TITLE AGE NOTES

Cheer Director 18+

Cheer Head Coach 18+

Cheer Coach 18+

Cheer Team Manager 18+ Cannot coach cheerleaders but can help manage them

Photographer 18+ Cannot perform any actions other than photography

Cheer Coach Trainee++ 15-17 Cannot be left alone with cheerleaders. (Note: Will not be allowed to be included on the competition roster)

++Coach Trainee (Junior Demonstrator) is a title given to a cheerleader that has aged out of the system and wishes to help. Exempt from YCADA Certification.

• A volunteer’s eligibility to participate in TYFA (working with cheerleaders) is based on that volunteer’s age as OF 8/1 of the current year. If they are not yet old enough, they are not eligible to participate as a volunteer. An Administrative Waiver may be requested for special circumstances but is not always granted.  Requests must be submitted by the organization using the Administrative Waiver Form or they will not be reviewed.

• To work with cheerleaders a volunteer must be TYFA certified.  Organizations found with un-certified volunteers participating at officially scheduled TYFA games will be in violation of this policy and will be charged with a Level III violation. 

• Non-Discrimination – TYFA does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

• Volunteers with Disabilities

  • • Volunteers with disabilities must be properly certified in TYFA.  Volunteers in a wheelchair must be able to wheel themselves away from the sideline if players come flying out of bounds.

• IMPORTANT

  • • Effective 2025, Volunteers are no longer subject to the dual participation restrictions of volunteering in TYFA and another competing league. They still cannot be on more than one TYFA organization.

CHEER AGE

BRACKET MIN AGE | MAX AGE

Tinies (3u) 3 3

Flags (5u) 4 5

Tykes (7u) 6 7

Rookies (9u) 8 9

Juniors (11u) 10 11

Seniors (13u) 12 13

Varsity (15u) 14 15

The brackets listed above are a RANGE. It is not required by this policy to fill a roster with cheerleaders of both the minimum and maximum ages. E.g., A flag team could be all 4s, all 5s or a combination.

IMPORTANT

• Cheerleaders may be added to the rosters through the TYFA Web App up to mid-season.

• Whatever age a cheerleader is ON 8/1/current year is what age bracket they will certify with both in the Spring and Fall seasons.

• Born a day or two prior or after 8/1 will not be grounds for a waiver of this policy.

Cheerleaders Eligibility

• A cheerleader’s eligibility to participate in TYFA is determined by serval factors:

• Age – A cheerleader must be age appropriate as specified above.

• Certified – Cheerleaders must be TYFA certified to be eligible to participate.

• Home Schooled – Home Schooled cheerleaders are eligible.

• Non-Discrimination – TYFA does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, national origin (ancestry), disability, or sexual orientation.

Tryouts

• Any means used to determine if a participant qualifies to be placed on a squad or cut from a squad.

• Tryouts in TYFA are prohibited. If there are accusations of tryouts, Compliance will review and rule. If it is determined there were tryouts, the organization will be charged with a Level III violation.

• Assessments and/or evaluations are only allowed for competition purposes; excludes Tinies. This method may be used to determine the level whereby a participant is placed on a team/squad. NO PARTICIPANT SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE ORGANIZATION UPON THESE ASSESSMENTS / EVALUATIONS. Assessments are for the purpose of determining the capacity to which participants execute a skill(s) to provide coaches the opportunity to structure practices towards improving the squad’s skills. It is not used as a measure of tryouts.

Game Day Cheer

• Game Day cheering is REQUIRED for competition participation. A minimum of 4 game day participation must be reported on the Game Day Cheer Summary and turned in on a weekly basis.

• Athletes Dual Participation (Not applicable for Game Day Cheer)

• Mileage Boundary (Not applicable for Game Day Cheer)

• Reference Cheer Competition Handbook Rule 12 for adjustments for competing cheerleaders. 

• TYFA Cheer and Dance Squads may NOT participate in non-TYFA Cheer Competitions between July 1 through the TYFA State Cheer Competition. 

• The Cheer Director and organization will be charged with a Level III violation if a violation is discovered

• The Organizational Cheer Director should approve all cheers, chants, posters, music, and other cheer activities of a squad. They should inform squads that all new skills must first be reviewed and approved by them prior to being performed. 

• Vulgar/suggestive movements, words, or music, as well as inappropriate language and any type of violence (i.e., not limited to stabbing, gun shooting) by any participant(s) are prohibited; this includes excessive hip thrusting, inappropriate touching, slapping, or positioning to one another, etc. Cheerleaders are not allowed to remove clothing or utilize tear-away uniforms.

• No type of derogatory cheer will be allowed.  This includes the Sideline cheer that is shouted across the field. A violation of this rule will result in the organization being charged with a Level III violation.

• Music selection should appeal to the audience to get them involved in the performance.

• Mandatory meetings only happen a few times a year but are of major importance. Mandatory meetings may also be emergency meetings for something that has to be discussed and action taken quickly.

• It is required by the Membership Agreement that all active members be represented at all mandatory meetings. The representative must have the authority to vote and commit their organization into any deals that may be brought for vote or be able to get a vote via phone, text, or email from their board. With meetings being virtual and no travel necessary, there are no excuses to say a representative cannot attend the meeting and take notes.

• Since meetings are virtual, the dress code does not fully apply. Inappropriate clothing is still prohibited.

• All representatives should be on time, so they don’t miss information or a vote.  If an organization cannot have anybody present at a meeting, they need to send an email to HelpDesk@tyfa.com with the explanation as to why the organization will be absent. 

• Representatives must conduct themselves appropriately at all meetings. This means you can have an opinion but understand that others have them as well and one should not be attacked because they disagree. Use of vulgar and inappropriate language or racial comments is unacceptable.

• If a representative gets out of hand, they will be asked to calm down, and if they do not, they will be kicked out of the meeting and their organization will be charged with behavior violations. 

• Every fall season TYFA awards numerous Scholastic Excellence Awards to its athletes. As a Cheer Director or Cheer Coach, make it your responsibility to review the policy on volunteer.tyfa.com in the Recognition Section.

• Additionally, we have:

• Cheer Squad Specialty Scholastic Award (CSSA) – Squads can submit each of their cheer athlete’s first report card of the current school year no later than Oct 25th. Report Cards for ages 6 and above will be considered in the average. Report cards from every member of the squad must be submitted to be considered. The squad with the highest overall GPA will be recognized and awarded.

• Starting in 2024, TYFA Cheer will annually recognize a cheer volunteer during the fall season at the cheer competition. The award is open to cheer head coaches, assistant coaches, or directors. 

• Coaches, team members, parents, and administrators are invited to nominate their coach for the prestigious title of TYFA’s State Cheer Volunteer of the Year. 

• Nominations and accompanying write-ups are due two weeks before the TYFA State Cheer Competition for the Spirit Committee to review.

• Review more requirements and the submission form.

• During the spring season the cheer volunteers and cheerleaders must be certified to participate.

• The cost will be determined on a yearly basis and will be found in the TYFA Web App. Background checks are run regardless of if they were on the previous fall season.

• If uncertified volunteers or cheerleaders are found participating, the organization will be charged with a Level III violation.

• A “Costumed Mascot” must be at least 14 years of age as of 8/1 of the current year.

• A Mascot must be TYFA certified to be on the sideline, in the Cheer Area or participate at any TYFA event. If they are below the age of 16, then they certify as a cheerleader.  If they are above the age of 15, then they certify as a volunteer.