GENERAL RULES

This league is for fun but we want our teams to be competitive, so play hard.
Owners are responsible for answering  trade requests, if owners are not playing then they
may lose there franchise or draft picks.

Any Owner found to be cheating, will lose franchise.
If you are going to be away, let the league know so you won't be penalized for not
answering emails

All Team names must be approved by the League
All games are simulated by the President, and are computer coached.
No Owner may control more than one team
If 2 people in a household want a franchise then each franchise must have it's
own email address.
        
GM's must keep the lines up to date, send in new lines when players get injured.

A GM must try to win, by changing lines when losing.

SEASON PLAY

A EFHL season consists of a Pre-Season, Regular Season (80 games OR LESS) and Playoffs.
The EFHL seasons run all year long except when President deems break is needed.
Ties at the end of the regular season will be broken by wins first, then head to head, and
if still tied goals for.  In the event the tie is for the last playoff spot, there will be
a one game playoff for final spot.

PLAYOFFS

8 Teams will Qualify for the playoff (19 or less Franchises)
16 Teams will Qualify when we have 20 Franchises or more
Each Playoff round will be 4 out of 7
Division winners will get higher seed in first round only.
All teams will be re seeded after first round based on points for season.

DRAFTING

There will be 3 rounds of entry draft after each season.

*In the situation where the NHL doesn't play and there will be no new ratings to use the EFHL will not have a entry draft.*
When no new ratings are available we will use the same ratings 2 seasons in a row.
In place of the draft we will hold a free-agent draft that will be 2 rounds (free-agent) picks can't be traded.   
The free-agent draft will consist of players who are not under contract to any team and players who's R-contracts expire at the end of the last season played.   These players will be allowed to be signed after drafted to D-contracts, those contracts will be based on the EFHL rating for the last rated season.

IN THE EVENT OF NOT HAVING ENTRY DRAFT 1 SEASON, THE NEXT ENTRY DRAFT WILL HAPPEN AT THE RELEASE OF A NEW RATINGS DISK.
TEAMS POINTS WILL THEN BE ADDED TOGETHER FROM THE SEASONS IN QUESTION TO DETERMINE THE DRAFT ORDER.


CHANGING LINES

Once you have set your initial roster to make changes to your lines must be done by email
and must be made 24 hours before the game in which you want them to take place.

Your Back up Goalie must play 10 games in a season, if you don't pick the games during the 
season then, he will play the final 10 games of the season.  Your Backup must have 10 decisions
or 600 minutes played to qualify as 10 Games played

Remember to set new lines when you lose a player to injury.

Teams must start 18 skaters and 2 goalies, unless you have less than 20 players on 
your active roster due to injury.

ROSTERS


Teams will be limited to 32 man max rosters season 6 and later. Teams must have at least 
20 players on there rosters at all times during season play.  You can fall below 20 during off season.

If a team falls below the 20 man limited in a season they will be forced to sign a player to
a Injury contract to fill there roster.   Teams have 2 days to fill there rosters after falling 
below the min number of players or the league will pick the player and fill the teams roster.

Teams can't have more than 3 goalies on there rosters.   They may have more in the off season but 
must trade or waive any goalies over 3 before there first pre-season game.


TRADES

Teams must work out trades between each other, once a trade has been done it must
be sent to the League for approval.   Once a trade has been approved by the league
it is final.  The League has final say on all trades.
  
Trade deadline will be game 60 or date to be named by League

Both teams must email the league the trade, so the league knows it real.

You may trade players and draft picks and money.

The League will also accept trades that have future considerations and/or player to be	
named Later.

Future Considerations example : Team A Trades Lindros to Team B if Lindros scores 
30 goals 	then Team A gets first round draft pick but if Lindros scores less than 30 
goals Team A gets second round pick.  
(All this must be stated in Trade emailed to League)

Player to be Named Later:  You may also include a list of players (max 5) that a team could 
choose from at a later date.

There are no limits to number of trades you make in a season but Teams must have a min 
20 players on there rosters at all times.  

