Rules

AFC Rules

Last Updated 4/5/24

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The American Football Congress (AFC) will consist of 28 teams representing 28 of the current NFL franchises and use a team salary cap / team salary minimum system.

2. The league will play the same number of games as played in the NFL.

3. All games are required to be played head-to-head via the Internet.

4. The AFC will feature the exclusive use of the Action! PC pro football game by DKSports.com. It is considered the official league policy of the AFC that all teams/coaches are required to purchase the most current edition game file AND the most current NFL season file from DK Sports for use in the AFC. Anyone found not doing this, or using a copied or pirated file, will be removed from the league immediately and permanently.

5. All owners are required to have an active e-mail address that can be registered with the Google Groups and Slack page utilized for league communication.


II. GAME PLAY

All rules of the current NFL season rules (field goal miss spot, kickoff yard line, etc.), will be used in AFC. Home field advantage will be used and will be set to 3 points for all games excluding the Super Bowl, where no home field advantage will be used. Other game settings will be as follows:

​Regular Season:

1. Season Usage Fatigue: Will be set to 105% for mild, 110% for medium and 115% for major.  And Season Usage Exemptions for Field Goals (20) and Punts (50) will be used (and are the only Season Usage Exemptions used).

2. Game Usage Fatigue: No in the regular season but on/used in playoffs--see below

3. Injuries: Normal Frequency (Injuries WILL carry over to the playoffs)

4. Making Players Inactive: Teams may not make players inactive for any game except after week 14 of the regular season or after the team has clinched a playoff spot, whichever comes first.

5. Quarterback Game Fatigue: No in the regular season but on/used in playoffs--see below

6. Special Teams Season Fatigue: Yes

7. All teams will be expected to compete and play to win in each and every AFC game. Failure to do this can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the league.

8. WR/TE RUSHING RULE: Due to there not being game fatigue during the regular season the following rule will be used for all AFC games including playoffs. The rule for rushing and/or passing attempts for WR/TE will be as follows:

§  Players with 1-10 real life attempts can rush/pass no more than once per game.

§  Players with 11-20 real life attempts can rush/pass no more than twice per game.

§  Players with 21+ attempts are unlimited per game.

§  No WR/TE can exceed 110% of his real-life rush/pass attempts in any given season. Failure to adhere to this rule can result in a protest by your opponent and having the game replayed if upheld. Stiffer penalties can be levied in cases of deliberate and intentional overuse.

9. PLAYING PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION: Players may play out of position only when there are no other rated players at that position, with the exception to allow a team to play an additional OL as a TE in a 3 TE power package formation.

10. PLAY CLOCK: The Play clock will be turned on in the League Rules and set to 35 seconds. However, by agreement from BOTH teams, the play clock may be turned off at any time. Likewise, the Play clock may be resumed/turned on at any time by EITHER team requesting such, and cannot be turned off until both teams agree to the suspension of the clock.

11. PLAYOFF GAME FATIGUE: The "Game Usage Penalties" box will be checked. The boxes for QB & WR's will remain checked that allow them to have 20/3 attempts unpenalized in the playoffs. The box for RB's that allows them 5 unpenalized carries in the playoffs will be unchecked, which allows them only as many unpenalized carries as their normal game & season usage would allow.

In the playoffs each year all teams with a first round bye will receive one week of rest. Both teams advancing to the Super Bowl will be given one additional week rest.

​​12. INSTANT COMMUNICATION: It strongly suggested that there be instant communication between the two parties in before, during, and after any given game. This can include using the league’s Slack page, Hamachi, texting, telephone, or an agreed on instant message client. E-mail and/or the in-game chat function are not considered as being instant for these purposes.


​III. SALARY CAP / SALARY MINIMUM- FOR THE 2024 SEASON ONLY

1. The AFC will use the salaries as determined by the Action! PC Football game each year to calculate AFC team salaries.

2. The salary cap for each team will be determined as the salary exactly halfway between the average NFL team Action PC salary and the highest NFL Action PC team salary + $2 million, rounded up to the next million. As an example, high team salary in 20XX was Dallas at $116,999,000 and the league average NFL team Action PC Football salary was $101,087,000 halfway between these salaries is $109,043,000 (which rounds to $110,000,000), making the salary cap $112,000,000 for that season.

3. Teams can be over the cap until the Free Agent draft each off-season, after which all teams must be at or under cap before the start of the Free Agent draft; and must remain under cap for the balance of the off-season. Teams over cap may release players as needed to gain cap compliance.

4. Any team that is over cap at any point during the off-season cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that increase the amount they are over the cap, with the exception of signing their rookie draft picks. Throughout the off-season over-cap teams are limited to only making roster moves/trades that decrease the amount they are over the cap (or even money trades).

5. A team under the salary cap cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that result in the team being over the salary cap at any time, except by signing a minimum salary player under the Injured Reserve rule in section IV.7.d.

6. The AFC will use minimum team salary . The minimum team salary will be $30 million below the league salary cap for each season. A team cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that result in the team being under the salary minimum at any time, EXCEPT after cutting players immediately before the Free Agent Draft.  Teams MUST be over the minimum and remain over it after the Free Agent Draft.

7. Teams below the minimum salary cannot make any trades whatsoever that further decreases team payroll. They are limited to even money trades, or trades that add to payroll until such point as they are within cap/minimum limits. Teams may include the ("Non-Skill player" being added here after the 2022 season) value of owned picks for the next rookie draft toward minimum salary compliance.

