1.1: Commissioner's Role
The Commissioner holds final executive authority over the league's operation, rule enforcement, and long-term direction. All staff, owners, management, and players operate under the Commissioner's oversight.

1.1.1: Hearing of Constitutional Amendment
The Commissioner presides over any proposed amendment to this Constitution. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Governors, League Directors, or Owners, but require the Commissioner's review and a Board of Governors vote (see 2.3) before taking effect.

1.1.2: Letter of Understanding
Any new rule, policy change, or precedent-setting ruling not yet formalized in this Constitution must be issued as a Letter of Understanding, distributed to all Owners and Staff, until it is formally incorporated at the next Constitutional review.

1.1.3: Official Announcements
All league-wide announcements (schedule changes, rule clarifications, disciplinary actions of league-wide relevance) are issued through the Commissioner's Office or the Media/Communications Officer on the Commissioner's authority.

1.1.4: Executive Orders
The Commissioner may issue Executive Orders to address urgent situations not explicitly covered by this Constitution. Executive Orders remain in effect until reviewed by the Board of Governors, at which point they are ratified, amended, or repealed.

1.1.5: Staff Training
The Commissioner is responsible for ensuring all league staff are onboarded and trained on their role's responsibilities, this Constitution, and league systems (transactions, discipline, stats).

1.2: Deputy Commissioners — League Directors
1.2.1: Management Assistance
Deputy Commissioners assist Owners and Management with day-to-day operational questions, rule clarifications, and transaction guidance.

1.2.2: Procedural Enforcement
Deputy Commissioners enforce league procedure (scheduling deadlines, transaction windows, lineup locks) on behalf of the Commissioner's Office.

1.2.3: Management Training
Deputy Commissioners onboard new Owners/Management into league systems and expectations.

1.2.4: Role of the Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioners act with the Commissioner's authority in daily operations but defer to the Commissioner on any ruling involving suspension, franchise status, or Constitutional interpretation.

1.3: League Directors
1.3.1: League Management
League Directors oversee the operation of an individual league within APHL (e.g., NHL, AHL, CHL Elite, CHL Pro, CHL Amateur), ensuring divisional rules, promotion/relegation, and scheduling are followed within their league.

1.4: Judicial Appeal Process and Player Representation
Any party subject to a disciplinary ruling has the right to appeal (see Section Six, 6.7 and prior disciplinary procedures). Players may request representation from their Captain, GM, or a Board of Governors member during a formal hearing.

1.5: Conduct
Commissioner's Office staff are held to the highest standard of neutrality. Any staff member found favoring a team or individual for personal reasons is subject to immediate review and possible removal by the Commissioner.

2.1: Role
The Board of Governors is a representative body (drawn from Owners and/or senior staff) that reviews Constitutional amendments, ratifies Executive Orders, and serves as the final appeal body for league-wide disputes.

2.2: Suspensions
The Board of Governors reviews any suspension appeal escalated beyond the Discipline Officer and Commissioner's Office (see Section Six). Board rulings on suspension appeals are final for the season.

2.3: Board of Governors Vote
Constitutional amendments and Executive Order ratifications require a majority vote of the Board of Governors. Ties are broken by the Commissioner.

2.4: Board of Governors Selections
Board members are selected by a combination of Owner vote and Commissioner appointment, serving fixed terms (recommended: one season, renewable).

2.5: Conduct
Board members must recuse themselves from any vote or appeal directly involving their own team or close affiliates.

3.1: Committee Leader
The Development Committee is led by a Committee Leader appointed by the Commissioner, responsible for player growth initiatives, onboarding, and league feedback loops.

3.2: Player Education
The Development Committee produces onboarding materials, rule explainers, and gameplay guides to help new and existing players understand league systems (lineups, fatigue, salary cap basics as it applies to them).

3.3: Polling the Players for Their Vote
The Development Committee runs periodic player polls/surveys on league satisfaction, rule proposals, and gameplay balance, reporting results to the Commissioner's Office and Board of Governors.

3.4: Conduct
Development Committee members act as a neutral resource for players and must not use their position to advocate for a specific team's competitive interest.

4.1: Role
Owners hold franchise rights to a team within APHL/CHL and are responsible for that team's overall direction, compliance, and management structure.

4.2: Roster Transactions
Owners (or their designated Management/GM) are responsible for all roster transactions: trades, waivers, call-ups, and draft activity, in compliance with salary cap and roster limit rules.

4.3: Compliance
Owners must ensure their franchise complies with all league rules, deadlines, and Constitutional requirements, including those delegated to their Management staff.

4.4: Accountability
Owners are accountable for the conduct of their Management and players. Repeated violations by a franchise's staff or roster may result in Owner-level review.

4.5: Management
Owners may appoint Management (GM, Assistant GM, Coaching staff) to handle day-to-day team operations, as defined in Section Five.

4.6: Management Office
Each franchise must maintain an active Management Office (at minimum, one designated point of contact) reachable by league staff within the standard SLA.

4.7: Filing Management Appeals
Owners may file an appeal on behalf of their franchise regarding any ruling affecting their team, following the same escalation process outlined in Section One (1.4).

4.8: Owner's Vote
Owners hold voting rights on league-wide matters brought to a franchise vote (e.g., rule proposals, Board of Governors selection), one vote per franchise.

4.9: Owner Selections
New Owners are selected/approved by the Commissioner's Office, with consideration of league fit, commitment level, and community standing.

4.10: Owner Commitment
Owners are expected to remain active in league operations for the duration of their tenure. Extended inactivity without notice may result in franchise reassignment.

4.11: Conduct
Owners are held to the league's general conduct standards and are expected to model professionalism for their franchise's staff and players.

5.1: Management Role

Management (GMs, Assistant GMs, Coaching staff) handle the daily operational responsibilities of a franchise on behalf of the Owner: scheduling, lineups, roster management, and team leadership (captaincy appointments).

5.2: Management Contracts

5.2.1 NHL Management

Management at the top competitive tier (NHL) is held to the highest activity and performance standards, given the tier's competitive weight in league standings and promotion/relegation implications.

5.2.2 AHL Management

Management at the developmental tier (AHL) is expected to prioritize player development and roster rotation, preparing players for potential call-up to NHL-tier competition.

5.3: League Promotion

Franchises and/or Management may be considered for promotion between tiers (e.g., CHL Amateur → CHL Pro → CHL Elite, or AHL → NHL) based on performance criteria and league capacity, as determined by League Directors.

5.4: League Intervention

The league may intervene in a franchise's management (temporary league-appointed oversight) in cases of extended Owner/Management inactivity, repeated non-compliance, or franchise instability threatening league operations.

