EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2022

 

ARTICLE I – General Provisions

 

1. Name:  The name of this organization is Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics, doing business as FIYA.  FIYA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization formed under the nonprofit laws of the State of California.

 

2. Role:  FIYA serves as a full service governing body for interscholastic youth sports on the elementary school level (with emphasis on middle schools) in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.

 

3. Vision & Mission:  The creation of FIYA fulfills a vision that elementary schools with a well-balanced athletic program will produce better educated youth for society.  FIYA intends to fulfill its vision by working directly with elementary schools in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas to offer athletic opportunities to its student athletes and to assist schools by helping develop their athletic program. In short, FIYA’s mission is strengthening schools through sports.

 

4. Values:  In order to achieve its vision and carry out its mission, FIYA shall govern itself it accordance with the following value statements: (i) Child-centered – FIYA always will be guided first and foremost by what is best for the children in the program; (ii) Positive and Enthusiastic – as youth sports are meant to be fun, FIYA shall conduct itself in a positive and upbeat manner at all times; (iii) Fairness and Integrity – FIYA shall treat all participants fairly, honestly and with transparency in accordance with its policies; and (iv) Quality - our focus is on the people we serve and we will strive for excellence through self-evaluation and continuous improvement.
5. Objectives:

• To provide a quality youth sports program for elementary/middle schools.
• To tie a youth’s athletic experience with education, thereby creating a well-rounded individual for society.
• To encourage schools to get parents involved with sports, thereby strengthening the school’s support system.
• To develop community, school spirit, team spirit and personal esteem.
• To teach youth about sportsmanship, competition, teamwork and perseverance.
• To provide as many athletic opportunities to appeal to as many youths as possible.
• To always keep youth active and to teach about proper exercise and nutrition in a fun and positive environment.

 

ARTICLE II – Provisions for Schools

 

1. Membership:  Any elementary and/or middle school within Los Angeles County and surrounding areas may seek to participate in FIYA.  Schools, including their student athletes, coaches and parents/spectators, are required to adhere to the regulations promulgated herein in order to maintain good standing.  Failure to adhere to FIYA regulations and policies may result in a school's suspension from participation.

 

As a participant in FIYA, schools will be automatically charged an annual membership fee of $150 per school for the school year.  The annual membership fee helps offset certain administrative costs associated with participating in FIYA, including, without limitation, bank and transaction fees, coaching certification costs, signage and other marketing costs.  The membership fee will be charged to the school each school year on the invoice following the school’s first participating event in FIYA in a particular school year.

 

2. Communication:  FIYA recommends that each school have at least one school personnel, preferably the school’s designated athletic director as well as principal, provide its email address to FIYA.  Simply send an email to info@onfiya.org with your name, school name and address and request to be added to FIYA’s email distribution.  FIYA mainly communicates its information via email and/or its website (onfiya.org) as well as its social media platforms.

 

As representatives of the participating school, school administrators should maintain sole responsibility in communicating with FIYA personnel and at least one school administrator should be present at all FIYA events to assist in monitoring the school’s athletes and spectators.  During the course of an athletic event’s particular season, FIYA conducts its official communications through the school's administration and/or the school's appointed coaches for its sports teams.  As such, any communications from players (student athletes) and their families during the course of an athletic event's season should be directed to the school's administration, not to FIYA.  Only communications from school administrators and/or coaches to FIYA are recognized by FIYA.

 

3. Athletic Program:  As part of its mission, FIYA is committed to assisting elementary/middle schools with the formation and development of a strong athletic program.  FIYA strongly recommends that each school maintain an athletic director or coordinator to handle the administrative aspect involved with afterschool youth sports.  While each school should dictate the role and responsibilities of its athletic director, we offer the following main suggestions:

 

• The AD should be familiar with the contents of the FIYA Regulations Manual, understand FIYA’s policies, procedures and calendar of events, and maintain regular communication with FIYA including attending all mandatory meetings;

 

• The AD should (i) share important information with its coaches, players and parents, (ii) ensure that its coaches are properly trained and certified, (iii) create a sports environment where fun, sportsmanship and good character are emphasized more than winning and losing and (iv) ensure that its players, coaches and parents maintain proper perspective about the role of the sports program at the school at all times;

 

• The AD should be responsible for finding knowledgeable coaches for its various teams and assisting its coaches with developing a practice schedule that commences AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the team’s first game. FIYA recommends that teams should practice at least twice a week throughout the season.  The AD should supervise as many practices and games as possible.

