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How KnoBall Works

A plain-language guide to everything on the site - no technical background needed.

How KnoBall Works

KnoBall starts with the information that already matters - your gameplay footage, your league's Madden data, team and league settings, and anything else you connect. It organizes that into useful football and league context, then applies it to whatever you're doing - reviewing a game, improving your play, understanding your team, scouting an opponent, or running a league. Where it makes sense, that context carries forward, so a later report or tool can build on what's already been established instead of starting from zero.

About & Getting Started

What is KnoBall?

KnoBall is a website for people who play Madden NFL in organized leagues with their friends (these are usually called "franchise leagues"). It does two big things: it helps you run your league - teams, schedules, trades, a draft board, league news, and settings, all in one place - and it uses AI to help with the harder parts - watching game film to flag evidence for a commissioner to review or scout an opponent, building a fair player rating, and editing highlight clips. A real person always makes the final call - the AI never decides anything on its own, and automated analysis may be incomplete or wrong, so important findings should be reviewed in context.

Who is KnoBall for?

Learners, experienced players, franchise builders, team owners, and league commissioners.

Do I have to be in a league to use KnoBall?

No for personal tools - you can upload your own gameplay to Analysis Builder or use the Content Control Console without joining a league. League-specific tools (Teams, Trade Block, The Negotiator's Table, GM's Desk, KSN News) need one.

Do I need an account to see anything?

Public pages (the homepage, this FAQ, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service) are visible without an account. Everything else needs a sign-in.

How do I get started?

  1. 1Sign up with an email and password.
  2. 2Check your email and click the verification link - you can't sign in until you do this.
  3. 3Confirm your date of birth - KnoBall is 16+, and you'll be asked for this once, right after you sign in for the first time.
  4. 4From your Dashboard, either create a brand new league or find and join an existing one.
  5. 5Fill out your Profile - your gamertag, platform, and (optionally) your Discord/Twitch/YouTube accounts, so other players know who you are.

Is KnoBall finished?

No - it's in controlled beta, actively being built and tested. Available features vary; newer ones are still being refined.

What does beta mean?

Access is controlled through a private access code rather than open signup, while the team tests, fixes issues, and gathers feedback.

Where should I go if I'm a commissioner?

Create League (from your Dashboard) to start fresh, or League Finder to join an existing one. Once you have a league, the Commissioner Dashboard is where you manage members, settings, and every integration below.

Accounts, Access & Profiles

What does creating an account unlock?

Only the tools your account's access level actually covers - creating an account by itself doesn't unlock everything.

Why can two people have different access?

Three separate things: your role in a specific league (player vs. commissioner/admin), your account's plan/entitlement level, and whether beta access has been granted to you.

Can one account belong to multiple leagues?

Yes.

Can I change leagues or teams?

Yes, through the normal join/team-assignment flow - some changes need commissioner confirmation.

What happens if I leave a league?

You stop being an active member going forward. Historical records (past games, trades) can still remain as part of the league's history.

Can I delete my account?

Yes, from your account settings. It's permanent. If you still own a league, you'll need to transfer ownership or close it first.

Can I make my profile public?

Yes - your Profile settings let you set visibility to public, league-members-only, or private.

Why is my feature still unavailable after signup?

Usually one of: your account's plan/entitlement level, your role in the specific league, or not having confirmed your date of birth yet.

Learning & Gameplay Analysis

What can KnoBall tell me from a play?

Formation, personnel, coverage, play type, and situational tendencies, drawn from what's actually visible in the footage.

Can I analyze a full game, not just one play?

Yes - Analysis Builder supports full-game breakdowns, not just single clips.

Can I use a video link instead of uploading a file?

Yes - a YouTube link or a Twitch clip both work as a source, alongside a direct upload.

What happens if the footage is bad or unclear?

KnoBall marks what it isn't confident about instead of guessing - you'll see lower-confidence or "insufficient evidence" findings rather than a made-up answer presented as fact.

Does KnoBall know which player is on which team?

Yes - it cross-checks what it sees against your league's real roster data, so a player can't get credited to both teams in the same report.

Why might my report's numbers differ slightly from Madden's own stats?

Where your league has verified Madden data available, KnoBall uses that as the authoritative source over anything it derives itself from the video.

Does AI calculate every stat?

No - arithmetic and bookkeeping (yardage totals, drive counts, reconciling numbers against your league's real data) are handled by plain code, not asked of the AI, because that's more reliable.

Can KnoBall help me learn football concepts, not just review my own games?

Yes - reports include teaching points explaining the concept behind a play, not just what happened.

Is analysis always right?

No. It's AI-assisted and can be incomplete or wrong - review important findings yourself before acting on them.

Read more: AI game film review.

Teams, Franchise & Scouting

Can KnoBall help me understand my own team?

Yes - GM's Desk covers your roster, cap space, contracts, and team needs/strengths.

