Football board game

A board game simulating a football season is played by two or more players according to the general rules of the game of “Fantasy Football.” The board game uses a game board with indicia thereon resembling a football field. A game path is formed on the game board, the game path being divided into spaces with instructions imprinted thereon directing a player to advance or retract when moving a game piece along the board according to chance means. The game uses several decks of cards, which are provided separately from the board with indicia thereon that represents actual players in actual teams that provide instructions to the game player of the manner of progression along the board, that keep weekly and seasonal scores for the teams.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to board games that have its origins in sporting events, such as professional football games. More particularly, the present invention relates to a board game, which has a rolling dice, a plurality of playing pieces with indicia thereon, as well as score cards.

There are numerous sport board games, which correspond to sporting events, such as football, basketball and the like. Some board games are played by 2 persons, while others are more regularly played by three or more persons. Many board games employ a playing board in combination with playing cards, with a board defining a path along which a player moves upon rolling of the dice. The players are required to draw cards from a deck of randomly arranged cards and move a playing piece according to the instructions of the space wherein the player's playing piece has landed. It is noted that games give a player an opportunity to exhibit the player's knowledge of the game, while other games are purely games of chance, with little of no skill required to win the game.

The so-called “Fantasy Football” game has been developed for playing on the Internet between players who agree to follow a specific set of rules. Each league's members draft national football league players to be on their team and receive point based on their drafted players performance each week of the season.

The present invention contemplates provision of a board game that has its basis in and utilizes terminology of professional football and its rules and combines the features of a game of chance and some features of a skill game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a board game that can be played by two or more people using the decks of specially imprinted cards corresponding to the terminology of American football.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a board game, which can be played by rolling of the die for advancing the playing piece of the player around the board game.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a board game, which simulates the game of “Fantasy Football.” According to the rules of the game, a first deck of cards is provided with indicia thereon representative of actual football players and their respective scores during a previous playing season. The indicia also includes indication of the actual player's position in a team, such as quarterback, wide receiver, running back, defense tight end, kicker and bench. A chance means, such as dice, is provided for selecting the first game player that is afforded a chance to compose the game player's team by drafting desired players from the first deck of cards. As a result, the first player has an opportunity to choose his “dream team” with the highest score, which will be added to the score during the game.

Once all game players built their teams, the game is progressed according to the instructions on the game board and corresponding first plurality of playing cards. The game board has indicia thereon resembling a football field and a designated path divided into a plurality of spaces, each containing instructions for advancing along the designated path. The instructions contain indicia simulating real situations in a football game, such as “You May Switch 1 Player with Free Agency Pile,” “Propose a Trade,” and the like. Some of the spaces have indicia directing a game player to “Pick Pile,” which will cause the game player to pick a card from the first plurality of the “Pick Pile” deck of cards. The points can be added or lost as the player follows the game board and the playing cards instructions. The game is played simulating the weekly games, progressing to playoffs, with the player securing the highest score advancing to the finals.

The board game further comprises a second plurality of decks of cards, which are used for recording the score during the “weekly” plays. The score is kept for every team and each week. The board game further comprises a plurality of tokens, which, depending on the roll of the dice, direct the players to add or subtract point during progression of the game. Some of the instructions on the game board and the instruction cards instruct a particular game player to be excluded from the game due to an imaginary injury. The missing players cause the game player to lose a designated number of points. The board game may be played by two or more players, repeating weekly plays and season plays indefinitely.

The instant board game provides for the use of a deck of cards with statistics from the players' previous season or from a deck of cards projecting what their statistics will be in the next season. The game players can play the instant game, which covers the entire season, as opposed to a weekly game as is possible with the Internet-based game.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral10designates a game board of the present invention with indicia imprinted thereon. The board game has a top planar surface, which simulates a football playing field. The central area12of the game board10simulates a football field with goals14and16schematically shown on the board. The central area12may have yard lines indicia18imprinted thereon, as well as the word “football” in the center of the board. An area surrounding the central area12of the game board10has indicia thereon representing “stadium seats” occupied by spectators schematically designated by numeral20in the drawings. The spectators hold up a plurality of signs, or game playing spaces, which form a game path for moving along the board10.

Some of the instructions on the playing spaces allow a player to proceed a designated number of spaces, other instructions require the players to pick a card from the pile, still others instruct the player to “Roll Again,” “You May Switch One Player with the Free Agency Pile,” “Play Ball”, and the like.

The board game is played between two or more opponents, using the below-described rules. To start, team tokens are sorted to correspond to the number of players in the game. The tokens are placed face down and then selected by each player. The number a player receives in the draft order (if using serpentine draft) becomes the order for the first roll. In the serpentine draft, the player drafts from the smallest number to the largest number for odd number draft rounds and from largest number to the smallest number for even number rounds. For instance, round one is number1–12, the number12player would then draft first in the second round and then go into the descending order until number one player drafts. In round three, number one player would go first again.

