Sioux Falls, SD (KWSN) – Indoor Football League owners overwhelmingly approved new roster restrictions by a vote of 9-1, calling for all teams to only carry 7 players with more than three years’ experience playing indoor football beginning in the 2016 season.

Sioux Falls Storm owner Todd Tryon told KWSN’s SportsTalk with Craig and Chris that he was the lone vote against the measure. He said that the definition of a veteran would be “any player that has played in any indoor league for more than three years,” meaning that players who come over to the IFL from leagues such as Champions Indoor Football, the X League, or the American Indoor Football Association would have their years of service in those other leagues count towards the roster restrictions.

Tryon said the move was a big surprise to him. “It started with fewer veterans, and as the discussion continued it got up to 7, and that’s kind of where it settled. It was a quick vote; I mean they had their mind made up.” Tryon said the timing of the decision was due to the fact that the IFL season is almost over, because once teams commit to the IFL for next season they may immediately begin signing players.

As it stands now, Sioux Falls has 14 players who qualify as veterans under the rule, meaning half of those players will not be back in 2016. However, Tryon said that he has confidence in his football personnel “we still feel confident that we have the best coaching staff in the league. If we are an all-rookie team or an all-veteran team, if things are even close, you’re going to get out coached.” He added that it seems the goal of this rule is to make the IFL somewhat of a developmental league.

As for the motive behind the rule, Tryon said it’s hard to tell but many think it’s a step towards leveling the playing field at the expense of established franchises like Sioux Falls. “A lot of these teams that are voting have only been around for a year or two. They just haven’t developed the foundation.” Adding that teams like Bemidji, Wichita Falls, and Iowa could regret this decision in 5 or 6 years when they have to part ways with well-established players to come into compliance with the rule.

Much of the response on Twitter was not favorable, with many calling the rule an attempt to break up the Storm’s dynasty. Others pointed out how the product on the field will be affected, saying it will be hard for fans to get behind a roster that is constantly turning over and rebuilding.