HANDBOOK FOR THE 2001 MADDEN GAMES

 

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP

I. - A. APPLICATION

Each member shall complete and submit the required application to the tournament director prior to entering the tournament. The application is located at . An entry fee may be required to participate in order to off set the cost of the expenses for the tournament and to provide a monetary prize for the winners. Players will not be recognized as officially entered until the payment of the registration fee is received by the tournament director. In some cases, on site registrations will be accepted.

I - B. Prize Money

A cash prize will be awarded to the tournament winner and tournament runner up. The prize money shall be based on the number of tournament participants minus expenses for administering the tournament. The prize money shall be based on the following formula:

1st Place - 60% of the payout
2nd Place - 40% of the payout
There will not be a 3rd place game.

ARTICLE II - CONDUCT OF MEETINGS/EVENTS

II. - A. GENERAL RULES:.

A General Business meeting will be held the night prior to the official start of the games. All business meetings will be governed by the standard operating procedures found in Robert Rules Of Order. NO TOURNAMENT RULES SHALL BE CHANGED AT THE OWNERS MEETING. Rules, policies/procedures not covered in the 2001 Madden Games handbook may be voted on and approved at this meeting.

II. - B. PROCESS OF MOTIONS

Procedures for the conduct of Business Meetings are:
1. Motions from the floor shall be submitted to the chair for presentation to the assembly.
2. Motions properly seconded will be accepted for discussion, and then put to vote.
3. Proxy voting is not allowed.
4. Motions shall be passed with a simple MAJORITY

II. C. GENERAL CONDUCT OF A TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT

Each participant is expected to display conduct that of an exemplary standard. Good sportsmanship, League honor, respect and pride is demanded from all members. The tournament director reserves the right to ban any participant from play based on any violations of the code of conduct.

ARTICLE III - COMPETITION

I. A. ORGANIZATION

1. ALIGNMENT

Participants in the tourney shall be grouped for round robin play by the tournament director. Grouping shall be done based on the order in which ballers sign up and the following other parameters:
1. Like league members are in separate groups.
2. Like franchises are in separate groups.
3. Power matches from previous years are avoided (i.e. Wink vs. Candyman)
4. Potential Power Matches avoided. (League champ vs. another League champ)

2. PARITY

In an effort to keep competition balanced, the tournament director reserves the right to move, reassign, or make changes to any round robin grouping.

3. Round Robin Pairings

All groups will have four or more ballers. The tournament scheduling chair reserves the right to reorganize the groups at any time. In the event of a no show, the tournament scheduling chair may combine two or more groups together to form one super round robin group. See the example below:

Group A	Group B
XR 2000	Teddy B!
2 Bold	Top Gun
T Philly White	X
Papo Swing	DaBillster

If 2 Bold was a no show from group A, and X was a no show from Group B, the two groups would still play within their bracket, consequently, each baller would only have two games played. To obtain a third game the following shall be applied:

The two ballers with the best record in each group would play the baller with the worst record from the opposite group. I.E.

Group A	Group B
XR 2000 (2-0)	Teddy B! (2-0)
2 Bold (DNP)	Top Gun (1-1)
T Philly White (1-1)	X (DNP)
Papo Swing (0-2)	DaBillster (0-2)

The last game of the RR would be: XR 2000 vs. DaBillster, T-Philly vs. Top Gun, Teddy B! vs. Papo Swing. The objective of this scenario is to give all ballers the change to play 3 games, thus eliminating the potential for advancement via forfiet. This example is applicable for super groups of more than 8 ballers if necessary.

4. Team Selection

Participants may select from any of the 31 current NFL teams available on the current issue of the Madden Software. Classic, modified or code enhanced teams will be prohibited in tournament play.

a. Alternate Teams - Coaches may use alternate teams throughout the tournament at their discretion, however, each coach must designate a primary team for play in the round robins. Thus, when opponents meet in the round robin, like team matchups must be avoided. Any coach that selects an alternate team which in turn causes a like match up (Packers v. Packers) the forestated coach must resort to his primary team for competition in that particular game.

b. Coaches may use alternate teams at any point during the round robin as long as like matchup are avoided.

c. Tournament Play - Once the single elimination tournament begins, like team matchups are permitted.

I. B. ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULING

1. Scheduling for The Madden Games will be done by the tournament director. Round Robin scheduling shall consist of each baller facing each member of his group at least once giving him a total of AT LEAST 3 games in the round robin series. For Example, in group A the schedule would be very similar to this:

Group A would consist of 4 Ballers: X, DaBlister, Matt P, and 2 Bold.

Time	Game Monitor	Match Up
11:00 AM	A	X vs. DaBlister
11:00 AM	B	Matt P vs. 2 Bold
12:00 Noon	H	X vs. Matt P
12:00 Noon	I	DaBlister vs. 2 Bold
2:00 PM	E	X vs. 2 Bold
2:00 PM	F	DaBlister vs. Matt P

 

The team with the best record shall advance to the single elimination tournament. 16 at large bids will be awarded based on records in the round robin and point differential. The other teams are welcome to watch the action, sightsee, go home, or get some side games going.
In the event of a tie, (more than one team is 2-1), the teams with the highest point differential in the round robin series will advance. It is not possible for more than one team to go 3-0 in a group.

