Items in red below are new for Year VIII.USFBKL Constitution - Year VIII
Items in red below are new for Year VIII.
#1 - PURPOSE:
To further our enjoyment and experience in playing the Strat-O-Matic basketball simulation game. All members should strive to maintain the integrity of the league and the highest standards of sportsmanship and ethics. Any participant that cannot meet these requirements will be removed from the USFBKL.
#2 - FORMAT:
The Ultimate Strat Fan Basketball League is a 16 team modern day, rookie draft, continuous ownership basketball league which started in 2003. USFBKL uses the latest version of the Strat-O-Matic Basketball game for Windows with the latest roster disks.
The format is: 2 conferences (Eastern / Western), and 2 divisions of 4 teams each in each conference.
The USFBKL operates 100% on the internet with all league files sent via email. The USFBKL operates in a block of games format with multiple games played in any given block. We play a 82 game regular season (41 home / 41 away).
Divisional winners and four wild-card teams per conference qualify for the post season to compete for the USFBKL Championship title.
The following game play settings will be used:
#3 - TEAMS & ROSTERS:
Each GM will operate a team with a maximum 15 man roster (the minimum is 12 with enough minutes rated at all 5 position). Each team is allowed to dress 12 players for each USFBKL game.
Before the start of each season, current GM's can elect to give up their current team and enter the team draft of open teams (including their team). GM's must commit to a switch of teams prior to a team draft. The GM's current team becomes an open team. The order of this draft is determined by points (the GM with the most points has the first choice of open teams.) Points are determined by:
The team draft is conducted in descending order of GM points until all GM's who wanted to switch have been given that choice. This all will be done quickly in a chat room.
#4 - MANAGEMENT & ORGANIZATION:
The success of the league depends on each member being accountable to meet scheduled deadlines. In order to ensure the league operates fairly and smoothly, the USFBKL has a Commissioner which conducts the day to day operations of the league.
#5 - TEAM SCHEDULES:
The USFBKL will play a 82 game regular season schedule.
Format:
DIVISIONAL GAMES: Each team will play teams in their same division 10 times, 5 H & 5 A (3 x 10 = 30 games).
CONFERENCE GAMES: Each team will play teams in the other division in the same conference 5 times, either 3 H & 2 A or 2 H & 3 A (4 x 5 = 20 games).
NON-CONFERENCE GAMES: Each team will play teams in the other conference 4 times, 2 H & 2 A (8 x 4 = 32 games).
#6 - GENERAL MANAGER'S DUTIES:
Each General Manager is expected to meet deadlines as it relates to sending in league results. There are other league events which will require your attendance for instance; an online draft at the beginning of each season and an online trading session which is held before the trading deadline.
To start the game, follow these instructions--
After you play a game, send the results as follows--
#7 - GAME PLAY RULES:
During the regular season, teams play their road games during the regular season. During the playoffs, teams play their home games.
For each Block a GM will send to his opponents his team's game plan, or GPL, to be used for that game. The Commissioner will generate a default GPL for each team to be used just in case games must be simulated.
Quick play is not ordinarily allowed. However, whenever a team is down by 20+ points to start the 4th quarter, or 15+ points with less than 6 minutes left, the game may be quick played.
To set up your team's GPL–
Highlight your team, then click on Team and then Computer Manager. There are three Tabs-
1. Eligible Players Tab:
A player is eligible if an "E" is shown next to his name. An "I" indicates the player is ineligible. You toggle between eligible and ineligible by clicking on the player. Only 12 players can be eligible for a game. This screen shows the players current usage as a percentage. 100% means this player is right on target to reach his actual minutes played. More than 100% indicates the player is being over played.2. Player Profiles Tab:
- GP is the actual games played for the player. Set it to whatever you wish.
- GS - This is the actual games started.
- INPCT - This is the percentage of time this player is to be positioned Inside on offense. The higher the number the more often the player is positioned inside.
- STLSHT - This is the "Steal-Shoot" percentage which tells the computer coach how often this player is to take a fast break shot off a Steal reading when he's on defense.
- BLK - This is the target number of minutes that each player will be used as the Block Man (also known as the Defensive Intimidator).
- PG, SG, SF, PF, C: These fields list the target minutes to be played at each position. You should alter this grid for your drafted team to have at least 48 but no more than 52 minutes to each position, otherwise your players may become fatigued more. HOWEVER, you may not give a player any minutes at a position that Strat-O-Matic had set as zero minutes!