 

III. SALARY CAP / SALARY MINIMUM - New Rule Starting After the 2024 season is complete.

1. The AFC will use the salaries as determined by the Action! PC Football game each year to calculate AFC team salaries.

2. The salary cap for each team will be determined as the salary exactly halfway between the average NFL team Action PC salary and the highest NFL Action PC team salary + $2 million, rounded up to the next million. As an example, high team salary in 20XX was Dallas at $116,999,000 and the league average NFL team Action PC Football salary was $101,087,000 halfway between these salaries is $109,043,000 (which rounds to $110,000,000), making the salary cap $112,000,000 for that season.

3. The AFC will use minimum team salary . The minimum team salary will be $30 million below the league salary cap for each season. A team cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that result in the team being under the salary minimum at any time, EXCEPT after cutting players immediately before the Free Agent Draft.  Teams MUST be over the minimum and remain over it after the Free Agent Draft.

4. TIMING OF SALARY CAP COMPLIANCE

a. Teams can be over the cap from the time the annual season file is released by Action! PC until the Rookie Draft each off-season.  Teams over salary cap must release or trade players to gain salary cap compliance.

b. After the Rookie Draft and until the start of the Free Agent draft teams can be over the salary cap ONLY as a result of the salaries of the rookie players the team drafted.  A team cannot exceed the salary cap as a result of any trades made during or after the Rookie Draft.

c. All teams must be at or under the salary cap before the start of the Free Agent draft; and must remain under salary cap for the balance of the off-season. Teams over salary cap must release or trade players to gain salary cap compliance.

d. All teams must be at or under the salary cap at all times during the regular season and playoffs except by signing a minimum salary player under the Injured Reserve rule in section IV.7.d. 

5. Any team that is over the salary cap at any point during the off-season cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that increase the amount they are over the salary cap, with the exception of being over the salary cap as a result of the salaries of the rookie players the team drafted that season.   

6. Any team that is under the salary cap cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that increase the amount they are under the salary cap.   From the time of the annual release of the season's file by Action! PC until the start of the Rookie Draft, teams may include the salary of a "Non-Skill player" for the Rookie Draft picks in its possession for purposes of determining the team's total team salary and compliance with the minimum salary.

 

IV. TEAM ROSTERS

1. Each team will have a roster of 53 players.

2. If a team exceeds the 53-man limit during the rookie draft, they must release enough players to get back down to the 53-man limit once that draft is completed.

3. If a team exceeds the 53-man limit during the free agent draft due to a trade, it must release a player immediately to get back down to the 53-man limit.

4. Teams may not trade players until they are at 53-or-fewer players at any time during the off-season.

5. All teams must carry a full 53 player roster at the completion of the Free Agent Draft, and must stay at 53 through the regular season.

6. You may be below 53 before the Rookie and Free Agent Drafts, but upon completion of the FA Draft you must be at 53 players and within salary cap limits.

7. IN-SEASON DROP/ADD:

a. In-season free agent players can only be signed in cases where a team has a player injured for at least one game. To add a player the player injured must be listed as out (not doubtful, questionable or probable).

b. Injured players will still be paid their full salary which counts against the team's salary cap.

c. Teams would have no rights to any free agent players signed as injury replacements under this rule beyond the season in progress.

d. You must have enough cap room to add the salary of the free agent signed and remain under the salary cap. If any team does not have enough cap room to sign a replacement for an injured player, they may sign a minimum salaried player only to fill the opening.

e. There is a maximum of six (6) free agent signings per team allowed during the season. A team may not sign a free agent player as a result of an injury to a free agent signed to replace another injured player.

f. This includes ALL positions including K & P.

g. Once the injured player is uninjured or listed as probable or questionable, he is considered healthy and will be returned to the active roster. The free agent player signed as a replacement MUST be released. This is the responsibility of the team coach to track so that the team never has more than 53 uninjured players on its roster.

8. NON-RATED PLAYERS:

a. Any player that is not rated by the latest Action football files can be carried on your roster as a minimum salaried player that is ineligible for all league games. This includes any drafted rookies not rated by the annual NFL Projection File.

b. Non-rated players still count towards your roster limit of 53 players but do not count for or against any roster maximum or minimum rules in Section 10 below.

c. These players may be cut at any time prior to the start of the season only. However, once cut, they cannot be drafted or signed by another team.

9. VERIFICATION OF ROSTERS:

a. Upon release of the initial files by Action PC each team will be given a text copy of his team's roster from the previous season.

b. It is each owner's responsibility to double check his team's roster for accuracy and errors and to report any discrepancies immediately to the league office. Failure to do so can result in penalties, imposed at the sole discretion of the Commissioner, that include but are not limited to, loss of draft picks, or disqualification from the league.

​10. ROSTER REQUIREMENTS:

a. Teams must carry the following minimum number of rated players at each listed position below (uncarded injured reserve players do not count for or against any of the roster requirement rules, see rule 8. above.).

OFFENSE: 3 QB, 4 RB, 4 WR, 2 TE/HB, 2 C, 3 G, 3 OT

DEFENSE:  6 DE & OLB, 5 DT & ILB, 4 CB, 3 S.    

