What happens to a team that does not have enough players to start a game?

When a team does not have enough players to start a game, the rule dictates that the team forfeits the game. Forfeiting means that the team acknowledges they cannot field the required number of players, which leads to an automatic loss for them. This is an important regulation that maintains the integrity and scheduling of games, ensuring that they can proceed with the competitive balance intact.

In contrast, canceling a game would imply that there was an agreement or circumstance preventing the game from occurring rather than a team’s inability to meet player requirements. Penalizing a team does not apply in this context, as the established rules do not impose a lesser form of consequence for an inability to participate. Finally, while the opposing team may win by virtue of the forfeit, it's the act of forfeiting itself that is the official outcome documented in the game records rather than merely the other team winning by default.