This rulebook is currently being updated for the Fall ‘25 season. Content is subject to change before the start of the season.
The PlayVS Madden Leagues are being run by PlayVS. The PlayVS Madden Leagues are not sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc.
View the league’s Competition Rulebook.
Introduction and Purpose
These official rules of the PlayVS Scholastics Esports League apply to each of the teams who have registered and met the requirements for the 2025-2026 school year, as well as their head coach, assistant coaches, vice principals, athletic directors, starters, substitutes (collectively team members), and other members.
1. Game Rules
1.1 Game Account Connections
Teams are expected to create and connect the in-game EA Account ID to their team captain’s PlayVS profile before competing in a match.
Teams without any in-game accounts connected are ineligible to participate in the match.
Per section 6.2.7 Connected Accounts of the league’s Competition Rulebook,
teams must address missing game account connections before establishing a game of record. Reaching a game of record without confirming game accounts or addressing missing game account connections is not grounds for a match restart or loss.
1.2 Roster Requirements
Team members must be eligible to compete on behalf of their school as listed in section 2. Team Member Eligibility of the league's Competition Rulebook.
Each league page will list the number of players necessary to fill a team’s rosterand bench. No individual may simultaneously hold two or more roles as listed above. All players and coaches are expected to be present physically or virtually for all official PlayVS matches. The roster and bench must be finalized before the roster lock date,as listed in section 3.4 Roster Submission of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
1.3 Substitutions
Substitutions must be made before the start of each game by using the Match Assistant to change the roster and re-confirm rosters during the roster confirmation step.
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.
Madden NFL is a solo esports 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 spot should any roster changes need to be made. Roster updates may only occur during the first 4 weeks of the regular season.
All solo esports team rosters will lock at the beginning of week 5, and player additions/removals will no longer be permitted.
1.4 Game of Record
A game of record (GOR) in Madden NFL is established under the following conditions:
Any player kicks the ball off.
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 Game Restart of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
1.5 Stoppage of Play
During any pause or stoppage, players may not leave the match area unless authorized by their coach. Coaches must communicate any disconnections or pauses inside PlayVS’ Match Lobby Chat.
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.
Player Pauses
Pauses are bound to the features and limitations inside Madden NFL.
Excessive pausing is subject to penalties at the sole discretion of League Officials.
1.6 Game Disconnection
The game will automatically pause if a player leaves or disconnects. The player who is notified of the disconnect must take a screenshot of the current score, time remaining, and error message to confirm the nature of the disconnect.
Players who willingly leave the match using in-game functions will be issued a loss for the match.
Players who disconnect due to network issues may attempt to rejoin the game. Once the player can reconnect, the online match must be recreated with teams on the same side of the ball as when the disconnection occurred. 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:
While on offense, 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. Player A receives the ball (as they were on offense when the disconnect occurred), 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 wins the overall match.
1.7 Match Format
Format |
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Team Size |
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Game Settings |
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Cross-Play Settings |
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Advanced Settings (Lobby)
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Players may adjust the gameplay helpers in the Madden NFL 26’s main Game Options menu.
Players will select from any current NFL team. 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.
All matches within the season will share the same match format as listed above, regardless of phase. For a detailed breakdown of each phase available for the league, see section 5.2 Phase Details of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
1.8 Specific Rules
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.
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.
Improper Audibles
Competitors may not audible from the QB kneel, wildcat, field goal, or punt formations.
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:
Playstation 5, PC, or Xbox Console (X|S)
Compatible Controller
Online Subscription (Console only)
Stable Internet Connection
Copy of Madden NFL 26 for either Playstation 5, PC, or Xbox Console (X|S)
Cross-play will be available for players on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Teams may elect to use either of the three platforms to compete, and players must enable cross-play in their in-game settings.
3. Match Process
3.1 Pre-Match Setup
Teams must adhere to section 6.2 Pre-Match Setup in the league’s Competition Rulebook as they prepare to join their match.
3.2 Match Lobby Setup
Teams will follow Madden NFL 26 Match InstructionsMadden NFL 25 Match Instructions for lobby creation setup and joining the game lobby.
3.3 Match F.A.Q.
Spectating
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 league’s Competition Rulebook.
In-Game Content Updates
Madden NFL 26 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 the PlayVS Match Assistant tool, then in-game statistics and results will be recorded at each game's conclusion.
In the event that the PlayVS Match Assistant cannot be used, the statistics will not be tracked, and the match results must 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 directly.