rules

About
The Spring Football League is a virtual simulation league full of online owners who draft, sign, and trade players to their respected franchise.

Simulation
Games are simulated using Action! PC Football by Dave Koch Sports. We acknowledge the existence of all professional football leagues in real time.

Ownership Fees
The current ownership fees are $10 per team. Fees are due on November 1st of each season.

Off-Season Roster Limit
Prior to the start of training camp each team is allowed 70 players on their offseason roster.

First Roster Cutdown
In the second week of the preseason, teams to cut down to 60 players.

Second Roster Cutdown
Prior to the beginning of the regular season, teams must cut players to reach the roster cap of 50 players.

Maximum Cap
Under the collective bargaining agreement between the players association and owners, the maximum salary cap is set to a percentage of total football revenue. This season the figure was 61.54 percent. This figure translates to a dollar amount of $40 million per team.

Minimum Cap
Under the collective bargaining agreement between the players association and owners, the minimum salary cap is set to a percentage of the maximum salary cap. This season the figure was 75 percent of the $40 million salary cap. This figure translates to a dollar amount of $30 million per team. No team can spend less than this amount on player salaries.

Signing Bonus
Signing bonus are paid to the player upon signing but are prorated for life of contract against the Salary Cap. For example, a player signs a four year contact with a $4 million signing bonus. This bonus then counts $1 million per year against the salary cap.

Calculations
The players base salary and prorated signing bonus are added together and count against the teams salary cap for the current season. For example, a player's base salary is $250 thousand and his prorated signing bonus is $1 million the teams cap hit would be $1.25 million for the current year.

Penalties
No player contracts are guaranteed. When a player is released the team is no obligated to pay him any of the base salaries left on his contract. However, the signing bonus are a way for a player to get money up front. Singing bonuses are paid to the player upon signing his contract but are prorated over the life of the contract. For example, a player signs a four year contact with a $4 million signing bonus. This bonus then counts $1 million per year against the salary cap. But if the player is released after the second year of the contract the signing bonus is accelerated so that $2 million is counted against the cap in the third year.

Signing Players
Contract offers must be submitted in the following format:

Franchise Offers:
Last Name, First Name Pos. Height Weight College Process of Aquiring
Terms: 1st yr Salary-2nd Yr Salary-3rd Yr Salary ($Signing Bonus/Years of Contract) CAP: $Cap Total

Offers not submitted in the correct format will be considered an unacceptable offer and ignored.

Releasing Players
Player released must be submitted in the following format:

Franchise releases:
Last Name, First Name Pos. Height Weight College Process of Aquiring
Terms: 1st yr Salary-2nd Yr Salary-3rd Yr Salary ($Signing Bonus/Years of Contract) CAP: $Cap Total

Cuts not submitted in the correct format will be considered an unacceptable release and ignored.

Trading Players
All parties must send an e-mail to confirm the details of the trade offer. Trades must be submitted in the following format:

Team A Sends the following players to Team B:
Last Name, First Name Pos. Height Weight College Process of Aquiring
Terms: 1st yr Salary-2nd Yr Salary-3rd Yr Salary ($Signing Bonus/Years of Contract) CAP: $Cap Total

Team A Receives the following players from Team B:
Last Name, First Name Pos. Height Weight College Process of Aquiring
Terms: 1st yr Salary-2nd Yr Salary-3rd Yr Salary ($Signing Bonus/Years of Contract) CAP: $Cap Total

Trades not submitted in the correct format will be considered invalid.

Under the current league alignment of 2 conferences, four divisions and 16 teams.

Number of Teams
Four teams from each conference will enter the postseason.

Seeding
The four postseason participants from each conference are seeded as follows:

1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The Wild Card club with the best record.
4. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.

Divisional Playoffs
The number 2 seed will host the number 3 seed in the early game. The 1 seed will host the number 4 seed in the late game.

Conference Championships
The highest remaining seed will host conference championship game against next highest remaining seed.

League Championship
The last two remaining teams will meet to conclude the season in the Grand Finale at a neutral site. In even number years the Eastern Conference Champion will be the home team, the Western Conference Champion will be the home team in odd numbered years.

Division Tie-Breakers
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won- lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

1. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
4. Best net points in all games.
5. Best net touchdowns in all games.
6. Coin toss

Wildcard Tie-Breakers
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps:

1. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
4. Best net points in all games.
5. Best net touchdowns in all games.
6. Coin toss.