Prospective Player Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

WFA Player & Coach Eligibility Requirements

The Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) requires all players and coaches to possess the following before joining the team:

• A current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or similar)
• Proof of health insurance (health insurance card)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Players must be 18 years of age or older
  • Exception: Girls as young as 16 may participate only with prior WFA approval
• Players must be female

All required paperwork must be completed prior to participation:

• Additional non-signature documents (e.g., player biography)

• Liability Waiver (must be done prior to tryouts)

• WFA Bylaws acknowledgment and acceptance

• Sioux Falls Snow Leopards Player Agreement acknowledgment and acceptance

Transgender Player Participation Policy:

(February 2025 WFA By-laws)

The Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity, competitive fairness, and player safety in women’s tackle football. As a national amateur athletic association, the WFA follows NCAA guidelines regarding transgender athlete participation and, due to the full-contact nature of football, has also incorporated World Rugby Federation guidelines, recognizing that safety concerns are heightened in contact sports.

The WFA’s transgender participation policy has been updated in alignment with current federal guidance, NCAA standards, and sport-specific safety considerations. The policy is as follows:

Eligibility Guidelines:

• Transgender women who transitioned prior to puberty, and therefore did not experience the biological effects of testosterone during puberty and adolescence, are eligible to participate in WFA-sanctioned tackle football games.
• Transgender women who transitioned after puberty, and who experienced the biological effects of testosterone during puberty and adolescence, are not currently eligible to participate in WFA-sanctioned tackle football games due to safety concerns related to strength, mass, speed, and power disparities inherent in a full-contact sport.

Ongoing Review and Team Autonomy:

• The WFA remains committed to the ongoing evaluation of scientific research related to testosterone suppression and its biological and physiological effects, and will review and update its policies as new data becomes available.
• Individual WFA teams retain the authority to determine an athlete’s participation in non–WFA-sanctioned activities, such as practices, training sessions, or community events.
• All WFA teams are subject to local, state, and federal laws, which supersede WFA rules where applicable.

The WFA recognizes and values the contributions of transgender athletes to the sport of football and remains committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment. At the same time, as a full-contact sport, tackle football presents unique safety challenges. This policy reflects the WFA’s responsibility to balance inclusion with competitive fairness and player welfare.

NOTE: Veteran players have compiled their gear from previous seasons (including helmets, shoulder pads, girdle pants, cleats and more) and have made it available to rookies at zero cost, to help minimize the cost of their first year equipment. Rookies are encouraged to look through the team’s used gear bags to see if any of the below gear/equipment is available in their size. Please use it throughout the season or until the you purchase your own replacement gear! This equipment will be available at all tryouts and at open practices upon request, just ask our staff/owner or coaches!

Equipment Players will need includes, but may not be limited to:

• Helmet – our players recommend Riddle or LIGHT helmets. (NOTE: Team discounts of up to 25% are often available for LIGHT helmets – contact the SFSL Staff/Owner for the discount code)
• Shoulder Pads – most of our players recommend TAG pads (NOTE: discount code often available from TAG – contact the SFSL Staff/Owner for the discount code) but any brand is fine.
• Uniform (jersey and game pants) – our game jerseys (3) and game pants (2) must be purchased through our Team Only Store and come in a Rookie Uniform Package ($150 total) along with a dri-fit player shirt and dri-fit player shorts.
• Game socks – the WFA rules state that socks are part of the official uniform and therefore must be the same for all players. We wear black socks with our home game uniform and white socks with our away game and specialty game/playoff uniforms. Therefore, a minimum of one of each of the black and white colored team socks will need to be purchased by the player. They can be purchased anywhere you find this particular sock (Dick’s Sporting Goods, directly from BATTLE brand site, etc.) but you must purchase this exact type of sock: BATTLE brand long football socks (contact SFSL Staff/Owner if you want to verify you found the right socks).
• Girdle pants – 7 pad girdle acceptable, or 5 pad girdle with separate additional knee pads (must have 7 pads total).
• Mouth guard – no color requirements, can be any color/design/type that you’d like.
• Cleats – no color requirements (can be any color/design/type that you’d like). We mostly play our games on turf and practice on both turf and grass (so if you already have baseball/softball cleats or soccer cleats, those can also be used if you prefer).
• Football gloves – no color requirements, can be any color/design/type you’d like, however depending on your anticipated football position you’ll either need padded linemen gloves or grippy skill player/receiver gloves.

Additional Equipment Players may want (but not required) includes:

• Gear bag/backpack: your helmet will fit inside your shoulder pads for easy transport, but all of the rest of your football gear will require a bag of some sort. Customized player backpacks/bags are available for purchase through the Team Store ($55) but not required, players can use whatever bag they prefer.
• Ankle/knee or other braces: the team does have a significant discount purchasing option with KT Tape that allows players and coaches to purchase KT Tape brand tape and other KT brand products at wholesale prices. The team places a KT Tape order about 4x/year.
• Backplate: may be any design/color/type you’d like, just make sure it will secure to your sholder pads properly if you get one! We have a discount code for these and other protective gear through Oshield, please contact SFSL Staff/Owner for discount code.
• Undershirt (may be padded or unpadded): to go under your shoulder pads and prevent rubbing from shoulder pad straps, etc.
• Skull cap or headband: the team has JUNK brand custom Sioux Falls Snow Leopards headbands available in the Team Only Store for purchase (players often wear them to keep warm in windier/cooler game day temps and soak them in water cooler water to keep cool in hot game day temps).