TEAMS MAY ADD GREASE TO A TRADE THIS IS MONEY WHICH WILL NOT EFFECT YOUR SEASON'S BANK TOTAL.
GREASE IS CASH ADDED TO A TRADE AS INCENTIVE.   YOU WILL BE ALLOWED 10 MILLION A SEASON IN GREASE
TRANSFERS.  GREASE WILL BE TAKEN OFF YOU BANK ACCOUNT WHEN IT HAPPENS.   THE LEAGUE WILL KEEP TRACK
HOW MUCH OF YOUR 10 MILLION HAS BEEN USED.   IF YOUR NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE LEFT CONTACT THE LEAGUE

The League has the right to ask both teams involved in a trade to explain why the trade is fair.
			

FREE AGENCY (also see Free agency Rules below)

Free agency will be after the entry draft each season and will not last more than 3 weeks.

Any team may bid on any free-agent.

Players who are on R-Contract are unrestricted free-agents, they go to the highest bidder.

Players who are on D-Contracts are restricted free-agents,  they also go to the highest bidder
but the team who held that players rights has the right to match any offer made or receive 
compensation for that player.
	
Compensation for D-contracts works like this......
Player signs for 300,000 to 1,500,000............Team gets 3rd round pick
Player signs for 1,500,001 to 3,000,000..........Team gets 2nd round pick
Player signs for 3,000,001 to 4,900,000..........Team gets 1st round pick
Player signs for 4,900,001 and Higher............Team gets 1st and 2nd round pick
	
For all other rules pertaining to contracts please see below.	
		
TICKET PRICES AND SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

FIRST YEAR TEAMS WILL SET TICKET PRICES BASED ON LEAGUE START UP RULES
Highest ticket price first season $65 for best seats (sec 1 of your arena)
There are 5 sections to any arena and prices must be at least 5 dollars apart
Your cheap seats must be at least half of the price of your best seats.
Standard arena's hold 21,500 seats (sec 1 3250 seats) (sec 2-4 5,000 seats)(sec 5 3,250)
You may purchased new arena's during times appointed by league
Starting in season 3 you may raise your ticket prices based on league avg for tickets.
Teams will earn money to add to ticket prices based on winning percentage from
previous season ( over 500%)  you earn 1 efhl ticket price dollar for every
percentage point over .500.  You may add these dollars to any sec in your arena or
split among them all. (must be split by a least 2 sections).

Starting in Season 6 any team that falls below 400 winning percentage will have to lower
there ticket prices the following season by the same rules for raising them.  See above.

		
SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
You earn season ticket holders through contests run by the league.
The top 3 money earners each season will earn 500 season ticket holders.
The top 3 bank accounts will also earn 500 season ticket holders.


EFHL CONTRACTS

THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF CONTRACTS IN THE EFHL

THE FIRST CONTRACT IS A DRAFT CONTRACT OR D-CONTRACT

ONLY PLAYERS THAT ARE SELECTED IN THE ENTRY DRAFT OR FREE AGENT DRAFT ARE ELIGABLE FOR THIS CONTRACT
ONLY TEAMS WHO SELECT THE PLAYER IN THE DRAFT CAN USE THIS CONTRACT.
THIS CONTRACT MAYBE 1 TO 4 YEARS IN LENGTH, YOUR CHOICE.
CONTRACTS FOR DRAFT CONTRACTS ARE BASED ON THE EFHL RATINGS
YOU MAY NOT ADJUST DRAFT CONTRACTS.
PLAYERS ON D CONTRACTS DO NOT BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREEAGENTS, THEY ARE RESTRICTED AND YOU
HAVE THE RIGHT TO MATCH ANY OFFER MADE TO THEM

THE SECOND CONTRACT IS A UNRESTRICTED CONTRACT OR R-CONTRACT

ALL OTHER PLAYERS WILL BE SIGNED TO THIS CONTRACT
THIS CONTRACT MAYBE 1 TO 5 YEARS IN LENGTH
WHEN YOU SIGN PLAYERS TO THIS CONTRACT YOU HAVE MANY OPTIONS


