SFLm Season 12 Training Camp: Eligibility, Purpose, and Rule Clarifications

ARTICLE BY ELI DEIOMES | SFLm Commissioner

As Season 12 approaches its end, it's time to discuss one of the most misunderstood systems within the SFLm ecosystem: Training Camp.

Over the last few seasons, Training Camp has served a very specific purpose. It was never intended to be a bonus progression period, a reward for making the Dev Team, or a method of creating additional separation between established players and developing builds.

Training Camp exists for one reason:

To restore progression opportunities lost when a player is moved from the SFLm to the Development Team due to exceeding rookie salary thresholds.

With that in mind, SFLM League Operations has reviewed the current structure and will be implementing several clarifications and adjustments moving forward.

These changes will apply not only to Season 12 Training Camp, but to the Development Team system as a whole going forward.

What Is Training Camp?

When a rookie player exceeds the SFLm salary threshold and is moved to the Development Team during the season, they stop receiving the standard SFLm progression structure.

Rather than receiving the normal weekly progression available to active SFLm players, Development Team players receive a reduced progression package.

Training Camp was created to address that difference.

The intent has always been to allow affected players an opportunity to reclaim progression they were unable to receive because of the mandatory move to the Development Team.

It was never designed to function as a second progression season.

New Training Camp Salary Cap

Beginning immediately, players with contracts exceeding $3,000,000 at the conclusion of the season will be ineligible for Training Camp.

This adjustment is being made to preserve the original purpose of the system.

Training Camp is intended to assist developing players who were impacted by the SFLm-to-Dev transition process. It is not intended to further accelerate already-established players who have become some of the strongest builds at their respective positions.

By establishing a clear salary ceiling, we ensure Training Camp remains focused on player development rather than providing additional advantages to already highly-developed players.

New Training Camp Progression Cap

SFLm League Operations is also reminding rookies and Dev players of the maximum progression threshold tied directly to the amount of progression available during a standard SFLm season.

Beginning with Season 12:

No player may receive enough Training Camp progression to exceed the equivalent of 120 total progression points earned during the entirety of the SFLm season.

For reference:

• Twenty weeks of +3/+3 progression equals 120 total progression points.

• Players who have already received progression equivalent to that amount will not receive additional Training Camp progression.

• Players will only receive enough Training Camp progression to restore missed progression opportunities resulting from their move to the Development Team.

In practical terms, if a player continued receiving the equivalent of +3/+3 progression throughout their Development Team tenure, they have already received the full amount of progression available during the season and therefore will not benefit from Training Camp.

This change ensures Training Camp remains a restoration system rather than a bonus progression system.

Reminder: Development Team Eligibility Requirements

Because Training Camp eligibility is directly tied to Development Team participation, we feel it is important to revisit the rules governing placement on the Dev Team.

Rule One: No APF Builds

If your player was created during the APF Era (SFL Season 20 / SFLm Season 7 or earlier), you are not eligible for the Development Team.

The Development Team is intended to support current-era rookie and developing builds, not legacy players.

Rule Two: One-Season Limit for Pro Dev Eligibility

The Development Team is not intended to function as a permanent safety net.

Players who receive a Development Team placement and fail to meaningfully develop their build should not expect repeated opportunities in future seasons.

You get one opportunity. Use it wisely. That said, SFLm League Operations is looking into potentially opening this restriction for UDFA players only, pending further analysis, discussion, and testing.

Rule Three: Must Complete 75% of Progressions

Players who completed fewer than 75% of available progressions during the previous season are ineligible.

Put simply: If you missed more than five weeks of progression, you did not qualify.

Rule Four: Position Swaps Are Ineligible

Players who change positions during the offseason are not eligible for Development Team placement.

This policy has existed informally for several seasons and is now fully codified.

Rule Five: No Contracts Over $2,000,000

Players with contracts exceeding $2,000,000 are not eligible for Development Team placement.

However:

If a player's contract exceeds $2,000,000 while already serving on the Development Team, they may remain on the roster until the conclusion of that season.

Rule Six: Rookies Over $1,000,000 Move to Dev

To maintain rookie balance and economic stability within the league, any rookie player whose contract exceeds $1,000,000 will automatically be moved to the Development Team.

This rule is the primary reason Training Camp exists.

Rule Seven: No Salary Cuts to Game the System

Players may not intentionally cut attributes in an attempt to qualify for Development Team placement.

Any player who reduced attributes beyond 12 points during the previous SFL progression cycle and/or Signing Day in an effort to manipulate eligibility will be omitted from consideration.

Additional Development Team Selection Criteria

Beyond the seven eligibility rules, the following standards were also used when determining placement:

Eligible Players Included

• Players ranked within the bottom 10% of their position group.

• Undrafted Free Agents.

• Mid-season Undrafted Free Agents.

Players Not Eligible

• Offensive Line/Special Teams Coach players.

• Players who were members of the previous season's Development Team.
  
  

Training Camp Schedule & Process

Training Camp for Season 12 will run from June 10th through June 19th.

As with previous progression-related initiatives, Training Camp will be administered through a combination of a Google Form submission process and a Google Sheet Calculator provided by the league.

An official Training Camp article containing all required links, instructions, calculators, and submission materials will be released when Training Camp officially opens.

Players are encouraged to review all materials carefully and verify their calculations prior to submission to help ensure a smooth review process.

Questions & Support

Deputy Commissioner J.W. Hart will be overseeing the Season 12 Training Camp process.

Any questions regarding eligibility, progression calculations, Training Camp submissions, or procedural concerns should be directed to J.W. throughout the Training Camp period.

SFLm League Operations will continue to assist where necessary, but J.W. will serve as the primary point of contact for all Training Camp-related matters.

Final Thoughts

The Development Team and Training Camp systems exist to accomplish one goal:

Help developing players remain competitive while preserving fairness across the league.

These systems are not intended to create super-builds, reward inactivity, or provide additional progression beyond what would otherwise have been available during a standard season.

The adjustments outlined above are designed to reinforce that purpose while ensuring Training Camp remains focused on restoring missed opportunities rather than creating new advantages.

Again, if questions arise regarding eligibility, progression calculations, or Development Team placement, please reach out to SFLm League Operations for clarification. (Notably, Commissioner Eli Deiomes or Deputy Commissioner J.W. Hart.)

We thank our staff, owners, and players for their continued support of the SFLm.
Let's continue to #MakeAnImpact as we enter the SFLm post-season! - E.D