Play Design Rules

To eliminate the ability to design plays which unfairly take advantage of limitations in the game's play design structure and artificial intelligence, we have enacted the following play design restrictions:

The FBPro Federation uses the PlayCheck utility by Rich Walls to help police the plays used in our leagues. You can click here to download this program and the FBFed.CFG configuration file. But PlayCheck isn't always perfect, so click here to check out what it misses or screws up.

Section A – DEFINITIONS

A1. "Skill Player" - any player that can handle the ball. For formation rules, these include HB, FB, WR, and TE. For design rules, QB is also included.

A2. "Inside the box" - having no more than one character of a players position designation outside the hashmarks in the play editor, such that the player is recognized as "backfield" by defensive man-to-man defenders. This latter part is the critical determining factor. Regardless of the player's actual position, he MUST be recognized as "backfield" by the defense in pre-shift position.

A3. "Outside the box" - placement such that no part of the player's position designation is touching or inside the hashmarks, such that the player is recognized as "non-backfield" by defensive man-to-man defenders. This latter part is the critical determining factor. Regardless of the player's actual position, he MUST be recognized as "non-backfield" by the defense in pre-shift position.

A4. "Running play" - any play in which the QB uses the logic "handoff/pitch to" after receiving the snap from center.

A5. "Passing play" - any play in which the QB uses the logic "pass-check receivers" OR "timed pass" after receiving the snap from center.

A6. "Razzle Dazzle Play" - a play in which a skill player other than the QB throws a pass AFTER receiving the "handoff/pitch to" from the QB. These plays are limited by BOTH sets of rules, sections C and D below. The more restrictive rule ALWAYS takes precedence.

A7. "Screen pass" – can be either a timed pass with a spot of throw that is behind the LOS, or a check pass in which no checked receiver has a logic box that touches or moves beyond the LOS.



Section B – OFFENSIVE FORMATION RULES

B1. OL/LOS RULES

B1a. The offensive line must have two (2) offensive linemen (C, G, or T) and one (1) receiver (WR/TE) on each side of the ball on the line of scrimmage (hereafter referred to as "LOS"), not set back, both in the initial formation and at the snap. There must be seven (7) players on the LOS in the initial formation and at the snap, no more, no less.
PlayCheck Message: --- Doesn't have 2 men on LOS bef/aft Snap

B1b. The two (2) receivers who are on the LOS at the snap do not have to be the same ones who were on the LOS in the initial formation.

B2. QB RULES

B2a. All offensive plays must utilize QB1. No other QB on a team's roster may be used in the design of an offensive play.
PlayCheck Message: QBX must be QB1 on all plays

B2b. The QB must line up directly behind the snapping center, either under center or in the shotgun position, and must receive the snap.
PlayCheck Message: XXX is not directly behind Center
OR: XXX does not snap to QB

B3. RB RULES

B3a. All RB (HB/FB) must line up "inside the box" in the initial formation.
PlayCheck Message: XXX lined up outside box

B3b. Any RB may shift to another position "inside the box", or to a position "outside the box", after the initial formation is set, but may not move to a position on the LOS as one of the ends.
PlayCheck Message: XXX Lined up on LOS

B4. WR/TE RULES

B4a. All receivers (WR/TE) must line up "outside the box" in the initial formation.
PlayCheck Message: XXX lined up in box

B4b. Any receiver may shift to another position "outside the box", or a to a position "inside the box", after the initial formation is set.

B4c. The "ends" on the LOS must always be either a WR or TE. This rule does not require that it be the same WR/TE that was on the LOS in the initial formation, only that the player not be a RB.

