|
If you understand and enjoy the "real" game of football, this is a quick game to learn and is easy to play so come by the demo, add it to your schedule, and plan to learn and play another game - it's a fun and relatively quick game!
Heats: Multiple Single Elimination (HMSE): Players may play in and win more than one Heat but can qualify for only one place in the final event standings. Should a single player win both Heats, that person will automatically be the champion of this event. Other places will be decided based on number of entrants in each Heat followed by any head-to-head results, common opponents. Ties will be broken in favor of the Heat with the larger number of entrants in it. Should both heats have the same number of entrants, the first Heat will be in favor over the second Heat.
MATCH-UPS DETERMINED: The initial bracket for each Heat will be determined by dividing the entrants into two groups. The first group will consist of the players with the highest published AREA ratings for Football Strategy while the second group will include the players with the lowest AREA ratings for this game. The AREA ratings used for this process will be based on what is published on the AREA website at the start of the WBC convention if that is available. If that website is not available, the ratings will be based on what is published in the latest published AREA rating pamphlet that is usually available for distribution at the sign-up desk of the convention.
The match-ups for the first round of the Heat will be based on a random drawing of a card by each player in their respective group. You’ll be matched up with the player from the other group that drew the same number that you did. All subsequent rounds will follow the bracket from that drawing unless there is a need for a redraw due to a player deciding not to continue in the event or any other valid reason. Any needed redraw for a subsequent round of either Heat will just be a straight redraw of the remaining participants without dividing them into the two groups.
MOST IMPORTANT RULE: Have fun, you're playing a game!
RULE CHANGES STARTING 2025RULE CHANGES THAT STARTED IN 2025 AND CONTINUUNG IN 2026::
- Due to the NFL rule changes that were implemented for this past season, you will not be able to attempt an on-sides kick until the 4th quarter. You must be trailing in the game to attempt an on-sides kick
- Due to the poor recovery rate of on-sides kicks in the NFL, we will utilize 2d6 and the chart noted below: (Yard lines are on the kickers side of the 50 yard-line. Also, there are no more die roll modifications.)
- Due to the continued excellence of modern-day kickers in the NFL, we will be using a modified chart for PAT & field goal attempts compared to prior years. The 2025 chart is also noted below: (LG -5 is a long gain roll by the defender. The ball is marked from 5 yards deep in their own end zone.)
| Point after Touchdown and Field Goals |
|
PAT |
1-12 |
13-22 |
23-32 |
33-38 |
39-45 |
| PCT |
94% |
97% |
92% |
78% |
69% |
25% |
| 2 |
NG |
NG |
NG |
NG |
NG |
Lg -5 |
| 3 |
G |
G |
NG |
NG |
NG |
NG |
| 4 |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
NG |
NG |
| 5 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
NG |
| 6 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
| 7 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
| 8 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
| 9 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
| 10 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
G |
| 11 |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
G |
G |
| 12 |
NG |
G |
G |
G |
NG |
NG |
|
| |
| Onside Kickoff |
| 2 |
Kicking - 46 |
| 3 |
Receiving - 49 |
| 4 |
Receiving - 48 |
| 5 |
Receiving - 47 |
| 6 |
Receiving - 46 |
| 7 |
Receiving - 45 |
| 8 |
Receiving - 44 |
| 9 |
Receiving - 43 |
| 10 |
Receiving - 42 |
| 11 |
Receiving - 41 |
| 12 |
Kicking - 47 |
OTHER RULE CLARIFICATIONS:
- Plays that gain exactly 20 yards that are inbounds use 45 seconds of game clock unless a timeout is called in which case the play will use 15 seconds of time
- A play that has a result plus a penalty as a choice for either coach will use 15 seconds of game clock regardless of whether or not the penalty is accepted or not. For example, the play #4 with a defense of F, uses 15 seconds of game time even if the offense selects the +7 yards result
- Interceptions that are on or beyond the back of the 10-yard end zone are considered Incomplete passes. For example, if the offensive coach has the ball on the 15-yard line and call play #9 and the defender has defense G, the ball is intercepted out-of-bounds so this play is considered Incomplete and uses only 15 seconds of game clock
- Punts that go 10 or more yards past the goal line cannot be returned and are automatically touchbacks that gives the receiving team the ball at their own 20-yard line
- Punts that touch the goal line or go into the end zone less than 10 yards can utilize the return result OR the receiving team’s coach can choose to take a knee instead of returning the ball. When they take a knee, the result is a touchback
- 2-point conversion attempts take place from the 2-yard line
- Missed field goal attempts will result in the defending team getting the ball 8 yards beyond the previous line of scrimmage or the 20-yard line whichever is further from the defending goal line
- Kickoff results where there is initially a FUMBLE result followed by a LONG GAIN result on the second roll, will have the fumble take place at the end of the long gain return (roll on the LONG GAIN chart to determine this result) with the kicker having the ball at that yard line. If the long gain would have been a touchdown for the receiving team without the fumble, this result assumes that the returner fumbled the ball into and thru the opposing end zone before crossing into the end zone and so the kicker would get the ball at their OWN 20-yard line due to the resulting touchback
- Standard game rules will be modified to add a two-dice field goal chart and overtime rules will be modeled after the current NFL playoff rule.
Kickoff results where there is initially a PENALTY result followed by a LONG GAIN or LONG GAIN +5 result on the second roll, will have the penalty marked off from the WORST (from the returning team's perspective) of the Long Gain yard line or the 50-yard line if the return would have been beyond the 50-yard line
- Kickoff results where there is initially a PENALTY result followed by a FUMBLE result on the second roll, will have a third roll to determine the yard line of the fumble. At this point, the kicking team would decline the penalty and accept the result of the play which is a fumbled kickoff recovered by the kicking team
- Overtime rule:
- If the team that receives the Overtime kickoff scores a touchdown or if the defending team scores a safety, the game is over
- If the team that receives the Overtime kickoff gets a field goal on their initial possession, the other team will get a possession to try and answer the score
- If the team with the ball first fails to score a touchdown on that opening possession, the game proceeds with Sudden Death rules (first team to score, wins) from that point forward
- On-sides kicks are not permitted in Overtime ecause you must be trailing to attempt one
Byes:
If needed due to an odd number of players in a particular round within either Heat, byes will be given to former champions in reverse order of the most recent champion. A player may receive only a single bye in the event and if they decide to decline the offer of a bye, the bye will be offered to the next former champion and so on. Once declined, a bye cannot later be claimed. If no former champions are eligible for a bye when one is needed, a die roll will take place to determine which player will get the bye.
PLEASE BRING A COPY OF THE GAME if you have one. Charts and score sheets will be provided by the GM to accommodate all entrants.
Links:
