General Information

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Short History

Olmec Soccer is a variation of a game of postal soccer invented by Alan Parr in England around 1970. Olmec was developed by Allan Sellers and the first league was MSWL (Make Sure Wayne League). While the first two seasons of the MSWL featured matches resolved using dice (United-style), starting with Season 3, all matches are simulated by software. This version of Olmec borrows some concepts from the EEFL (specifically, EEFL Season 11). Much of the format and rules you see here are taken directly from those of the EEFL. There have been many MSWL-specific changes over the past few years as well.

MSWL started in 1989. This is the 17th Season in this second “era” of the MSWL. There were 3 seasons from 1989-1991. MSWL restarted in 1993 and has been going ever since. SESL (Scottish E-mail Soccer League) started around 1998 (a guess) and is now in season 20, PSFA (Psycho S[h]occer Football League) started around 2000 and lasted for 5 seasons, SaSo (Saturday Soccer) started around 2002 and lasted 3 seasons, The Manager began in 2001 and is on season 19, SFLSL (Sanctuary Football League SL).

The other leagues; SESL, SFLSL, The Manager and ODFL use the same core rules as MSWL but also have some variations. These are pointed out in the rules where necessary.

Season Overview

Each manager coaches a soccer/football club. A season is divided into "sessions", each of which generally consists of one or two matches for each club.
The matches per session played each week differs with each league.
In most matches, one club is designated as the "home team" and the other club is designated as the "visiting team".
But there are breaks mid-season for ageing skill loss.

With the current software all lineups are now entered/stored online, trades, auction bids and press/journal will be as well.

Leaving the Game

If a new manager misses either his first or second session he is also considered gone and a replacement will be found.

If a manager is NMR for 10 games during the season, the commissioner will, at his discretion, declare the manager "gone" and the team available for adoption.

Leaving the Game Differences in SESL

If a manager does not turn in lineups for two sessions in a row or 3 times in a season, the commissioner may, at his discretion, declare the manager "gone" and the team available for adoption.

If a manager is seriously under-achieving with a team that should be going for glory, then that teams CHAIRMAN may give him a warning and expect things to improve. This is normally done on the forum as a bit of fun (initially) to gee up a de-motivated manager.

(Managers can be sacked for under achieving but do have ‘the right to reply’. The more involved a manager is with Blog notes, press and the forum the less likely they are to be fired. And all possible support is given to new and in-experienced managers!)

Taking a Break

If you will be unavailable to run your team for an extended period of time, you can send in orders ahead of time, enough sets to cover your entire absence. If that is not reasonable, you can also find a friend to take over your team during your vacation. That person must agree to give the team back at a specified time.

In the past we have had a stasis option or sabbatical. We had removed that option as it creates some chaos. However, it is apparent we still need something like this. To qualify for this option you must have managed your team for 5 consecutive seasons and provide some advance notice.

Taking a Break Differences in SESL

The Commish may also provide a work colleague to run a vacant team in the short term if sufficient notice is given. Any previous SESL manager wishing to return to the game (provided he was reliable) will be placed at the top of the waiting list and offered the next available team to re-join SESL. This has happened over a dozen times in last few seasons, so this is a genuine option for a manager going through a busy period in their life and he/she can take comfort the door will remain open for a return to SESL.

Benign Dictatorship

  • No Replaying of Matches

At times, the commissioner may make changes in the game to maintain the spirit and playability. He will not break the rules lightly, but will do so when needed to maintain overall fairness and consistency. One of the areas where the commissioner will intervene is when a trade is proposed that may either damage a team or one that is too one-sided. Intervention will generally not occur when two long-time managers are making the trade.

Keep in mind that the commissioner and software “can” make mistakes sometimes. However, we will not replay ANY single matches for any reason, PERIOD! If a mistake is made where a simple TP/CP or monetary adjustment is required, those can easily be fixed, just point them out (do it nicely). If a mistake is made that affects your lineup, the match will not be replayed. The result will stand, but hopefully the reason for the mistake can be identified to prevent it from reoccurring. The software will do weird things sometimes too, but it does not play favorites. If software problems are identified let the commissioner know so the problem can be fixed. If an issue occurs that affects all matches or would result in “major manual work” to repair the database, then all matches will be replayed at the commissioners discretion.

In MSWL Season 6, for example, there were a variety of instances where people could have argued for replays...NO MATCHES WERE REPLAYED however. One team fielded an illegal lineup without a FW (this was later adjusted so it could not happen as the code repositions players to make a lineup legal). Alon Atie had two instances, one where his lineups did not make it to the commish and another where the software gave NYT a bizarre OTF in a match vs. GS. I must say Alon handled both cases better than anyone else ever has and should be commended. The first case meant 2nd in the 2nd Division rather than a possible 1st place, while the second situation meant GS did not go to the Final 16. I don't think we can foresee much worse than this happening to a team. But Alon did not get upset about it and "take his toys and go home" like some others have. Use this as your example when it does happen (and it will).

The Structure of a Season

Standings

Clubs are ranked during the season, and during special tournaments described below, primarily by the number of "league points" (Pts) they earn. Clubs earn 3 Pts per win and 1 Pt per draw. Clubs with equal Pts shall have that tie broken using the following criteria (in order):

  1. Goal Differential
  2. Total Goals Scored
  3. Head To Head Record
  4. Most Goals Scored in Head To Head Play
  5. Games Won
  6. Goals scored @ home
  7. Home matches Won
  8. Leading Goal scorer
  9. Flip of a coin

See the Flatnz pages for the different rules it uses.

Pre-Season Draft/Auction

Each league has different rules for the method of new pre-season players.
MSWL Pre-season draft.
SESL Bosman Players.
SFLSL currently has no Pre-Season draft/auction system.
The Manager Bosman Players.
ODFL has a varying system reviewed each season.

The Regular Season (LEAGUE)

The regular season will involve all the teams in each division playing the other teams in their division twice (once at home and once away).
The schedule will be published at the beginning of the season.
Each League have slightly different rules for how the league works, but essentially.
1st in the Division wins the Divisions, and is promoted to the Division above unless in top flight already.
Bottom in the Division is relegated to the Division below, unless already in the bottom Division.
To encourage competitive play towards the end of the season, Playoffs are used for further Promotion and Relegation.

Cups

Each League have slightly different rules for how their Cups works.
Each of the leagues, essentially have a Cup competition in the first half of the season, and another in the second half.

End of Season Awards

At the end of the regular season, each League hands out "awards" to a number of teams, in the form of resources. Each league, has differences in their award system, but all award Golden Boots the player who has scored the most goals in the regular season in each division and Golden Gloves for the top GK using the GK rating formula.

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