For all positions other than QB, ONLY players with a DURABILITY rating of 6 or higher can count toward these minimum roster requirements. Quarterbacks are exempt from the requirement to have a durability rating of 6 of higher. A player rated at more than one position counts at each position. So, a player with a Durability rating of at least 6 who is rated at both C and G counts against the minimum number of players at both C and G.

b. It is the responsibility of each team to assure they are in compliance with this rule at all times during the regular season and playoffs.

c. Teams found not to be in compliance will receive a one penalty point under section XII for each occurrence of non-compliance.

d. SPECIAL TEAMS: 

e. Not used (now IV.10.d.3)

f. MINIMUM QB RULE: A team that has a QB rated 10+ (NOT 10 or 10-) can carry only 2 QB’s instead of 3 for the season if so desired.

g. MAXIMUM QB RULE: There is also a maximum of 3 QB’s per team allowed UNLESS a team needs to carry a 4th QB to reach the attempts minimum as listed below or the team's QB with the most pass attempts is an 8 durability rating or lower.

h. QB ATTEMPTS USAGE LIMITS: No team may carry more than one QB with 400 or more pass attempts during the regular or post season. First year rookie's (from the most recent rookie draft) projection passing attempts are exempt and will not count against a team's pass attempt limits.

i. ATTEMPT MINIMUMS: Each team must have a minimum of 425 QB pass attempts, 350 rush attempts (RB, HB, QB and WR) and 285 WR, TE, HB (RB will be included starting in 2024) receptions to open the season, and at all times during the season. There are no exceptions.

V. AFC ROOKIE DRAFT - FOR THE 2024 SEASON ONLY

1. The draft will be scheduled by the league commissioner at his sole discretion.

2. This draft pool will consist of any player chosen by the NFL in its just completed Rookie Draft that year. Undrafted players or post-draft signed free agents are not eligible for the AFC rookie draft.

3. The draft will be a 5-round draft.

4. When Action PC puts out its annual Projection File each season, we will use the ratings from that file to rate the players chosen in the Rookie Draft for use in our season. Thus, NFL rookies will play their first season in the AFC the same year they are drafted by the NFL rather than waiting a year for them to be "carded".

5. ROOKIE DRAFT LOTTERY:

a. Each year there will be a lottery for the first five picks in the rookie draft (or more if there are more than five teams in the lottery) of the teams with the 5 five worst records in the previous season, plus any ties, evenly weighted so all teams have the same odds as the other to determine the order of their picks in the rookie draft.

b. These lottery picks will go in serpentine fashion each round of the draft, meaning it will go from 1 to 5 in the odd numbered rounds and from 5 to 1 in the even numbered rounds.

c. The lottery will be determined using a confirm-able source such as a published lottery result.

d. For lottery purposes, all lottery teams will be treated as having the exact same win-loss record with only the lottery results determining draft position.

e. As noted in section XII, teams with 3 or more rule violation points may not be eligible for the lottery and will draft after all non-fined lottery teams in all rounds.

6. ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER:

a. The prior season Super Bowl winner picks last, and the prior season Super Bowl loser picks next-to-last.

b. The 12 prior season playoff teams who did not play in the Super Bowl will be draft in positions 15-26 will draft in the order of the round they were eliminated in the playoffs. If two tied clubs exited the playoffs in the same round, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section 11 below.

c. The non-playoff and non-lottery teams will draft before the prior season's playoff teams in descending order of their prior regular season losses. If two teams had the same number of prior regular season losses, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section 11 below.

 d. The Rookie Draft Lottery teams will draft before the non-playoff teams.

7. All rookie picks must be made and cannot be "passed" or forfeit.

8.  All rookies drafted in the annual rookie draft will be held accountable to the salary cap for that season based on the following chart. PICK is the pick round and number.  For example, pick 1 in round 1 is "1.01", and pick 13 of round 3 is "3.13". 

PICK   SALARY (in $millions)

1.01      $3.500

1.02      $3.300

1.03      $3.200

1.04      $3.100

1.05      $3.000

1.06      $2.900

1.07      $2.800

1.08      $2.700

1.09      $2.600

1.10      $2.500

1.11-1.13 $2.400

1.14-1.16 $2.300

1.17-1.20 $2.200

1.21-1.24 $2.100

1.25-1.28 $2.000

2.01-2.14 $1.700

2.15-2.28 $1.100

3.01-3.28 $0.700

4.01-4.28 $0.500

5.01-5.28 $0.400

6.01-6.28 $0.350


These salaries are based on a league salary cap of $116million.  If the league salary cap increases or decreases from $116million, the percentage increase or decrease from $116million will be applied to these salaries, but rounded to the nearest $0.100 million.  For example, if the salary cap in a season is $120million, or 103.5% of $116million, then the salaries for each rookie pick that season will be 103.5% of the amounts above, rounded to the nearest $0.100 million.  For example Pick 1.01 would be $3.500 x 103.5% = $3.6225, rounded to $3.600.  Pick 3.13 would be $0.700 x 103.5% = $0.725, rounded to $0.700. 

------------------------------------------------- 

9. If a team fails to make its pick in Rounds 1-5, is skipped, and still has not picked by 9pm Eastern that day, the draft manager will then draft highest player available for the team (the highest player is the player chosen earliest in the NFL draft who has not been drafted in the AFC Rookie Draft) and Penalty Points will be assessed.  If a team failed to make a Round 6 pick(s) and is skipped and has still not picked prior to 9pm Eastern, the pick(s) will be forfeited, but no Penalty Points will be assessed. 