5.5: Management Removal

Management may be removed by the Owner at their discretion, or by the Commissioner's Office in cases of serious misconduct or repeated non-compliance, following the standard review process.

5.6: Management Criteria

Management appointees should demonstrate reliability, communication skills, and familiarity with league systems. Owners are encouraged to document their Management structure with the Commissioner's Office.

5.7: Conduct

Management is held to the same conduct standards as Owners and league staff, including neutrality in disputes and professionalism toward players and opposing franchises.

6.1: Role

Players are rostered members of a franchise expected to participate in scheduled games, follow league and game rules, and represent their team professionally.

6.2: Availability

Players must submit weekly availability by the league deadline. Inaccurate availability (marking available and no-showing) is treated as an unexcused absence, not a scheduling issue.

6.3: In-Game Requirements

Players must be present and ready at scheduled game times, follow assigned lineups/lines, and adhere to in-game conduct rules (no exploiting bugs, no targeting, no chat abuse).

6.4: Disconnection Process

In the event of a mid-game disconnection, players must attempt immediate reconnection and notify their Captain/GM and the opposing team. Repeated or unresolved disconnection issues should be reported to Technical Admin for review; games affected by verified connection issues may be subject to replay or stat adjustment at Commissioner discretion.

6.5: Participation and Quitting Policy

Players who intend to leave the league mid-season must notify their GM as early as possible. Unannounced departures leaving a roster short-handed may affect the player's standing for future league participation.

6.6: Ban Buy-outs

A player serving a suspension or ban may petition for a buy-out (reduced suspension length in exchange for a defined penalty, e.g., forfeited roster spot priority or a probationary period) at the Discipline Officer's discretion, subject to Commissioner approval for season-length or permanent bans.

6.7: General Conduct

Players are expected to follow all league and game rules, respect Captains/GMs/staff rulings, and pursue disputes through the proper escalation channel (Captain → GM → Discipline Officer → Commissioner → Board of Governors) rather than public conflict.

7.1: League Tier Structure
APHL and CHL follow two fundamentally different structures:

APHL (NHL & AHL): A fixed, organized professional-league structure. Franchises hold a permanent spot at either the NHL or AHL level — there is no promotion or relegation between them. Movement between NHL and AHL happens only at the player level, through the call-up/send-down system (7.5), the same way a real NHL organization moves players between its NHL and AHL affiliate.

CHL (Elite, Pro & Amateur): A three-tier competitive ladder where franchises themselves move up and down between tiers based on season performance, per 7.2–7.3 below.

7.1.1: Why APHL Does Not Use Promotion/Relegation
APHL is modeled as an organized league with fixed franchises at each level (an NHL team and its AHL affiliate), not a competitive ladder. A franchise's tier reflects its designated place in the league's structure, not a standings-based ranking to be climbed or dropped from. Player development and roster movement between NHL and AHL is handled entirely through Section 7.5.

7.2: CHL Franchise Promotion Criteria
At the end of each CHL season:

The top 4 franchises in the CHL Amateur standings are promoted to CHL Pro
The top 4 franchises in the CHL Pro standings are promoted to CHL Elite
Promotion is based on final standings position only; no additional compliance criteria apply beyond a franchise remaining in good standing (no active league intervention per Article I, 5.4, and no unresolved Article IV Section Five violations at the time standings lock).

7.3: CHL Franchise Relegation Criteria
At the end of each CHL season:

The bottom 4 franchises in the CHL Elite standings are relegated to CHL Pro
The bottom 4 franchises in the CHL Pro standings are relegated to CHL Amateur
CHL Amateur is the entry tier — there is no relegation out of CHL Amateur.

7.4: Promotion/Relegation Process (CHL Only)
End-of-season standings lock — Final CHL standings are confirmed by the Stats Commissioner before promotion/relegation is calculated
League Director review — League Directors for CHL Elite, Pro, and Amateur confirm the top 4/bottom 4 franchises against 7.2/7.3
Commissioner's Office ratification — The Commissioner's Office ratifies the promotion/relegation list before the next CHL season's schedule is built
Announcement — Promotion/relegation results are announced league-wide alongside the new season's schedule release
This process does not apply to APHL (NHL/AHL), which has no franchise promotion/relegation per 7.1.1.

7.5: Player Call-Up & Send-Down (AHL & NHL)( CHL- Elite,Pro & Amateur)

Players may be called up from AHL to NHL ( Same for CHL- Elite,Pro & Amateur)rosters per existing organization/call-up system rules, subject to salary cap and roster limit compliance at the NHL level
Players sent down from NHL to AHL retain their contract terms unless renegotiated
Call-ups/send-downs must be processed by the Trade/Waiver Analyst and confirmed before the next scheduled game to count toward that game's roster

7.6: CHL Tier Movement for Players
Unlike the AHL/NHL call-up system, player movement between CHL Elite/Pro/Amateur generally follows the franchise's tier (players move with their team on promotion/relegation). Individual player movement between CHL tiers outside of a franchise's promotion/relegation requires League Director approval and is limited to cases of roster necessity or player request with GM consent.

7.7: Mid-Season Restrictions

No CHL promotion or relegation takes effect mid-season. All CHL tier movement is calculated and applied at season's end, ensuring competitive stability and a consistent schedule for all franchises within a season.

7.8: Expansion & Contraction

New APCHL franchises enter at the APCHL Amateur tier unless the Commissioner's Office grants an exception based on demonstrated competitive readiness. New APHL franchises are placed directly at the NHL or AHL level per the league's fixed structure (7.1), as APHL has no entry tier to climb from. Franchise contraction (removal from the league) follows the process outlined in Article I, 5.4–5.5 and requires Board of Governors ratification.

7.9: Appeals

A APNHL & APCHL franchise may appeal a relegation decision to the Board of Governors within 7 days of the announcement (7.4), limited to disputes over standings accuracy or misapplication of the top-4/bottom-4 criteria — not competitive outcome itself. APHL franchise status is not subject to this appeal process, as it is not standings-based.

1.1: Availability

All players must submit their availability for the upcoming week's schedule by the league's weekly deadline (set by the Scheduling Coordinator). Availability submissions are binding — marking "available" and then failing to show is treated as an unexcused absence under Section 6.2 of Article I, not a scheduling issue.

1.2: Right to be Scheduled

Every active, available player has the right to be considered for a scheduled game slot during the week they submitted availability. GMs may not withhold a player from all scheduling consideration without cause; disputes go through the Article I escalation chain.

1.3: Right to Play

Every rostered player who is available and scheduled has the right to actual in-game participation, subject to the lineup and fatigue/line-rotation system. A player scheduled for a game but held out entirely without explanation may file a grievance per Article I, Section Four (4.3).

