Madden NFL 24 Rulebook

The 2023 - 2024 Madden NFL 24 Rulebook for High School leagues.

Updated over a week ago

The overall High School Competition Rulebook can be viewed here.

Important: The PlayVS Madden Leagues are being run by PlayVS. EA is not the operator of these events. Madden NFL 24 is a PlayVS-sponsored league.

Introduction and Purpose

These Official Rules (“Rules”) of the PlayVS High School Esports League apply to each of the teams who have registered and met the requirements for the 2023-2024 school year, as well as their head coach, assistant coaches, vice principals, athletic directors, Starters, and other members.

1. Game Rules

1.1 Definition of Terms

1.1.1 Game. An instance of competition that is played until a winner is determined by one of the following methods, whichever occurs first: (a) completion of the countdown timer or objective achieved, (b) Team Surrender, or (c) Team Forfeit.

1.1.2 Match. A set of games that is played until one team wins a majority of the total games (e.g., winning two games out of three “best of three”) or the maximum number of games are completed (e.g., two games in a “best-of-two”). Each team will receive win or loss tallies in a league format or the winning team will advance to the next round in a tournament format.

1.1.3 Phase. A section of scheduled league play that comprises a season. There are three distinct phases: preseason, regular season, and playoffs. Each phase has its own league format, see section 1.5 Game Format below for more details.

1.1.4 Season. Scheduled league play that will occur over an approximately three-month period of time.

1.2 Roster Requirements

1.2.1 Roster Submission

Team members must be eligible to compete on behalf of their school as listed in Section 2 of the High School Competition Rulebook.

In Madden, each team may have a maximum of one (1) player on the Roster, with no available Bench. All players and coaches are expected to be present physically or virtually for all official PlayVS matches. All players and Coaches must be physically or virtually present for all official PlayVS matches. The Roster must be finalized before the Roster Lock Date, as listed in Section 3.3 Roster Submission.

1.2.2 Substitutions

Madden NFL is a solo esport title, meaning there may only be one Active Player in a match at any given time.

However, teams needing to adjust their roster due to their unique competitive situation can utilize the one (1) bench spots should roster changes need to be made. Substitutions must be made before confirming competing players for a given match. Once a game of record is established, the starting player may not be changed. Once the game is complete with results reported, a player substitution may be made using the PlayVS Match Assistant if necessary for the following game.

Roster updates may only occur during the first 4 weeks of the regular season. All solo esport team rosters will lock at the beginning of Week 5, and player additions/removals will no longer be permitted.

1.3 Game of Record

A Game of Record (“GOR”) in Madden NFL is established under the following conditions:

1.3.1 Any player kicks the ball off.

1.3.2 The clock ticks for at least one (1) second.

Once GOR is established, game restarts will only be allowed under limited conditions, as listed in Section 7.4 of the High School Competition Rulebook.

1.4 Stoppage of Play

During any pause or stoppage, players may not leave the match area unless authorized by their coach. Coaches should communicate any disconnections or pauses inside PlayVS’s Match Lobby chat.

1.4.1 Directed Pause

At any time and at their sole discretion, League Officials may order the pause of a match. Teams may complete the current game and finalize the results before pausing if necessary.

1.4.2 Player Pauses

Pauses are bound to the features & limitations inside Madden NFL. Excessive pausing is subject to penalties at the sole discretion of League Officials.

1.4.3 Game Disconnection

The game will automatically close if a player disconnects from the online match. The connected player must capture the score & time remaining in the match when the disconnection occurred.

Once the player can reconnect, the online match must be recreated. Players will subtract the time completed in the previous match and then complete the remaining time of the original game with the newly created online match. Once the remaining time has lapsed, players will add the total scores of the two games to determine the winner.

For example:

  • Player A disconnects in the 2nd quarter of Game 1, with 1 minute remaining. Player B confirms the score of 20-13, with Player B in the lead.

  • There are still 11 minutes of in-game time left in the match, so the game is recreated with the same teams as in Game 1, and the players complete the first and second quarter of the recreated Game 1 (10 minutes of in-game time). After a minute has passed in the third quarter, the game is stopped, and the score of 21-17 with Player A in the lead is logged.

The players combine the scores of both games for an overall score of 37-34, with Player B having the overall higher score. Player B has won Game 1, and the match continues to Game 2.\

1.5 Match Format

  • Format: Best of Three (Bo3) Games

  • Team Size: 1 Player

  • Settings

    • Fatigue: On

    • Injuries: Off

    • Even Teams: On

    • Quarter Length: 5 mins

    • Game Skill: All-Madden

    • Accelerated Clock: 20 secs.