B5. MISCELLANEOUS FORMATION RULES

B5a. All "skill players" must line up within the confines of the area they occupy. When "outside the box," this area extends from the LOS to 5 yards behind the LOS, the 15 yardline in the play editor. When "inside the box," this area extends from just behind the OL to 10 yards behind the LOS, the 10 yardline in the play editor.
PlayCheck Message: XXX lined up too far from LOS (In the Box)
OR: XXX lined up too far from LOS (Outside the Box)

B5b. No offensive player may have a position at the snap, a logic box, or a movement path, that extends more than 10 yards behind the LOS at any time.
PlayCheck Message: XXX moved to far behind the LOS (In the Box)
OR: XXX moved to far behind the LOS (Outside the Box)

B5c. No offensive player may have a position at the snap, either from his initial set or as the result of a shift, that places him between the C and QB. The snap must not pass "through" any player.

Section C – OFFENSIVE RUNNING PLAY RULES

C1. All logic boxes that contain "handoff/pitch to" logic must be located "inside the box". This applies to both the QB and any subsequent player who may use this logic.
PlayCheck Message: XXX pitches the ball outside of box

C2. No play may be designed such that the reception of the "handoff/pitch to" is recorded as a forward pass. The play-by-play log must record all such transfers of the ball with the phrase "gives to" when practiced in the play editor without a defense present.

C3. No player executing a "handoff/pitch to" may have "pass-check receivers" or "timed pass" in any of his logic boxes.
PlayCheck Message: XXX with Pass logic after a Handoff

C4. A WR/TE must be lined up "outside the box" at the snap if he is the intended recipient of a "handoff/pitch to."
PlayCheck Message: XXX carrier positioned illegally (In the Box)

C5. "Throw a fake" logic may not be used by any player.
PlayCheck Message: XXX too many fakes
OR: --- Too many players using "Throw a Fake"
OR: XXX has Throw a Fake without being faked to
OR: XXX has Throw a Fake outside of the box

C6. "Look for pass" logic may not be used by any player.
PlayCheck Message: XXX has Look For Pass on running play

C7. No skill players other than the QB and ballcarrier may move backwards from their position at the snap.
PlayCheck Message: XXX moved backwards on running play



Section D – OFFENSIVE PASSING PLAY RULES

D1. OL/BLOCKING

D1a. No offensive lineman (C, G, or T) may have a logic box beyond the LOS in the design of any passing play. All OL logic boxes must at least touch or remain behind the LOS.
PlayCheck Message: XXX goes beyond LOS

D1b. Ineligible receivers, specifically OL, must use "Block - Pass" in all passing plays. No other "block" commands may be used. Any other logic commands may still be used.
PlayCheck Message: XXX does not have Block Pass

D1c. Screen passes - Rules "D1a" and "D1b" do not apply to any play defined as a "screen pass". However, any OL that crosses the LOS may not move back towards the LOS. All movement subsequent to crossing the LOS must be further downfield or parallel to the LOS.

D2. TIMED PASSES

D2a. The marked end spot for any "timed pass" may not exceed 15 yards from the LOS. Furthermore, the logic boxes and movement paths for the intended receiver may not exceed that same 15 yard limit.
PlayCheck Message: XXX timed bullet pass exceeded limit
OR: XXX timed lob pass exceeded limit

D2b. The passer must execute the timed pass from a location "inside the box."
PlayCheck Message: XXX ...timed Pass thrown out of the box

D3. QB ROLL OUTS

D3a. When "inside the box," no player who's logic includes "pass-check receivers" or "timed pass" may have a logic box or movement path that touches or extends beyond the LOS.
PlayCheck Message: XXX went beyond LOS with Pass Check

D3b. When "outside the box," no player who's logic includes "pass-check receivers" or "timed pass" may have a logic box or movement path that touches or extends beyond the 15 yardline in the Play Editor, 5 yards behind the LOS.
PlayCheck Message: XXX entered QB Seperator Zone

D3c. A passer may never have any logic which includes any of the "run" (inside, left, to daylight, etc.) logic choices.
PlayCheck Message: XXX has run logic in Passing Play

D4. FAKES

D4a. A passing play may contain only one use of "throw a fake" logic by an eligible skill player, referred to as the "play action" fake. TAF logic may only be used by a RB who is the target of a "handoff/pitch to - fake" by the QB. This fake must be executed by the RB while he is "inside the box." No other player may use TAF logic during a passing play.
PlayCheck Message: XXX too many fakes
OR: --- Too many players using "Throw a Fake"
OR: XXX has Throw a Fake without being faked to
OR: XXX has Throw a Fake outside of the box

D4b. The use of fake handoffs and/or fake passes by the QB is not restricted at all.

