce what pass play you're picking and throw an interception. Clear INT means the defender is "locked-on" and in obvious position to make the pick. This should be obvious when this occurs. Boarderline picks (when the defender is not "locked-on" but is right there) are a judgement call. These are tough to decide on, having a non-partial observer can really help the process. Also covered by this rule is if the defender is behind the receiver on a deep bomb they are counted as covered and an INT is thrown on the next play.
#5 -If you correctly call the opponets passing play but are controlling one of the players responsible for covering a receiver (either safety or both outside linebackers) you must cover your assigned man. The offense can throw to the open man if you do not cover him.
#6 -Only the player in the linebackers' position (the Lawtrence Taylor position) on field goal attempts can be used to try to block field goals and extra points. Being anyone else is banned.
#7 - Causing the Nintendo to freeze via controller throw, smash or whatever else (including punching the Nintendo itself. Hey, it's happened) is an automatic forfeit. The other teams wins the game.
International Rules
These are the modified American-Canadian rules used during the WCOTB. They are the same as the House Rules above EXCEPT:
#1 The quarterback is allowed to run once per quater (and once per OT).
#2 Any player can be used to attempt to block PATs.