These official rules (rules) of the PlayVS Scholastics Esports League apply to each of the teams who have registered and met the requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as their head coach, assistant coaches, vice principals, athletic directors, starters, substitutes (collectively team members), and other members.

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 Round. An instance of individual competition, often between individual team members. The player or team that wins the majority of available rounds will be determined the winner of the game.

1.1.3 Set. A series of games that is played until one player wins a majority of the total games (e.g., winning two games out of three, best-of-three). The winning player will receive a win tally in favor of their team for the match.

1.1.4 Match. A group of sets that is played until one team wins a majority of the total sets (e.g., winning two sets out of three, best-of-three). The winning team will either receive a win tally in a league format or advance to the next round in a tournament format.

1.1.5 League. A group of teams that regularly play against one another. There are two distinct types of PlayVS leagues: (a) Recreational and (b) Competitive.

1.1.6 Phase. A section of scheduled league play that comprises a season. There are distinct phases for leagues, with each phase having its own league format.

1.1.7 Season. Scheduled league play that will occur over a predetermined amount of time.

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 roster and 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.

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 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 esports team rosters will lock at the beginning of week 5, and player additions/removals will no longer be permitted.

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 Game Restart of the league’s Competition Rulebook.

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’ Match Lobby Chat.

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.

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

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

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

Competitors may not audible from the QB kneel, wildcat, field goal, or punt formations.

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:

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 5, PC, or Xbox Console (X|S)

2.1.2 Monitor/Television

2.1.3 Headsets and/or Earbuds and/or Microphones

2.1.4 Table and Chair

2.1.5 Compatible Controller

2.1.6 Online Subscription/Stable Internet Connection

2.1.7 Copy of Madden NFL 25 for either Playstation 5, PC, or Xbox Console (X|S)

Cross-play will be available for players only 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.

Teams must adhere to section 6.2 Pre-Match Setup in the league’s Competition Rulebook as they prepare to join their match.

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

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.

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 league’s Competition Rulebook.

Madden NFL 25 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.

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 6.7 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.

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, then statistics will not be tracked, and the match results will 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 directly.