|
2004
MWS Rules Now In Place
After
much debate and deliberation, the MWS Competition Committee released
its recommendations to the MWS Community for vote in February.
Five items were on the docket including rules governing the movement
of linemen, a 4th down rule, regulation on the HB pass, regulations
on WR motioning and the subbing of LB's at DE.
Two
pieces of legislation drew a considerable amount of debate, the
WR motioning rule and the 4th rule. The community seemed to have
mixed emotions about the WR motioning rule. Proponents of the
rule feel it is desperately needed because defensive coverage
problems will happen if regulations are not implemented. "....without
this Rule, it's gonna be a Glitch-Fest," states J-Dub of
the Bay Are Madden Ballers Associate. "I don't know about
you, but I have always waited for the DB to at least clear the
last person because I know if I don't, that DB will get Glitched
all the way back to The Locker Room. Opponents of the rule such
as the UMF's Chairman feel differently. "My only problem
with the motion rule is that I have to wait for the DB to cross
the line as well.......I believe we should only have to worry
about the receiver. Waiting on the Db is only going to cause a
lot of problems," stated the Nationals veteran who has been
in attendance at the big dance since Nationals III.
The
fourth down rule also drew criticism from the community. Ballers
such as Pasadena Soldier and Bulldog feel as though it takes the
coaching element out of the game. While other community veterans
such as Coach K, and Afroman think it was a long needed rule that
needed to be addressed.
"Personally,
I'm not in favor of the rule either," states tournament director
The Swammi. "But I do applaud 3rd and Long and the rest of
the community for the excellent work they have done. They were
charged with a job, and it was done fair and efficiently, and
to me that is more important than whether it was done to my favor,
or in concert with my opinion."
3rd
& Long, MWS Committee Chair also thinks the rule will benefit
game play. "It's not about leveling the playing field as
some ballers are saying. It's more so about trying to get closer
to realistic game play. It doesn't get us there completely, but
it gets us closer." The rule was approved by a 60-20 margin.
"I
think the community has to realize that voting for MWS rules is
just like voting in the national elections," The Swammi went
on to state. "If we want a certain President in office, it
is up to us individually to stay abreast of his agenda, his platform,
the latest political issues, and most importantly, when the elections
are. Then we must vote and live with the results. If a law is
passed because of poor turnout or an official is elected because
of a low voter turn out, we have to live with that until the next
election. As long as we are operating as a democracy in the MWS
as far as rules go, we will have to stay abreast of the issues
and exercise our right to vote. Hopefully this becomes an experience
we can learn from for the future."
The
new MWS rules have been added to the 2004
MWS rules handbook and are now in effect.
Complete
Ballot Results From MWS Rules Voting
ITEM
1: Defensive lineman must be in a 3 point stance when
not under the control of the defensive player at the time the
offensive opponent snaps the ball.
Item FAILED/50 yes votes/ 33 no votes/and 0 revise votes.
ITEM
2: The Competition Committee recommends the MWS adopts
the following rule governing 4th down situations:
On all 4th downs, the offensive player is required to punt the
ball. The offense may attempt the 4th down conversion only when
the following scenarios apply:
a) The offense has 4th down and 2 or less yards to go anywhere
on the field
b) 4th and 3 or more, you must be inside the opponents territory
(goaline to 49 yd. line)
c) at any point in the fourth quarter when trailing.
NOTE* with 2 mins in the half or 2 mins in the
game their is no 4th down rule.
Item passed/60 yes votes/ 20 no votes/ and 3 revise votes.
ITEM 3: Amend the current MWS substitution rules
to allow Outside Linebackers to be substituted for Defensive Ends
in the Dime OR Nickel formations. The rule only apply's to OLB's
and DE's.
Item FAILED/38 yes votes/ 39 no votes/6 votes to revise.
ITEM 4: In passing situations only, when motioning
a wide receiver, both the offensive player in motion and the defensive
player trailing in man coverage must clear the last player line
up on the line of scrimmage. Although a defensive player may not
in trailing position in some zone coverages, the receiver must
still clear the last offensive player on the line of scrimmage.
Item PASSED/68 yes votes/ 9 no votes/6 votes to revise.
ITEM 5: When executing the HB Pass play, the
offensive player is allow to pass and is prohibited from exercising
the run option.
Item PASSED/65 yes votes/ 18 no votes/ 0 votes to revise.
|