1. Chains & Down Marker need to be on the Home Team's side regardless of what side of the field it is.

2. Chain crew cannot be made up of opponents from both teams. 

3. Visitor personnel cannot hold chains on Home team's sideline.

4. Minimum age is 14.

5. If the Home team cannot find a crew, switch to the Visitor. 

6. If neither can provide a crew, that game will be a Double Forfeit. The Grace Period can be used for this.

7. Chain crew are prohibited from coaching, heckling, or making comments to anyone and the Referees may eject them from the sideline.

8. No photography may be done from anyone performing as chain crew unless they have a hands-free Go Pro type device. 

9. Spectators that hold the chains do not have to be attired like the volunteers, but must be dressed youth appropriate.

Levels of Access to Game Fields (during a game)

• There is no such thing as 'water boys or girls', parent photographers or Alumni. The exception for Alumni may be granted with an Administrative Waiver.

• A volunteer on the sideline may not carry a baby or have any child with them that is not certified on the roster of the game being played or in the cheer area. No exceptions. 

Level 1:  TYFA Staff, Referees, Security, Hired EMT, Major Media, Freelance Photographer and TYFA hired Media - Can go anywhere field level.

Level 2: Team's own sideline [endzone to endzone]

• Team hired Media (cleared by TYFA - Refer to Hired Media)

Level 3: Team's own sideline [coaches/team box]

• Only certified players on the roster of the team playing at that time.

• Only certified volunteers with a maximum of 10+2+2

  • • 10 of any combination of Head Coaches, Coaches, Coach Trainees, and Team Managers.

    • The first +2 is optional and are certified volunteers that have ADMIN type titles (Athletic Director, Board Member, President, Vice-President, Commissioner, or General Manager).

    • The second +2 is optional and is a max of 1 certified photographer [endzone to endzone on their team's sideline only] and a max of 1 Medic/EMT (who must assist any injured child regardless of what team they are on).

Level 4: Cheer Area [40 yard line to endzone]

• Fans side of the field. If fans are on both sides, then the cheer teams may be with their football team.

• Only certified cheerleaders on the organizations cheer roster.

• Only certified cheer volunteers are allowed with the cheerleaders.

• The maximum number is set by the cheer rules.  Refer to Cheer & Dance Rules

1. Teams must be stationed on opposite sides of the field. 

2. If the host has both teams on the same side, they need to split to using both sidelines. Refer to Challenges

3. If the host refuses, that game will be a Class A Forfeit.

4. If there is some reason the teams cannot be split, the host needs to put in an Administrative Waiver prior to the weekend's games.

1. CONFETTI: Is not allowed to be used at anyone's field per most host's contracts with the venue. Charged as a Level II violation.

2. SMOKE: Smoke that is generated by a burning or heated device along with pyrotechnics is not allowed on the field, sidelines or endzones. This prevents damage.

   • Insurance will not pay to repair damage from these devices. Charged as a Level II violation and

   • You may receive a bill from the facility that incurred the damage.

1. Approved Noise Makers:

   • Permitted examples: jugs with beads, inflatable boom sticks, clackers, cowbells. 

2. Non-Approved Noise Makers:

   • Artificial noisemakers such as handheld air horns, whistles, train horns, and propane tank type noisemakers.

3. Noise Makers are not permitted on the sideline. They are only allowed in the spectator area. 

Visiting Team Head Coaches must make sure any music they play is:

1. Youth Appropriate

2. No profanity, explicit language or inappropriate themes

3. Is at an appropriate volume

4. And can only be played during pre-game warmups

ANY Violations of this policy will be charged as a Level II violation.

1. Scouting is defined as one or more persons watching, taking notes and/or videotaping a sporting event of an opponent.

2. Scouting is allowed at any Officially Scheduled TYFA Game.

3. An organization's practices are off limits for Scouting.

4. TYFA does not get involved in Jamborees and Camps. Speak with the Event Host.

5. Scouting can be done from anywhere a Spectator could be in a venue. The Host does not have to allow access to the Press Box.

6. Person's scouting, even if certified volunteers, are required to pay the gate fee if they are not playing at that venue.

7. If any of these rules are violated, the organization will be charged with a Level III violation. A violator can be anyone acting for the organization including but not limited to a child, parent, certified coach etc.

