FSFL Bylaws

FSFL League Bylaws
as of 5/17/26

 
I. LEAGUE STRUCTURE

1. The Federal Spring Football League (FSFL) will consist of 28 teams and use a team salary cap / team salary minimum system. Owners will choose a team name, a home stadium and a logo design subject to approval by the league commissioners. 

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 FSFL will feature the exclusive use of the Action! PC pro football game by DKSports.com. It is considered the official league policy of the FSFL 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 FSFL. 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 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 FSFL. 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: None in the regular season but on/used in playoffs--see below

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

4. Quarterback Game Fatigue: None in the regular season but on/used in playoffs--see below

5. Special Teams Season Fatigue: Yes

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. LEAGUE SCHEDULE: The league schedule each season will be devised using the scheduling spreadsheet devised by Mark Blume and Roberto Tosco, which is based upon actual NFL schedules during the time period the NFL had 28 teams. Immediately after the completion of the Free Agent Draft each season, and before trading is opened, all FSFL teams will be seeded within their division by total team salary, highest to lowest. They will be entered into the spreadsheet as ranked in their division (highest to lowest salary, highest being team 1 and lowest team 4 or 5, depending upon the number of teams in that division). The spreadsheet will then determine the schedule for that season, which will be imported into the league files and which will be used as the official schedule for that season. This will be the sole method of determining the schedule each season, using only total team salaries. The previous season's record will have no bearing upon the schedule in any way.

III. SALARY CAP / SALARY MINIMUM

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

2. The salary cap for each team will be $120 million. The League Office reserves the right to adjust this cap upwards or downwards when and if DKS revises its salary structure.

3. Teams can be over the cap until the Free Agent draft roster cut down date 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. A team under the minimum salary cap cannot make any roster moves and/or trades that result in the team being further under the salary cap at any time, except by signing a minimum salary player under the Injured Reserve rule in section IV.6.d.

5. The FSFL will use a minimum team salary cap. The minimum team salary will be $30 million below the max. cap ($90 million for next 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.

IV. TEAM ROSTERS

1. Team rosters will consist of 53 players, with a game day active roster of 48 players and a 5 man inactive roster. The inactive players will be designated as such on the files each week. At the beginning of the season every team is required to send in a coach file for import that lists the 5 players they want inactive that week. This coach file will carry over to the following week(s) unless a new coach file is received by the league office for import. Once an updated coach file with a newly updated inactive list is received and imported it will remain in effect until a newer coach file is received by the league office for import, and so on. (This puts the onus completely on each individual coach to keep his inactive list updated). It would be against the rules for any team to make an inactive player active during any game.

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

4. 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.

5. You may be below 53 players 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.

6. 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 ($350K) only to fill the opening.

e. There is a maximum of eight (8) free agent signings per team allowed during the season (these 6 moves do not include K, P, LS or H. These positions can be replaced with no penalty). 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. 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.

7. 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.

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.

8. 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.

9. 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). Players rated at more than one position can be counted at each position they are rated at for purposes of this rule.

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 5 or higher can count toward these minimum roster requirements. Quarterbacks are exempt from the requirement to have a durability rating of 5 of higher. A player rated at more than one position counts at each position. So, a player with a Durability rating of at least 5 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: 

1.KICKER, PUNTER, LONG SNAPPER & HOLDER: Teams are required at all times during the regular season and play-offs to have at least one uninjured kicker, punter, long snapper, and holder on their active roster. If any of those players is injured, it is the coach's responsibility to request a temporary replacement from the Free Agent player. Once the team's injured player is healthy, the team MUST drop the replacement player back to the Free Agent player pool. This is the team's responsibility not the Commissioner's or league file administrator's responsibility. Failure to replace or release the free agent player will result in the team incurring penalty points as assessed by the section of these rules. These replacements will not count toward the eight allowed Injured Reserve free agent signings a team can make during the season.

2.KICK RETURNER & PUNT RETURNER: Any player with 15+ KR or PR will be given status as unlimited, in where they would be exempt from seasonal fatigue. For any team that does not have a player with 15+ returns (either KR and/or PR) we would take a player for that team and, by editing his real life stats, make him a generic returner with the following stats:

KR: 15 returns (to make him unlimited), 22.0 yd average, long of 30 and 0 fumbles unless he had one or more IRL, in which case his real life totals would be used
PR: 15 returns, 15 FC, 6.0 yd average, long of 15 and 0 fumbles, again unless he had one or more IRL

If any of those players is injured, it is the coach's responsibility to request a temporary replacement from the Free Agent player. Once the team's injured player is healthy, the team MUST drop the replacement player back to the Free Agent player pool. This is the team's responsibility not the Commissioner's or league file administrator's responsibility. Failure to replace or release the free agent player will result in the team incurring penalty points as assessed by the section of these rules.  These replacements will not count toward the six allowed Injured Reserve free agent signings a team can make during the season.

3.KICKER/PUNTER LIMITATION: At the start of the regular season at a deadline set by the Commissioner no team may carry more than one Kicker with 20 or more FG attempts, nor more than one Punter with 50 or more Punt Attempts. You may carry as many as you'd like up to the start of the deadline, but then you must be in compliance with the above rule. See Season Usage rule for which kickers and punters are exempt from season usage limits.