2. All Games shall be played according to the scheduled dates and times and established by the tournament director.

3. As a courtesy coaches should be at the tournament site at least 15 mins. prior to a scheduled kickoff.

4. Each team is responsible for submitting it's statistics to the Chief Statistician immediately after the completion of a game.

I. C. SINGLE ELIMINATION BRACKET SCHEDULING

Based on 36 participants, the tournament tree would appear as shown below:

Players will be seeded by the overall best tournament record and point differential. For example:

1 Seed - 3-0 - 55 point differential
2 Seed - 3-0 - 48 point differential
3 Seed - 3-0 - 42 point differential
4 Seed - 3-0 - 36 point differential

Also, the teams with the lower records would be seeded at the bottom of the tournament bracket.

9 Seed, 2-1 - 34 point differential
8 Seed, point differential
7 Seed, point differential
6 Seed, 2 - 1 - 4 point differential

In order to accommodate 36 participants, byes have been added. The byes go to the top 4 seeds. The lowest seeds (based on worst RR record and lowest point differential) will compete in "play in" games to play their way into the tourney to face a top seed.

The top 36 teams will be divided by region in order to balance the brackets. The overall top 4 seeds in the tournament would in effect be top seeds in each individual region. Thus based on last years seeds the seeds would have been assigned as follows:
1. Winky White - Region I
2. Pasadena Soldier - Region II
3. PC - Region IV
4. Terminatorxxx - Region IV
Consequently the seeding will be continued as:
5, 6, 7, 8 overall would = 2 regional seed
9, 10, 11, 12 overall = 3 regional seed
13, 14, 15, 16 overall =4 regional seed
17, 18, 19, 20 overall = 5 regional seed
21, 22, 23, 24 overall = 6 regional seed
25, 26, 27, 28 overall = 7 regional seed
29, 30, 31, 32 overall = 8 regional seed
33, 34, 35, 36 overall = 9 regional seed

In an effort to prevent early like league matchups, the tournament scheduling director reserves the right to move like seeds from one region to another. For example if Ron Wilborn of the BFL was a 5 seed designated for Region I, he would have a potentail matchup vs. Winky White, based on last years seeds. In an effor to avoid this, the tournament scheduling chair, reserves the right to move Ron Wilborn to Region II to avoid this conflict. The tournament scheduling committee will do all that it can, while keeping the fairness of the entire field in mind, to prevent like league matchups from occuring before the quarterfinals. Any like league matchups after that point (The final 8) will be scheduled to occur without change. Once seeding has been done, and single elimination play begins, re-seeding will be prohibited. Under no circumstances shall the brackets be arranged or re-arrange to accomodate any individual or leagues.

I. D. ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

In order for a baller to make it to the championship game, he must play at least 3 round robin games, a first round, second round, quarterfinal, and semi final tournament game for a total of 7 games. The Championship would be game 8.

II. - A. GAME PLAY

1. HARDWARE

Competition shall occur on a PSX2 Unit.

2. SOFTWARE

Official Madden Games Sanctioned Tournaments can only be played on the most recent version of John Madden Football by EA Sports.

3. GAME LENGTH

Round Robin games shall be scheduled at six (6) minute quarters. The first round, quarterfinal, semifinal games of the single elimination tournament shall be scheduled at eight (8) minute quarters. The Madden Games Championship shall be scheduled at ten (10) minute quarters. Included in each game shall be a five minute half-time. Only if BOTH teams agree to forego the use of a half-time period, shall the game continue without interruption. If both opponents agree, the tournament director will schedule media time outs where appropriate for games broadcast via internet or any other media.

4. Game Settings

Game Settings shall be defined as - any feature that may be adjusted to manipulate the overall performance of the game itself. These settings may be identified as, but are not limited to: Skill Level, Camera Angles, Weather Conditions, Injuries, Fatigue, Penalties, Artificial Intelligence, and any other features not listed herein that may be manipulated as deemed so by the tournament director. Games not played according to the prescribed settings shall be considered null and void if revealed during a tournament game at any point before the start of the third quarter regardless of the score. After the kickoff of the second half, all games must be played in its entirety and those results shall be made final, regardless of the appropriateness or inappropriateness of any game setting. This includes but it not limited to weather conditions, camera angles, skill levels or any other setting as properly defined.

Skill Level -- All tournament games shall be set to and played on the All Madden Level.
Camera Angles - The official view for all tournament games shall be the Madden Cam
Other Game Settings -- All tournament games shall be played with the following game settings:
Weather - Fair
Penalty Levels - Default
AI Levels - Default

Quick Passing and Player Lock - The use of quick passing and player lock features will be permitted on an individual basis.

Home Teams - In round robin play, home or away games shall be determined by the winner of a coin toss. In tournament play, the high seed has the choice whether to play at home or away. Any stadium may be used for game play as long as it does not compromise the default settings of the game.

5. TEAM ROSTERS

Teams shall play with rosters included in the software when the game was shipped. Manipulated, enhanced or modified rosters are prohibited for use in the Madden Games.