YOU MAY ADJUST R-CONTRACTS TO FIT YOUR PAYROLL, WHICH MEANS YOU MAY DIVIDE THE TOTAL 
CONTRACT UP, TO EITHER FRONT LOAD OR END LOAD THE CONTRACT.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE
I JUST SIGNED HOSSA TO A 4 YEAR DEAL, BUT I KNOW IN HIS FIRST YEAR I ALREADY HAVE A HUGE 
PAYROLL SO IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ME TO END LOAD HIS CONTRACT
I CAN ONLY AFFORD TO PAY HIM 2 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT SO WHAT I DO 
IS A MINUS 2 MILLION FROM HIS TOTAL CONTRACT WHICH IS 12,960,000 MILLION THEN DEVIDE 
THE REST UP BY 3 YEARS.
HOSSA (4 YEAR CONTRACT)
FIRST SEASON 2 MILLION
FINAL 3 YEARS 3,653,334 MILLION 
YOU MAY BREAK UP A CONTRACT ANY WAY YOU SEE FIT, BUT IT MUST BE DONE WHEN THE PLAYER SIGNS,
YOU MAY NOT CHANGE A CONTRACT ONCE IT HAS BEEN SIGNED.


THE THIRD CONTRACT IS A PROSPECT CONTRACT OR P-CONTRACT.

THIS IS A NEW CONTRACT TO THE EFHL IN SEASON 6, AGAIN THIS CONTRACT IS FOR ENTRY DRAFT PLAYERS ONLY.
(NOT FREE-AGENT DRAFT ELIGABLE)

YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO SIGN 1 PLAYER DRAFTED EACH YEAR TO THIS CONTRACT, THIS CONTRACT LIKE THE D-CONTRACT
WILL BE BASED ON THE PLAYERS EFHL RATING.   THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT AT THE END OF A P-CONTRACT IT ROLLS INTO
A R-CONTRACT WITHOUT A PAYRAISE.  THIS WILL HELP TEAMS KEEP COSTS DOWN WHILE KEEPING THERE YOUNG TALENT AROUND.

WHEN A P-CONTRACT ENDS YOU WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF SIGNING THIS PLAYER FROM 1-5 YEARS UNDER THE R-CONTRACT RULES.


THE FOURTH CONTRACT IS AN I-CONTRACT OR INJURY CONTRACT

THIS CONTRACT IS DESIGNED FOR TEAMS THAT HAVE A INJURY PLAGUED SEASON.
YOU MAY ONLY SIGN PLAYERS TO THIS CONTRACT DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.
THIS CONTRACT IS ONLY FOR THE CURRENT SEASON
ALL PLAYERS SIGNED TO THIS CONTRACT WILL BE PAID THE LEAGUE MINUMUM $250,000
PLAYERS UNDER THIS CONTRACT WILL BECOME FREE-AGENTS THE FOLLOWING SEASON
NO PLAYERS SIGNED TO THIS CONTRACT MAYBE RESIGNED UNDER RESIGNING RULES
YOU MAY ONLY USE THIS CONTRACT TO REPLACE INJURIED PLAYERS
YOU MAY GO OVER THE GOALIE LIMIT WITH THIS CONTRACT IF YOU LOSE 2 OF YOUR 3 GOALIES

RESIGNING PLAYERS( A FINAL DATE FOR RESIGNING WILL BE ANNOUCED FOR EACH SEASON )

EACH SEASON YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESIGN 3 PLAYERS ON YOUR TEAM BEFORE THEY BECOME 
FREEAGENTS THIS INCLUDES BOTH D AND R CONTRACTS. ONLY PLAYERS IN THERE FINAL YEAR OF THE
CURRENT CONTRACT APPLY.
WHEN YOU RESIGN PLAYERS EARLY THEY WILL WANT A RAISE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE GOING 
TO FREE AGENCY