D5. All passing plays must result in the play being recorded as a forward pass. The play-by-play log should record all such transfers of the ball with the phrase "The pass from....is caught by" or "The pass from....was incomplete" when practiced in the play editor without a defense present.
PlayCheck Message: XXX backwards Timed Pass

D6. On all passing plays, at least 2 eligible receivers other than the passer must have "look for pass" logic that is not followed by any blocking logic.
PlayCheck Message: --- Not enough players with Look For Pass

D7. In every passing play that is a "check" pass, every player selected in the QB's "Pass - check receivers" logic must have "look for pass" somewhere in his own logic.
PlayCheck Message: --- Not enough players with Look For Pass

D8. All passing plays must result in the QB throwing a pass to an eligible receiver when practiced in the play editor without a defense present.



Section E – DEFENSIVE RULES

E1. All defensive plays must use a total of at least five (5) DL/LB, of which at least three (3) must be defensive linemen (DE/DT) and at least one (1) must be a linebacker (LB). In all cases, regardless of DL/LB allotment, no more than six (6) defensive backs (CB/S) may be included in a play.
PlayCheck Message: --- Too few DLs
OR: --- Too few LBs
OR: --- Not enough LBs
OR: --- Not enough DL/LBs

E2. All DL used on a play must line up in the "down" stance, and at least 2 DL must be in contact with the LOS. Any additional DL may be located anywhere on the defensive side of the ball, provided that they line up in a "down" stance.

NOTE - This should happen regardless of how the offense lines up… even if there is no TE and the OL spacing is as tight as the editor allows, all DL should still always drop into a "down" stance.
PlayCheck Message: XXX did not line up in the middle of the field
PlayCheck Message: --- Not enough DLs touching LOS

E3. No part of the boxed cover area or the player movement trail of any "Pass Defense - Zone" logic may extend "inside the box" in the offensive backfield.
PlayCheck Message: XXX Illegal Backfield Zone

E4. All defensive plays must include at least 2 DL that use actual DL logic… that is, the choices offered for defensive linemen when you attempt to add logic for them in the play editor, such as "Pass Rush", "Run Rush - ???", or "Read". Other DL may be dropped into zones using the VPNFL "zone-blitz" techniques, but only after at least 2 players are programmed to use true DL logic.



Section F – SPECIAL TEAMS RULES

F1. No special teams play may have it's stock logic changed in any way. This includes alteration of logic in the play editor, or deletion of logic by substitution.

F2. The four (4) internal line positions on all PUNT and FGPAT defenses (including defenses for fake attempts) must be occupied by defensive linemen (DL). These do not have to be the same DL as originally included in the stock play.

NOTE - FBPro '98 stock plays do NOT include DL in all of these positions and are therefore illegal. A custom play must be created with the proper players in the front four spots.

F3. Substitutions may be freely made on any special teams play, as long as it does not cause a violation of rules F1 and/or F2.

F4. In leagues using the FBPro Federation or VPNFL matrix for player attribute ratings, a kicker (K) may never be used to punt the ball, or in a fake punt play. A punter (P) must receive the snap in all such plays. This is due to differences in how the two positions are rated.



Section G – SPECIAL RULES FOR Football Pro '98

G1. The "Deion Sanders Amendments"

G2a. Position changes from WR to CB, or vice versa, are not allowed.

G2b. No defensive players may be used in the creation of an offensive play, and no offensive players may be used in the creation of a defensive play.