A minimum of 3 players should be given at least 1 minute at each of the five positions.3. Computer Coach Instructions Tab:
This screen allows you to define your game plan (GPL) for an opponent. The top portion of the screen is broken down into game segments. Each line is for each two minutes of game play. In addition to listing the lineup for each segment you are able to define if you would rather run a Fast break or Half court offense for that time segment. And you can also specify which two players are positioned inside on offense. Positioning of players on offense and defense will have a great deal of influence on the outcome of your games.
Let Computer Pick Instructions Button - This button will wipe out the existing computer manager and generate a new one based upon the computer's default logic.
Import Tab - This button imports a GPL.
To set your defense against an opponent's team--
Highlight your opponent's team, click on Team on the menu at the top, and click on Defensive Profile. From this screen you can tell HAL which players to double team, play close, normal, or sag against.
To Export your GPL–
Highlight your team, click on Team on the menu at the top, then Export Computer Manager. Your GPL will come up again, click OK, this time it will ask which team you want to use your GPL against, pick one opponent and then save. Repeat this procedure against each home team you play each block.
ONLINE PLAY is optional for the regular season.
#8 - PENALTIES:
If a GM misses any of the set league deadlines, the Commissioner will have the right to simulate their block of games and use their default MGR file. Each block will have a minimum one week deadline. The Commissioner will operate any team in the event a GM is away or not able to perform his league duties. Please make sure you communicate any period you plan on being away so the Commissioner is aware of your situation.
Decisions made by the Commissioner are final.
#9 - ANNUAL DRAFT:
The USFBKL will hold its Annual Draft soon after the computer game is released by Strat-o-Matic.
A) Roster Cuts
The following Player Protection Rules apply to each team:
Note: A team may protect an non-carded player as long as he appeared in the previous season. A GM under any other circumstance may not draft a player that does not appear in the computer game. Players who are protected that did not actually play in the NBA the previous season will not be allowed to be used during the USFBKL season.
B) Annual Draft
The six round, single pick selection Annual Draft will consist of the following pool of players:
Note: The manner in which the league Annual Draft order is determined is based upon the following method:
Non-playoff teams are ranked 1-8, based on reverse order of their records, and enter a lottery pool to determine the first three picks in the USFBKL Annual Draft for round 1, only. The last place team will receive 8 tickets, the 2nd to last team will receive 7 tickets and so on, with the 8th to last team receiving 1 ticket. A drawing will take place by the Commissioner. The balance of the Annual Draft (rounds 2-6) will be based on the actual Won-Loss record of the non-playoff teams.
Playoff teams will receive pick's 9-16 with the last pick going to the USFBKL League Champion, while the runner up receives the second to last pick. The other playoff teams will be ranked according to their regular season record and based on how far they have proceeded in the playoffs.
#10 - WAIVER SYSTEM:
The USFBKL uses a Waiver System to enhance league play. This waiver system is used when a team exceeds its allowed 15 man roster. This may happen due to unbalanced league trades or if a team decides to claim a free agent. Since the USFBKL only allows a maximum of 15 man rosters, any GM acquiring more than his roster limit must waive the excess player to maintain his 15 man roster. Claiming a waived player is on a block by block basis. If more than one team claims a player in any given block, then the team with the worst winning percentage at that time receives that player's rights. Players claimed off waivers are only eligible to be protected next season if they were on a teams roster at the beginning of the season then waived during the season. Any waived player that is not claimed becomes a free agent.
#11 - FREE AGENCY:
The USFBKL will use a free agent pool in order to ensure that player usage is properly maintained in the league. This is a very important part of our league play and will be strictly enforced throughout the season. Managers will lose the use of any overused players immediately and these players will be declared free agents for the Annual Draft the following season. Overused players may be used in the playoffs if the Commissioner determines the overuse was unintentional. However, overused players will be placed in the free agent pool after the playoffs for the following seasons Annual Draft. Overused players cannot be claimed.
Free Agency is designed to assist managers who do not have enough players available to play certain positions on their team or to help increase their bench strength during the season.
There is a penalty system enforced for claiming free agents for circumstances other than an uneven trade:
ONE free agent claim - No penalty.
TWO free agent claims - Lose 4th round pick.
THREE free agent claims - Lose 3rd round pick.
FOUR free agent claims - Lose 2nd round pick.
FIVE or more free agent claims - Lose 1st round pick.