ALL PLAYERS ON D-CONTRACTS GET A 50% RAISE, WHEN RESIGNING EARLY.
ALL OTHER PLAYERS WILL GET A 60% RAISE 

A NOTE: SOMETIMES IT MAY BE BETTER TO LET A PLAYER GO TO FREE AGENCY, BECAUSE HIS NEW RATING MAY BE 
LOWER AND THAT MEANS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SIGN HIM TO A LOWER PAYING CONTRACT

Rules for signing and bidding on Free Agents

You must be under the roster limited of 32 players to bid on free-agents	
Bids will not be accepted from teams over the max roster size of 32 players

There will be a date set by the league after each season for which unsigned players become Free-Agents.
The Free agency period will last 3 weeks.
If a bid doesn't clear the 4 day period by the last day of the free agent period, then a blind bid will then be
accepted from each of the last 2 teams to place bids on that player.
If the second last team decides not to make another bid then team to make final bid gets player.
GM's who seem to be bidding up players just to increase Salaries will be fined.
GM's please only place bids on players you really are interested in.
There is no maximum amount that maybe offered, but contracts may not be longer than 5 years (see contract rules)
When players become free-agents, any team may make a contract offer to them.
MAX BIDS A DAY = 5

To make a contract offer for a player you must send a bid to the league.
Bids must last 4 days until player will accept contract offer.
All Free agents bidding will start at $250,000.
Additional bids must be increase by at least $100,000

Players under R-Contracts will accept highest contract offered to them.
Players under D-Contracts after a contract is accepted - Original Team has the right to match any offer made to these Players.

Bidding on Restricted Free-agents

Qualifying Offers - Teams must make the qualifying offer to a restricted free-agent to keep his rights.   Teams that don't make 
qualifying offer to there D-contract or restricted free-agents will lose the rights to that player and therefore any compensation for 
that player.

Players who are not qualified become unrestricted free-agents 

Teams that wish to bid on restricted free-agents must bid higher than the qualifying offers already accepted by the player in question
from the team that holds his rights.

Qualifying teams don't have to bid on there own players, if no bids are made on a restricted free agent in the 4 day period than that player 
signs his contract based on the qualified amount.  If a bid is placed the team that holds the players right can just sit back and watch, 
4 days have past since last bid made.  Team that holds players rights has 2 options, match last offer made or accept compensation which is 
list in top section of rules.

Teams who bid on restricted Free-agents must have the compensation to sign that player available in the up coming draft
which means you must have your draft picks available to sign a restricted free-agent

Which bids win over other Bids.

A higher yearly salary will always be accepted over a long term contract.
Example Team A offers player 4 year 1 million dollars, Team B then offers 1 year deal at 1.5 million
Team B contract would then be accepted.
You may offer the same salary but must increase the years of the contract.
Same money longer contracts will win bid also.


The league will post highest bid each day, only the highest bid will be posted on the web page.


EXPANSION RULES

IF THE LEAGUE DEEMS EXPANSION TO BE NESSACARY FOR A UPCOMING SEASON THAT THE LEAGUE WILL ANCOUNCE HOW MANY TEAMS.

THE LEAGUE WILL NEVER EXPAND BY ANYMORE THAN 2 TEAMS IN ANY SEASON

EFHL TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PROTECT ANY 15 PLAYERS FROM THERE ROSTER.

EXPANSION FRANCHISE WILL BE GIVIN 25 MILLION DOLLARS TO START WHICH OF 5 MILLION WILL BE PAID TO THE LEAGUE.
THAT 5 MILLION WILL BE DIVIDE UP EQUALLY BETWEEN EXCISTING EFHL FRANCHISES.

EXPANSION TEAMS WILL DRAFT 20 PLAYERS TO START.

EXPANSION TEAMS WILL BE GIVIN 1 CHANCE TO WIN DRAFT LOTTERY JUST LIKE A TEAM THAT ENDS UP IN 5TH PLACE.  EXPANSION TEAMS WILL 
BE SEEDED 6TH AND/0R 7TH DEPENDING ON 1 EXPANSION TEAM OR 2.