 

• The AD should assist the coach with having tryouts several weeks prior to the start of the season. While there is no mandatory roster number, we recommend carrying a minimum roster of two times the number of players required.  For example, the ideal minimum number for basketball is 10, for volleyball is 12, for football is 14 etc.

 

• The AD should ensure that its teams have (i) the appropriate sports equipment along with first aid kits and (ii) school sports uniforms with a set of pennies of a different color as a backup.

 

4.      Waiver of Claims; Indemnification:  By participating in FIYA's athletic programs, a school hereby waives, releases, acquits, and forever discharges FIYA, its officers and directors, collectively and individually, and any and all persons directly or indirectly associated with FIYA ("FIYA Group"), from any and all acts, causes of action, claims, demands, damages, costs or expenses on account of or which may in any way develop out of any and all known and unknown personal injuries or property damages which any player, coach, administrator or spectator from the school may suffer during the course of or as a result of participating in a FIYA activity, including but not limited to travel to and from such activity.  A participating school further agrees to fully indemnify and defend FIYA Group for any such claims or damages brought against FIYA Group by the school's student athletes, their families or representatives of any kind.

 

5. Student Safety:  Schools participating in FIYA should ensure that the safety of its students is a top priority.  All adults involved with a particular school’s afterschool athletic program should be properly screened and certified by the school he/she represents.  FIYA recommends that the certification include live scan fingerprinting and child abuse guidelines training as well as first aid and CPR.  Schools should supply coaches with first aid kits for all games.  Schools also need to ensure that its student-athletes have the necessary health insurance coverage during the school’s participation in any FIYA sports offerings; FIYA does NOT provide health insurance coverage.

 

6. Registration:  For each FIYA athletic event, a school must submit a FIYA registration form by the stated registration deadline.  Registrations will be conducted online on the FIYA website under the Registration tab. The general registration fee for a League Event is $550 per team and is due upon the school's receipt of an invoice from FIYA which is generally sent after the first week of the start of the season.  The registration fee for a League Event covers the entire cost of the season for that particular sport.  The general registration fee for a Tournament Event is $15 per athlete for member schools and is due upon the school's receipt of an invoice from FIYA which is generally sent upon the conclusion of the tournament’s final event of the season.

 

A school shall ensure that its account balance with FIYA is paid in a timely fashion.  Generally, there are no refunds given.  However, for league events, if a school notifies FIYA in writing on or before the mandatory coaches meeting for that league event, then a full refund shall be provided.  If a league event does not have a mandatory coaches meeting, then written notification needs to be provided to FIYA before the date when the league event’s final schedule is issued. For tournament events, a school will be billed for all the athletes that a school registers at the registration deadline regardless if the school and/or athlete subsequently are unable to compete.

 

7.     Statistics & Marketing:  As a nonprofit entity, FIYA’s sustainability is aided by collecting data from participating schools.  In light of this objective, schools agree to submit to FIYA prior to the completion of the regular season, certain data about its participating team's roster as it relates to age, ethnicity and such other pertinent information which may be useful to assist FIYA with its sustainability.

 

In addition, FIYA’s sustainability is aided by its marketing.  Schools therefore that participate in FIYA agree to assist in this marketing to the extent practicable such as helping promote FIYA events and marketing FIYA signage on its campus.

 

8. Sports Offerings:  FIYA endeavors to offer as many sports opportunities as possible.  FIYA organizes its sports offerings as either League Events or Tournament Events.  League Events occur over an eight to ten-week period and involve a regular season game schedule consisting of approximately 8 games and includes city-wide playoffs for Division 1/1A qualifying teams.  There are no playoffs for Division 2 or 3.  Tournament Events are generally a one-day event and often have an individual and a team competition.

 

While demand will dictate the specific sports offerings in a particular year, FIYA intends to offer the following for the upcoming school year:

 

FALL – Girls Volleyball, Boys Flag Football (7 v 7), Girls Flag Football (5 v 5), Boys Floorball (5 v 5), Girls Floorball (5 v 5), Boys Futsal (Indoor 5 v 5 for Division 1 only), Girls Futsal (Indoor 5 v 5 for Division 1 only) Cross Country*, Virtual Cross Country*

 

WINTER – Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Dance*, eSports**

SPRING – Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Boys Volleyball, Girls Futsal (Indoor 5 v 5 for Division 2 and Division 3 only), Boys Futsal (Indoor 5 v 5 for Division 2 and Division 3 only), Track & Field*

 

SUMMER – Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball

 

* denotes a Tournament Event and ** denotes both a League Event and Tournament Event

 

The rules for the above listed sport will be listed in the Appendix to the FIYA Regulations Manual. FIYA is open to organizing any sport not listed above if enough schools warrant the demand.  Please contact FIYA to request a particular sport.

