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§1Release of IR Replacements
- Once a team is out of the playoffs, all IR replacements are automatically released to waivers
- Injured players are reactivated at the same time
Key Rule
Teams must be under the salary cap and have a full, legal roster following the reactivation of their injured players. If a team can't bring its roster into compliance, any cap overage is applied as a penalty on the following year.
§2Release of RFAs
RFAs are released through the waivers schedule outlined in Article VI §2. The RFA Bidding Period typically begins in early June and always ends before June 20.
- RFAs who receive no signing bonus offers remain with their current team
- If a team receives no offer sheets but doesn't want to retain the player, they may release him on June 20 at no cost
- Players who accept an offer sheet from another team join that team on June 20. Their salary doesn't affect the new team's cap until that date. Signing bonuses and compensation also wait until June 20.
- If a team opts to release an RFA (to a bidder or to free agency), the team can drop or buy out that RFA immediately
§3Release of UFAs
- Players who don't sign new contracts by June 20 of the year they're scheduled to become a UFA are released to free agency on June 20
- These players remain untouchable in the free agent pool until the Re-Entry Draft the following September
§4Add Deadline
- Teams cannot add varsity players after they're eliminated from the fantasy playoffs
- The JV add deadline is the start of games on the final day of the playoffs
- Players cannot be added to either varsity or JV at any point during the summer
Key Rule
The add freeze is not lifted until after both drafts in the fall.
§5The Offseason
The official offseason runs from June 20 to September 30.
Offseason rules
- Teams may exceed the salary cap by 10%
- Players in free agency must remain in free agency — no adding to varsity or JV
- Trades are encouraged
- Players may be released following standard rules (see Article IV)
- Players can be promoted and demoted between JV and varsity at no cost (JV eligibility rules still apply)
Deadline
By October 1, the varsity and JV rosters must be legal and fit under the salary cap.