The LYFA boundaries cover the entire lakeway area of East Tennessee. The jurisdiction of each squad is determined by the elementary schools in the lakeway area. Participants will cheer for the team in the jurisdiction of the school they attend. Free agent schools within the LYFA boundaries are all lakeway area Christian, Private and Home Schools. 11 and 12 year old candidates who attend school in the Russellville, Whitesburg, Bulls Gap and St. Clair jurisdiction are also declared free agents. Once a free agent joins a team he or she will only be allowed to to participate with squads in that jurisdiction. If a free agent transfers to a school jurisdiction other than a Private, Christian, or Home School , he or she must participate for the squad in the jurisdiction they transferred to.
A. Middle school participants must participate with the squad in the last school jurisdiction they attended or would have attended.
B. If a participant changes school jurisdictions prior to the 4th game of the season said candidate must change squads if a slot and uniform are available on the squad in the jurisdiction they moved to, but if said candidate changes school jurisdiction after the 4th game of the season said candidate may stay with the squad they are on or will be allowed to change squads if a slot and a uniform are available.
C. If a participant changes school jurisdictions prior to June 25th, said participant must participate with the squad in the jurisdiction of the school he or she attends. If a participant changes school jurisdictions after June 25th, said participant has the option to participate with the squad in the jurisdiction of the school he or she attended, or cheer for the squad in the jurisdiction he or she attends.
D. Only Head Coaches may take their children with them if they become head coaches in another jurisdiction other than the one their child attends.
E. In the event a head coach leaves a squad, and the child of said head coach does not attend a school in that jurisdiction, the child of said coach has the option to stay with said squad, or to join the squad in the school jurisdiction he or she attends. Once said child selects a squad he or she will only be allowed to participate with the squads in that jurisdiction.
G. Assistant Coaches must be a coach in a school jurisdiction for (1) season before their child can transfer into the jurisdiction in which their parent is a coach.
H. If a participant's school jurisdiction is changed by school officials, the participant has the option to participate with the squad in the jurisdiction in which he or she was forced out of, or the participant may participate with the team in his or her new school jurisdiction providing there is a open slot and a uniform.
ARTICLE II: RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DUAL MEMBERSHIP
No coach, team, or participant on an LYFA roster may be a member of another cheerleading program or middle school cheerleading program supporting football.
A. ROSTERS CERTIFIED WITH SQUADS: The LYFA will make a record of each squad's cheerleaders on a squad roster form. This is a certified roster in that the LYFA has accepted the information from pre-season registration based upon information submitted after successful completion of try-outs. The squads are restricted to these cheerleaders for the balance of the season. (Except for allowed "Drops and Adds" see Article III-C).
B. ROSTER SIZE: No more than (12) participants shall be certified onto a squad's roster not including a mascot.
C. DROPS AND ADDS: A squad may add cheerleaders to its certified roster as long as said roster was certified below the maximum number permitted or to replace those originally certified and no longer on the squad for any valid reason. The cut off date to drop or add cheerleaders in July 14th.
ARTICLE IV: FORMATION OF CHEERLEADING SQUADS
A. Tryouts shall be used ONLY for placement purposes, and all who sign up must be given equal preparation. No candidate who has signed up, in good faith, to participate in cheerleading may be arbitrarily cut.
B. A candidate will be chosen using the following criteria:
1. The candidate did try-out.
2. The candidate received the highest score using the scoring system.
3. The candidate was contact was contacted by the LYFA.
ARTICLE V: REGISTRATION
A cheerleading candidate cannot begin practice with a team until he or she has signed up. To register he or she must sign a standard LYFA registration form. The sign up fee may be collected at this time. The player must also furnish the following:
A. PARENTAL/GUARDIAN CONSENT: A consent form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian giving the candidate permission to cheer.
B. MEDICAL EXAMINATION: A Signed statement from an examining physician that the cheerleading candidate is physically fit and there are no observable conditions which would contraindicate him or her from cheering.
C. PROOF OF AGE: A certified copy of the birth certificate on file bearing the seal of the issuing office of the state of birth is the best guarantee of reliability of claimed birth date [NO MOTHERS COPIES]. Passports, Military ID cards, certified adoption papers, certified wallet certificates issued by a state or commonwealth are acceptable.
D. PARENTAL/GUARDIAN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A financial responsibility form must be signed to cover the cost of cheerleading uniforms that are lost or damaged due to negligence or abuse.
E. CANDIDATE OBLIGATIONS: If a candidate makes a squad that candidate must complete their obligation or that candidate may face a (1) year suspension.
ARTICLE VI: COACHES REQUIREMENTS
A squad's coaching staff is in complete charge of the team whenever it is together on the practice or playing field, traveling as a group to and from practice sessions and games, or together for any squad function, such as a banquet. The coaching staff is under the direction of the Head Coach. All other coaches are Assistant Coaches.
A. Head Coaches must be a least 21 years of age.
B. Assistant Coaches must be at least 18 years of age.
C. A squad may have a maximum of (2) assistant coaches.
D. A student demonstrator may be used to teach cheers; however, this individual as well as the squad shall be under the direct authority and supervision of the adult cheerleading coach specified in above.
E. All coaches must follow rules established by the LYFA.
F. Coaches are to be selected by methods approved by the LYFA rules and bylaws.
G. Once approved for coaching, a coach is automatically terminated at the close of each season. To coach the following year, the same LYFA approval is required. Any violation of the rules committed by a coach during the season, will be heard by the LYFA board of directors.
H. It is mandatory that [ALL FOOTBALL COACHES] be certified by the National Youth Sports Coaching Association. Membership to the NYSCA must be active. (Membership Fee must be paid).
I. Deadline for coaches applications will be (2) weeks before the LYFA Jamboree. An extended application deadline will be considered for squads without head coaches.
A. Any cheerleader who is absent for (3) or more squad functions without notifying the head coach and providing a good excuse for each function missed, may be cut from the squad at the discretion of the head coach. (And then only with the concurrence of the LYFA board of directors).
B. Any player that is an extreme disciplinary problem may be cut. (And then only with the concurrence of the LYFA board of directors).
ARTICLE VIII: HOT WEATHER PRECAUTIONS
Squads must guard against serious heat problems. The training regimen of any squad practicing under high heat and or humidity conditions must:
A. Limit or eliminate laps entirely. Do not assign laps for disciplinary reasons.
B. Schedule practices for early evening, after the sun is low.
C. Practice shall start no earlier than 6:30 P.M. until otherwise notified by the LYFA.
D. Give the cheerleaders all the water they want to drink any time they want it. Do not substitute soft drinks for water. Drinks with electrolytes are permissible.
E. Each coach must keep an eye on all cheerleaders and her fellow coaches for the slightest sign of heat exhaustion or fatigue.
F. A fifteen minute break is mandatory in the middle of each practice, not to be counted against practice.
A. No practices are allowed until the rosters of each squad are announced by the LYFA.
B. A team may have no more than (5) practices per week.
C. Practice on school property is prohibited on Wednesday and Sunday.
D. Each practice will last no more than (3) hours with at least a (10) minute break after each hour.
E. At least one coach must accompany cheerleaders waiting to be picked up after practice.
F. Cheerleaders are to wear tennis shoes and loose clothes as dictated by the weather.
G. If parents stay at practice they are not to interfere, and must keep a distance of (50) yards. If there is a problem they are to talk with the coach after practice and not in front of the cheerleaders.
H. If any problem cannot handled by the coaching staff. A board member shall called as soon as possible.
I. Practice at a park or a school not at someone's home.
J. Any cheerleader with an unexcused absence during the week of a game will not be allowed to participate until the 2nd half of the game.
A. All cheerleading squads must participate in the LYFA's Annual Cheerleading Expo.
B. Any cheerleader that misses a practice during the week of the LYFA's annual Cheerleading Expo will not be allowed to participate in the Expo.
C. No squads will be allowed to combine their routines. Each cheerleading squad must participate as an individual unit.
A. The game is to be governed by National Federation of High Schools rules with the LYFA having the highest authority.
B. Only the LYFA Board of Directors can cancel a game due to weather, and the game will be called on the field. Any game that is cancelled will be rescheduled. All cheerleaders are to be on the field no matter what the weather.
C. Everyone must participate, non-participation will not be tolerated, reprimands will follow.
A. Only squads who's football teams place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each division at the end of the regular season, will be allowed to compete in post season bowl games. In the event the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place team declines to play in post season bowl games, teams that placed lower will be considered for post season play. Lower place teams may request to participate in post season play , but must have approval from the board of directors.
B. Squads who qualify or squads permitted will be allowed to participate in (2) post season bowl games away and (1) at home.