10. Trading During the Rookie Draft - 

1. Trades will not be processed until the conclusion of each round. 

For example: Round one has begun and the draft is currently active. During round one team A trades pick 1.14 to team B for pick 2.17 + a player on team B's roster. Team A announces the trade. Team B confirms the trade. Team B tells Team A who to take for him at 1.14. Team A picks that player at 1.14. AFTER Round one is completed, in the draft website pick 2.17 is reassigned from team B to team A, and in the league database the player drafted at 1.14 by team A is traded to team B's roster.

2. During a Rookie Draft, trades of picks beyond the draft in process are NOT allowed. 

For example, during the 2021 rookie draft, only picks in the 2021 rookie draft can be traded.  Picks in the 2022 rookie draft CANNOT be traded until AFTER the completion of the 2021 rookie draft.

11. TIE-BREAKER FOR DETERMINING DRAFT ORDER FOR ROOKIE DRAFT:

1. Regular season win-loss record

2. Rule Violation Points (section XII): Team with the most rule violation points at the end of the season just completed will lose the tiebreaker in all cases.

3. Strength of Schedule as determined from "Opponent's Records" report within the Action PC Football game (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

4. Head-to-Head Games (winner of head-to-head game receives priority)

5. Best Record in Divisional Games (if all teams in same division)

6. Best record in Conference Games (if all teams in same conference)

7. Best Record in games with Common Opponents--two tied teams only (minimum of 4 games each to use this qualifier)

8. Strength of Victory, as determined from within the Action games via the "Strength of Victory" Report (highest percentage gets the tie-breaker)

9. Missing POC/POT: Team that misses POC/POT will lose the tiebreak in all cases.

10. Use of subs: Use of two subs loses tie break to the use of 1 sub. Use of 1 sub loses tie break to the team that uses no subs.

11. Random Draw tied to a confirmable source, such as a lottery result.

 

V. AFC ROOKIE DRAFT - New Rule Starting After the 2024 season is complete.

1. The draft will be scheduled by the league commissioner at his sole discretion.

2. This draft pool will consist of any player chosen by the NFL in its just completed Rookie Draft that year. Undrafted players or post-draft signed free agents are not eligible for the AFC rookie draft.

3. The draft will be a 5-round draft, with some teams gaining "supplement" picks in a 6th round that are earned by a coach acting as a substitute coach the prior season.

4. Not used.  (was use of annual projection file player ratings and stats, which is now section VI.)

5. ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER:

a. At the time of the annual release of the season's file by Action! PC, and before any trading or cutting of players occurs, the total team salary for each team will be determined.   All open roster slots for all teams (as a result of players who did not play due to retirement, injury, etc) are assigned the minimum player salary (currently $350,000) for purposes of this rule so that all teams have a full roster of salaries.  Any ties are broken according to the tie-breaking section below.  

b.  ROOKIE DRAFT LOTTERY:

1. At the time of the annual release of the season's file by Action! PC, and before any trading or cutting of players occurs, the total team salary for each team will be determined.   All open roster slots for all teams (as a result of players who did not play due to retirement, injury, etc) are assigned the minimum player salary (currently $350,000) for purposes of this rule so that all teams have a full roster of salaries.  

2. Each year there will be a lottery for picks #1 through #5.  The lottery teams will be the five (5) non-playoff teams with the lowest total team salaries as determined in V.5.a. above, INCLUDING ANY TIES for the #5 position.  The lottery will be evenly weighted so all teams have the same odds as the other teams to determine the order of their picks.  The lottery will be conducted by the Commissioner or his designee using a confirm-able source for the lottery result.

3. However, as per section XII, teams with three (3) or more penalty points for rules violations who would have otherwise been in the rookie draft lottery are not eligible for the lottery and will draft after all lottery teams with two or less penalty points in all rounds.

c. ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER OF NON-LOTTERY TEAMS

2. The remaining nine (9) non-playoff / non-lottery teams from the prior season (assuming no ties for lottery position #5) draft in positions 6-14.  Those teams are ranked in ascending order from lowest total team salary to highest total team salary as determined in V.5.a.1.  The team with the lowest total team salary picks 6th and the team with the highest total team salary picks 14th.  If two teams had the same total team salary, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section below.

3. The 12 prior season playoff teams who did not play in the Super Bowl will be draft in positions 15-26.   Those teams are ranked in ascending order from lowest total team salary to highest total team salary as determined in V.5.a.1.  The team with the lowest total team salary picks 15th and the team with the highest total team salary picks 26th.  If two teams had the same total team salary, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section 11 below.

4. The prior season Super Bowl winner picks last (28), and the prior season Super Bowl loser picks next-to-last (27).

6. Not used

7. All rookie picks must be made and cannot be "passed" or forfeit.

8.  All rookies drafted in the annual rookie draft will be held accountable to the salary cap for that season based on the following chart. PICK is the pick round and number.  For example, pick 1 in round 1 is "1.01", and pick 13 of round 3 is "3.13". 

PICK   SALARY (in $millions)

1.01      $3.500

1.02      $3.300

1.03      $3.200

1.04      $3.100

1.05      $3.000

1.06      $2.900

1.07      $2.800

1.08      $2.700

1.09      $2.600

1.10      $2.500

1.11-1.13 $2.400

1.14-1.16 $2.300

1.17-1.20 $2.200

1.21-1.24 $2.100

1.25-1.28 $2.000

2.01-2.14 $1.700

2.15-2.28 $1.100

3.01-3.28 $0.700

4.01-4.28 $0.500

5.01-5.28 $0.400

6.01-6.28 $0.350


These salaries are based on a league salary cap of $116million.  If the league salary cap increases or decreases from $116million, the percentage increase or decrease from $116million will be applied to these salaries, but rounded to the nearest $0.100 million.  For example, if the salary cap in a season is $120million, or 103.5% of $116million, then the salaries for each rookie pick that season will be 103.5% of the amounts above, rounded to the nearest $0.100 million.  For example Pick 1.01 would be $3.500 x 103.5% = $3.6225, rounded to $3.600.  Pick 3.13 would be $0.700 x 103.5% = $0.725, rounded to $0.700. 