COIN FLIPS WILL BE DONE TO DEEM WHICH TEAM WILL CHOOSE FIRST IN EXPANSION DRAFT, TEAM THAT CHOOSE SECOND IN EXPANSION DRAFT
WILL BE SEEDED 6TH IN ENTRY DRAFT OR HIGHER IF LOTTERY DEEMS IT SO.


DRAFT LOTTERY

TEAMS THAT DON'T MAKE PLAYOFFS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT LOTTERY
LOTTERY CHANCES FOR IST OVERALL PICK
LAST PLACE 5 CHANCES
2ND LAST PLACE 4 CHANCES
3RD LAST PLACE 3 CHANCES
4TH LAST PLACE 2 CHANCES
5TH PLACE & EXPANSION TEAMS 1 CHANCE

THE DRAFT WILL CONSIST OF 15 BALLS IN THE HOPPER AND 2 WILL BE PULLED OUT FOR THE TOP 2 PICKS
NO TEAM CAN FALL MORE THEN 2 SPOTS FROM THERE FINSHING DRAFT POSTION.   THIS MEANS IF YOU FINSIH DEAD 
LAST THEN THE WORSE PICK YOU CAN GET IS NUMBER 3, BUT ANY TEAM IN THE LOTTERY CAN GET THE FIRST
PICK, MEANING IF YOU FINISH IN 5 LAST PLACE YOU COULD WIN THE LOTTERY AND GET THE FIRST OVERALL PICK
IN THE DRAFT.


FINANCIAL INFORMATION

EFHL GMS MUST TRY TO RUN THERE FRANCHISES IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, WHICH MEANS MAKING MONEY EVERY SEASON.
SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIABLE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY A TEAM WILL EARN IN A SEASON EXCEPT BY GOING BY THERE LAST YEARS INCOME AND SETTING A PROJECTED
BUDGET.
TEAMS WILL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR LOSING BETWEEN 1-5 MILLION IN A SEASON.
TEAMS THAT LOSE MORE THAN 5 MILLION IN ANY SEASON WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE
A BUDGET TO THE LEAGUE TO EXPLAIN HOW THEY WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN THE FOLLOWING SEASON
THERE AGAIN IS NO PENALTY FOR THIS BUT BY LOOKING AT YOUR TEAM MORE CLOSELY IT MAY HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW NOT TO LOSE MONEY AGAIN.

THE EFHL BELIEVES THAT GM'S MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING THERE COSTS

IN SEASON 6 THE EFHL WILL BE INTRODUCING A NEW PROGRAM WHERE AS A TEAM CAN BALANCE THERE SEASON BOOKS BY TAKING MONEY FROM THE BANK ACCOUNT
IN THE FORM OF THE AMOUNT IN THE RED TO BREAK EVEN FOR A SEASON.  THIS FEATURE CAN ONLY BE USED EVERY OTHER SEASON AND CAN'T BE USED IN A SEASON
AFTER A TEAMS HAS ALREADY LOST MONEY.   

TEAMS THAT LOSE MONEY 2 SEASONS IN A ROW MAY HAVE A SALARY CAP IMPOSED ON THEM BY THE LEAGUE OR THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICAPTE IN 
FREE-AGENCY.   THE LEAGUE WILL LOOK AT THE FINANCES OF THE TEAM TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF ACTION REQUIRED.

TEAMS THAT GO BANKRUPT WILL LOSE THERE FRANCHISE AND WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE EFHL.   THEY CAN RE-APPLY FOR A EXPANSION FRANCHISE BUT
THEY WILL HAVE TO GET ON THE WAITING LIST AGAIN.


HOW YOUR TEAM WILL EARN IT'S MONEY

Each Team in the EFHL will earn money during the Season.

This is a breakdown on how your Team earns that Money.

Each Team will receive money for attendance for each home game played in the pre-season, regular season and playoffs

You will set your own Ticket Prices and Name your Arena.

Each Team will also earn money for each point they earn in the Regular Season.
$75,000 dollars for each point earned in the regular season.

There will be no money given out for preseason points.

Regular Season division winners get $100,000 bonus
Regular Season Champs get $400,000 bonus

Teams who make the playoffs will make a bonus of $100,000 dollars

Playoff Bonus money will work like this.

