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 volunteer.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.

1. If a player’s jersey displays a number with a leading zero (e.g., 01, 02, 03), it is out of compliance. (00 and 0 are allowed).

2. The game will continue, and the player may participate.

3. The offended team must be allowed to take a picture of the jerseys, and that picture must be sent in with the organization's GSR.

4. TYFA will issue a LEVEL II violation to the opposing Head Coach.

1. If a team has players without numbers on their jerseys at the start of the game, they must correct the issue within the Grace Period by either replacing the jerseys or adding temporary numbers (e.g., taped numbers).

2. If the Grace Period expires and the issue remains unresolved, the players will not be allowed to participate, unless a waiver from a TYFA Senior Executive Board Member has been granted and can be viewed on Active Waivers.

3. If the team does not have the minimum eligible players (7 Flag, 11 Tackle), when the Grace Period expires, the Referees will declare a Class A Forfeit.

4. TYFA will issue a Level II violation to the Head Coach of the team with non-compliant jerseys.

1. If a jersey contains words or advertisements deemed inappropriate for youth sports, it is out of compliance.

2. The game will continue, and the player may participate.

3. The offended team must be allowed to take a picture of the jerseys, and that picture must be sent in with the organization's GSR.

4. TYFA will issue a LEVEL II violation to the opposing Head Coach.

1. If a team is not wearing the required jersey color at the start of the game, they have the remainder of the Grace Period to obtain replacements.

   • Home Team must wear a dark jersey.

   • Visiting Team must wear a white jersey.

2. If the Grace Period expires, play will proceed with the non-compliant jerseys.

3. The offended team must be allowed to take a picture of the jerseys, and that picture must be sent in with the organization's GSR.

4. TYFA will issue a Level II violation to the Head Coach of the team with the non-compliant jerseys.

5. If this is the second occurrence for the team, it will result in a Class A Forfeit.

Home / Away Jersey requirement is not enforced in Spring.

1. If a Head Coach observes that an opponent's jerseys are not all the same color, the team is considered "Out of Uniform Compliance."

2. Since color does not inherently affect gameplay, the game will continue.

3. The offended team must be allowed to take a picture of the jerseys, and that picture must be sent in with the organization's GSR.

4. TYFA will issue a LEVEL II violation to the opposing Head Coach.