35 years and 25 seasons CSL (Culp Solitaire League) rules

[Silverhorse 228]

I hope solitaire players might find this thread helpful. I am going to start with the basics and hopefully explain the rules closer as I receive questions. I currently play a 107 game schedule for every season. I have 32 teams who play a six game schedule (3 division, 2 conference and 1 interconference) and every season I have ever played has been the NFL. So all the divisions, players, schedules etc. follow the NFL standards for that year of play. I started in 1973 with four teams all the way up to current day. Here is how I do things.

Players: Each team is a 11 man iron squad and quarterback. Each team is "switched over" or updated every season, to give a realistic feel and to provide consistent stats for the season that player played. The offense consist off the top two running backs, top two receivers, quarterback and one offensive lineman (usually the center). On defense we have the two best linebackers, two top defensive lineman and two defensive backs. When on defense the quarterback sits out on the sidelines, when on offense one of the defensive backs sits out. The defensive back that does not sit out fills in at tide end on offense. The players have as much detail as possible including face mask, gloves and accurate jerseys. I do not decal any players because of time (22 x 32=704 figures) but what I do is take Miggle stamped or decaled players and clean them up. This allows for a relatively short turn around period. If a team changes it's jersey or colors, then I repaint the whole team to match. By having accurate players I have had some interesting players win league MVP's and make my Hall of Fame.

Games Timing: Games are timed just like in the NFL. I have a 40 second play clock and the game clock runs just like in the NFL, with the following exceptions. The clock does not stop for out of bounds, incompletions, turnover on downs or punts... and I do not have penalties in my games. The clock does stop for timeouts and scores and the two minute warning.

Gameplay Setup: The key to a good solitaire game is two things-randomness and consistent game play. The best games I have ever had are the games that go back and forth, without knowing how it is going to end. Being a spectator at a close game is what it is all about. So how do I make randomness? Here is what I do...I take a 12 sided dice and I roll it four times...let's just say I roll a 12, 3, 7 and a 8. In the preseason I create 12 standard plays that will create randomness on the field such as a sweep, middle stack or dive. All of these plays are running plays and each team has a four play setup at the begining of the half, then at halftime...to be fair...each team trades plays and that is their game plan for the half. These are all running plays for a reason...because when I pass they are usually big plays. The bases used for the game also brings a high degree of randomness to the game. In preseason I tweak 35 bases to run straight for atleast 40 yards, then I put them all in a container. Before each game I mix them up, then one player at a time I draws a base out at random. You never know what you are going to get...sometimes I get the star running back running in circles or I get on side with a dominate line...that is what makes it interesting. Consistent gameplay is also important and brings me to rules next up...

Gameplay offense: Following the kickoff (which I will get to in a minute) the offense takes over on offense. For the first quarter and for most of the second quarter (except for the final five minutes) the play order goes like this....run, run, pass. 1st and 2nd down is always a run and 3rd down is a pass. If a team picks up a first down, then 1st down is a run, 2nd a run 3rd a pass. If a team has a 4th down and does not want to punt, then they must run a goal line formation type play, which normally results in very little gain if any. Deceiding to go for it on fourth down depends on the game situation. If it is a questionable deceision, then I flip a coin. I have found that high number of pass plays leads to high scoring, so I limit it. Now once we get to under 5 minutes to go in the half, then a team can pass on 1st down HOWEVER, if they fail to pick up a first down on that first play, then they must run up the middle on 2nd, 3rd and even 4th down. No sweeps allowed...so it is risky to throw on 1st down, but normally this option is only used by teams trailing. All teams leading a game run the normal series of run, run, pass. Alll pass plays has a standard formation with two backs in the backfield and two receivers spread wide on opposite sides.

So let's run through and example. Let's say the Broncos have the ball at their own 20 to start the game and their dice roll went as follows: 3,7,11,9. Their first play from scrimmage would be a "3" (which is receivers split wide, both backs stacked to the left of the quarterback with this a dive into gap between the center and guard). They pick up 8 yards. Next play is "7" which is a sweep left-they get stopped for no gain. Third down then is a pass play, in which the board is turned on in pass formation and the play runs until someone gets opened or the qb gets sacked...in this case it goes for a big gain inside the 5 yd line...1st and goal. Plays inside the 5 yard line are special because that brings in goal line offense setup. Bascially this formation is a t-formation in the backfield with a double tide end. Again the first two plays must be runs and the third down play is a pass. Had they got stopped, say at the 8 yard line, then the Broncos would have run play #11. Ball carriers have to actually carry the ball and normally their is a main back who gets a majority of the carries...usually the one who has the better base.

Gameplay on defense: Defense is pretty basic...there are three formations...run, pass and goal line. Run formation is a 4-4-3 formation with 4 lineman and 4 line backers stacked immediately behind them. The 3 defensive backs go like this...2 on the split wide receivers man up and one playing safety lined up 15 yards back and in line with running back. The pass defense is a 4-3-4 formation with 4 lineman, 3 linebackers lined up in the gaps of the lineman, and 4 defensive backs, with 1 lined up directly on the tide end and 2 lined up man-on-man on the receivers and one safety. The goal line defense is everyone at the line man on man and 3 linebacks stacked in the middle of the line.

Kickoff, punts and field goals:
Kickoffs are basic. The ball is kicked, if it goes out of bounds, then the ball is spotted at the 40. If is kicked through the endzone, then the returning team has the option of taking it at the 20 or a return. If we have a return, then the board is turned on for 4 seconds. If a player reaches the endzone, then it is a touchback. After the 4 seconds the receiving team still has the option to run it out...if kicked in the field of play, then it must be returned. If a run out occurs, then the 3 closest players are turned towards the ball carrier and the board is turned on. Unside kicks are just like the NFL runs...must go 10 yards...if it does not hit anyone then the board is turned on and it is whoever gets the ball first.
Punts are simply as well...line everyone up in punt formation and kick the ball while the board is running. There are no punt returns...it is where ever the ball ends up.
Field goals are simple as well. A team must be inside the opponents 45 yard line...teams line up in formation and the attempt is made...with the board on...Some of the most memorable games had field goals actually blocked...hitting the kicker does not block the ball...they must block the kick.

Anyway...these are just some of my rules that have taken me 35 years to fine tune. These rules are the result of fine tuning the solitaire game and they make for great games...any questions please ask away!

[Reginald Rutledge]

for what you are doing! Don't think guys are not watching and picking up on things that you do. You have been one of the biggest inspirations for me to go back into the solitaire world. I read what you do and I've got all the respect in the world for it!

I hope you will be at the Great Campin' so we can talk solitaire and I can just see all the things that you are doing! Keep doing what you do because some of us do draw inspiration from what you do!

Reg