Can it help me scout an opponent?

Yes - run Analysis Builder against their footage for tendency and scouting-focused findings.

Does KnoBall separate Film, Scout, and Coach into different tools?

No - they're all part of Analysis Builder. You pick which modules you want (game breakdown, tendencies, scouting notes, coaching feedback) from one tool instead of juggling three separate products.

Is there a way to plan out a hypothetical trade before making it?

Yes - GM's Desk's Scenario Lab lets you build out a hypothetical trade, cut, or signing and see the projected roster/cap impact before you commit to anything real.

Can KnoBall predict the perfect game plan?

No - there's no single "correct" strategy for every situation. It supports evidence-based preparation, not a guaranteed answer.

Can I compare my own tendencies over time?

Where you have enough history to make it meaningful - a single game won't be enough to draw a strong conclusion from.

Leagues & Commissioners

Does KnoBall replace Discord?

No - it integrates with Discord; your server keeps working the way it already does.

Does KnoBall replace spreadsheets?

Not by force - it's meant to work alongside whatever your league already uses, not require you to abandon it.

How do I bring my league to KnoBall?

Create a league from your Dashboard, then use the Commissioner Dashboard to add teams, connect Discord/Madden, and manage members.

Can I set up the league myself?

Yes - league creation and setup are self-service.

Can KnoBall import my existing league information?

Real Madden franchise data (rosters, stats, standings) can be imported - see the EA/Madden section below. General league history from another platform isn't an automated import today.

Who makes the final ruling on a rules dispute?

The commissioner. KnoBall Referee flags relevant evidence with timestamps; it doesn't decide that a violation happened.

Can KnoBall automatically punish or enforce a rule?

No - nothing gets auto-punished. Every finding goes to a human for a decision.

What's the difference between Trade Block, Draft Picks, and The Negotiator's Table?

Trade Block lists which players are available. Draft Picks tracks every team's real future picks, including ones already traded. The Negotiator's Table is where two owners actually build and lock in a deal together, live, before it goes to the commissioner for approval.

Read more: Madden league management, trade & draft tools, or fair play & dispute review.

Connecting Discord

Do I have to connect Discord to use KnoBall?

No - it's optional for individual use. League-level Discord features only apply once a league's owner sets them up.

Does connecting Discord give KnoBall access to my whole server?

No - each of the four features below is separate and scoped to exactly what it says it does.

KnoBall has four separate Discord features - they sound similar but do different things. Here's each one, in plain terms:

1. Link your own Discord account (Profile)

This just shows your Discord username on your KnoBall profile - it doesn't post anything anywhere.

  1. 1Go to your Profile page.
  2. 2Under "Connected Accounts," click Connect Discord and approve it on Discord's side.

2. Send league notifications to a Discord channel

This is a "webhook" - a private link that lets KnoBall post messages into one specific channel in your Discord server (game results, decisions, and reports). You have to create this link on Discord's side first, then paste it into KnoBall.

  1. 1In Discord, go to Server Settings → Integrations → Webhooks → New Webhook. Pick which channel it should post to.
  2. 2Click Copy Webhook URL.
  3. 3In KnoBall, go to your league's League Dashboard (only the league owner can do this step) and paste it into the Discord Notifications box, then save.
  4. 4For more control, a commissioner can also add multiple named channels (like one for trades, one for news) from the Commissioner Dashboard's "Send Discord Report" section, and pick exactly which channel each type of update goes to.

3. Let AIRBUD's bot into your server (for automatic EA sync)

This is part of connecting your EA Franchise account - see the EA/Madden section below. It's a separate bot (not KnoBall itself) that needs its own invite to your server.

4. List your server in the public directory

This makes your league's Discord server show up on KnoBall's Discord Servers page, so other players can find and join it. This uses a normal invite link, not a webhook.

  1. 1In Discord, right-click your channel → Invite People → Edit invite link → Expire After: Never (a link that expires won't work once it does).
  2. 2Copy that invite link and paste it on KnoBall's Discord Servers page under "Post your Discord server."

Connecting Your EA / Madden Franchise

Does KnoBall automatically sync my Madden data?

It can, through AIRBUD - or you can upload an exported file yourself at any time, no setup required.

What if the Madden sync fails or goes stale?

The Integrations tab shows when data was last synced, so stale data is never presented as current without you being able to tell.

There are two ways to get your real Madden franchise data (rosters, stats, standings) into KnoBall. You can use either one, or both - pick whichever is easier for you. Both live on your league's Commissioner Dashboard → Integrations tab.

Option A: Manual Upload (works right now, no setup)

You export a file from your Madden franchise and upload it yourself. No outside accounts or approvals needed.

  1. 1Go to your league's Commissioner Dashboard → Integrations tab.
  2. 2Scroll to Manual Upload, pick which kind of data you're uploading (league info, rosters, stats, standings, etc.).
  3. 3Choose the exported file from your computer and upload it. It's added to your league right away.