9. If a team fails to make its pick in Rounds 1-5, is skipped, and still has not picked by 9pm Eastern that day, the draft manager will then draft highest player available for the team (the highest player is the player chosen earliest in the NFL draft who has not been drafted in the AFC Rookie Draft) and Penalty Points will be assessed.  If a team failed to make a Round 6 pick(s) and is skipped and has still not picked prior to 9pm Eastern, the pick(s) will be forfeited, but no Penalty Points will be assessed. 

10. TRADING DURING THE ROOKIE DRAFT- 

1. Trades will not be processed until the conclusion of each round. 

For example: Round one has begun and the draft is currently active. During round one team A trades pick 1.14 to team B for pick 2.17 + a player on team B's roster. Team A announces the trade. Team B confirms the trade. Team B tells Team A who to take for him at 1.14. Team A picks that player at 1.14. AFTER Round one is completed, in the draft website pick 2.17 is reassigned from team B to team A, and in the league database the player drafted at 1.14 by team A is traded to team B's roster.

2. During a Rookie Draft, trades of picks beyond the draft in process are NOT allowed. 

For example, during the 2021 rookie draft, only picks in the 2021 rookie draft can be traded.  Picks in the 2022 rookie draft CANNOT be traded until AFTER the completion of the 2021 rookie draft.

11. TIE-BREAKER FOR DETERMINING DRAFT ORDER FOR ROOKIE DRAFT:

1.  Rule Violation Points: Team with the most rule violation points at the end of the season just completed will lose the tiebreaker in all cases.

2. Previous regular season's win-loss record.

3. Strength of Schedule as determined from "Opponent's Records" report within the Action PC Football game (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

4. Head-to-Head Games (winner of head-to-head game receives priority)

5. Best Record in Divisional Games (if all teams in same division)

6. Best record in Conference Games (if all teams in same conference)

7. Best Record in games with Common Opponents--two tied teams only (minimum of 4 games each to use this qualifier)

8. Strength of Victory, as determined from within the Action games via the "Strength of Victory" Report (highest percentage gets the tie-breaker)

9. Missing POC/POT: Team that misses POC/POT will lose the tiebreak in all cases.

10. Use of subs: Use of two subs loses tie break to the use of 1 sub. Use of 1 sub loses tie break to the team that uses no subs.

11. Random Draw tied to a confirmable source, such as a lottery result.


​VI. USE OF ANNUAL SEASON "PROJECTION" PLAYER FILE

After Action PC releases its annual Projection File each season, we will use the ratings from that file to rate the players chosen in the Rookie Draft for use in our season. Thus, NFL rookies will play their first season in the AFC the same year they are drafted by the NFL rather than waiting a year for them to be "carded".

VI. FREE AGENT DRAFT - FOR THE 2024 SEASON ONLY

1. At the issue of the new season file each year any players on the new season file that were not on a team's roster at the conclusion of the prior regular season will be put into the draft pool for the Free Agent Draft.

2. The draft will be scheduled at the sole discretion of the commissioner(s).

3. The draft order will be determined by using the tie-breaking system listed in Section 11.

4. Trading will be suspended during the draft.

5. Free Agent Draft picks may not be traded.

6. Teams must be under cap before the start of the free agent Draft; and upon completion of the free agent draft they must be at 53 players and under cap.

7. Players selected in either free agent draft cannot be cut or traded until after completion of that draft.

8. Players MAY NOT BE CUT during the free agent draft.

9. A team who misses its pick in the draft will be skipped. The team can make/submit the pick any time before 9pm Eastern that day or the pick will be forfeited and Penalty Points will be assessed.

10. For a 48-hour period after completion of the Free Agent Draft and the release of the post draft league file, starting on the day/time announced by the Commissioner, teams can claim ONE free agent player not on an AFC roster on a first come-first served basis. Then after this 48-hour period, starting on the day/time announced by the Commissioner, teams can claim any free agent player on a first come-first served basis until the preseason trade deadline date.  Players are acquired by requesting to add the player via the AFC Slack page (you must include the player you will cut to make room for the player being signed). 

11. TIE-BREAKER FOR DETERMINING DRAFT ORDER FOR FREE AGENT DRAFT:

1. The Super Bowl winner is last and the Super Bowl loser next-to-last.

2. Draft order for all non-playoff teams is determined by the inverse order of total team salaries released with the season’s first files & before any trading and cutting of players can occur. All open roster slots for all teams are assigned salaries of $350K for purposes of this rule so teams have full roster salaries.

3. Draft order for all playoff teams, with the exception of the SB Champ and runner up, is determined by the inverse order of total team salaries released with the season’s first files & before any trading and cutting of players can occur. All open roster slots for all teams are assigned salaries of $350K for purposes of this rule so teams have full roster salaries. Playoff teams will pick in the draft order after all non-playoff teams have picked.

4. Rule Violation Points: team with the most rule violation points accumulated over the season just completed as listed on the website will lose the tiebreaker in all cases.

