For the prospective new owners of QFL Nation, here is a summary of our rules (the official Constitution is still being updated).
Executive Summary of the QFL Constitution
Overview:
The Quince Football League and QFL School of fantasy football keeper league’s, uses a system of rules that, as closely as possible, mimics NFL rules, including a salary cap, a rookie-only draft, practice squad, injured reserve and restricted free agent player contracts.
Following the first year of play when all players are available in an auction format, there is an annual non-keeper free agent auction with a separate rookie-only draft. Each team can keep up to 8 players year to year (plus two additional players if they qualify for the “Europe†extra keeper rule). Each player is signed to either a free agent or rookie contract (see contract advancement schedule for more detail). There are 12 teams divided into 3 divisions. Division opponents play each other twice during the regular season (which is 13 weeks). Non-division match-ups are determined by random draw. You start 8 players in one of 7 (really 8 ) optional offensive formations. Play is head-to-head. Playoffs are weeks 14, 15, 16.
Scoring:
- Passing TDs are 4 points (INT = -2). Rushing/Receiving TDs are 6 points. You get an extra point for TDs over 40 yards.
- -2 for fumbles lost.
- Passing Yards are .02 points per yard (50yds = 1pt). Rushing/Receiving Yards are .04 points per yard (25yds = 1 pt). You get 2 extra points for a 300 yard passing game and 2 extra points for a 100 yard rushing/receiving game.
- Rushing Attempts: 20 attempts are awarded 1 point. 30 attempts are 2 points.
- Receptions: 1-3 receptions are 1 pt. 4-6 is 2 pts. 7-9 is 3 pts. Over 10 is 4 pts
- 2 Pt Conversion: 2 points for pass, reception or rush
- Defensive Unit Scoring is based on points allowed, yards allowed, fumble recoveries, interceptions, sacks, safeties and touchdowns (no tackles). See page 10 of Constitution for full defensive unit scoring details.
Offensive Set Options:
I-Back — 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1D
Wishbone — 1 QB, 3 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1D
Run & Shoot — 1 QB, 1 RB, 4 WR, 0 TE, 1 K, 1D
Goal Line — 1 QB, 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE, 1K, 1 D
Short Yardage — 1 QB, 1 RB, 2WR, 2 TE, 1 K, 1 D
3rd Down — 1 QB, 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D
3rd Down(A) — 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 K, 1 D (not codified in Constitution but allowed under common law)
H-Back — 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 0 TE, 1 K, 1 D
Roster Compliance:
Each team must always adhere to the following minimum position requirements:
2 QBs
2 RBs
1 WR
2 any combination TEs or WRs
1 K
2 D/ST Unit
The minimum number of players on an active roster is 16. Prior to week 5 the maximum number of players allowed on an active roster is 18 (not including practice squad and injured reserve).  From week 1 thru week 4 you are allowed an unlimited number of players on your roster provided you do not exceed the $100 salary cap.
After any roster transaction a team has 24 hours to make its roster compliant. Failure to make a roster compliant within 24 hours will result in a $2 real money fine. Rosters can only be made compliant by waiving players. A team cannot waive free agents just signed during free agency to make its roster compliant after free agency. Additional trades or additional free agency moves are illegal until a team’s roster is compliant by waiving a player.
Regular Season Play:
Teams will play head-to-head on a weekly basis. The highest scoring team wins. The regular season is 13 weeks long.
The Free Agent Auction:
The salary cap is $100. The team with the highest salary offer (bid) for a player signs the player to a standard contract in the amount of the salary offer.
Rookie Draft:
Starting in year two there is a rookie-only draft held following the free agent auction. There are 2 rounds of 12 selections. The selection order is the same for both rounds. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the Losers’ Playoff Bracket select in order of Loser Bracket placing. The remaining teams select in order of regular season final standings, lowest to highest.
Player Contracts: (See also contract advancement schedule)
Players signed during the auction or regular season free agency receive a standard 2-year contract. Teams may exercise a third-year option on a player’s standard 2-year contract for a 25 percent raise on the standard 2-year contract salary.