Beginning with the 2027 season, if any team's K has a 10 DUR rating then you are allowed to carry one K only. If a team's K is rated 9 or less DUR than a team may carry two kickers with at least one having less than 20 attempts. If a team elects to carry two K's then only one may be active for any given game, the other must be inactive and may not be activated during a game. If a K has less than 20 attempts then there is a limitation of 150% of his actual real life attempts in our game each season. This does not apply to the game that K goes over his attempts. For example, kicker A has 12 real life attempts, which gives him a limit of 18 attempts in our league. If he enters a game with 17 attempts he can continue to kick FG's in that game only, after which point he would not be allowed to attempt any further FG's.

e. 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.

f. 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.

g. ATTEMPT MINIMUMS: Each team must have a minimum of 325 QB pass attempts, 300 rush attempts and 175 pass receptions from all sources to open the season, and at all times during the season. There are no exceptions.

h. ATTEMPT MAXIMUMS: Each team can have no more than 750 pass attempts, 675 rush attempts and 475 receptions from all sources. There are no exceptions.

i. All teams must have a minimum of 800 combined rush and pass attempts from all sources. There are no exceptions.

V. FSFL ROOKIE DRAFT 

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 Rookie Draft the previous season. Undrafted players or post-draft signed free agents are not eligible for the FSFL rookie draft.

3. The draft will be a 5-round draft, with some teams gaining "supplemental" picks in a 6th round that are earned by a coach acting as a substitute coach the prior season. Effective with the 2027 draft this will become a 4 round draft.

4. 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 $500,000) 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. 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 confirmable source for the lottery result.

2. However, as per section XI, 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

1. Assuming no ties for lottery position #5, the lottery teams draft in positions 1-5.  These lottery picks will go in serpentine fashion each round of the draft, meaning they will go from #1 to #5 in the odd numbered rounds and from #5 to #1 in the even numbered rounds. 
         
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.4. 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 14 prior season playoff teams will draft in positions 15-28. Those teams are ranked in ascending order from lowest total team salary to highest total team salary as determined in V.4.  The team with the lowest total team salary picks 15th and the team with the highest total team salary picks 28th.  If two teams had the same total team salary, the tie is broken by the tie-breakers in Section V.5.

4. All rookie picks must be made and cannot be "passed" or otherwise skipped.

5. 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 FSFL 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.

6.Trading during the Rookie Draft is not allowed.

5. 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. FREE AGENT DRAFT

1. At the completion of the Rookie Draft 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. Before the start of the FA Draft all teams will cut down to 40 players and be at or under $110 million in salary. Any players cut at this time will go into the FA Draft. The FA Draft will encompass 13 rounds to get all teams back to their required 53 player roster limit.

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

3. The draft order will be determined solely and completely by using total team salaries. The team with the lowest total team salary will pick first in all rounds and the team with the highest total team salary will pick last. This order will be set upon completion of the Rookie Draft, taking into account the salaries of rookies just acquired in that season's Rookie Draft, using rule V.4.a, and before any drafting or trading takes place.

4. Trading will be suspended during the draft.

5. Free Agent Draft picks may not be traded.

6. Teams must be under the $120 million 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 the cap of $120 million.

7. Players selected in the 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 10 pm 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 FSFL 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 cut are not eligible to be acquired by another team until Noon Eastern the following day. Players are acquired by requesting to add the player via the FSFL 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. Draft order for all 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.

2. 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.

3. Strength of Schedule as determined from within the Action game as per the "Opponents Records" Report (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 wins 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

VII. 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'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 FSFL without notice. All games must be reported immediately after the completion of the game.

5. It is required that the game's box score and game file be sent to the league Slack site. A short write up of the game highlights may also be sent to continue to make this the great league it is.

VIII. SCHEDULING GAMES (POT)

    1. BOTH teams must send a mutually agreed upon time of game (designated the "POT" of proof of time) to the League Slack page by Thursday at midnight Eastern. BOTH teams must submit confirmation of this time.

2. 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.

3. 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".

4. Missing a POT deadline will result in penalties per section XI.

5. 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.

6. 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 the League Office, such as an e-mail, etc.). The offending team will be subject to penalties per section XI.

7. Proof of Contact (POC) is not required at this time in the FSFL, but the Commissioner reserves the right to implement it should the need arise

IX. 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 the League Office and must be requested at least 8 hours in advance to be valid (this is to give me enough time to line up a sub for the game).

X. 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 the League Office to make arrangements. I will put out a league-wide call for volunteers.

2. I will choose a coach to sub for the team and send a league wide confirmation. I will do my 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 I will 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.

5. REWARDS FOR SUBBING GAMES:

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

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

c. Teams may choose to have a supplemental 6th round draft pick for each game subbed, with a limit of three picks per draft. These picks may not be traded.

XI. 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 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 unless approved by the League Office due to extenuating circumstances, such as illness, etc..

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 X.5. 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.

  

XII. TRADE PERIOD & PROCEDURES 

1. Trading is only allowed from completion of the FA Draft until the deadline for games to be reported in week 6 of the regular season:

2. All trades must be reported by both teams within 48 hours by via Slack to be valid.

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 recently completed Rookie Draft.

c. Rookie draft picks in the next scheduled FSFL 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 FSFL 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 2025 season until the completion of the 2026 rookie draft, only picks in the 2026 rookie draft can be traded.  As per rule XII.4, picks in the 2027 rookie draft CANNOT be traded until AFTER the completion of the 2026 rookie draft. Once the 2026 rookie draft is complete and until the 2027 rookie draft is complete, only picks in the 2027 rookie draft only can be traded, and so on.

XIII. PLAYOFFS

1.Seven teams from each conference will make the playoffs---the 3 divisional winners and 4 wild card teams with the best records. The divisional winner in each conference with the best record will get a first round bye.  All playoff play will continue as per the NFL rules up to and including the FSFL Super Bowl. The seven post-season teams from each conference will be seeded as follows:

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

  XIV. 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 48 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.

XV. 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 2025 off-season (defined as the period before and leading up to the 2025 season) is effective for the 2026 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 three other league members (total of 3), not including the person that originally made the proposal. These endorsements must be made publicly to the entire league through the league Slack page to be valid. All proposals must be reviewed by the League Executive Committee before being put to a vote.

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.