SFL Expansion Draft Policies

The original SFL Draft was conducted in 1986 among six teams. Later that year, four other teams entered the League. Expansions that year and in 1988 were handled by signing available players. In 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995 expansion drafts among the new teams were held with continuing League members allowed to participate in trades to acquire picks. Expansions in 1996 and 1997 were handled by by direct transfer of team to owner. The SFL Expansion Draft as handled in odd years inclusive from 1987 to 1995 was designed to give new owners fresh rosters while not directly impacting existing ownership. The situation existed then, that two or more expansion teams entered the League at one time. This was not the case in the two most recent expansion procedures. From this point on, all expansion will be handled using the odd year precedent discussed above or the even year Re-Draft precedent unless a Re-Draft has already occurred in that year. As discussed in the Re-Draft policies, the Re-Draft was begun in 1992 to give owners a greater chance at placing their own mark on their franchises and "to give expansion teams a more level field to enter League competition on." Re-Drafts allow expansion owners to protect as many players as expansion owners acquire by trade prior to the start of the Re-Draft.

RULES OF THE EXPANSION DRAFT
DRAFT ORDER	Draft order is determined by coin flip (if two expansion teams) or by draw (if more), and the order alternates by round. Trading between expansion teams, fellow expansion teams, and existing teams is allowed at all times during the Expansion Draft. Twelve rounds (or however many are necessary) will be scheduled for the participants to theoretically fill their rosters. If an expansion team trades a pick and is unable to fill their roster during the draft, they must wait for the completion of the draft to sign the necessary players to complete their roster. While this is not in accordance with the Re-Draft's procedure. It is necessary due to the limited number of players available to draft by definition.
AVAILABLE PLAYERS	Selections will be made from the former teams rosters only as players not on those rosters may not be selected. If an existing or an expansion team selects too many players for their given roster at a time, they must either release a player immediately to become a free agent (ineligible for the expansion draft) or pass on their selection. No extra roster spots are allowed on temporary basis as the objective is to complete a full League roster in exact number by position.
TIME LIMITS	The general rule given the short length of this draft is that a one hour time limit is in effect from the time that an owner has been notified it is their selection. Any different time limit may be generally enforced by the Commissioner with the general consent of a majority of owners. Any time limit alteration must be announced before the start of a round.
END OF DRAFT	At the end of the draft all waived players during the draft are available for signing. Teams are free to make roster moves as in normal accordance with League policy.

DISCLAIMER
General Disclaimer	All other policies not here-in-to mentioned in said text are to be considered as being in agreement with the spirit of the official methods used by the National Football League. The Commissioner is granted the power and sole authority to determine the final outcome of all such matters in accordance with the preceding guidelines.