1. TYFA utilizes the two-year "ODD" age brackets with a cutoff date of 8/1/current year for both Spring and Fall.

2. Whatever age a player is on 8/1/current year, that is the bracket they will play.

   • • Flag (5u) is 4-5 year old's

     • Tykes (7u) is 6-7 year old's

     • Rookies (9u) is 8-9 year old's

     • Juniors (11u) is 10-11 year old's

     • Seniors (13u) is 12-13 year old's (carried in the Spring only)

• These are ranges only and a team could be just 6s or just 7s for example in Tykes.

• Some players may be promoted UP to the next age bracket. Refer to Promotion.

3. If a player will be 3 years old on 8/1/current year, they are too young to play. If a player will be 14 on 8/1/current year, they are too old to play.

EXCEPTIONS

1. There will be NO waivers or exceptions granted to anyone even if they miss the cutoff by a day or two.

2. There will be NO waivers for medical reasons, a player's size or weight or prior experience.

3. There will be NO exceptions even if a Head Coach let a player practice on the wrong team.

4. TYFA will NOT under any circumstances allow an older player to participate "down" in a younger age bracket for any reason.

1. Once a player is bracketed based on their age on 8/1/current year, an organization can Promote (move up) a player to the next age bracket if they feel it is necessary under the following conditions.

   • • Players who are 5, 7, 9, or 11 can be promoted up 1 bracket.  Example: a 9 year old can be promoted to 11u.

     • Promotion is one age bracket and if for some reason the next age bracket is not available, they cannot jump to the next higher bracket. Example: Spring, an organization has 9u and 13u only. A 9 year old could NOT be promoted to 13u. 

     • Players who are 4, 6, 8, or 10 CANNOT be promoted up. No Exceptions.

2. There will be NO exceptions even if a Head Coach let a player practice on the wrong team.

3. Prior to the first game, if a promoted player is just not working out on the older team, the organization can demote them back down to their original bracket. If they are not yet certified, the organization can do it within the WebApp. If they are certified, a request to HelpDesk@tyfa.com needs to be sent.

4. After games start, but before mid-season, a detailed request to HelpDesk@tyfa.com needs to be sent. TYFA may or may not demote the player.

5. After mid-season there is no player movement allowed, unless the receiving team is willing to forfeit all their remain games and not make the playoffs.

1. AGE: As discussed in the Age Bracket & Cutoff Date above.

2. CERTIFIED: Must be TYFA Certified or they cannot participate in official TYFA Events.

3. DISCRIMINATION: TYFA does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, national origin, disability (within reason), or sexual orientation. Additionally, TYFA has no weight limits and home-schooled players are allowed to participate.

LOCATION-MILEAGE BOUNDARY:

1. A player may not live more than (60) miles away from their organization's base of operation (city hall of the city the organization represents).

2. It is a Head Coach's responsibility to know where their players live.

3. Should TYFA learn that an organization has a player who is in violation, TYFA may, at TYFA's sole discretion, revoke the player's certification and/or the organization's membership or impose other disciplinary action.

DUAL PARTCIPATION:

1. Not enforced during the Spring Season.

2. Players who are certified with TYFA, are not permitted to register, certify, practice, play, or otherwise participate with any other youth league or team that TYFA does not have governance over from July 1st through the last officially schedule TYFA event for the team the player is on. 

3. If during the season a player leaves a TYFA team to join a non-TYFA team, it is highly recommended that the TYFA organization remove the player from their roster to avoid the perception of a violation. TYFA can assist with a request to HelpDesk@tyfa.com

4. If during the season a player leaves a non-TYFA team to join a TYFA team, it is it is highly recommended that the TYFA organization get a letter from the previous team or league that the player no longer patriciates there. If that is not possible, a written statement from the parent is required to avoid the perception of a violation.

5. Should TYFA learn that an organization has a player who is in violation, TYFA may, at TYFA's sole discretion, revoke the player's certification and/or the organization's membership or impose other disciplinary action.

EXCEPTIONS:

• TYFA players may also participate with their Elementary, Middle School, or High School.

• TYFA players may also participate with events such as FBU and Junior Rank. 

• TYFA tackle players may also participate in Flag in other leagues.

• TYFA tackle players may also participate in 7v7 in other leagues.

CERTIFICATION ROSTER SIZE:

1. TYFA will monitor the WebApp during certification. If a a team is under the minimum listed, TYFA may remove the team during Spring and have a major discussion with an organization during the Fall.

   1. • Flag (5u) - minimum 13

      • Tackle (7u, 9u, 11u, and 13u) - minimum 15

2. There is no maximum at this time, but organizations should consider setting a limit for playing time and making sure surrounding TYFA teams have players in order to participate. It is self-defeating for an organization to take all the kids and have opponents with reduced numbers or maybe no opponents to play.

GAME TIME ROSTER SIZE:

1. If a team does not show up to play a game with the minimum number listed below or during the game drops below the following number, the game will become forfeit.

• Flag (5u) - minimum 7

• Tackle (7u, 9u, 11u, and 13u) - minimum 11

2. Players from other age brackets CANNOT be added to the game to avoid a forfeit. If TYFA learns this has happened, the Head Coach will be charged with a Level IV violation.