Note: If a team does not have an available pick due to a trade then, the penalty reverts down to next available pick. If that pick is not available the Commissioner will make the final decision.
#12 - TRADING:
Trades must be sent to the USFBKL League Commissioner and approved before they are formally announced to the other managers in the league. The trading deadline will be set at one month before the regular season ends. This will occur after block 6 of our league schedule has been completed. Trading before block 6 and after the League Champion is crowned is only permitted. Trades which occur between the blocks of play will become effective at the beginning of the following block. Unbalanced trades can be completed with an unlimited number of draft picks involved. Trading of draft picks further than the next USFBKL season though is not permitted. Trading of future considerations is also not permitted.
NOTE: Only after a GM has been in the league for 1 year may they trade a draft pick for the following season unless this rule is waived by the Commissioner.
#13 - RULE CHANGES:
At the end of the each USFBKL season, new rules and/or rule changes in the constitution can be proposed by each member of the league. These proposals will be voted upon. In order to over-turn an existing rule - a minimum 75% approval must be achieved. In order to implement a new rule - 51% approval must be achieved. In addition, the Commissioner will make his own rule changes based on events which may have occurred during the past season or where he feels that it is in the best interest for the league.
#14 - REGULAR SEASON PLAYER USAGE:
The USFBKL allows players to play in positions as listed on their card only. Each players usage will be based on 100% of their total number of minutes played in the NBA that season + a 48 minute allowance per player (games played is not considered). Once that player has reached this limit of seasonal minutes he is no longer available to play in the regular season. Overused players may be used in the playoffs if the Commissioner determines that the overuse was unintentional. However, overused players will be placed in the free agent pool after the playoffs for the following seasons Annual Draft. Overused players cannot be claimed.
EXAMPLE:
Vince Carter - Toronto Raptors - NBA 2003-04 Usage = 2785 minutes USFBKL Usage allowed = 2785 minutes + 48 minutes allowance = 2833 minutes.
Injuries will not be used.
#15 - POST SEASON PLAYER USAGE:
The USFBKL allows players to play in positions as listed on their card only. Each players usage for the playoffs will be based on the players actual NBA regular season usage for that year (games played is not considered). Take the total number of minutes for each player and multiply it by 7/82 then round up to the nearest minute. This will give you the maximum number of minutes each player may play in each playoff series. If any game goes into Over-Time, then those minutes played do not count. If any player exceeds this limit he will be automatically released from your team and he will be placed in the Annual Draft the following season.
EXAMPLE:
Vince Carter - Toronto Raptors - NBA 2003-04 Regular Season Usage = 2785 minutes. USFBKL 2003-04 Playoff Usage allowed per series = 2785 x 7/82 = 238 total minutes allowed per series (rounded-up). Any OT game minutes are not counted.
Injuries will not be used.
#16 - POST SEASON SCHEDULE:
ONLINE PLAY is optional for the post-season until Strat-o-Matic improves the ease and time to play online as determined by the Commissioner.
The USFBKL will use a 4 seed playoff system in each conference to determine qualifying teams for the playoffs. The 8 qualifying teams will challenge each other for the USFBKL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP!
Each division winner in each conference will receive seeds #1 & #2 . The next best 2 records in each conference will receive seeds #3 & #4 based on regular season record.
Each series in the USFBKL will be a 7 game series. Games will be played with the following format. 2H, 2A, 1H, 1A, 1H where the top seed in each case will have home court advantage.
Conference Semi-Finals: #4 at #1 and #3 at #2
Conference Finals: Lowest Remaining Seed at Highest Remaining Seed.
The USFBKL uses the actual NBA tie-breaker rules to settle any ties.
The ULTIMATE STRAT FAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Series is a best of 7 games in the same format explained above. The team with the best regular season record will be given home court advantage.
Home Court Advantage is turned off during playoffs.
#17 - MEMBERSHIP DUES:
The USFBKL membership is free.
#18 - TIE-BREAKER RULES (NEW - per NBA.com):
The following explains the NBA tiebreaking scenarios determining ties for playoff position.
Note: If a multiple-teams tie is reduced to a two-team tie at any point using the above procedure, the two-team tie will be resolved in accordance with the two-team tie procedure.
Note: The NBA allows teams that are a lower seed, but that had more regular-season wins to have home court advantage in the playoffs. In USFBKL, home court advantage is given to the higher seeded team.
The following explains the tie-breaker for the draft and/or lottery: