1. Zero Tolerance Policy

• While individuals have the freedom to choose their behavior, they are not exempt from the consequences of their choices.

• TYFA enforces a zero-tolerance policy for adults who fail to recognize that this is a youth sports league. TYFA events are not platforms for violence, profanity, racism, bigotry, or any form of hostility.

• Furthermore, TYFA events should not be used for religious or political discussions. 

• Violations of this policy will result in Level IV disciplinary actions.

2. Social Media Conduct for Volunteers

• TYFA holds its volunteers to the highest standards, both on the field and in their personal online presence.

• While volunteers are free to post on their personal social media, they are not exempt from consequences. Any certified volunteer who posts statements involving violence, hatred, or vulgarity may be subject to Level IV disciplinary actions, just as if those actions had occurred at a TYFA event.

3. Respect for TYFA Staff and Officials

• All TYFA staff members—regardless of gender or race—must be treated with respect.

• TYFA staff do not have the authority to stop a game or intervene in officiating unless requested by the referees.

• TYFA staff cannot alter the outcome of a play or instruct referees on specific calls.

4. Avoiding Suspensions for Behavior

• Before acting impulsively, THINK:

• Is arguing with a Referee over a missed call worth a penalty, ejection, suspension, or fine?

• Verbal altercations should never escalate into physical confrontations. Leading by example is essential.

1. The Head Coach and potentially the entire organization will be charged with a Level IV violation if illegal or ineligible participants are found on their team.

   • Illegal Participants Include:

   • Athletes exceeding the age limit for their division.

   • Athletes participating without certification.

   • Athletes violating the 60-mile residency rule.

   • Volunteers participating without certification.

   • Illegal athletes will be removed from TYFA for the season. Most illegal volunteers will face the same consequence, while others may be charged with a Level IV violation.

2. Ineligible Participants Include:

   • Certified athletes and volunteers under suspension.

   • Athletes too young for their division.

   • Volunteers under 14 years old for football and 15 years old for cheer.

   • Violations involving ineligible participants will result in a Level II disciplinary action.

1. An Eligibility Challenge is a formal, written request questioning the eligibility of an athlete or volunteer.

2. Organizations suspecting a TYFA participant of being ineligible or illegal have the right—and responsibility—to submit a challenge by emailing HelpDesk@tyfa.com. Only formal requests will be reviewed.

3. Organizations may even challenge their own participants, especially in cases where unofficial accusations arise on social media. This process helps ensure fairness and transparency.

4. TYFA Compliance will conduct a thorough and timely investigation, engaging only with the organization representatives directly involved. A participant’s eligibility may only be challenged once per season, unless new, undeniable evidence is presented that necessitates a review of the initial ruling.

5. Organizations that withhold eligibility concerns for personal advantage—such as allowing an ineligible player to compete and only reporting them after a loss—will also face disciplinary action.

Tampering is a serious violation of TYFA's values and will not be tolerated. This applies whether the attempt was successful or not.

DEFINITIONS

1. Agent: Anyone connected to a TYFA member organization who may act on its behalf, including volunteers, coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, boosters, and parents representing the organization in any capacity.

2. Recruitment Contact: Any attempt to reach out to a participant or volunteer to get them to join your organization, whether that contact is made in person, over the phone, by text, by email, social media messaging or through a third party. If the intent is to recruit, it counts.

3. Active Season: The period from the first day of the regular season through the last game the organization plays, including playoffs. Tampering rules do not stop when the season ends and carry over into the offseason as well.

4. Expressed Commitment: When a participant makes it clear they plan to join or stay with a particular organization, whether said out loud, put in writing, or shown through completing registration. Once someone has expressed commitment, they are considered spoken for until they formally change their mind.

RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Athletic Directors are accountable for the actions of their Agents, even if the Athletic Director was not directly aware of what happened. If someone connected to your organization crosses the line, whether they believed they were helping or acting on their own, the organization can still be held responsible.

2. Both the organization and the individual involved may face charges for a violation. This policy applies to all interactions involving active TYFA member organizations.

EXAMPLES OF TAMPERING

The following are examples of conduct that constitute tampering. This list is not exhaustive, and TYFA's Compliance team has the authority to address behavior that circumvents the intent of this policy even if it is not specifically listed here.

1. Knowingly spreading false information about another organization in a way that influences a family's decision-making. Honest mistakes or good-faith opinions do not fall under this provision.

2. Using information you should not have, such as phone lists, email addresses, or registration records obtained through a previous organizational affiliation, to recruit players or volunteers to your current organization.

3. Recruiting a participant who has already expressed commitment to another organization. Once a participant has made it clear they are staying with or joining another organization, any further recruitment efforts are considered tampering. This applies year-round and the offseason is not an exception.

4. Making recruitment contact during the Active Season. Organizations and their Agents should not approach participants who are currently registered with another TYFA organization until that organization's Active Season has fully concluded.

ENFORCEMENT

1. All reported violations (with proof) will be reviewed by TYFA's Compliance department. If Compliance determines that someone attempted to work around this policy or exploit a loophole, it will be treated as a violation regardless of whether the specific action is listed above.

2. Penalties will be based on the severity of the offense and may range from loss of postseason eligibility and suspension to expulsion from the league.

1. A Protected Vendor is any vendor, organization, or entity that TYFA has designated as exclusive or preferred through a contract, agreement, or official policy.

1. • Examples of Protected Vendors include: School districts that provide field or facility access and any company or entity that TYFA has an exclusive contract with.

2. TYFA organizations, teams, coaches, board members, volunteers, and affiliates may not engage with or promote competing vendors in a way that conflicts with a Protected Vendor agreement.

3. Any violation of this policy will result in penalties based on the level of the violation.

4. All violations and consequences will be determined solely by the TYFA Senior Executive Board (SEB), and their decision will be final.