The game is then played starting with week number one. In the first week, each player, starting with team number one rolls the dice and follows the directions on the board. The other team follows along the board path. Week one is considered over when the first person lands on or crosses the Play Ball″ square schematically illustrated inFIG. 1and designated by numeral22.

The subsequent weeks2–14are played substantially identically, that is the first person that crosses the “play ball” square22of week1and every week thereafter, starts first during the next week, followed by team numbers in sequence. The playoff weeks number14and15each start with the lowest number team left and follow in sequence of team numbers. The progress of the play is documented and recorded on the score sheets shown inFIG. 2for each individual team.

At the start of each week, each team must select their starting roster for that week and fill it in on the individual score/team roster sheet before the first person rolls the dice. At the end of each week, starting with the first week and ending with week14, the players collect weekly chips and use them to adjust the weekly score. The weekly number is written in the box next to the weekly chip count for the corresponding week on the individual score/roster sheet (FIG. 2). At the same time, a score is kept for the player's cards for the corresponding week, wherein the points for each player are written next to the name of the individual score/team roster sheet shown inFIG. 3. All players add their score based on the individual players; they also keep the score, with the total score point being printed next to the weekly total line. In the individual score sheets and weekly rosters, a score is kept for each player for the week.

As shown inFIG. 3, an exemplary card24contains several columns: the first column26corresponds to a position of the player; the central column28corresponds to the particular player, while the third column30corresponds to the points earned by the player during that week. Additionally, the position of the player is designated in abbreviated fashion, common to professional team players' position. More specifically, “QB” corresponds to quarterback, “WR” corresponds to wide receiver, “RB” correspond to running back, “TE” corresponds to tight end, “K” corresponds to kicker, “DEF” corresponds to a defense player, and “BN” corresponds to a bench. The total of the points is entered in column3, added with the weekly chip count and the weekly total, and the resultant score is transferred to the week points score card shown inFIG. 2. The individual score cards ofFIG. 2also contain three columns. The first column corresponds to a particular week/league score.

After the player scores and points have been added and entered into the total box, the player looks at the weekly schedule sheet to see which players will participate in the next week's plays. If the score of player number1is higher than team that player number1will be facing, the first player gets a win for the week. The score is entered and the total of the individual score for the season sheet is generated based on the scores of the cards shown inFIG. 2. At the end of weeks1–14, the players collect their season point chips.

At the end of week 14, the season points of the individual score sheets for the season are added up, then the season point sheets are added and placed in the corresponding box on one of the cards shown inFIG. 2. The top four teams advance to playoffs. The total points in the playoffs are only used to break ties.

At the end of playoff week number15, the weekly sheets do not count. The lowest team number throws the dice first and then is followed in sequence of team numbers. A playoff score sheet for week number15, shown inFIG. 5, is used to keep the scores. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the scorecard is divided into three columns for each seed team number. The first column corresponds to the player position, the central column corresponds to the player, and the last column corresponds to the points earned during the game. Two winning teams play for championship, and two losing teams play for the 3rdand the 4thplace.

The scorecards for week16are schematically shown inFIG. 6wherein the winner of game1for week number15and the winner of game2for week15are played against each other. The scorecard for the championship week number16is similarly divided into three columns designating the position, the player and the points earned by each particular player on the team. The total numbers are calculated and entered into the scorecards40and42. The winner of the championship game during week16is the champion and the loser receives second place in the game. The winner of the consolation game is the third person and the loser takes the 4thplace. The consolation round week is played at the end of playoff week16and the score is tabulated in the cards44and46. The final placement of the teams is entered in the card48shown inFIG. 7.

While the game is played, a number of playing pieces are used for advancing the players around the game board. Season chips are used to adjust season total scores after week14has ended. These chips are not used during playoff weeks. Weekly chips are used to adjust the score at the end of each week and are not used during playoff weeks. A free agent pile corresponds to the players left after the draft or players that are dropped by the game player during the season. The season point tokens or season chips are schematically shown inFIG. 11and designated by numeral50in the drawings. These chips allow adding or subtracting between 5 and 10 season points. The weekly points chips or tokens are schematically shown inFIG. 10and designated by numeral52. These tokens allow to adjust the score between adding or subtracting 2 and 10 points. The player tokens for teams1through12are schematically illustrated inFIG. 9and designated by numeral54in the drawings. The playing tokens have indicia thereon corresponding to the team numbers.