$250,000 for each series win
$500,000 for  Cup Finalist
$1,000,000 for Cup winner.

Your Players can also earn you money.

STATS AWARDS
League Scoring Champ (ArtRoss Trophy)......$100,000
Top Goal Scorer (Maurice Richard Trophy)...$100,000
Most Assists (Wayne Gretzkey Trophy).......$100,000
Best Team GAA (Jennings Trophy)............$100,000
Most PM (Tiger Williams Trophy)............$100,000
Best Plus/Minus (Bobby Orr Trophy).........$100,000
Most 3 Star Selections (Molson Cup)........$100,000

Voted Awards (Following awards are voted on by League GM's)

League MVP (Hart Trophy)...................$200,000
Best Goalie (Vezina Trophy)................$100,000
Best Defenseman (Norris Trophy)............$100,000
Playoff MVP (ConSmyth Trophy)..............$200,000
GM of the Year (Commissioners Trophy)......$100,000
Lady Bing (Best Player Lowest Penalty's)...$100,000
Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year).........$100,000

The Nominees for the these awards will be selected by the League Office.

TICKET PRICES

EACH FRANCHISE WILL NAME THERE ARENA AND SET THERE OWN TICKET PRICES

THE LEAGUE WILL SETUP ARENA'S THAT HOLD 21,500 PEOPLE
YOU CAN PURCHASE NEW ARENA'S (THROUGH ARENA FREEAGENT PROGRAM)
ARENA LEASES WILL COME OFF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND WILL NOT EFFECT YOUR SEASON TOTAL

THERE ARE 5 SECTIONS TO ANY ARENA.
BASE ARENA
SECTION 1 3250 SEATS  (HIGHEST PRICE $65 FIRST SEASON)
SECTION 2 5000 SEATS
SECTION 3 5000 SEATS
SECTION 4 5000 SEATS
SECTION 5 3250 SEATS

PRICING WORKS LIKE THIS YOUR PRICES MUST BE AT LEAST 5 DOLLARS BETWEEN SECTIONS
AND SECTION 5 MUST BE AT LEAST HALF THE PRICE OF SECTION 1.

YOU CAN RAISE PRICES AT THE END OF EACH SEASON IF YOUR SEASON PERMITS IT.
ANY TEAM THAT HAS A WINNING PERCENTAGE OVER 500 CAN RAISE 
TICKET PRICES BASED ON HOW MANY POINTS THEY ARE ABOVE 500.
EXAMPLE
TEAM JACKHAMMERS HAVE WINNING PERCENTAGE OF 600.  THEY HAVE EARNED 10 DOLLARS TO 
ADD TO TICKET PRICES (MUST SPLIT THAT NUMBER BETWEEN AT LEAST 2 SECIONS)
SO THEY COULD RAISE 2 SECTIONS BY $5 OR EACH SECTION BY 2 EACH IN THEY WANTED TOO.

THE LEAGUE WILL RELEASE TICKET PRICES WHENEVER TEAMS REQUEST IT.



TEAMS WHO HAVE LEASES ON BUILDING PURCHASED THROUGH ARENA FREE-AGENCY CAN RENEW LEASE IN FINAL YEAR OF LEASE, AGAIN THIS COST DOESN'T
AFFECT YOUR SEASON BANK TOTALS JUST YOUR OVERALL BANK TOTALS.


THE FINAL SAY: ====================== 
In the case of a problem or situation within the league, the President will make a decision based on what is best for the 
league. However, if the President feels that another opinion is needed, he will address the situation with the other GM's
and get their opinions on this issue. 
Finally, If a survey is needed then the President will send one out to the league to help solve the problem. However, 
the President will have the FINAL say on whether or not any of this will happen. Any decisions by the President are final and any 
protest will be looked at but may not be considered. 
=========================================================================== 
We reserve the right to update the above rules freely as we choose. If you have any questions about the above rules or if you 
would like to suggest any changes or ideas feel free to send a message to the league office.