1. In general, there is no specific hiatus policy for players, allowing parents to have their child play for any team they choose each season, with the following exceptions:

   • • The losing organization can demonstrate that money or equipment is owed.

     • The losing organization can prove tampering has occurred.

     • The parent is attempting to sign with an organization located 60 or more miles from their home.

     • Once an organization has entered a child's data into the WebApp, and the parent has allowed or initiated the completion of required tasks for certification, a transfer request is required.

2. Parents must submit a transfer request to TYFA through the [REQUEST TRANSFER] form. Transfers are not guaranteed, and the form is also available on Parent.tyfa.com.

   • • TYFA will review the following factors when considering the transfer request:

     • Is money or equipment owed?

     • Has the child already switched organizations once during the season (only one switch is allowed)?

     • Was there any tampering involved?

     • How many TYFA members are between the losing and gaining organizations?

     • The parent's reason for the switch, the destination team, and the timing of the request.

     • Please note that this list is not exhaustive; TYFA will consider various factors when determining whether a transfer is possible.

3. Once games have begun, player transfers are generally not permitted, with few exceptions. As the season progresses, the likelihood of transfer approval decreases. Additionally, TYFA will not allow transfers for parents who decide, after a few games, that the team is "not good enough" or that they are unhappy with their initial choice. TYFA is not here to correct bad choices made by parents.

4. TYFA reserves the right to ensure that player rostering is fair and transparent.

Prior to Mid-Season

1. Prior to games starting organizations can add players to their rosters. TYFA may deny some adds if they are already with another TYFA organization wishing to transfer. Refer to Transfer above.

2. Once games start, organizations can add players up to mid-season with TYFA's permission. 

3. TYFA will review the request and make a ruling taking into consideration, how many players the team already has, are there any other TYFA teams in the area that are hurting, where did the player come from etc.

4. It is TYFA's responsibility to try and help organizations avoid seasonal forfeits because of the lack of players and therefore, TYFA's decision supersedes a parent's wish. A parent can either accept to go where TYFA suggests or they can join another league.

5. After mid-season, no new players can be added to a roster. This includes players on the roster but not yet certified. There is only one exception. Refer to Rosters Below the Minimum.

1. While there are many reasons an organization would remove a player from their rosters, such as the parent is not paying registration, does not show up consistently for practice, misses games, etc., it should never be because they are "not good enough" as this would be a violation of the Selective Recruiting Policy.

2. It is highly recommended that an organization who is having issues with a parent or player document everything that was done and said before the child was removed.

3. TYFA will not get involved in your internal business such as this unless the parent makes an accusation that needs to be investigated.

1. Prior to mid-season a team with low number can add player's as stated in the rule above.

2. After mid-season rosters cannot be changed by certifying more players and still be allowed to win games or enter the playoffs.

3. It is a violation of the Annual Agreement not to carry a team so a team after mid-season will be allowed to make some adjustments to increase their roster size, Depending on the adjustment, they may or may not be able to win games or enter the playoffs. 

4. A team may request TYFA to demote eligible younger players that were playing up as long as it does not put the older team in jeopardy.

5. A team may request TYFA to promote eligible players as long as it does not put the younger team in jeopardy.

6. A team may request TYFA to re-associate eligible players that were certified, but had quit.

7. In either of these situations, the team will still be allowed to win and potentially make the playoffs.

8. If it is required to certify new players to save the team, even if they were on the roster but never completed certification, the team will no longer be allowed to win or make the playoffs. 

9. This is strictly to allow the organization to avoid consequences from violating the Annual Agreement and to allow the players still left to finish out their season.

10. Requests must be sent to HelpDesk@tyfa.com

1. It is a violation of the Annual Agreement not to carry a team and there will be consequences. But there may be situations where a team just cannot find players to keep the team within the numbers to play a game or TYFA has dissolved the team because of multiple forfeits. Another situation is when TYFA suspends a team for disciplinary action. 

2. If TYFA suspends a team for disciplinary action, in most cases all volunteers and players assigned to that team are done for the season.

3. If TYFA dissolves a team for numerous forfeits or the team just cannot find the players to meet the minimum to play games:

   1. • Any player promoted to the team has the choice to be demoted and continue to play.

      • Any player who can be promoted has the choice to do so and continue to play.

4. If prior to mid-season and any players who could not be promoted/demoted or chose not to be will be assisted by TYFA to find a new team that has a need (less than 30 players on the team) in their area (not clear across town with other TYFA teams in the parent's area). 

5. If after mid-season, players who could not be or chose not to be promoted/demoted will not be allowed to sign up with any other TYFA team, unless that team is looking for players to finish the season knowing they cannot win or enter the playoffs.

6. Requests must be sent to HelpDesk@tyfa.com

1. Since Spring 13u can contain non-TYFA teams that are made up through other league's rules, we have relax some rules to make TYFA Senior teams more competitive.

   1. • Selective Recruiting is allowed

      • Tryouts are allowed

      • Mileage Boundary is waived

2. There is no dual participation enforced in Spring.

3. Tampering with other TYFA members is still prohibited.