6. USER PROFILES/MEMORY CARDS

a. Profile Cards - Shall not be inserted into the PS2 Unit, until the game software is properly loaded.
b. Substitutions - Players may be substituted freely on either side of the ball at the discretion of the coach with the exception being the quarterback position. Only quarterback for quarterback substitutions are allowed. In the event of an injury to quarterbacks 1 & 2 on the depth chart, an emergency 3rd quarterback may be freely selected.
c. Team Playbooks - A coach may implement a game plan from any of the standard playbooks shipped with the current version of the game.

7. GENERAL DECORUM

a. Coaching, suggestions, or helpful hints whether verbally or by gesture, are not allowed during a tournament game. Violators shall be referred to the tournament director for possible disqualification from the tournament.

b. Walking in front of the game monitor (TV) while the game is in progress is considered a MAJOR infraction of tournament decorum and may result in that individual being referred to the tournament director.

c. Audibles and game substitutions are permissible at the start of the game, and at half-time without penalty. Audibles and Substitutions set at any other time will require the said coach to use a time-out. A coach has a maximum time of 60 seconds to set audibles/substitutions once the time out has been called. This does not include the time allotted on the play clock. Opposing players SHOULD allow for privacy during the setting of audibles.

d. Smoking is prohibited inside the arena of all tournament events.

e. As a courtesy coaches should arrive to their scheduled games at least 15 minutes prior to kickoff.

8. GAME STOPPAGE

1. Inadvertent/Advertent Game Stoppage
Any player stopping the game at any point during the game whether adverting or inadvertent must call a time out. Once a time-out has been called, a player has a maximum of sixty (60) seconds to spend that time-out in whatever manner so desired. In the event that the player committing the infraction does not have any time outs remaining, the following must occur:

a. If the player committing the infraction is on defense he must take a mandatory encroachment penalty until the offense receives an automatic first down.

b. If the player committing the infraction is on offense he must take two mandatory delay of games. (a 10 yard loss) If the stoppage causes the offense to relinquish the ball to the opponent (i.e. fourth down situation or turnover), and the offending player is now on offense, that player must take four stop clock plays to relinquish the ball back to the opponent.

c. If this infraction is at the end of a game whereby the consequences cannot be enforced, the game shall be referred to the tournament director. The tournament games council shall issue a resolution as to how the game shall end, or if it is to be replayed and that decision shall be FINAL.

3. Half-time./Two Minute Warnings - Included in each game shall be a five minute half-time. Only if BOTH teams agree to forego the use of a half-time period, shall the game continue without interruption. If both opponents agree, the tournament director will schedule media time outs where appropriate for games broadcast via Internet or any other media. The two minute warning may be used as an additional time-out to be used as the player wishes. Thus, the two minute warning may be used as any other time-out. (i.e., to substitute, change audibles, or as a period to rethink strategies, revue play books...etc.)

9. GAME MALFUNCTIONS

In the unlikely event of a game malfunction that is determined to be unavoidable, the game shall be reset using a manual situational set up system.

a. To perform a situational set up, the game will be set from the exact time, score, possession and field position in which the game was interrupted. Punting, stop clock plays, or other creative measure may be required by the tournament director to create the appropriate situational set up. The tournament director and his competition committee reserves the right to establish resolutions for unlikely situations that may occur, with the results of the resolution being made final.

Software Glitches and Other Programming Errors

When it has been determined by the Nationals Competition Committee, programming errors in the game software (glitches) may be identified as such and regulations may be rendered to prevent such errors from eroding the integrity of the competition at the Madden Games. Such errors have been identified as listed below with the appropriate guidelines included:

Special teams/punt glitch - It has been duly noted that when audibling from the max protect punt formation, to another play, then subsequently audibling back to the max protect punt formation, that this maneuvering causes the system software (AI) to react in an adverse manner, thus leaving the defense at a disadvantage. To alleviate the chances of this occurring in game play, any player that calls a max protect punt formation will be prohibited from audibling to another formation, and adding a subsequent audible to return to max protect formation. This maneuver is deemed to be inappropriate for game play and shall not be allowed. Violators shall be referred to the Nationals Competition committee for punitive actions.

Touchdown/Penalty Glitch - It has been duly noted that when a player scores, and their is a penalty infraction on the scoring play, this has been known to cause the software AI to react inappropriately thus placing the opposing team on the 2 yd. line in PAT formation. The Nationals Competition committee is still reviewing this malfunction and shall rendered a ruling once a equitable solution has been discovered.

10. Overtime

In the event a game is tied at the end of regulation, the game will extend into a sudden death overtime period. If a winner is still not declared at the end of the first overtime period, the game shall be extended into a second overtime period using the situational setup feature to create a 2nd, 3rd or as many overtime periods as needed. The situational setup overtimes shall adhere to standard overtime rules used regular game play.

III. - Addendum's/Amendments

Additions or amendments made be made to this handbook by the tournament director when no other procedure is outlined. The general membership may also vote and make amendments to the games handbook. No changes will be made to the handbook that have already been voted and approved prior to the start of the annual owners meetings.

 

Take Me To The Madden Forum For Comments