1.4: Weekly Lines

Lines must be submitted by the GM/Management before the weekly lock deadline. Locked lines are final for that week's games unless a roster change (injury, call-up, trade) requires an emergency edit, which must be approved by the Scheduling Coordinator or Assistant Commissioner before the affected game.

1.5: Restrictions and Exemptions

Players may not be scheduled for more games in a week than the league's maximum game-night cap
Exemptions to weekly scheduling requirements (illness, real-life conflict, approved leave of absence) must be submitted in advance and are reviewed by the GM and, if disputed, the Scheduling Coordinator
Repeated exemption requests without documentation may trigger a roster status review

2.1: NHL & AHL - Elite, Pro & Amateur Schedule

The NHL & AHL - Elite, Pro & Amateur each run independent schedules published at the start of the season by the League Director for that tier. Schedules are built around confirmed franchise availability windows and released before the season begins, with weekly matchups locked according to Section One.

2.2: Game Times

Standard game times are set league-wide (e.g., a fixed weeknight window) to maximize player availability across both tiers. GMs may agree to alternate times within the same game night window, subject to Scheduling Coordinator approval per 1.5.

Monday - 9:15 PM & 10:15 PM EST
Tuesday - 9:15 PM & 10:15 PM EST
Wednesday- 9:15 PM & 10:15 PM EST
Thursday - 9:15 PM & 10:15 PM EST

2.3: Holiday Game Schedule

Games falling on major holidays are subject to a modified schedule (postponement or shifted game time) at the Commissioner's Office discretion. Holiday schedule changes are announced at least one week in advance via official league communication (Article I, 1.1.3).

3.1: EASHL Pro Clubs Set-Up

3.1.1: Team Uniforms Set-Up

Each franchise must have its team uniform/kit finalized in-game (EASHL Pro Clubs) before the season begins, matching the franchise's registered team identity/colors on file with the league.

3.1.2: Team Arena/Rink Set-Up

Franchises must have their in-game arena/rink setup finalized before the season begins. Changes mid-season require notice to the Scheduling Coordinator so opposing teams aren't caught off guard on game night.

3.2: Game Night Session Set-Up

The home team (or designated host, per league convention) is responsible for creating the EASHL Pro Clubs session/lobby at the scheduled game time and inviting the away team's roster.

3.3: Game Night Timeline

Players should be online and in the lobby at least 10–15 minutes before the scheduled puck drop
The session should be created no later than the scheduled start time
A grace period (recommended: 10–15 minutes) applies before a no-show/forfeit is considered (see Section Five)

3.3.1: Game Night Procedure

Home team creates the session and invites the away roster
Both teams confirm starting lineups match locked weekly lines
Stats input responsibility is confirmed (Section 3.5)
Game begins; any disconnection follows Section Four procedures
Post-game, stats are submitted per Section 3.5

3.4: Server Selection (Beta)

3.4.1: How Does It Work?

Server selection is a tool/process used to determine which platform region's servers a cross-platform or cross-region matchup will use, aiming to minimize connection issues (lag, disconnections) for both teams.

3.4.2: How Do I Use It?

Home team (or the team designated by the matchup rules) initiates server selection before creating the session, following the current server selection tool/process published by the Technical Admin.

3.4.3: PSN NHL Server Selection Determination

For NHL-tier matchups on PlayStation Network, server selection follows the priority order published by the league (e.g., home team's region unless a documented connection issue history dictates otherwise).

3.4.4: Xbox NHL and Xbox/PSN AHL Server Selection Determination

For NHL-tier matchups on Xbox and all AHL-tier matchups (Xbox or PSN), server selection follows the equivalent published priority order for that platform/tier combination. Any disputes over server selection are resolved by the Technical Admin before the game proceeds.

3.5: Inputting Stats

3.5.1: Responsibility

The home team is responsible for inputting/submitting game stats unless otherwise agreed upon by both GMs before the game, or unless the league's stat system designates responsibility automatically (e.g., OCR-based Stat Recorder).

3.5.2: Inputting Options

Stats may be submitted via the league's OCR-based Stat Recorder system or, where unavailable, manual submission with screenshot/photo evidence per 3.5.3.

API Stats will be added in at some point to bopth APHL & APCHL League. Each Team will be required to have AP in Team name to seperate us from other league and games. All Game will be private, this way we can locate the League played games.

Screenshots are still required, These will be used as a backup system. Just in case anything goes wrong with API Stats

3.5.3: Required Stats and Pictures

At minimum, final score, individual player stats, and goalie stats must be submitted with a clear screenshot of the in-game post-game stat screen(s) as verification.

3.5.4: Forfeit Games Stats

Forfeited games are recorded per the forfeit procedure in Section Five (5.3.1) and do not require standard stat submission; the forfeit result is entered directly by league staff.

3.5.5: Computer Stats

Any stats accumulated by an AI/computer-controlled player (per the AI replacement rules) are excluded from official leaderboards and individual player stat totals, consistent with Article I roster/fill-in rules.

3.5.6: Goalie Stats

Goalie stats (saves, goals against, shutouts) must be submitted alongside skater stats and are subject to the same screenshot verification requirement.

3.5.7: Disconnection Stats

Stats accrued before a verified disconnection count toward the player's season totals; stats for the portion of the game missed due to disconnection (covered by an AI or replacement) follow 3.5.5.

3.5.8: Player Replaced Mid-Game

If a player is replaced mid-game (injury simulation, disconnection, or emergency substitution), the replacing player's stats for that game are tracked separately from the original player's stats, per the Stats Commissioner's reconciliation process.

4.1: A Player Loses Connection

4.1.1: Player Loses Connection Prior to the Game's Start

If a player disconnects before puck drop, the game may be delayed for a reasonable grace period (recommended: 5–10 minutes) to allow reconnection before proceeding with an AI replacement or alternate roster player.

4.1.2: Player Loses Connection on the Opening Face-Off

A disconnection occurring at the literal opening face-off may be treated as a false start; both teams may agree to restart the session. If teams cannot agree, the game proceeds with the affected player replaced per 4.1.3.

4.1.3: Player Loses Connection During a Game

The disconnected player should attempt immediate reconnection. The game continues with an AI replacement or bench player filling in during the reconnection attempt, consistent with Article I, 6.4.

4.1.4: Unable to Return

If a player cannot reconnect within the allotted window (recommended: 10 minutes of game time or real time), the game continues to completion with AI/replacement coverage for that player's position for the remainder of the game.

4.2: Goaltender or Multiple Player Disconnections

4.2.1: Goalie Disconnections

A goaltender disconnection is treated with priority urgency given its impact on game integrity; the game may pause longer than the standard grace period (recommended: up to 10 minutes) to allow the goalie to reconnect before AI coverage takes over.

4.2.2: Multiple Player Disconnections

If multiple players from the same team disconnect simultaneously (e.g., a host migration event or regional outage), both GMs should consult with the Technical Admin on whether the game should be replayed in full rather than continuing with heavy AI coverage.

4.3: Restitution Penalties

A team found to have caused repeated or suspicious disconnections (manipulating connection to gain competitive advantage) is subject to review by the Discipline Officer and may face restitution penalties (e.g., game forfeiture, stat nullification) per Article I disciplinary tiers.

4.4: Coincidental Penalties

Disconnections deemed coincidental (verified connection/ISP issues, platform-side errors) affecting both teams roughly equally do not result in penalties to either side; the game stands as played unless both GMs and league staff agree to a replay.

4.5: Restarting Process

When a restart is warranted (per 4.1.2 or a Technical Admin determination), both teams must be ready to rejoin the session within a set window (recommended: 10 minutes) of the restart being called, or risk forfeit procedures under Section Five.

4.6: Additional Information

All disconnection disputes not explicitly covered above are reviewed by the Technical Admin, with escalation to the Commissioner's Office for any dispute affecting game outcome or standings integrity.

5.1: Replays

A game may be replayed in full when: (a) a verified technical failure prevented fair completion, (b) both GMs mutually agree, or (c) the Commissioner's Office rules a replay is necessary to preserve competitive integrity. Replay decisions are final once issued.

5.2: Reschedules

Games may be rescheduled with a minimum of 24 hours' advance notice submitted to the Scheduling Coordinator, per Article I, Section Two (2.1) and Article IV (GM/Owner responsibilities).

5.2.1: Reschedule Restrictions

Reschedule requests inside the 24-hour window require Scheduling Coordinator approval and are granted only for legitimate cause (documented emergency, platform-wide outage)
A franchise is limited to a maximum number of reschedules per season (recommended: 2–3) before further requests require Commissioner's Office approval

5.3: Forfeits

5.3.1: Forfeit Procedure

If a team fails to field a legal minimum roster within the grace period (Section 3.3), the game is declared a forfeit. The forfeiting team receives a loss; the opposing team is credited a win with a standard forfeit score (e.g., 1-0) unless a partial game was played, in which case the in-progress score may stand at the Commissioner's discretion.

5.3.2: Forfeit Restrictions

A franchise that forfeits multiple games in a season is subject to review under Article IV (GM/Owner non-compliance) and may face additional discipline beyond the standard loss.

5.3.3: Gentlemen's Agreement

Both GMs may mutually agree to alternate arrangements (partial roster play, friendly rescheduling) outside strict forfeit rules when both sides are amenable, provided the agreement is reported to the Scheduling Coordinator for the record.

6.1: Standings Tiebreaker Order

When two or more franchises are tied in the standings (for playoff seeding, promotion/relegation cutoffs, or awards consideration), ties are broken in the following order:



6.2: Application

Tiebreaker rules apply uniformly across NHL and AHL tiers, and are calculated by the Stats Commissioner ahead of any promotion/relegation (Article I, Section Seven) or playoff bracket announcement.

1.1: Sign-Ups

Players register with the league through the official sign-up process, providing platform/gamertag information, position preference, and any prior league experience. Sign-ups are reviewed by the Development Committee and assigned per Section Two status definitions and Section Three (3.4) random assignment rules.

1.2: Salary Cap

Each franchise operates under a league-wide salary cap, set per season by the Commissioner's Office. No franchise may exceed the cap at any point during the season, including at the moment a transaction is processed.

1.3: What Counts Towards the Salary Cap

All active roster player contracts (Section 1.7)
Retained salary from a prior trade (per 3.5.4/3.5.5)
Any buy-out cap hits from Section 3.1.6 or 4.5
Players on Injured Reserve do not count against the active cap unless otherwise specified by IR rules (3.3.3)

1.4: Exceeding the Salary Cap

A franchise may not complete any transaction (sign, trade, call-up) that would push it over the salary cap. Transactions attempted in violation are void; repeat attempts to circumvent the cap are reviewed by the Trade/Waiver Analyst and may result in disciplinary action under Article I, Section Five.

1.5: Roster — Positional Limits, Restrictions and Exceptions
Each franchise must maintain positional minimums/maximums (e.g., minimum 2 goalies, positional balance across forward lines and defensive pairs) as defined by the current roster limit rules. Exceptions (e.g., temporary shortages due to injury) require Trade/Waiver Analyst approval.

1.6: Free Agent Bidding
1.6.1: Free Agent Bidding Process

Unsigned/free agent players are made available for bidding at designated points in the season (season start, post-waiver clears). Franchises submit bids within cap space; the highest compliant bid wins the player's rights.

1.6.2: Bidding Restrictions

Bids may not exceed available cap space
A franchise may not retract a submitted bid once the bidding window closes
Bidding windows and rules are set by the League Director for each tier

1.7: Player Contracts
1.7.1: Contract Distribution

Contracts are assigned based on player status (Section Two), draft position (Section 4.7), or bidding result (1.6), following the league's salary scale.

1.7.2: Contract Restrictions

Contract length and value must fall within league-defined bands for the player's status
Contracts cannot be altered mid-season outside of an approved trade or re-sign window (Section Four)

1.8: Unrestricted and Restricted Free Agency (UFA/RFA)
1.8.1: Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA)

A player whose contract has expired and who has met the league's minimum service/contract threshold (recommended: has completed a defined number of seasons or contracts under their current or any franchise) becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. A UFA may sign with any franchise in the off-season free agency window, with no compensation owed to their previous franchise.

1.8.2: Restricted Free Agent (RFA)
A player whose contract has expired but who has not yet met the minimum service/contract threshold for UFA status becomes a Restricted Free Agent. The player's most recent franchise retains the right of first refusal on any offer the player receives.

1.8.3: How RFA Offers Work
Another franchise may submit an offer sheet to a RFA
The player's original franchise has a defined window (recommended: 48–72 hours) to match the offer and retain the player at those terms
If the original franchise declines to match, the player signs with the offering franchise, and the original franchise may be entitled to compensation (e.g., a draft pick) per league-defined compensation tiers based on the contract value

1.8.4: Qualifying Offers
To retain RFA rights over a player heading into free agency, a franchise must extend a Qualifying Offer (a minimum-value contract offer) by the league's published deadline. Failing to extend a Qualifying Offer converts the player to a UFA.

1.8.5: UFA/RFA Restrictions
A franchise cannot exceed the salary cap (1.2) when signing a UFA or matching an RFA offer sheet
RFA offer sheets are subject to the same bidding restrictions as free agent bidding (1.6.2) where applicable
A player's UFA/RFA status is tracked and confirmed by the Stats Commissioner ahead of each off-season free agency window

2.1: Understanding Player Statuses
Every rostered player carries one status designation that determines contract eligibility, draft treatment, and movement rules. Statuses are assigned at sign-up or transition points (draft, promotion, re-sign) and tracked by the Stats Commissioner/league database.

2.2: Veteran Status (V)
Players who have completed a defined minimum number of seasons in the league (recommended: 1+ full season) and are no longer subject to entry-level contract restrictions.

2.3: Amateur Status (A)
Newly signed players without prior league draft history, typically entering via free agency or random assignment rather than the entry draft.

2.4: Prospect Status (P)
Drafted or developmental players held at the AHL tier (or a franchise's development pipeline) before being eligible for full-time NHL call-up.

2.5: Randomly Assigned (RA)
Players placed onto a roster via the league's random assignment process (Section 3.4) rather than free agent bidding or the draft, typically used to fill roster gaps at season start.

2.6: Drafted Players (DP)
Players selected in the NHL Entry Level Draft (Section 4.7), carrying draft-slot-based entry contract terms per the draft pick salary scale.

3.1: Seasonal Bans Structure

3.1.1: Seasonal Ban Requirements
A seasonal ban is triggered when a player or Owner/Manager accumulates violations meeting the threshold defined in the strike system (3.1.7), separate from in-game suspensions under Article I.

3.1.2: Seasonal Ban Procedures
The Discipline Officer reviews the violation history, issues the seasonal ban with documented reasoning, and logs it in the public disciplinary record.

3.1.3: Seasonal Ban Appeal (Players)
Players may appeal a seasonal ban to the Commissioner's Office within 7 days of issuance, following the same appeal structure as standard suspensions (Article I, Section Six, 6.7) but escalating directly given the season-length severity.

3.1.4: Seasonal Ban Appeals (Owners, Managers)
Owners/Managers appeal seasonal bans to the Board of Governors, given the franchise-level impact of a Management-level ban.

3.1.5: Seasonal Ban Punishment
A seasonal ban removes the player/Manager from active participation for the remainder of the season, with roster/management coverage arranged per standard vacancy rules (Article IV, Section Seven).

3.1.6: Seasonal Ban Buy-outs
A banned party may petition for a buy-out — a reduced ban length in exchange for a defined cap penalty (player) or probationary term (Manager/Owner) — subject to Discipline Officer and Commissioner approval.

3.1.7: Understanding the Strike System
Violations accumulate as strikes on a rolling basis (recommended: strikes reset at season end unless tied to a permanent-ban-level offense). Strike thresholds trigger escalating consequences: warning → suspension → seasonal ban → permanent ban, consistent with Article I disciplinary tiers.

3.1.8: Definitions
Strike: A logged violation counting toward the seasonal ban threshold
Seasonal Ban: Removal from active participation for the remainder of the current season
Buy-out: A negotiated reduction of a ban's length in exchange for a defined penalty

3.2: Waiver Wire and Send Downs

3.2.1: Placing a Player on Waivers
A franchise may place a player on waivers to remove them from the active roster, making them available for claim by other franchises for a defined waiver period (recommended: 24–48 hours).

3.2.2: Claiming a Player Off Waivers
Franchises with available cap space and roster room may submit a waiver claim; if multiple franchises claim the same player, priority follows inverse standings order (lowest-standing team gets priority) unless otherwise specified.

3.2.3: Waiver Wire Restrictions
A player cannot be re-added to the same franchise's roster once claimed by another team
Waiver claims must be cap-compliant at the time of the claim
Franchises may be limited in the number of waiver claims per week

3.2.4: Waiver Exceptions, Exemptions, and Conditions for Conditional Waivers
Certain player statuses (e.g., Prospect status players being sent to AHL) may be exempt from standard waivers ("conditional waivers"), following separate rules published by the League Director.

3.2.5: Transfer Wire
The Transfer Wire is a separate mechanism for moving players between tiers (NHL ↔ AHL) or franchises outside of the standard waiver claim process, typically used for depth/roster balance moves rather than removing a player from a franchise's control.

3.2.6: Transfer Wire Restrictions
Transfer Wire moves must remain cap-compliant and are subject to the same claim-priority rules as standard waivers unless the League Director specifies otherwise for a given transfer window.

3.2.7: Owner Player Contract Opt-Out
An Owner may opt out of a specific player's contract (effectively releasing them) under defined conditions (e.g., buy-out window, cap relief need), following the process set in Section 4.5 (Retirement) and the buy-out framework in 3.1.6 where applicable.

3.3: Call Ups
3.3.1: Full-Time Call Ups
A Prospect or AHL-tier player may be called up to the NHL roster on a full-time basis, subject to salary cap and roster limit compliance at the NHL level, and processed by the Trade/Waiver Analyst.

3.3.2: Full-Time Call Up Restrictions
Full-time call-ups must be finalized before the next scheduled NHL game to count for that game's roster, and may be subject to a minimum time-served requirement at the sending tier before eligibility.

3.3.3: Requesting to be Placed on the Injured Reserve (IR)
A franchise may request IR placement for a player unavailable due to a documented reason, providing cap relief per 1.3. IR requests are reviewed and approved by the Trade/Waiver Analyst or League Director.

3.3.4: Emergency Call Up (ECU)
An Emergency Call Up allows a franchise to temporarily call up an AHL/Prospect player to cover a roster shortage (e.g., IR, sudden inactivity) ahead of an immediate game, without triggering standard call-up restrictions.

3.3.5: Emergency Call Up Restrictions
ECUs are limited in duration (recommended: single game or short-term window) and the player must be returned to their original tier once the emergency need is resolved, unless converted to a Full-Time Call Up per standard process.

3.4: Random Assignment
3.4.1: Player Assignment
New or unassigned players may be randomly assigned to a franchise with an open roster spot, typically used at season start to fill remaining vacancies after free agent bidding concludes.

3.4.2: Player Assignment Restrictions
Random assignment respects cap space and positional limits; a franchise cannot be assigned a player that would push it over the cap or violate positional restrictions (1.5).

3.4.3: Player Rights Assignment
In cases where a franchise holds "rights" to a player (e.g., prior draft rights, prior season rostering) without an active contract, those rights may be assigned/retained per league rules governing rights tracking.

3.4.4: Player Rights Assignment Restrictions
Rights assignments expire after a defined period of inactivity (recommended: rights lapse if unsigned by [X] point in the following season) and are subject to League Director review on disputed claims.

3.5: Trading
3.5.1: Trade Deadline

All trades must be submitted and approved before the league's published trade deadline for the season. No trades are processed after the deadline except league-approved exceptions (e.g., emergency roster necessity, reviewed by the Commissioner's Office).

3.5.2: Submitting Trades
Both franchises must submit matching trade details (players, picks, retained salary) to the Trade/Waiver Analyst for cap compliance review before the trade is finalized.

3.5.3: Trade Restrictions
Trades must be cap-compliant for both sides post-trade
Players may be subject to a no-trade restriction under specific contract or status conditions
A franchise may be limited in trades per week/season to prevent roster instability

3.5.4: Trade Compensation Criteria
Trades must include reasonably equivalent value (players, picks, or retained salary) as judged by the Trade/Waiver Analyst; lopsided trades suspected of circumventing competitive balance may be flagged for review.

3.5.5: Trade Compensation Procedures
Retained salary in a trade counts against the retaining franchise's cap per 1.3 for the duration specified in the trade terms.

3.5.6: League Trade Reversal
The league may reverse a trade found to violate trade restrictions, involve collusion, or otherwise undermine competitive integrity, following review by the Trade/Waiver Analyst and ratification by the Commissioner's Office.

3.5.7: Player Trade Request
A player may formally request a trade through their GM; the request does not obligate the franchise to trade the player but must be acknowledged and logged.

3.5.8: Trade Request Restrictions
Repeated or disruptive trade requests may be reviewed by the Discipline Officer if they cross into general conduct violations (Article I, 6.7).

3.6: Management Seasonal Promotions
Management (GM/Assistant GM/Coaching staff) may be promoted between franchises or tiers mid-season or at season end based on performance and league need, at the discretion of the Commissioner's Office and affected Owners.

4.1: Re-signs
4.1.1: Re-sign Restrictions
Re-signs must occur within the designated off-season re-sign window and remain cap-compliant under next season's projected cap. Re-sign terms must follow the standard contract bands for the player's status (Section Two).

4.1.2: Sign and Trades
A franchise may re-sign a player specifically to facilitate an immediate trade ("sign and trade"), subject to the same cap compliance and trade restriction rules as standard trades (3.5.3).

4.2: Off-Season Trades
Trades may continue during the off-season under relaxed scheduling (no deadline pressure) but remain subject to the same cap compliance and compensation criteria as in-season trades.

4.3: Off-Season Transfer Wire
The Transfer Wire (3.2.5) reopens during the off-season for tier-balance moves ahead of the next season's roster lock.

4.4: Off-Season Waiver Wire
Waivers may be used in the off-season to clear roster spots ahead of free agency/the draft, following the same claim-priority rules as in-season waivers (3.2.2).

4.5: Retirement
A player may retire from the league voluntarily, releasing their rights and removing their contract from any franchise's cap. Retired players may return in a future season through standard sign-up/free agency channels unless subject to a permanent ban.

4.6: Management Selections
Off-season is the primary window for Owner appointment of new Management (GM/Assistant GM/Coaching staff) per Article I, Section Five, ahead of the next season's roster-building process.

4.7: NHL Entry Level Draft
4.7.1: Draft Eligibility
New sign-ups without prior league contract history, and any players designated Amateur status (2.3) who have not been assigned via free agency, are eligible for the NHL Entry Level Draft.

4.7.2: Draft Process
Draft order is set by inverse standings (or a league-defined draft lottery system) from the prior season. Franchises select eligible players in turn; selected players receive Drafted Player (DP) status and an entry contract per the draft pick salary scale (4.7.3).

4.7.3: Draft Pick Salary Scale
Every drafted player is auto-signed to an entry-level contract the moment they're selected — no offer or acceptance step, unlike free agency (1.6) or UFA/RFA signings (1.8).

Scale Structure:

#1 overall pick: top-pick salary, set per league per season by the Commissioner's Office (default: $3,000,000)
Last pick of the draft: league minimum salary (default: $500,000)
Every pick in between: calculated by linear interpolation between the top-pick salary and the minimum salary, based on where that pick falls in the overall draft order
Contract length: fixed number of years for all draft picks in a season (default: 3 years), regardless of round or pick position
Total picks: rounds × number of teams in that league's draft (default: 5 rounds × 8 teams = 40 total picks)
Salary Formula:

For a given pick number P out of N total picks, with top salary T and minimum salary M:


Salary is rounded to the nearest $1,000. Pick #1 always receives exactly the top-pick salary; the final pick always receives exactly the minimum salary; every pick in between scales smoothly along that line.

Per-League Customization:

The Commissioner's Office sets the top-pick salary independently for each league (CHL Elite, CHL Pro, CHL Amateur, and separately for the NHL Entry Level Draft) — e.g., Elite could run a higher top-pick salary than Amateur
The minimum salary and contract length can likewise be set per league/season
Once the top-pick salary, minimum salary, rounds, and team count are set for a season, the full pick-by-pick salary table is generated automatically — no manual entry required for individual picks

Example (using defaults: $3,000,000 top / $500,000 min / 40 total picks):

Pick-------- Approx. Salary ------------Contract Length
1-------------- $3,000,000---------------------3 years
10------------~$2,360,000---------------------3 years
20------------~$1,680,000---------------------3 years
30------------~$1,000,000---------------------3 years
40 (last)---------$500,000---------------------3 years


Restrictions:

Draft pick salaries must still be cap-compliant for the drafting franchise at the moment of assignment; a franchise cannot draft a player whose entry-level salary would push it over the cap
Entry-level contracts assigned through the draft cannot be renegotiated until the player's contract expires and they enter free agency (Section One, 1.8) or re-signs (4.1)

1.1: Preamble
This Rule Book governs conduct, gameplay, and dispute resolution across all APHL and CHL tiers (NHL, AHL, CHL Elite, CHL Pro, CHL Amateur). It works alongside Articles I–III of this Constitution; where a conflict arises, this Rule Book's judicial process governs how that conflict is resolved.

1.2: General Conduct
All participants — Owners, Management, Staff, and Players — are expected to conduct themselves professionally and in good faith toward opponents, teammates, and league staff at all times, in-game, on the website/forum, and in official league Discord channels.

1.3: Jurisdiction
This Rule Book applies to all league-sanctioned activity: scheduled games, official league communication channels, and any conduct that materially affects league operations, standings, or another participant's ability to compete fairly — regardless of the platform on which it occurs.

1.4: Complaint or Violation Disputes
Any participant may file a formal complaint regarding a suspected rule violation. Disputes are resolved through the Judicial Process outlined in Section Two, not through public conflict or unilateral retaliation.