The board game of the present invention further provides for the use of “Pick Pile” deck of cards shown inFIGS. 12 and 13in the drawings. The cards ofFIG. 12, designated by numeral60and the cards ofFIG. 13, designated by numeral62, are part of the “Pick Pile” deck of cards. These cards are shuffled and placed face down. They are shuffled each time the last card is taken. The player progresses along the game board following the directions on the card, such as “Pick Pile,” “Add 10 season points,” “Add 20 season points,” and “Add 30 season points”.

According to the rules of the game, the game player may switch the “Free Agent” pile. If the game player playing piece lands on the space, designated by numeral64inFIG. 1, the game player may chose a player from the team of players and switch with one from the “Free Agent” pile. If the game player lands on one of the spaces designated by numeral66inFIG. 1, the game player is allowed to propose a trade with another team. This step may involve multiple players or one player. If the trade is accepted, it must be approved by at least two other game players, if there are four or more players in the game. If there are three persons playing the game, the trade must be approved by the third game player.

The players also accumulate points for their “bye” weeks. After the game player reaches 5 “Rehab” points, that game player can trade the points in to get an injured player from the team off the injured list. The rehab players' position is illustrated inFIG. 1and is designated by numeral68. Some of the positions allow to add 3 “Rehab” points, while other rehab positions allow to add 1 “Rehab” point to the total score. “Rehab” tokens as shown inFIG. 11aare given to the game player that lands on the “Rehab” position.

Still another feature of the present invention is the “injured player card”. These cards are illustrated inFIGS. 8,15and15aof the drawings. The injured player cards70inFIGS. 15 and 15ashow a number of steps for the game players. For instance, if a game player No.1picks this card, the game player with the next lowest numbered teams blindly picks the player from the team of player No.1, who would be considered symbolically “injured.” If team No.1picks this card, the highest number team blindly picks the player who would be considered “injured.” The status of the “injured player” suspends the “injured” player for a period of time between a few weeks to 12 weeks, depending on the particular card drawn by the game player. The team with the “injured player” takes all the players on its team at that position and holds them up, while allowing the team with the next lowest score to pick a player. For instance, a player may be designated as “injured” in week3and will remain injured for 6 weeks if card number72is picked. The “injured” player will become available in week3but not in weeks4through9, making the “injured” player again available in week number10. If the “injured” player is dropped from the team, the “injured” player becomes a “free” agent. However, the “injured” player remains on the injured players' list until the injury period as set on the play card72is over.

The cards of the present invention also allow the game participants to choose players depending on the instructions given on the card. For instance, as shown inFIG. 16, card designated by numeral74allows the game participant to change defense with player on right. The card designated by numeral76inFIG. 16allows the game participant to change a kicker with the player on the right. Similarly, the game participant may change quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers depending on the particular card drawn by the game participant. If the game participant draws this card, the game player must switch with the next lower numbered team. This step is conducted as a blind draw by both teams. Each team holds all their players in that position up and the other game player draws. If team number one draws a card, they switch with the highest numbered team. If the game participant lands on game space78it allows the game participant to get the injured player back.

FIGS. 17 and 18illustrate the manner in which the score is kept for three to twelve teams playing each week. According to the rules of this board game, teams with “Bye weeks” still accumulate points. The weekly schedule formula is recorded in the play sheets for weeks1through14and the scores are kept for every week, from week1to week14. At the end of week14, the four teams with the most points will to go to the playoffs, as was described above. The points are used to break a tie. If one or more teams in odd numbered leagues (3,5,7,9,11,) have played less games due to having more “bye weeks” it presents no difference to the progression of the game. Still the four teams that accumulated the most score win. For instance, a score of7:5becomes No.2, score of7:4becomes No.5. Team No.2and team No.5would be tied and would have to consider the earned points to break the tie. The team with more “bye” weeks is at a disadvantage. Therefore, it is preferred that the game is played with an even number of teams.

The present invention provides for the play tokens shown inFIG. 9to be shuffled and picked for draft order and playing the game. The weekly point tokens shown inFIG. 10are received by landing on a corresponding space on the game board. The season point tokens shown inFIG. 11are received when picking a corresponding card from the “Pick Pile.” The “Pick Pile” contains a deck of cards with different instructions for the game participants re-enacting progression of the player according to the instructions on the card.

The player cards shown inFIG. 14and designated by numeral90in the drawings correspond to current football players in their previous season's statistics, broken down into 16 weeks with corresponding points. It is envisioned that the player and the helmet number and the player's name will be incorporated in the card90. The player cards may be based on the actual players participating in the National Football League games, provided suitable agreements are reached with the league-licensing agency.

It is envisioned that the game can be easily adapted for playing other games, such as Fantasy basketball, Fantasy soccer, Fantasy hockey, etc. The instructions on the playing cards and the board can be changed to simulate rules of the respective games.

Many other changes and modifications may be made in the game of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.