    • Weather: Off (Clear)

  • Game Options: Players may adjust the below Gameplay Helpers in the Madden NFL 24’s main Game Options menu.

    • Auto Flip Defensive Play Call: On (Default)

    • Defensive Ball Hawk: On (Default)

    • Defensive Heat Seeker Assist: On (Default)

    • Defensive Switch Assist: On (Default)

    • Coach Mode: Off (Default)

1.5.1 Preseason

This phase consists of each team enrolled in the league competing in official practice matches. The results of these matches do not impact a team’s standings. However, this match is strongly recommended to properly test equipment and player game connections.\

1.5.2 Regular Season

This phase consists of each team competing in a season format against opponents within their region. Ranking in the league will be determined by each team's win-loss ratio.

1.5.3 Playoffs

This phase consists of eligible teams competing in a single-elimination tournament until only two teams remain. Winning teams will advance to the next round of the Bracket while losing teams will be removed from the competition.

Playoff Eligibility, Bracket, and Tiebreaker information can be found in section 5.2.3 Playoffs of the High School Competition Rulebook. More information about Tiebreakers can also be found here.

1.5.4 Finals

This match consists of the top two teams from each league as decided by Playoffs. The Finals will be a single Best-of-Three (BO3) match. The team to achieve two game wins will be awarded the match win and will be declared the League Champion. In the event that a single team reaches two game wins before the start of a third game, the third game will not be played.

1.6 Special Rules

1.6.1 Onside Kicks

Onside kicks are not allowed in the first half. A Competitor may attempt an onside kick at any time in the 2nd half.

1.6.2 Excessive Offsides

Neither the offense nor the defense should purposefully go offsides with the intent of delaying the game nor exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct. Intent is at the sole discretion of League Officials.

1.6.3 Improper Audibles

Competitors may not audible from the QB Kneel, Wildcat, Field Goal, or Punt formations.

1.6.4 Custom Playbooks

Competitors may not use custom playbooks for any PlayVS Madden NFL league. A custom Playbook is any Offensive/Defensive Playbook that consists of plays from multiple teams or custom-created plays.

Players may still select unique teams for their in-game roster, offensive, and defensive playbook. For Example, a player may select:

  • The Dallas Cowboys for their Team

  • The Offensive Playbook of the New York Jets

  • The Defensive Playbook of the Baltimore Ravens

2. Player Equipment

2.1 Equipment

Each player on the Starting Roster must have access to school-provided equipment or must be permitted by the school to provide their own equipment in the following categories:

2.1.1 Playstation 4/ Playstation 5

2.1.2 Monitor/Television

2.1.3 Headsets and/or Earbuds and/or Microphones

2.1.4 Table and Chair

2.1.5 Playstation Controller

2.1.6 Playstation Plus Subscription/Stable Internet Connection

2.1.7 Copy of Madden NFL 24 for Playstation 4

2.2 Supported Equipment

Players must compete using a PlayStation 4. A PlayStation 5 console with PlayStation 4 compatibility may be used as long as a copy of Madden NFL 24 for the PS4 is used, and is not upgraded to the PS5 edition.

3. Match Process

3.1 Pre-Match Setup

Teams must adhere to Section 6.2 Pre-Match Setup as they prepare to join their match.

3.2 Match Lobby Setup

For all matches, players must add their opponent as a Friend to send game invites.

3.2.1 Create Lobby

  • Start Madden NFL 24

  • Select “Quick Play”

  • Select “Online H2H””

  • Select “Play a Friend”

  • Invite your opponent and create the lobby with the settings in Section 1.5.

3.2.1 Team Selection

Players will select from any Current NFL team and play. Players may choose a different NFL team for each game they play. Both players can also choose the same team. Alternative teams are not allowed.

3.3 Match F.A.Q.

3.3.1 Spectating

In order to avoid giving any team an advantage spectators should be removed from spectating unless both Coaches have agreed to allow for a spectator by following section 7.7 Match Spectating from the High School Competition Rulebook.

3.3.2 In-Game Content Updates

Madden NFL 24 is a live-service multiplayer game that may release new content patches with updated team rosters while the season is occurring.

Any players or teams currently disabled in-game by Electronic Arts will not be available for use during official PlayVS matches. All PlayVS matches will occur on the most up-to-date patch, and any team is eligible for use in PlayVS matches unless otherwise stated by League Officials.

4. Post-Match Process

4.1 Results

If the match is completed using PlayVS Match Assistant tool, then results will be recorded at the conclusion of each game using the tool.

In the event that the PlayVS Match Assistant could not be used, then the match results would need to be submitted manually within 1 hour of match completion. Players should take screenshots of the match results and share those with their coaches.

In the event of an error, coaches must contact PlayVS Support directly.

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