2.1: Understanding the Judicial Process
The Judicial Process is the league's formal mechanism for investigating and ruling on complaints. It exists to ensure every ruling is evidence-based, consistently applied, and appealable — rather than left to informal or one-sided resolution.

2.2: Filing Formal Complaints
2.2.1: Complaint Categories
Complaints are filed under one of the following categories: In-Game Conduct, Off-Field/Communication Conduct, Roster/Transaction Violation, Management/Owner Violation, or Technical/Disconnection Dispute. The category determines which staff role initially reviews it (Discipline Officer, Trade/Waiver Analyst, or Technical Admin).

2.2.2: Filing False Complaints
Knowingly filing a false or bad-faith complaint is itself a conduct violation and may result in discipline against the complainant, up to and including the punishment tier the false complaint sought to impose on the accused party.

2.2.3: Providing Evidence
Complaints must be submitted with supporting evidence (screenshots, clips, chat logs) wherever possible. Complaints lacking any evidence may still be reviewed but carry less weight and may be dismissed if unverifiable.

2.2.4: Viewing Ruling Decisions
Finalized rulings are logged in the public disciplinary record (Article I, 1.1.3 / 4.3), though sensitive evidence (private communications, personal information) is redacted from the public view.

2.2.5: Judging Complaints
Complaints are judged by the relevant staff role under 2.2.1, based on the preponderance of evidence available, and applying the punishment tiers defined in Article I and this Article.

2.2.6: Violation Punishments
Punishments scale by severity and repeat occurrence, ranging from a warning to a game suspension, seasonal ban, or permanent ban, consistent with the tiers established in Article I (Section Six) and Article III (3.1).

2.2.7: League Removal Policy
A participant may be removed from the league entirely for severe or repeated violations (e.g., glitching for competitive advantage, harassment, collusion) as determined by the Commissioner's Office, following the standard judicial review process.

2.2.8: Capital Punishment Ban Policy
"Capital punishment" bans — immediate, permanent removal without the standard tiered escalation — are reserved for the most severe violations (e.g., cheating/glitch exploitation for competitive gain, serious harassment, doxxing). These bans require Commissioner's Office authorization and are reviewable only by the Board of Governors.

2.2.9: Right to an Appeal
Every ruling under this Article carries the right to appeal, following the escalation chain established in Article I (Section Six, 6.7) — except capital punishment bans, which escalate directly to the Board of Governors.

2.2.10: Time Frame for Serving a Punishment
Punishments take effect immediately upon ruling unless a pending appeal explicitly stays the punishment (at the Commissioner's Office's discretion for borderline or high-impact rulings).

2.2.11: Public Complaints
Airing a dispute publicly (forum, Discord, social media) before or instead of filing a formal complaint is discouraged and may itself be treated as a conduct violation if it constitutes harassment or disrupts league operations.

2.3: Standard of Participation
All participants are expected to know and follow this Rule Book. "I didn't know the rule" is not, on its own, a valid defense against a ruling, though it may be considered as a mitigating factor for first-time, low-severity violations.

2.4: Staff Timeline for Complaint Rulings
Staff are expected to issue an initial ruling on a filed complaint within 48–72 hours of submission, barring cases requiring extended evidence review.

2.5: Statute of Limitations
Complaints must be filed within 7 days of the incident in question. Complaints filed outside this window may be declined unless the delay is justified (e.g., evidence only recently became available).

2.6: Withholding Information
Any participant found to be withholding relevant evidence during a judicial review, once directly asked to provide it, may face additional discipline for obstruction, separate from the underlying complaint.

3.1: Pre-game EASHL Pro Club Set-Up in Private Game Set-Up
All games must be created as private EASHL Pro Clubs matches with correct team/club settings (uniforms, arena, ruleset) matching league standards, per Article II (3.1).

3.2: Game Night Deadlines
All game-night deadlines set in Article II (Section Three) are enforceable rules under this Article; missing them is treated as a rule violation subject to the judicial process, not just a scheduling note.

3.3: Server Selection Determination
Server selection must follow the process defined in Article II (3.4). Deliberately manipulating or refusing server selection to gain a connection advantage is a rule violation.

3.4: Diving for the Puck
Deliberately and repeatedly diving/sliding for the puck outside of normal gameplay attempts, in a manner intended to exploit game physics rather than make a legitimate play, is prohibited.

3.5: Self Board Play
Deliberately using the boards to exploit puck physics or game mechanics in a way not intended by normal gameplay (as opposed to standard board-play strategy) is prohibited.

3.6: Ragging the Puck
Excessive, prolonged puck-holding intended purely to run out the clock without making a competitive play — as opposed to legitimate offensive zone possession — may be reviewed as unsportsmanlike conduct if it disrupts fair competition, particularly in lopsided-score situations.

3.7: Goaltender Interference
Deliberate contact with an opposing goaltender outside of incidental/legitimate net-front play is prohibited and may be reviewed for in-game penalty and, if repeated/egregious, disciplinary action.

3.8: Glitching
Exploiting any bug, glitch, or unintended game mechanic for competitive advantage is strictly prohibited and is treated as one of the most serious in-game violations, up to capital punishment ban consideration (2.2.8) for deliberate, repeated, or match-altering use.

3.9: In-Game Loop
Deliberately looping the same exploit-adjacent play pattern (offensive or defensive) to abuse an AI/game engine weakness rather than compete normally is treated as a glitching-adjacent violation under 3.8.

3.10: AI Player Stats
Stats generated by an AI-controlled player (per Article I, 6.4 and Article II, 3.5.5) are excluded from official leaderboards and season totals; attempting to inflate personal stats via manipulated AI coverage is a violation.

3.11: Resolving Broken Rules During a Game
3.11.1: Procedures
When a rule violation under this Section occurs mid-game, the affected team should document it (screenshot/clip) and continue play; formal resolution happens post-game via complaint filing (Section Two) rather than pausing the match, except where a glitch requires an immediate restart per Article II (4.5).

3.11.2: Goals
A goal scored as a direct result of a rule violation (e.g., a glitch) may be nullified upon review and removed from the official score.

3.11.3: Penalties
A missed or incorrectly applied in-game penalty related to a rule violation may be adjusted after the fact only insofar as it affects the recorded outcome/stats, not by replaying game time.

3.11.4: Possession
Possession-based advantages gained through a rule violation are not retroactively reversible in-game but are documented as part of the violation record for judicial review.

3.12: Adjusting Stats After an In-Game Infraction
3.12.1: Goal Incident
A goal confirmed to result from a rule violation is removed from both the final score and the individual stat lines of the players involved.