Rookie contract salaries are determined by draft order. The first and second overall pick is $4. The third and fourth is $3. The fifth and sixth is $2. The seventh to twenty fourth overall picks are $1. Rookie contracts double each year for three years. In year 4 the rookie contract converts to a standard two-year contract at the average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position (if the owner wishes).
Restricted Free Agency:
A player is no longer under contract after year 3 but a team may restrict the player’s free agency with a transition or franchise tag. Restricted free agent tags may only be used after year 2 or 3 of a standard contract. Restricted free agent tags may only be used after year 3 of a rookie contract.
Transition Players –
Each team is allowed 2 transition players on its roster at any point in time. Transition players are considered free agents at the free agent auction, but the transitioning team has the right to match the highest bid for the player. Bidding begins at the players’ previous year salary. The transitioning team may elect to match the highest bid or receive a second-round rookie pick from the team that signs the player. The team giving up the rookie pick chooses which rookie pick they exchange (if there is a choice).
Franchise Players –
Each team is allowed 1 franchise player on its roster at any point in time. Franchise players are considered free agents at the free agent auction, but the franchising team has the right to match the highest bid for the player. Bidding begins at the average of the top 3 salaries at the player’s position. The franchising team may elect to match the highest bid or receive two first-round rookie picks from the team that signs the player. Again, the team giving up the rookie picks chooses which rookie pick they give up (if there is a choice).
Practice Squad:
A team may place a maximum 2 players on its practice squad at any point during the season. Practice squad players salaries do not count against the salary cap. Practice squad players do not count towards any roster minimums or roster maximums. Only players with contracts of $2 or $1 may be placed on the practice squad. Any practice squad player that has been activated may not be reassigned to the practice squad.
Injured Reserve:
Teams may place a maximum 2 players on injured reserve (I.R.) at any given time during the season. I.R. players’ salaries do count against the salary cap. I.R. players do not count towards any roster minimums or roster maximums. There is no salary cap limit on I.R. players. I.R. players may not be re-activated.
QFL Europe:
Each team may designate a maximum 2 players to QFL Europe each season. QFL Europe players must be placed on a team’s practice squad by the week 4 cut-down date and at that time designated for QFL Europe. A team may not designate a player to QFL Europe if the player has started for the team in the current season. Any player on a team’s QFL Europe squad at the end of the season may be kept in addition to the standard 8 keepers. If at any time during the season the player is recalled from QFL Europe and placed on the active roster (even if the player does not start) the player loses the QFL Europe designation.
Regular Season Free Agency:
Players that are not signed to a contract at the annual auction are available as free agents. On a weekly basis (Wednesdays) during the regular season, blind bids are accepted (via software application that manages the league) on any player not on a team’s roster and not on waivers. When multiple teams make a bid on the same player, the highest bid receives the player. When multiple teams place the same bid on a free agent, the lowest ranked team in the standings receives the player.
Waiver Wire:
On a weekly basis (Tuesdays) all waived players may be claimed off waivers before they become unrestricted free agents open to bidding. When multiple teams claim a player off waivers, the lowest ranked team in the standings receives the player. Players are signed from waivers under their existing contract.
Trades:
Players are traded under their existing contract. Trades must include at least 1 player or draft pick from each team. “Future considerations†may be included in trades. 3 games must pass before teams can trade players back to each other. Trades can be cancelled unilaterally only if a player received in the trade is determined to have been injured prior to the trade and only if invoked within 24 hours. Players may be traded between QFL Europe squads and the QFL Europe designations remains intact. Teams are not allowed to pay portions of players’ salaries as a condition of a trade. Players may be traded from I.R. and the I.R. designation does not transfer. Only draft picks in the next two rookie drafts may be traded. Trading is closed from before week 12 to after the Super Bowl. Trading is also closed during the annual auction. However, trading is allowed during the rookie draft and all other times during the season except between kickoff of the week’s first game and 8:00 A.M. Monday morning.
