• 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. 

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

  • • If the game becomes too dark prior to halftime, the game must be called.

    • If halftime is reached and in the referees opinion they know the game cannot be completed before it is too dark, then the second half must not start.

• 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 postponed. 

• 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. 

• 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.

• 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 Referees will make the final decision as to the playability of the field. 

    • If they determine that there is still too much pooling water, they will postpone that game for the day.

• 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.  

• 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.  

      • • 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. 

    • 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 remaining amount of grace period for that game.

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.

POSTPONED GAME:

• The season timetable is set and TYFA will 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:

  • 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?

  • What point in the game was it postponed?

    • If the game had at least ONE (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 ONE (non-penalty) play in the 3rd quarter, the game could be replayed in its entirety. 

    • If the game was in Mercy Rule regardless of what quarter, the game WILL be considered completed and the score posted as is.

• 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 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:

  • 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.