1. Quarters are 8 minutes for all age brackets instead of 10.

2. Except in the Spring Bowl, there is no Overtime.

3. Home & Away Jersey policy is not in effect.

4. Footballs do not have to have the TYFA logo.

5. Grace Period is 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes.

1. Darkness is a safety issue and the Referees have the authorization to stop a game if in their opinion it is too dark to continue. 

2. If in the Referee’s opinion there is not enough light to continue playing, they will bring the head coaches to the middle of the field and declare the day’s events concluded. 

3. If haltime is reached and there is no way that the last two quarters can be completed before darkness, the second half must not start.

4. The result of the game depends on when in the game it was stopped.

   • If the game is stopped for darkness prior to or at halftime, the game is considered Postponed. Refer to Postponed games.

   • If the game is stopped at any time in the second half of the game, the game will be called with the score as is; with a winner or a tie.

1. SUSPENDED GAME:

   • Temporary stoppage with intent to resume same day.

   • Will resume from the point of suspension Referees recorded.

   • Grace Period clock will start from the time the game was suspended.

   • If the Grace Period expires the game will be postponed. 

   • During the Playoffs TYFA will work with the Referees as postponed games will cause schedule issues.

2. POSTPONED GAME:

   • The season timetable is set and TYFA will do everything it can to get postponed games played as extending the season is not an option.

   • TYFA's Senior Board will review each postponed game and determine if it can be rescheduled or should be terminated based on:

     1. • Is there any equitable day to reschedule before the playoffs?

        • Are there playoff implications?

        • Do the teams want to play the game considering costs etc.?

        • Were there issues by one or both of the teams that caused a delay that caused the postponement?

        • What point in the game was it postponed?

          1. • If the game had at least (1) non-penalty play in the 3rd quarter, the game could be considered completed and the score posted as is.

             • If the game had been stopped prior to reaching the (1) non-penalty play in the 3rd quarter, the game could be replayed in its entirety. 

2. • A game cannot be terminated without a post in the game center as the Algorithm requires all teams to have the same amount of games at the end of the regular season to correctly provide TYFA the Seeding for the playoffs.

   • If for some reason games just cannot be played from the schedule or rescheduled because they were postponed, the following will be used as a guide:

     1. • If one team has 2 or more wins over the other, they are given the win.

        • If one team has only 1 win more than the other or is tied with them, the game will be recorded as a tie.

1. TYFA games are played in the heat, cold or rain and may not be postponed for any reason other than the safety conditions listed below unless there is prior approval from TYFA. 

2. If a private entity such as Parks & Rec or an ISD choose to close their facility, their decision on the use of their property supersedes any TYFA policy.

3. Unless a Facility terminates the use of their field, when the visiting organization is from more than 50 miles away, TYFA should be called before Referees postpone games or wait around for hours. 

4. Pools of Water (safety issue)

   • Referees will suspend the game giving the host the remaining amount of the Grace Period to drain the pools of water. 

   • Once the Grace Period expires, the game will be postponed if the Referees make decision the field is not playable. 

5. Hail (safety issue)

   • The Referees will suspend the game for up to the remaining amount of the Grace Period.

   • Everyone is required to seek shelter. 

   • If the Grace Period expires and the hail has not ceased, the Referees will postpone that game for the day.  

6. Lightning (safety issue)

   • When lightning is detected, the Referees and head coaches need to determine the distance by using the Flash-To-Bang method counting the number of seconds between the flash and the first sound of the thunder and dividing by 5 to give the distance in miles.  

     1. • E.g., there is a flash, and the count is 40, divided by 5, the lightning is approximately 8 miles away. 

   • If the Flash-To-Bang count is 30 seconds or less, six or less miles, the Referees will suspend the game. Everyone is required to seek shelter. 

   • The Referees will suspend the game for up to the remaining amount of the Grace Period. There must be no lightning within 6 miles for at least 15 continuous minutes before a game may resume. A venue may have their own policy on lightening that supersedes TYFA's. 

   • If the Grace Period expires and lightning is still within 6 miles (count is less than 30), the Referees will postpone that game for the day. 

   • If there is another scheduled game, the Referees are to wait until the game should start by schedule, and then if necessary, use the Grace Period for that game.