3.12.2: Penalty Incident
Penalty minutes and related stats tied to a confirmed rule violation are corrected in the official record by the Stats Commissioner.

3.12.3: Possession Incident
Possession-related stat anomalies tied to a confirmed violation are annotated in the record even where the underlying stat cannot be cleanly reversed.

4.1: Availability
Players must submit accurate weekly availability per Article II (1.1). Falsifying availability is a rule violation distinct from a simple no-show.

4.2: No-Shows
Failing to appear for a scheduled, confirmed game without prior notice is a rule violation subject to the suspension tiers in Article I and the strike system in Article III (3.1.7).

4.3: Maintaining an Active Console Account and APL User Profile
Players must keep their console/platform account and APL site profile active and accurate (correct gamertag, contact info) throughout the season. Failure to do so may result in a player being deemed inactive/unreachable for roster purposes.

4.4: Demanding/Brokering a Trade
Players may formally request a trade (Article III, 3.5.7) but may not publicly demand a trade, pressure a GM through repeated escalation, or attempt to broker their own trade terms with another franchise directly. Violations are reviewed as conduct issues.

4.5: Quitting the Team or League
A player who quits mid-season without proper notice (Article I, 6.5) leaves their franchise short-handed and may face a review of their standing for future league participation, including a potential seasonal or permanent ban for repeated occurrences.

4.6: Ineligible Player
Fielding a player who is suspended, banned, over a roster/positional limit, or otherwise ineligible under this Constitution is a rule violation against the fielding franchise, regardless of intent.

4.7: In-Game Communication
Communication during games (voice/text chat) must remain within general conduct standards (1.2); harassment, slurs, or targeted abuse during gameplay is treated with the same severity as off-platform conduct violations.

4.8: Website Etiquette
Forum and league website conduct (posts, comments, profile content) must follow the same general conduct standard as in-game communication. Spam, harassment, or disruptive posting is subject to Moderator and Discipline Officer review.

4.9: Second Tag Issues — Account Recovery Issues
Players experiencing gamertag/account changes or recovery issues must notify the league promptly so their roster/profile record can be updated; failing to disclose a tag change that affects roster tracking may be treated as a compliance issue.

4.10: Conduct Unbecoming
Any conduct — on or off platform — that reflects poorly on the league or another participant, even if not explicitly enumerated elsewhere in this Rule Book, may be reviewed under this general "conduct unbecoming" standard at the Discipline Officer's discretion.

4.11: Detrimental Act to the Organization
Actions that materially harm a player's own franchise (e.g., deliberately underperforming, sabotaging team chemistry, leaking internal team communication) may be reviewed as a detrimental act, separate from general conduct violations.

4.12: Refusal to Play
A player who is available, scheduled, and healthy but refuses to participate in a game without valid cause is treated as equivalent to a no-show (4.2) for disciplinary purposes.

5.1: Late Lines
Submitting weekly lines after the lock deadline (Article II, 1.4) without an approved exception is a rule violation against the franchise's Management.

5.2: Invalid Roster
Fielding a roster that violates positional limits, salary cap compliance, or eligibility rules (4.6) is a Management-level violation, regardless of which individual player caused the issue.

5.3: Circumvention or Falsifying Any of the Site's Systems, Forum, or Rules
Attempting to manipulate, exploit, or falsify league systems (stat submission, cap tracking, forum records) is treated as one of the most serious Management-level violations, subject to League Removal Policy consideration (2.2.7).

5.4: Disclosure of Private Information
Sharing another participant's private information (real name, personal contact details, platform account details beyond gamertag) without consent is strictly prohibited and may result in severe discipline up to permanent removal.

5.5: Player Rights Violation
Interfering with a player's rights under this Constitution (e.g., denying a legitimate trade request review, withholding availability consideration without cause per Article II, 1.2) is a Management violation.

5.6: Player Tampering
Contacting or attempting to recruit a player currently under contract to another franchise, outside of legitimate free agency/trade channels, is prohibited and reviewed as tampering.

5.7: Forfeits
Repeated forfeits (Article II, 5.3) beyond the league's tolerance threshold are treated as a Management-level compliance issue subject to additional review under Article I (Section Five).

5.8: In-Game Stats Requirements
Failing to submit required stats/screenshots per Article II (3.5) in a timely manner is a Management violation affecting league record-keeping.

5.9: Disconnection Procedures
Management is responsible for ensuring their roster understands and follows disconnection procedures (Article II, Section Four); a pattern of disconnection-related disputes tied to one franchise may trigger Technical Admin review.

5.10: Waiver Violations
5.10.1: Claiming and Waiving Players
Circumventing waiver claim priority (Article III, 3.2.2) or colluding with another franchise on a waiver claim/release is a rule violation.

5.10.2: Waiving an Inactive Player
Placing a genuinely inactive/unreachable player on waivers to clear a roster spot is permitted, but must be accurately represented — falsely claiming a player is inactive to justify a waiver move made for other reasons is a violation of 5.3.

5.11: Making Transactions in "Bad Faith"
Transactions structured primarily to circumvent the salary cap, tamper with competitive balance, or exploit a loophole rather than serve a legitimate roster purpose may be reviewed and reversed under Article III (3.5.6), with additional discipline for the Management involved.

5.12: Second Tag Issues
Management failing to update or report a roster player's tag/account change (see 4.9) in a timely manner may be held responsible for resulting roster tracking errors.

5.13: Conduct Unbecoming
Owners and Management are held to the same "conduct unbecoming" standard as players (4.10), with a higher expectation of professionalism given their leadership role within the franchise.

5.14: Ownership Annotations
The Commissioner's Office maintains an internal annotation record for each Owner/Management team, logging rulings, warnings, and prior violations to inform future disciplinary decisions and franchise standing reviews.

6.1: Banned X-Factors
[To be updated by league staff]

6.2: Illegal Movement / Skill Moves
[To be updated by league staff]

6.3: Enforcement
[To be updated by league staff — e.g., how a violation here is reported, reviewed, and penalized, likely following the Section Two Judicial Process and Section Three in-game infraction handling]

7.1: Prestige System
Each player earns and loses prestige points based on game results. Wins earn points, losses deduct points. The amount earned or lost is affected by the tier gap between opponents — beating a higher-tier player earns more, losing to a lower-tier player costs more.

7.2: Prestige Tiers
There are 19 prestige tiers ranging from No Rank to Fire 1. Players need a minimum of 7 games played before their prestige tier is displayed. Tier advancement and demotion happen automatically based on a player's prestige score.

7.3: Season Reset
Prestige scores may be subject to a soft reset at the start of each new season at Admin discretion. The reset brings scores closer to the midpoint rather than wiping them entirely.