Off-Season (August to December)
Our off-season is the most flexible and laid-back part of the year. This is when we will focus heavily on recruiting, community outreach (such as parades, youth camps, etc.), fundraising, sponsorship efforts, mini football camps and open tryouts. During this time, players will complete any required paperwork, get their concussion baselines, begin acquiring their gear, and pitch in for team fundraising and sponsorships. All events are posted in advance on the team Google Calendar, because we know you have real lives outside of football, too.

Pre-Season (January to Mid-April)
Pre-season kicks off right after the new year and is more structured and competitive. Practices typically include Saturday evenings, every other Sunday, and one weekday positional practice. These are full-contact, fully padded football practices. Players should have all required gear (helmet, pads, cleats, mouthguard, etc.) ready before pre-season begins whenever possible. We will also have “hand-me-down” gear available from past players for rookies to access if they need.

Regular Season (Mid/Late April to June)
One first game will be in mid-to-late April. The WFA regular season runs eight weeks, with teams playing six games and having two bye weeks. All games are played on Saturdays, with kickoffs starting between 5–7 p.m. We usually host three home games at Harrisburg High School and travel for three away games, ranging from nearby cities like Omaha to farther trips such as Tulsa or Milwaukee.

Post-Season (June to July)
After the regular season games end, the top two teams in each region (based on Massey rankings) advance to the playoffs. We are part of the Midwest region. Round 1 of playoffs begins two weeks after the regular season, with the higher-ranked team hosting (so this could be a home or away game). As part of the Midwest Region, a Round 1 win advances us to the American Conference Championship (Round 2). The conference champion then competes in the Division II National Championship Game, which is hosted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, sometime in mid-to-late July.

The 2026 season will be an Expansion Season for our team. After unfortunately losing several players, coaches, and staff members last year due to injuries and unexpected life/schedule changes, we’ve been granted this season as an opportunity to intentionally rebuild and strengthen our program. We are actively looking to fill all positions, including key roles such as quarterback and center, as well as coaching and support staff positions. While some of our vet players do plan on returning next season, we currently have an unparalleled opportunity to lay the groundwork for greatness in 2027.

Instead of our standard six-game season schedule, we will play two games this season: one home and one away. This lighter schedule allows new players to learn the game, develop skills, and gain real game experience without the intensity of a full season or the pressure of playoffs. It also gives our returning and new leadership time to build chemistry, establish new systems, and grow together.

The 2026 expansion season is a great chance to try tackle football for the first time, step into a leadership role, or help shape the future of the team. If you’ve ever been curious about playing, coaching, or supporting women’s tackle football, this is the perfect year to get involved and be part of something bigger. You can be a key player in the future of women’s tackle football.

Ultimately, our goal is to one day compete in the Pro Division, so we may have the opportunity to pay our players and coaches, just like men’s professional football. That’s what we’re building toward. Right now, as is the case across the WFA and most women’s tackle football leagues, playing does come with a cost to the players. Our coaches, staff and administration are all unpaid, and these costs are part of what funds our season, helps cover travel expenses for our away games, equipment and uniforms, home game day costs, and more.

That said, we’re committed to keeping football as accessible as we can. We intentionally keep player fees as low as possible and supplment funding through team sponsorships and fundraising, so that finances aren’t a barrier for women who are ready to commit. We do have an “Adopt-A-Player” sponsorship option below for any business, employer or family that may want to help.

Player Fees (Typical year)

• Rookie Players: $500 for the season
• Returning Players: $750 for the season

Players Fees for 2026:

• Rookie Players: $100 for the season
• Returning Players: $200 for the season

These fees support essential season expenses, including stadium rental, officials, EMTs, athletic trainers, league fees, and team operations.

Broken down monthly, that’s approximately $42/month for rookies and $62.50/month for returning players, which is comparable to (or less than) a typical yearly gym membership.

Payment Deadline:
All player fees must be paid in full by the first day of pre-season practices in January. (*PLEASE NOTE: this is not the case for 2026, as we are in an Expnasion season and may add players throughout the year. We can make payment plans if needed.)

How do I pay my player fee? There are three options for player fee payment.

1. Pay it in full any day prior to day 1 of pre-season practices via cash (receipt will be provided), check (made payable to “Sioux Falls Snow Leopards”), Venmo (@SFsnowleopards), or securely by credit/debit card via the Team Only Store.
2. Team payment plan (same payment method options as #1 above):
   • 1st Payment no later than Sept 30th: $150 for Rookies ($200 for Returning Players)
   • 2nd Payment no later than Oct 30th: $150 for Rookies ($200 for Returning Players)
   • 3rd Payment no later than Nov 30: $150 for Rookies ($200 for Returning Players)
   • Final Payment no later than Dec 31: $50 for Rookies ($150 for Returning Players)
3. Adopt-A-Player Sponsorship
   • Another great option is our Adopt-A-Player Sponsorship. Many players partner with local businesses or employers who choose to sponsor them by covering part or all of their player fee. As a thank you, sponsors receive team-provided benefits on your behalf, including:
     • Recognition in our digital game-day program
     • A social media shout-out
     • Two season tickets to all regular-season home games
     • An autographed team poster
   • Players may print or digitally share the Adopt-A-Player flyer with potential sponsors. To receive sponsorship benefits, sponsors must complete the Adopt-A-Player Sponsorship Form online.
   • Personal thank-you notes from players are not required, but they are highly encouraged and always appreciated.
4. Helpful Links:
   • Adopt-A-Player Flyer
   • Adopt-A-Player Sponsorship Form
     
     
     NOTE: Additionally, players are responsible for purchasing their own equipment, but also have the option of looking through used gear before needing to purchase (see FAQ above).