Option B: Via AIRBUD

Supported Madden franchise data can be brought into KnoBall through AIRBUD, a companion Discord bot that connects to your EA account. This option depends on AIRBUD being set up for your specific KnoBall site - if you don't see a "Connect EA Franchise" button, ask your site admin whether it's enabled yet.

  1. 1Go to your league's Commissioner Dashboard → Integrations tab.
  2. 2Click Connect EA Franchise → - this takes you to AIRBUD's sign-in page.
  3. 3Log in with your EA account and pick which Madden franchise to connect.
  4. 4You'll be brought back to KnoBall, now linked. From here you can also turn on Auto Update, which lets KnoBall request refreshed data from AIRBUD without you manually re-uploading it each time.
  5. 5If you also want AIRBUD posting directly into your Discord server, use the Configure Discord Bot → link in the same Integrations tab to invite it there.

Advanced: a private API key

If you're technical and want to push data from your own script instead of AIRBUD, the Integrations tab also has a Generate API Key button under "API Access" - a private key scoped to just your league, for anyone building their own exporter. Most people won't need this.

Streams, Twitch & YouTube

Can KnoBall tell when a channel goes live?

Yes - Streams & Film checks added YouTube/Twitch channels and shows the ones that are currently live in a "Live Now" section automatically.

Can I watch streams inside KnoBall?

Yes - up to eight channels can play at once on one page.

Does live detection mean KnoBall records the stream?

No - detecting that a channel is live and embedding it for playback are different from recording or storing it.

Can KnoBall download a public Twitch or YouTube VOD?

No.

Can I submit my own stream for analysis?

Yes - a YouTube link or Twitch clip both work as an Analysis Builder source.

📺 KSN News

A league's own mini sports-network page - articles, a scrolling news ticker, a Game of the Week poll, and a Player of the Week pick.

🗂️ Discord Server Directory

A public list of Discord servers for different leagues, so players can find a community to join.

💬 Friends & Messages

Add friends and send direct or group messages, right on the site.

Read more: League news & community.

AI, Accuracy & Human Decisions

What does AI actually do in KnoBall?

Analyzes, organizes, summarizes, compares, flags, recommends, or drafts something - always for a person to review, never a final action on its own.

Does AI ever make a commissioner's decision for them?

No - every AI tool produces a report or a suggestion; a real person makes the actual call. True for cheating reviews, scouting reports, and player ratings alike.

What happens when the AI isn't sure?

It says so - you'll see lower-confidence findings or an honest "not enough evidence" rather than a guess presented as certain.

Does KnoBall automatically learn from every game I upload?

No - a report building on established league context isn't the same as training a model on your footage.

Why use plain code instead of AI for some of this?

Arithmetic, identity-matching, and reconciling numbers against real data are simply more reliable done deterministically than asked of a language model.

What if the evidence conflicts with itself?

The conflict gets surfaced, not silently resolved in one direction.

Privacy, Permissions & Safety

What age do I have to be to use KnoBall?

16 or older.

How does KnoBall check my age?

You enter your own date of birth when you create an account (or the first time you sign in, if you signed up through Discord/Google). It's not shown publicly.

Does a minor need a parent's approval to sign up?

No - there's no guardian-approval step today.

Does KnoBall run background checks or require an ID?

No.

Can a 16-or-17-year-old hold a league or platform authority role?

No - management, publishing, evidence-review, member-management, and integration permissions require being 18 or older. KnoBall checks this when authority is granted and again when it is used.

Who can see my profile information?

You control this in your Profile settings - public, league-members-only, or private.

How does KnoBall handle abusive content?

Reporting and blocking tools exist, plus a moderation review queue for platform staff.

What happens if I disconnect Discord or another integration?

It stops collecting anything new through that connection going forward; data already collected isn't automatically deleted with it.

Can I ask for my data to be corrected or deleted?

Yes - update your Profile directly for corrections, or use account deletion for a full, permanent removal.

Pricing, Beta & Support

How much does KnoBall cost?

Pricing isn't finalized yet - no payment is being collected during the beta.

Why do I see an access-code screen instead of a plan to buy?

Beta access is separate from whatever commercial plans exist later - having beta access doesn't guarantee a specific future plan.

How do I get beta access?

Through a private access code, entered before you create an account.

Can I join the waitlist instead?

Yes - the waitlist is for anyone who wants to be considered for future access; it's optional and separate from already having an access code.

How do I get help?

Use the Get Help page - it opens a real support ticket, tracked by the team.

How do I report a bug or something unsafe?

Same place - Get Help - or use the report/block tools directly on whatever you're reporting.

I'm stuck - what do I do?

Reach out to your league's commissioner first for league-specific questions. For anything else, check Get Help or the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages for how the site handles your data.