5. Strength of Schedule as determined from within the Action game as per the "Opponents Records" Report (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

6. Head-to-Head Games (winner of head-to-head game receives priority)

7. Best Record in Divisional Games (if all teams in same division)

8. Best record in Conference Games (if all teams in same conference)

9. Best Record in games with Common Opponents--two tied teams only (minimum of 4 games each to use this qualifier)

10. Strength of Victory, as determined from within the Action games via the "Strength of Victory" Report (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

11. Missing POC/POT: Team that misses POC/POT will lose the tiebreak in all cases.

12. Use of subs: Use of two subs loses tie break to the use of 1 sub. Use of 1 sub loses tie break to the team that uses no subs.

13. Random Draw tied to a confirmable source, such as a lottery result


VII. FREE AGENT DRAFT - New Rule Starting After the 2024 season is complete.

a. In concurrence with the determination of the draft order for the Rookie Draft, at the time of the annual release of the season's file by Action! PC, and before any trading or cutting of players occurs, the total team salary for each team will be determined.   All open roster slots for all teams (as a result of players who did not play due to retirement, injury, etc) are assigned the minimum player salary (currently $350,000) for purposes of this rule so that all teams have a full roster of salaries.  Any ties are broken according to the tie-breaker section below.

b. Prior Season's Non-Playoff Teams - The 14 prior season's non-playoff teams will draft in positions 1-14.  Those teams are ranked in ascending order from lowest total team salary to highest total team salary as determined in VII.2.  The team with the lowest total team salary picks 1st and the team with the highest total team salary picks 14th.  If two teams had the same total team salary, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section below.

c. The 12 prior season playoff teams who did not play in the Super Bowl will be draft in positions 15-26.   Those teams are ranked in ascending order from lowest total team salary to highest total team salary as determined in VII.2.  The team with the lowest total team salary picks 15th and the team with the highest total team salary picks 26th.  If two teams had the same total team salary, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in section below. 

d. The prior season Super Bowl winner picks last (28), and the prior season Super Bowl loser picks next-to-last (27).

4. Free Agent Draft picks may not be traded.

5. RULES DURING THE FREE AGENT DRAFT

a. Trading will be suspended during the free agent draft.

b. Teams must be under the salary cap before the start of the free agent Draft and remain under during the free agent draft

c. Upon completion of the free agent draft they must be at 53 players and under the salary cap.

d. Players MAY NOT BE CUT during the free agent draft.

e. Players selected in the free agent draft cannot be cut or traded until after completion of the draft.

6. A team who misses its pick in the free agent draft will be skipped. The team can make/submit the pick any time before 9pm Eastern that day or the pick will be forfeited and Penalty Points will be assessed.

7. POST FREE AGENT DAFT FREE AGENT SIGNINGS.  For a 48-hour period after completion of the Free Agent Draft and the release of the post draft league file, starting on the day/time announced by the Commissioner, teams can claim ONE free agent player not on an AFC roster on a first come-first served basis. Then after this 48-hour period, starting on the day/time announced by the Commissioner, teams can claim any free agent player on a first come-first served basis until the preseason trade deadline date.  Players are acquired by requesting to add the player via the AFC Slack page (you must include the player you will cut to make room for the player being signed). 

8. TIE-BREAKER FOR DETERMINING DRAFT ORDER FOR FREE AGENT DRAFT:

1.  Rule Violation Points: Team with the most rule violation points at the end of the season just completed will lose the tiebreaker in all cases.

2. Previous regular season's win-loss record.

3. Strength of Schedule as determined from "Opponent's Records" report within the Action PC Football game (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

4. Head-to-Head Games (winner of head-to-head game receives priority)

5. Best Record in Divisional Games (if all teams in same division)

6. Best record in Conference Games (if all teams in same conference)

7. Best Record in games with Common Opponents--two tied teams only (minimum of 4 games each to use this qualifier)

8. Strength of Victory, as determined from within the Action games via the "Strength of Victory" Report (highest percentage gets the tie-breaker)

9. Missing POC/POT: Team that misses POC/POT will lose the tiebreak in all cases.

10. Use of subs: Use of two subs loses tie break to the use of 1 sub. Use of 1 sub loses tie break to the team that uses no subs.

11. Random Draw tied to a confirmable source, such as a lottery result.


VIII. GAME REPORTING

1. All game reports are due on the Sunday following the release of the league files for that week, at a time to be set by the league officer in charge of this function.

2. Game reports must be reported to the league newsgroup at afc-football@googlegroups.com and/or the league’s Slack page as determined by the Commissioner.

3. Each owner is responsible to see that his game results & stats are reported on time on a weekly basis.

4. If an owner should fall behind in the playing and/or reporting of his games and/or stats to a point where the Commissioner should doubt his ability to finish the season that owner can and will be replaced. Constant missing of deadlines is cause for removal from the AFC without notice. All games must be reported immediately after the completion of the game.

5. It is strongly encouraged that the game's box score and a short write up of the game highlights also be sent to continue to make this the great league it is.

​ 

IX. SCHEDULING GAMES (POC & POT)

1. Each week the HOME team is required to submit to his opponent and to Brad Fletcher a list of dates and times that he will be available for his game during that week by no later than Tuesday at midnight Eastern. This list should include all of the available times that the home team owner could play that week, and not just one or two times. Please be as accommodating as possible. No game may be scheduled to begin after 7pm Eastern on Sunday to ensure the 10pm Eastern game reporting deadline can be met.