9. Divisions:  FIYA also organizes its sports offerings based on grade level:

Division 1 is the most competitive level and is for student athletes in grades 8 and below who are enrolled in the school and meet the requirements set forth in the student athlete section of the FIYA Regulations Manual.

Division 2 is a development level and is for student athletes in grades 6 and below who are enrolled in the school and meet the requirements set forth in the student athlete section of the FIYA Regulations Manual.

Division 3 is an introductory level and is for student athletes in grades 4 and below who are enrolled in the school and meet the requirements set forth in the student athlete section of the FIYA Regulations Manual.

FIYA strives to equally match the competition level between schools.  In addition, FIYA will offer two tier playoff system for all qualifying Division 1 teams. In general, Division 1 playoffs will involve the top 2 to 3 teams from each Division 1 league and Division 1A playoffs will involve the next set of 2 to 3 teams from each Division 1 league.  There are no playoffs for Division 2 and Division 3.

10. Centralized Facilities:  FIYA’s policy is to conduct its League Events at a centralized facility which means multiple games each game day at a single facility.  Such policy enhances the quality of the league, provides a safer and more enjoyable playing atmosphere for all participants and reduces the administrative expenses.  FIYA desires to work with its participating schools who have facilities to host League Events.  This policy can help host schools who have acceptable playing venues on its campus to reduce their costs of transporting their athletes as well as reduce some of its registration costs.
11. Game Schedules for League Events:  FIYA issues draft game schedules for League Events shortly after the registration deadline and prior to the start of the season.  A school through its coach and/or athletic director shall be given the opportunity to request adjustments to the draft game schedules.  It is highly recommended that the coach and/or athletic director compare the entire draft game schedule to its school calendar to ensure that there are no conflicts.  If there are any unavoidable conflicts, then the coach and/or athletic director should request changes to the draft schedule.  Once game schedules are finalized, however, schools should adhere to the final game schedule.  A team that fails to show up to a game on the final game schedule will be assessed a forfeit loss which is treated as a negative or deduction in points in the league standings.
12. Rescheduling Games from Final Game Schedules:  FIYA recognizes that there may be rare circumstances which require a game on the final game schedule to be rescheduled.  The most acceptable type is when the host facility becomes unavailable. FIYA will reschedule such games due to facility issues.

FIYA also recognizes that a school might have a subsequent academic or other event which creates an unavoidable conflict with the final game schedule.  A school must contact FIYA only about the potential rescheduling of a game; schools should not contact the opponent or the facility.  A variety of factors such as timing, facility and personnel availability, among other factors, are first considered by FIYA in granting the reschedule request.

If a school provides written notice to FIYA at least 72 hours prior to game time about an unavoidable conflict and a request to reschedule a game, FIYA will notify the opponent and the facility.  If the opponent and the facility is willing to accommodate a rescheduling of the game, then FIYA will endeavor to reschedule the game.  An agreed upon rescheduled game will become an official part of the final game schedule.  If an agreed upon rescheduled game ends up never being played, then FIYA under most circumstances will treat the result as a tie game for standings purposes.

If an opponent is not willing to accommodate a rescheduling of the game, then the opponent will be credited with a victory.  So long as the written notice was provided in timely fashion, the requesting school will only be marked with a loss, not a forfeit.  In addition, if a facility is unable to provide time for a rescheduled game, then the requesting school will be marked with a loss, not a forfeit.

If a school provides less than 72 hours written notice about its unavailability to play a game on the final game schedule, then such game is subject to a forfeit loss.

13.    Playoffs:      Playoffs are for qualifying Division 1 teams only; there are no city-wide playoffs for Division 2 and Division 3.  The following are general guidelines with respect to playoffs for League Events:

The top teams in the league qualify for playoffs.  Leagues with 4 to 6 teams will get 1-2 playoff qualifiers; Leagues with 7 to 9 teams will get 3-4 playoff qualifiers, Leagues with 10 to 12 team will get 5-6 playoff qualifiers.

