The league will be composed of twelve teams. The teams will be divided evenly into three divisions. Each team will play the other three teams in their division twice and the eight teams in the other two divisions once during the course of the SFFL Regular Season.
From year to year, the division winners will stay in their respective divisions. The three best teams (as determined by record then points scored) not winning their division will then be allocated into seperate divisions. If those three teams are already in seperate divisions, then they will remain in their respective divisions. If two teams were in the same division the previous year, then the team with the highest total points scored will stay in that division and the other team will be moved into the division not occupied by one of those three teams. If all three teams were in the same division the previous year, then the team with the highest total points scored will stay in that division and the other two teams will be randomly allocated into the other two divisions. Once those teams are allocated, then the next three best teams will be allocated in the same manner. Once those teams are in seperate divisions, the remaining three teams will be allocated in the same manner as well. In case of a tie to determine best team, the outcome will be decided randomly.
There is a desire to have some continuity from year to year, so coaches who were in the league the season prior to the current season have first opportunity to resume their place in the SFFL each year. Coaches who return from year to year will keep the same team as they had the prior year. Coaches may change their team names and helmet designs if they desire but it may only be done during the offseason. Essentially, this will affect the team only cosmetically, as the history, records, and awards will follow the coach.
When it becomes necessary to replace a coach it will be done so by order of a waiting list that will be maintained by the commissioner. New coaches in the league will begin a brand new team, not take over the team of the coach who departed. At the beginning of the season if more than one coach departed and more that one coach is entering the league there will be a lottery held between the new coaches (the ones at the top of the waiting list) to see which new coach will take over which empty position.
Draft order for the twelve teams will be determined randomly each year.