2. The VISITING team is required to send to both his opponent and to Brad Fletcher a response to the Home team's suggested times by Wednesday at midnight Eastern, either by agreeing to a time the home team has proposed or by replying with a list of days and times he is available (designated the "POC" or proof of contact). Again, please be as accommodating as possible. If by Wednesday no POC is received by the visiting team from the home team then an e-mail should be sent to the home team's owner, Brad Fletcher, and the Commissioner with a list of dates and times he is available for play.

3. BOTH teams must send a mutually agreed upon time of game (designated the "POT" of proof of time) to Brad Fletcher by Thursday at midnight Eastern. The Home team must submit confirmation of this time.

4. If the two teams for any reason cannot agree upon a time for the game to be played, then the Home team takes precedence over the visiting team. In other words, the home team has the right to request the visiting team accept one of his suggested times, and if that cannot be agreed to, then the home team can request a sub for the visiting team.

5. If two teams have an agreed upon time of game that has been confirmed by both parties, and for any reason either team cannot keep that time, then the team that was available at the original game time has precedence for all further times for that game. For example, Kansas City and Buffalo have a confirmed time of game and Buffalo, being the home team, cannot keep the originally scheduled time for any reason, then the availability of the visiting team (in this case KC) takes precedence if the two teams cannot agree on a time to reschedule the game. However, I expect to have to exercise the above two provisions in the rules rarely, if ever. It is expected that both teams will make a good faith effort to schedule the game at a time and day that is mutually acceptable in all cases, and it has been my experience that this is easily accomplished in almost every case if the two parties truly want to "get 'er done".

6. Missing a POC or POT will result in penalties per section XII.

7. The home team is obligated to host his games. In cases where the visiting team can host and the home team cannot for whatever reason then the visiting team is required to host the game. But in cases where neither team can host it is incumbent on the home team to do so, or to request a sub for his team for that game.

8. Any team that is stood up for an agreed upon and confirmed game time for ANY reason has the option of requesting a sub for that game after 30 minutes past the scheduled game time have elapsed (subject, of course, to having proof of a confirmed scheduled game time that can be forwarded to Brad Fletcher, such as an e-mail, etc.). The offending team will be subject to penalties per section XII.

 

X. GAME SUBSTITUTE COACHES

1. Each team is allowed the use of a sub for a league game twice in any given year.

2. Use of a sub has to be requested through Brad Fletcher and must be requested at least 8 hours in advance to be valid (this is to give Brad enough time to line up a sub for the game).

 

XI. GAME SUBSTITUTE COACH

If a coach is unable to schedule or play a game, the coach needs to request a substitute coach.

1. When a team requires a sub, they must contact Brad Fletcher to make arrangements. Brad will put out a league-wide call for volunteers.

2. Brad will choose a coach to sub for the team and send a league wide confirmation email. Brad will do his best to spread the subs evenly if several coaches volunteer. NOTE: Coaches who stand to gain from losing for the team they sub for will not be accepted. ​

3. For unowned teams Brad would announce the need for a sub on Sunday night and take a list of volunteers until Monday night midnight.

4. When subbing for an unowned HOME team, the coach subbing for the team would have precedence on times for POC/ POT and take the responsibilities of making sure the game is played. Once you commit to subbing you are subject to fines and violations as if they were your own team.

5. At the end of the season, a coach can choose from the following:

a .Each game subbed would add $250,000 to those coaches next season salary cap. With a max of $1,000,000 for each season.

b. Coaches may choose a credit against three rule violation points (see section XII) for each game they act as a substitute coach.

c. Teams may choose to purchase a supplemental 6th round draft pick for $250,000, with a limit of three purchased picks per draft. These picks may not be traded.

​ 

XII. PENALTIES

1. All owners are expected to meet all league deadlines established by the League Office.

2. Points Assessed for Rule Violations:

a. Failing to vote on rule change proposals & any roster rule violation - 2 points

b. Missed Rookie & Forfeited FA Draft Picks:

· Picks rounds 1-3 = 3 points

· Rounds 4-5 = 2 points

· Rounds 6+ = 0 points, however the team forfeits the pick if it is not made by 9pm Eastern.

c. No-Show / Standing Up an opponent for a scheduled game = 5 points

d. Missed POC/POT and deadlines:

· First violation = 1 point

· Every violation thereafter = 2 points

e. Use of Substitute Coaches:

· Third use of a substitute coach in a season 2 points.

· Each addition use of a substitute coach in a season: 3 points.

· Using a substitute coach more than three times in a season could result in expulsion from the league at the Commissioner's discretion.

3. Penalties:

a. If 1-2 points accumulated: No penalty

b. if 3-5 points accumulated: Loss of a 2nd round Free Agent Draft pick in the next available FA Draft and team is ineligible for the next available rookie draft pick lottery.

c. if 6-8 points accumulated: Loss of a 1st and 2nd round Free Agent Draft pick in the next available FA Draft and team is ineligible for the next available rookie draft pick lottery.

d. If 9+ points accumulated: Loss of a 1st round Rookie Draft pick, team is ineligible for the next available rookie draft pick lottery, and/or removal from the league, at the Commissioners' discretion.  If such a team has traded its 1st round Rookie Draft pick, then the team’s next two highest draft picks the team owns will be forfeited.  

e. If a penalty calls for the loss of a draft pick and that pick has been traded or otherwise forfeited by that team, then that team will lose the next two highest of their remaining draft picks. For example, the penalty calls for loss of a #1 pick and that pick has been traded, then that team will forfeit their #2 and #3 picks instead. If the penalized team has traded all of their draft picks, then the team will lose its #1 Rookie Draft Pick for the next available rookie draft.

f. Penalties b. c., and d. are not cumulative.

