Article 4: Competition

All referees in the WSFL will be required to have at least a high school level certification. No referee shall officiate a WSFL game without appointment by the league’s head referee. The WSFL requires a five-man referee crew. Games may be played with four referees when unfavorable circumstances dictate. If fewer than four referees are available to officiate, both teams must contact the commissioner so the situation can be discussed. Playoff appointments of referees will be dictated by referee performance during the regular season. Officials are required to report any player misconduct that could not be properly resolved on the field.

Referees shall be paid in cash prior to the game with each team participating in the game being responsible for half of the total referee pay. Any team that elects to pay by check of money order must make arrangements with the head official at least 3 days prior to competition. Officials will be paid per man, and not as a crew. Officials will be paid in accordance with a rate agreed upon prior to the season.

It is the duty of the league commissioner to establish a league schedule. The schedule must include at least ten regular season games to satisfy the criteria for a semi-professional league. The schedule will be completed and presented no later than 2 months before the season commences. In the event that a team withdraws from the league after the schedule is completed, the league will aid teams affected in attempting to schedule replacement games. Opponents of the withdrawn team will be awarded a 7-0 victory (the outcome of the non-league game will not affect league record). If any team withdraws from participation during the season, their remaining opponents will be afforded a 7-0 forfeit victory. Results of all previously played games will stay on record.

The head referee will compile a referee schedule to be distributed no later than the first week of regular season competition.

Each team will be required to utilize a statistician. Significant stats will be shared between the competing teams immediately after the game for press and news release purposes. Game records are to be retained for the duration of the season. Any team that fails to keep thorough and accurate records will not have their players considered for post-season honors.

The league will recognize any team that fails to present for a scheduled game as a forfeit. In the event of a forfeit the presenting team receives a 7-0 victory. Games must begin within 15 minutes of the scheduled time unless the involved teams reach an agreement prior to game time. One team must present 11 players to receive a forfeit victory. The referees will receive full pay for the forfeited game. The forfeiting team must compensate the league $400 for referee costs and league credibility damages. The team receiving will be reimbursed the their referee costs by the league once the amount is collected. The forfeiting team will be withheld from further competition in the WSFL until the $400 is satisfactorily paid. Each subsequent game will be forfeited and referee cancelled to prevent further financial losses. The forfeiting team’s players may not play on any other team for that year unless the $400 is paid. The forfeiting team’s organizer may not present a team to the league until the $400 is paid.

If a team accepts a forfeit due to lack of players, they may prevent the $400 fee if they present a team – non-roster players allowed – for an exhibition game. Referees must receive full payment, and the opponent will receive a 7-0 victory in spite of the exhibition score.

Due to the fluctuating number of teams from season to season, playoff format will be determined on an annual basis. Tiebreakers for playoff consideration shall be: 1. Head to Head, 2. Divisional Record, 3. Point Differential.

The league shall be divided into divisions, unless the total number of teams prevents reasonable allotment to divisions. In the event of a divisional format, each team shall play each other team in their division twice, and shall play teams outside of their division once or not at all. The divisions shall be determined geographically regardless of the previous season record. In the event of a non-divisional format, teams may play twice, once, or not at all depending on what is needed to achieve a 10 game schedule.

For the safety of the leagues players and to prevent league liability, each team will comply with the compiled "Essential Emergency Procedures" (Appendix C).

No team may field a player unless that player has shown proof of individual health insure insurance.

Teams shall be required to use an NFL regulation leather football. No composite or rubber balls shall be accepted. Teams must have light and dark jerseys. If a team cannot afford 2 sets of jerseys, they must provide pinneys (practice jerseys) to their players for use at away games. Teams may be afforded to play the season with only one color jersey if they present to the league and a majority vote permits their play with only one color jersey.

The WSFL will adopt the NFL rulebook. If changes to the NFL rules are necessary, team representatives will be notified in writing after the new rule is adopted by a majority vote.

No team may interfere in the day-to-day business of another WSFL team. A team’s private workouts or tryouts are off limits to other WSFL teams unless that team is otherwise invited. Not team or player shall defame another team or player to affect that team’s standing in their community or prevent recruitment of a player or players. No team shall sabotage the efforts of another to secure a home field. Any actions that may be deemed interference/sabotage are to be brought to league commissioner who will contact both teams about the incident. The board, minus the involved teams, will then convene to discuss whether or not any infraction exists. If a team has been found to commit an infraction, the board will vote on punishment that will range from issuing a formal apology to a fine or even banishment from the league depending on the severity of the infraction.