RULES

Follow these rules correctly and calmly or the Referees do not have to honor a challenge.

1. Only the Head Coach speaks to the Referees. Assistant Coaches, Board Members and Support Staff do not have a voice in the process.

   1. • Board Members that are also Head Coaches, but not the Head Coach of the team playing do not get to talk to the Referee.

2. Excessive arguing, mouthing off or loss of control by the sideline and the Referees will end the challenge, and can throw an Unsportsmanlike on the team.

3. The Head Coach must PROVE their point by showing the Referees the rule or policy using the handbook.tyfa.com tool. There is no paper or PDF copy of some old rules that will be acceptable.

4. The challenge is between the Referees and the challenging Head Coach. There is no debating with the opposing Head Coach.

5. If a Head Coach declares a challenge and they are proven wrong, they will be penalized a timeout or a Delay of Game if no timeouts left.

6. If a challenge is proven, the White Hat informs the opposing Head Coach of the result. THERE IS NO NEGOTIATING. 

PROCEDURE

1. If a Head Coach wishes to challenge an opponent's Jerseys, they should first notify the Side Referee.

2. The Side Referee will then pause the game and inform the White Hat.

3. The White Hat will approach the challenging Head Coach and ask if they have supporting evidence from TYFA's Rules Portal to justify the challenge.

4. If the Head Coach cannot provide valid proof using the proper tool, the challenge is dismissed, and the game resumes.

5. If proof is available, the White Hat will ask the Head Coach to clearly state the issue and present their supporting evidence.

A Jersey will be deemed out of compliance for the following reasons unless a waiver from a TYFA Senior Executive Board Member has been granted and can be viewed on Active Waivers. Home / Away Jersey requirement is not enforced in Spring.

A player must be removed if their jersey is not compliant for any of the reasons below (1 to 6):

1. If a player’s jersey displays a number with a leading zero (e.g., 01, 02, 03...) other than (00) or displays a Roman Numeral.

2. If a player's jersey does not have a number front and back.

3. If a player's jersey has inappropriate words or advertisements on it.

4. If a player's jersey is not DARK while at home or WHITE while the visitor.

5. If a player's jersey is PINK if pink is not their standard color.

6. If a player's jersey in not fairly close to the same color as the rest of the team.

A player is not removed if their jersey is not compliant for any of the reasons below (1 to 4) but TYFA will fine the organization if reported with pictures:

1. If a player's jersey number are not Arabic.

2. If a player's jersey number are not contrasting.

3. If a player's jersey numbers are not 6-10" on the back and 6-8" on the front. 

4. If a player's jersey numbers are not centered on the front and back.

It is not a violation if every jersey does not have a name on it or some players have nicknames.

If the removal of a player reduces a team's on field minimum to less than (7 for Flag or 11 for Tackle), reference On Field Minimum Rule.