Playoffs:
The top 6 teams in the regular season play in the “winner bracketâ€. The bottom 6 teams play in the “loser bracketâ€.
Week 14: 1st & 2nd place teams have a bye as usual. 3rd place team
plays 6th place and 4th plays 5th
Week 15: 1st place teams plays lowest seeded winner from week 14. The
2nd place team plays the higher seeded winner from week 14. Week 14 losers have a bye.
Week 16: The winners in week 15 play for the Quince Bowl Championship.
The losers in week 15 play for 3rd and 4th place. The losers in week 14 play for 5th and 6th place.
Week 17: There are no games week 17
Fees:
Team Fee-
The entry fee is determined on a league by league basis.
Transaction Fees –
$1 for each player signed as a free agent
$1 for each player moved from a team roster in a trade
$1 for each player waived from a team roster
$1 for each player placed on a team practice squad
$1 for each player placed on a team injured reserved
Slaggers’ Dues –
At the end of the regular season, the 3rd – through 12th-placed teams in total point rankings will pay $0.25 into the Pot for each point they trail the second highest point total in the league. At the end of the regular season the team with the lowest weekly score pays an extra $20.00 into the Pot. The 4th-, 5th- and 6th-place teams in the losers’ bracket contribute $10.00, $20.00, and $30.00, respectively, into the Pot. The 6th-place team in the winner bracket pays the 5th-placed team $20.00.
Fines –
The fine for the first roster violation is $2.00 paid to the Pot. The fine doubles for each subsequent violation.
Prizes:
Playoff Winnings –
The playoff winnings pool is the sum of all dues collected and any special income of the league, minus the amount of any league expenses, minus the prize money for the post-season challenge.
Weekly Skins –
7.7 percent shares (“skinsâ€) of the year-end Pot (sum of transaction fees, slaggers’ dues and fines) are awarded to teams based on highest weekly point performance. In weeks 1 and 2 the team with the highest points total for the week wins a “skinâ€. Beginning week 3 a team must beat the weekly average high point total to win the “skinâ€. Weekly skins are carried over from week-to-week until a team wins the skin and at that time also wins any carryover skins. In week 13 the highest point total wins the weekly skin and any carryover skins.
Parallel League System:
The parallel league system is how all QFL Leagues compete with one another. It’s a sweetener for winning your own League’s Championship. All QFL League Champions have their points scored from all playoff games totaled. The highest combined score wins $450, the second highest scoring League champion wins $300, and the third highest scoring wins $150. If a fourth League is added the amounts go up proportionally. Other than this prize pool available to each QFL League Champion the leagues are completely independent.
A $25.00 fee is levied upon all teams that participate in the QFL Parallel League System to finance a Prize Pool.
All parallel leagues agree to be subject to the rules of the QFL Constitution and any changes made thereto by the QFL general membership. All parallel leagues agree to use the same administrative software (at this time http://allstar.rotoworld.com/).
Any variance to the QFL Constitution by a parallel league must be approved by the Competition Committee of the QFL.
Post-Season Tournament: (optional)
An additional amount of money equal to 18.18% of yearly dues is levied to finance a
post-season tournament with the following rules:
i) A regular starting line-up of 8 players is selected before the playoffs
ii) Any player on any active roster is eligible
iii) There are no restrictions on teams having the same players.
iv) The salary cap is determined as the average starting line-up salary in the Quince Bowl
v) Each player’s salary is their current QFL salary
vi) The QFL scoring system is used but points are cumulative throughout the playoffs
vii) The tie-breaker is choosing the winner and over/under of the NFL Super Bowl
viii) Tie-breakers are submitted with the 8-player lineup
ix) Teams that do not submit their tie-breakers will forfeit any tie
x) In case of an absolute tie, the Pot will be divided evenly between the winners
xi) The winner(s) receives the entire Pot generated by the 18.18% levy
Shades