OFFICIAL OFF-SEASON STRUCTURE

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The following is a breakdown of how each off-season will flow and operate.

Please familiarize yourself with this process.

[Talon]

END OF SEASON PRESS CONFERENCE

When your season officially ends, whether it is at the end of the regular season, during the playoffs, or at the end of the Impact Bowl, you will be charged with conducting a final press conference.

Once that presser ends you will conduct your final conversations with your coaches and players who will then depart for their vacations.  This is your LAST CHANCE to talk to players and coaches.

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MEETING WITH OWNER

The last thing you will do before locking to close out the season is to meet with the Owner of your franchise.  The owner will discuss the season with you, how you did in regards to their expectations and goals, and their confidence level in your ability going into the off-season.

Some owners will want answers or to set goals for the off-season, others will simply evaluate the season and leave you to your business.

This is the period where contracts will be discussed.


Once you are finished meeting with your owner it is time to LOCK IN TO CLOSE OUT THE SEASON.

[Talon]

OFF-SEASON BEGINS


Once the Impact Bowl teams have completed their end of season tasks all threads will auto-lock.   Teams who do not complete their tasks prior to auto-lock are subject to an off-season budget fine.

Once threads unlock, your secretary will give you a basic rundown of your current standing.
- Available off-season money.
- Tax Bill owed (if applicable)
- Available Salary and Bonus Money for the upcoming season.
- Roster Needs
- Coaching Needs
- Any other information that needs to be announced (players requesting trades, etc)

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COACH SIGNING PERIOD



While all contracted coaches are away on vacation, the first phase of the off-season is to fill any open coaching positions within your organization.

Contact free agent coaches to fill coordinator positions.  Contact free agents or currently signed coordinators from other teams to offer the position of Head Coach.

You may also reach out to your own coaches to offer contract extensions, but this is the only dialog you will be able to have with your coaching staff while they are away on their much deserved family vacations.

CONTACTING A COACH FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS DURING VACATION PERIODS WILL RESULT IN A PROBLEM BETWEEN YOU AND THE COACH OR WORSE.

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RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY PERIOD & FRANCHISE TAG DEADLINE

Once RFA begins teams will begin to negotiate with RFA eligible players.   If negotiations fall through, general managers will have the option to inform the league office that they are extending a qualifying offer to the player(s) in question.

Once a QO is league office'd negotiations are over.  The deadline for RFA will conclude with all players who were offered a qualifying offer announcing their decision to either accept the QO or Reject it to head into UFA.

The deadline to offer a qualifying offer is the same deadline to utilize your franchise tag.

ONCE THE FRANCHISE TAG IS PLACED ON A PLAYER HE IMMEDIATELY BECOMES ELIGIBLE TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN WITH ANY FRANCHISE. (Franchise tag starts BEFORE UFA)

REMOVED FROM THE CBA FOR S17-S18

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SCOUTING COMBINE AND OFF-SEASON SCOUTING

Once you have submitted your payment to enter the combine (see the combine thread for specifics) and the combine officially begins, you will be asked to submit your scouting requests for the combine via PM.

READ THE COMBINE THREAD FOR SPECIFIC RULES FOR HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR SCOUTING REQUESTS

Once you have completed your scouting for the combine period and all reports are sent out the league will transition to close out the use of off-season bonus money at the start of the draft (once the deadline to submit scouting expires.) 

Any money spent AFTER the combine period will come from your next season's budget.

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THE AMATEUR DRAFT

The amateur draft runs until completion. 

When you draft a player you no longer have to speak with their agent to negotiate their rookie deal.  You simply look at their position in the latest rookie wage scale and then decide how you wish to break the contract down.  Once the decision is made on your part, submit it to the league office.  You will learn your players agents when your team sheet is published after training camp.

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UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY (UFA)

Unrestricted Free Agency is broken into "three days" using a time management mechanic to prioritize your free agent targets via PM to keep your offers secret.

Once all teams completely exhaust or forfeit their hours for UFA the period transitions into a "free for all" which is first come first serve negotiations IN THREAD.

[Talon]

LOCKING IN FOR TRAINING CAMP

Once your roster is full, double check that it is accurate and that you are within the financial limits. 

Once you are sure you are ready, fill out your Lock in template and post it to your team thread to LOCK IN.

Once all teams are locked in, the next season can officially begin!