There is an old saying in the retail business “Change it up!” and that’s what I periodically due to keep the game fresh and interesting for me. I’ve recently changed how I designate which player is carrying the ball on a called run play. For what seems like an eternity, I always picked the running back, type of run, and adhered to the rule of not allowing a player to have more than two consecutive rushing attempts. Now I use the dice range calculator to determine running back allocation numbers for all players, excluding quarterbacks, who actually had a carry during the season. It’s invigorating to call a run play and not know who the runner is and type of run that will be executed. It also increases realism by allowing a runner to have more than two straight attempts.  Computer generated dice rolls (excel spreadsheet) determine the runner and type of run. For dual purpose backs (15-16-17) a dice roll of 11-33 will indicate an inside run and 34-36 will be an outside run. For the 60-40 backs (runners that look like dual purpose backs but have either a 4 or 6 at PR 22, 33, 44, etc.) a dice roll of 11-44 indicates an inside run and 45-66 would be an outside run. Outside (5-6-7) runners run exclusively outside while inside runner (4-6-8 ) run only inside.

Moving forward, audibles and blitzes will only occur on “third or fourth” downs. Since I don’t abide by the APBA rule of allowing only one audible per quarter, the chances of an audible being called against a blitzing defense has increased. I have revised steps associated with an inside/outside run, draw play and screen pass against the blitz on a called pass play.  These procedures will be incorporated into my “Method of Play” during the next revision.

Inside/Outside run and Draw Play

• Raise index by one (not above “A” index) and add one-yard to any positive gain.
• Read two lines above card number on boards.
• If card number is 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 or 28 through 36, USE IT.
• If card number is 24 through 27, use line 28.
• If line change would take you through 15, use 15.

Screen Pass.

• Raise index by one (not above “A” index) and add one-yard to any positive gain.
• If card number is 13, or 21 through 36, USE IT
• If it’s another number, read 2 lines below the card number on the boards. Use the result only if the pass is incomplete.
  • Don’t include number 13 in counting lines.
  • If line change would take to or through number 21, use play result 28.
• If the pass would still have been complete after the two-line drop, move up two lines above original card number (i.e., 6 to 8 to 4).
  • Don’t include number 13 in counting lines.
  • If line change would take you through 1, use 1.
• If using “Yards per Catch” innovation, use “yardage adjustment” to end result of play.
  • For example, receiver has a rating of S2-8 (-3), 31 and the board result is a ten-yard gain. You would add one-yard for positive gain and subtract three yards resulting in a eight-yard gain.
  • Limit receiver to actual long reception. Using above rating of S2-8 (-3), 31, receiver would be limited to a maximum gain of 31 yards even in the line change went to 1.

My wife surprised me the other day with the perfect gift. She noticed a TeeSprings.com advertisement of the below shirt on her Facebook page. TeeSprings.com allows users to design a shirt in their easy designer, set a price, add a goal and start selling. Once the quota of pre-orders is met, they will print and ship directly to the buyers. She not only purchased one but convinced others to do so to meet the quota.

I’ve created a new widget on the sidebar titled “APBA Football Guys.” It’s a pictorial slideshow displaying images of fellow players who share the same passion for the great game of APBA Football. Currently there are only a few pictures, however, I’m hoping that changes in the near future. If interested, email me an action photo of you playing the game at Oguard62@yahoo.com.

Each and every year on my birthday, I always enjoy reading my birthday horoscope over a cup of coffee.  This morning I had to laugh as I read the below caption.

Being born on the 17th of December you are an avid and decisive goal setter, you will naturally put lots of effort and energy into achieving worthwhile things and acts of kindness. You prefer to finish anything you start before attempting another aspiration.

I finally have the answer for the next time I’m asked, “What’s my secret to completing all of these full season APBA Football replays?”  “It’s simple, it’s in the stars”.

Besides playing APBA Football, there are three things I love.  My wife, a good steak and a fine cigar.  The below birthday celebration collage sums it up.

I wanted to post photos of the custom designed storage box that I had built by a gentleman named Jason Rziha. His workmanship, customer service and attention to detail are top-notch. The sheer volume of modern season, APBA Football card sets has made storing these cards difficult. I grew tired of having to use multiple boxes to store a season and I don’t care for the oversized storage boxes currently being sold by the game company. When not in use, I want my cards stored in an upright and orderly manner to ensure they remain in mint condition. Since I require daily access to my cards, I wanted to have a first-class staging area for them for years to come. Jason has made that happen, if interested in obtaining a quote, he can be contacted at www.customcardboxes.com.   

To my good friend, Mark Zarb, “Brother, I finally have a storage box worthy of your cards.”