Sunday Travel Restriction

• During the TYFA regular season, if a team must travel more than two (2) hours to a game location, the game must be scheduled and played on Saturday.

• Teams traveling more than two (2) hours cannot be scheduled to play a regular-season game on Sunday.

Determining Travel Time

• TYFA will determine whether a team’s travel time exceeds two (2) hours based on the estimated driving time from the organization’s home area to the game location.

• TYFA’s determination of travel time is final.

Playoffs and Championship Games

• This restriction applies to regular-season games only.

• All TYFA playoff and championship game dates, times, and locations are at the discretion of TYFA, regardless of travel time.

• Teams qualifying for postseason play are expected to play on the date, at the time, and at the location established by TYFA.

Purpose

This policy establishes mandatory start and end time requirements for all TYFA-hosted game days. Hosting organizations will follow these requirements to ensure reasonable scheduling that supports the wellbeing of athletes, families, officials, and volunteers, while maintaining consistency across the league.

Game Start Times:

Host must set 'reasonable' start times that allow all scheduled games to be completed within the day within these parameters:

Earliest Start: Hosting organizations will not begin their game day:

• Earlier than 9 am without approval by TYFA in advance

• Earlier than 10 am if their opponent is traveling over 50 miles without approval by TYFA in advance

• Later than 2 pm without approval by TYFA in advance

Latest Start – No game will scheduled to begin later than 7:30 PM without approval by TYFA in advance

Sunday Games must start at 9 am or 10 am if opponent is traveling over 50 miles unless approved by TYFA in advance

Game Order:

• The hosting organization may determine the order of games (Flag, Tykes, Rookies, Juniors) based on local needs, provided all divisions are scheduled within the same game day.

• Any exceptions must be approved by TYFA in advance.

• Reference policy on non-TYFA games if you are adding them in at your site. 

Allotted Time Between Games:

• Flag Games: a minimum of 1 and 1/2 hours (90 minutes)

• Tackle Games (Tykes, Rookies, Juniors) : a minimum of 2 hours (120 minutes) must be scheduled between the stat times of each game.

• Hosts should plan for additional buffer time in case of weather delays, extended play, or unforeseen circumstances.

Game Day Information Form – Hosting organizations will submit their completed Game Day Information Form no later than Tuesday of the week they are hosting.

No Waivers – Waivers or exceptions to this policy will not be granted. This includes conflicts related to athletes participating in other sports, volunteer scheduling issues, or any other organizational challenges.

Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including loss of hosting privileges.

When scheduling referees for your homecoming event with TYFA, please ensure the following:

• Notify TYFA in advance that it is your homecoming day, so they can inform the referees.

  • Failure to do so will result in a monetary fine, and you will be required to pay an inconvenience fee to the officiating group.

• Inform your opponent that it is your homecoming and notify them of any schedule changes or extensions.

• Important Considerations:

  • ENSURING THE COMPLETION OF THE GAMES, ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF BAD WEATHER OR LIGHTING ISSUES, TAKES PRIORITY OVER HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES.

• Homecoming Halftime:

  • Homecoming halftime may be extended by a maximum of 10 minutes, in addition to the standard 10-minute halftime, for a total of 20 minutes.

    • If halftime exceeds 20 minutes, an additional $5 per referee ($15 total) will be owed.

• Maximum Duration for Homecoming:

  • Homecoming activities are limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.

    • If the home team refuses to start the second half after this period, referees will issue an Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

    • If the home team still refuses to take the field, referees will declare a forfeit.

• Field Use During Homecoming:

  • If the home team is using the field for homecoming festivities:

    • The visiting team is prohibited from being on the field or playing any music.

    • Violations will result in a Level IV violation.

1. In order to contact your game day opponent, simply log in to your TYFA Certification App and in the menu on the left is an option called Opponent Information. 

2. https://league.tyfa.app

We recognize that unforeseen circumstances may prevent an organization from hosting games. This policy provides clear guidelines for organizing games when access to a home field is lost, ensuring consistent, fair, and timely rescheduling and alternative hosting arrangements.

1. Responsibility of the Hosting Organization

   • Hosting organizations are responsible for securing and maintaining their home game venues. 

   • Each organization must have contingency plans in place to address potential disruptions to field availability.

   • Organizations are not authorized to impose conditions on TYFA regarding game scheduling, including the time and location of events.

2. Loss of Field and Rescheduling

• TYFA must be immediately notified if a hosting organization loses their field due to unforeseen circumstances.

• The organization is expected to make reasonable efforts to secure an alternative venue and keep TYFA informed of their progress.

• Should a suitable alternative venue not be found, TYFA reserves the right to reassign hosting privileges to the visiting team.

3. Delays and Misrepresentation

• Hosting organizations must not delay or misrepresent the status of their field to avoid playing a scheduled game. 

• This includes failing to secure a backup venue or refusing to explore viable alternative options. 

4. Refusal to Play

• Hosting organizations are not permitted to decline rescheduled games without justifiable reasons. 

• In the event that a team refuses to play, TYFA will reschedule the game, and the organization that fails to participate may face a forfeit or other sanctions. 

5. Evasion of Play

• Should TYFA determine that an organization is deliberately attempting to avoid playing a scheduled game, TYFA will arrange an alternative date for the game. 

6. Use of Non-Approved Fields

• Organizations must ensure that they have access to an "Approved Field" for hosting games. Refrence Home Field Requirements

1. Music played at your facility - whether by a DJ or over a stadium PA system, portable speaker etc.... must be youth appropriate.

2. Music containing profanity, explicit language, or inappropriate themes is not acceptable at any TYFA-sanctioned event. These environments are family-oriented and should reflect the standards and values we expect across the league.

3. We strongly suggest that all organizations use either instrumental tracks or clean/radio-edited versions of songs to ensure content is suitable for all ages and to avoid offending players, parents, or spectators.

4. Music cannot be played during two specific game events:

   • If a player is down injured, all music should stop.

   • When a QB starts their cadence to execute a play, all music should stop. This is not the NFL where music is a defensive tool. 

Visitor Playing Music

1. Youth Appropriate

2. No profanity, explicit language or inappropriate themes

3. Played at an appropriate volume

4. Can only play music during pre-game warmups

ANY Violations by the host or the visitor of this policy will be charged as a Level II violation.