4. Substitute Coaching - If a coach acts as a substitute coach for another team, 3 violation points will be subtracted if the coach chooses that as an option. See section XI. If the coach subs enough to erase all points assessed due to violations, the team will be eligible for the draft lottery.

5. New Coach - If a coach quits, the new coach does not inherit the fines, draft pick forfeitures, loss of rookie draft lottery eligibility and/or points accrued. 

XIII. Not Used 

​XIV. TRADE PERIOD & PROCEDURES

1. Trading is only allowed during the following time periods:

a. From the date designated by the league Commissioner after Action PC has released its annual game update (which includes the player stats/ratings from the prior NFL season) and all teams have confirmed their rosters, until the start of the Free Agent Draft, and

b. From the date designated by the league Commissioner after the conclusion of the Free Agent Draft, until reporting deadline for week #6 of the regular season schedule.

2. All trades must be reported by both teams within 48 hours by via Slack (preferably) or the AFC newsgroup at AFC_Football@googlegroups.com.

3. The Commissioner has & will use the authority to overrule any trade he feels is detrimental to the balance of the league for any reason.

4. WHAT MAY BE TRADED:

a. Rated players on your roster.

b. Players drafted in the most received Rookie Draft.

c. Rookie draft picks in the next scheduled AFC rookie draft. See the rule below. 

​5. WHAT MAY NOT BE TRADED:

a. Free agent draft picks

b. Unrated or IR-designated players

c. Players to be named later

d. Rookie draft picks beyond the next scheduled AFC rookie draft.  See the rule below.

e. Cap space or cap funds of any kind

​    6. Regarding trading of rookie draft picks in 4. and 5. above.  For example, during the 2023 season until the completion of the 2024 rookie draft, only picks in the 2024 rookie draft can be traded.  As per rule XIV.4, picks in the 2025 rookie draft CANNOT be traded until AFTER the completion of the 2024 rookie draft.  Once the 2024 rookie draft is complete and until the 2025 rookie draft is complete, only picks in the 2025 rookie draft only can be traded.


XV. PLAYOFFS

1. The division champion with the best record.

2. The division champion with the second-best record.

3. The division champion with the third-best record.

4. The Wild Card team with the best record.

5. The Wild Card team with the second-best record.

6. The Wild Card team with the 3rd best record.

7. The Wild Card team with the 4th best record.

​2. After each round, the remaining teams are reseeded so the highest remaining seed plays at home against the lowest remaining seed, just like the NFL.

3. The Super Bowl will be played at the same site as the NFL Super Bowl for that season was played at. Injuries will carry over into the playoffs from the regular season. The home team for the Superbowl will be determined using the Tie-Breaker procedure in Section 4 below.  Home Field Advantage will be turned OFF for the Super Bowl.

4. TIE-BREAKER FOR DETERMINING PLAYOFF TEAMS AND SEEDINGS:

The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for post season playoffs:

1. Rule Violation Points (section XII): team with the most rule violation points at the end of the season just completed will lose the tiebreaker in all cases.

2. Head-to-Head Games (winner of head-to-head game receives priority)

3. Best record in Conference Games (if all teams in same conference)

4. Best Record in games with Common Opponents--two tied teams only (minimum of 4 games each to use this qualifier)

5. Strength of Victory, as determined from within the Action games via the "Strength of Victory" Report (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

6. Strength of Schedule as determined from within the Action game as per the "Opponents Records" Report (highest percentage wins the tie-breaker)

7. Missing POC/POT: Team that misses POC/POT will lose the tiebreak in all cases.

8. Use of subs: Use of two subs loses tie break to the use of 1 sub. Use of 1 sub loses tie break to the team that uses no subs.

9. Random Draw tied to a confirmable source, such as a lottery result

​​

XVII. TEAM OPENINGS

1. In the event that a team becomes vacant for any reason the League Office will take whatever steps necessary to replace that owner.

2. Once a new owner is found he will not be permitted to make any trades whatsoever until 72 hours AFTER the date his name is announced. This is to give all league owners an equal chance to make deals with the new owner.

​

XVIII. AMENDING THESE RULES

1. All rules that are newly adopted shall become effective the following season not the next season whenever and if at all possible. For example, a rule change approved in the 2022 off-season is effective for the 2023 season.

2. During the time period as designated by the Commissioner each year for rule changes and proposals, for any proposal to be placed upon the final ballot it must be seconded and endorsed by no fewer than two other league members, not including the person that originally made the proposal. These endorsements must be made publicly to the entire league through the league newsgroup/message board to be valid.

3. All rule proposals put up to a league vote must pass by a 2/3 majority of "Yes" and "No" votes cast to be "passed".  Abstain votes are ignored. 

4. All coaches are required to vote "Yes", "No" or "Abstain" on all proposals.  Any coach not voting by the deadline will be assessed 2 penalty points.

5. This does not necessarily apply to any rulings the Commissioner may make to clarify or interpreting rules, defining loopholes, etc.

6. The Commissioner reserves the right to make any rulings necessary that are not expressly covered in these bylaws. This includes but is not limited to interpreting rules, defining and closing loopholes, or any other ruling that may become necessary in the best interest of the league.