C. The Pee Wee division will play a 5th quarter in all post season bowl games.
A. If a cheerleader is ejected from a ball game he or she will be required to sit out the first quarter of the next ball game. If the same cheerleader is ejected from a second ball game he or he will be required to sit out of the first and second quarter of the next ball game. If the same player is ejected form a third ball game he or she will sit out the next ball game entirely and will be reviewed by the board of directors.
B. If a coach is ejected from a ball game in the first or second quarter of a ball game he or she must sit out the first quarter of the next ball game. If a coach is ejected from a ball game in the third of fourth quarter of a ball game he or she must sit out the first and second quarter of the next ball game. Any further ejections and said coach will be reviewed by the board of directors.
C. Profanity from either coaches or cheerleaders will not be tolerated. Coaches and cheerleaders using profanity will be removed from the game and possibly from the league.
D. Fighting results in automatic suspension from the game and action from the LYFA.
E. Excessive abuse by any spectator will result in eviction from the premises.
F. Any use of an intoxicant or illegal drugs is strictly prohibited at any organized function of the LYFA. It will result in automatic suspension from the league indefinitely.
G. At no time is any coach to physically jerk a cheerleader by the body or clothing. Suspension of the coach for the remainder of the year will result.
H. Any person arrested and convicted at any LYFA event will be restrained from all league events for the term of that conviction. The restraining order will be entered in the court that the person is convicted in. Violation of that court order will result in further prosecution.
I. No pets are allowed at any LYFA function. The only exception will be for the handicapped.
J. Use of tobacco an any LYFA junction is prohibited.
Cheerleaders selected for the All LYFA Squads will be selected according to their performance, coaches nominations, and standards set by the LYFA.
Group transportation to activities other than local in nature will be by car, bus or van. Any other means must be approved by the LYFA board of directors on an individual basis. Tennessee law prohibits children under 12 years of age from riding in the bed of a pick-up truck.
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A. OCTOBER 20 CUTOFF "LEAGUE AGE": A cheerleaders LEAGUE AGE is his or her age BEFORE OCTOBER 20th of the current year.
B. MINIMUM and MAXIMUM AGE:
PEE-WEE DIVISION: Cheerleaders must be 6 years of age on or before October 20th, but cannot be 9 years of age before October 20th.
JUNIOR DIVISION: Cheerleaders must be 9 years of age on or before October 20th, but cannot be 11 years of age before October 20th.
SENIOR DIVISION: Cheerleaders must be 11 years of age on or before October 20th, but cannot be 13 years of age before October 20th.
A. The bench area is reserved for players and coaches. The side line areas are reserved for cheerleaders, chain crews, medical and law enforcement personnel and authorized members of the press.
B. There will be NO PYRAMIDS CONSTRUCTED ON THE SIDE LINE. Cartwheels, Flips, etc. will be permitted under close supervision by the cheerleading coaches.
A. All cheerleaders must be dressed dthe same (Example: If one cheerleader has on a turtleneck, so shall the rest of the squad.)
B. Coats or jackets may be worn over the cheerleading uniforms when the temperature drops below 55 degree fahrenheit. (Exception: Cheerleaders must be uniform during their half-time performance.)
C. Parents will be held responsible for the care and cleaning of the uniforms.
RULE 6: LENGTH OF PERIODS
Maximum length of periods for all divisions are 8 minutes.
RULE 7: INTERMISSION LENGTH
Between 1st & 2nd; 3rd & 4th quarters: 2 minutes.
Between 2nd and 3rd quarters (half-time): 8 minutes.
RULE 12: SCORING VALUES
TOUCHDOWN..........6 points
POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (KICK)..........2 points
POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (RUN or PASS)..........1 points
SAFETY..........2 points
FIELD GOAL..........3 points
PEE WEE DIVISION: POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (RUN)..........1 point
PEE WEE DIVISION: POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (FORWARD PASS)..........2points
RULE 13: LOPSIDED SCORE
If at the end of the 3rd quarter Team A is ahead of Team B by (35) or more points the ball game is over. In the Pee Wee Division the fifth quarter then becomes the fourth quarter and will be played.
RULE 14: INJURED PLAYER
Any participant that is suspected to have an injury to the HEAD, NECK, or SPINE shall not be moved until professional medical attention is rendered. In the event a team has only eleven participants and one player is injured, a two minute time-out will be called by the officials. the team of the injured player will be charged a time-out. If said team has no time-outs a twelve yard penalty will be assessed to said team.
***THE LYFA ENCOURAGES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE***
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