Qualifying teams will be placed in either Division 1 playoffs (higher skilled or qualifying teams) or Division 1A playoffs (as compared to Division 1, these are lower skilled or qualifying teams).  While FIYA will solicit information from school teams about which Division is most appropriate, FIYA is the final decision maker for making playoff placement determinations based on historical data and observations from personnel and officials.

Unlike regular season schedules, playoff scheduling is much more restrictive and consequently FIYA cannot guarantee that it will be able to accommodate playoff schedule requests.  FIYA will make playoff schedule adjustments for hosting facilities.  In addition, while FIYA will still attempt to limit a team's travel during playoffs, it is less of a determinative factor during playoffs.  Teams with higher seeds will either receive 1st round byes and/or play against lower seeds.

14.    Awards:  As detailed below, FIYA issues individual and team awards for league events and tournament events. In addition, FIYA shall hold an annual Awards Assembly in early June to honor and recognize certain Division 1 only participants as set forth below.

League Events – a league championship plaque is given to the first place team in all Divisions.  For teams that tie for first place, FIYA will use the head to head result to break the tie.  Where there is no head to head result, multiple league championship plaques will be given.  For Division 1 only, FIYA shall provide a city-wide playoff format for League Events and will issue team and individual awards to the finalists.

In addition, for Division 1 only, FIYA will recognize the following individual awards:  All League, All Academic and All Sportsmanship.  All League are for the top players in the league as nominated by the coaches.  All Academic are for all players who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher during the academic period.  All Sportsmanship are for the players in the league who best exemplify the FIYA Sportsmanship Pledge as nominated by the coaches.

Tournament Events – a team plaque will be given to the top finishing teams in each Tournament Event and individuals ribbons and/or medals will be given to the top finishing individuals in each Tournament Event.  In addition, for some FIYA Tournament Events, FIYA will issue team seasonal tournament champion awards.

FIYA Awards Assembly – will be held in early June to honor and recognize Division 1 student athletes as follows:

All FIYA Teams:  This award is for League Events where FIYA conducts Division 1 or Division 1A playoffs.  For school teams that make FIYA playoffs, they will be allowed to nominate  players to make the ALL FIYA TEAM for that League Event.

All FIYA Academic:  For every Division 1 team that participates in a FIYA League Event, a student athlete who is on the school’s Division 1 roster and maintains a cumulative GPA for the year of at least 3.90 is on the All FIYA Academic Team.

Shanese Washington Memorial Scholarship Winners:  $500 scholarship presented to winners who best exemplify the FIYA Sportsmanship Pledge and write the winning essay as selected by the scholarship committee.

ARTICLE III – Provisions for Student Athletes

 

1. Eligibility:  In order to participate in FIYA, a student athlete must: (i) be a full-time student enrolled in the elementary school he/she represents, (ii) maintain the school’s academic standards for student athletes, including standards for conduct and effort and (iii) meet the grade and age requirements as set forth in Section 2 below.  Any student athlete enrolled in a home school program must petition FIYA to determine whether such athlete is allowed to play in FIYA for a particular elementary/middle school. Until such petition is approved in writing, FIYA maintains the sole discretion on how to deal with a non-petitioned home school athlete.
2. Grade Level and Age Requirement:  FIYA is for student athletes in grades 8 or under.  No high school student may participate in FIYA regardless of age. For Division 1 participation, a student athlete, regardless of grade level, may not participate in FIYA if he/she is 15 years old on or before August 31.  For Division 2 participation, a student athlete, regardless of grade level, may not participate in FIYA if he/she is 13 years old on or before August 31. For Division 3 participation, a student athlete, regardless of grade level, may not participate in FIYA if he/she is 11 years old on or before August 31.

 

3. Academic Standards:  Student athletes must meet its school’s academic standards including conduct and effort. Each school is responsible for establishing and monitoring the academic progress of its student athletes.  FIYA recommends an academic average of C in all core subjects.

 

4. Suspended Student:  If a school takes disciplinary action against a student that results in a student being suspended from school, then the suspended student shall not be eligible to participate in FIYA during the suspension. A school using a suspended player may face sanctions.

 

5. Sportsmanship:  Each student athlete participating in FIYA shall endeavor to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times.  FIYA reserves the right to discipline any student athlete who does not exhibit good sportsmanship.  In addition, game officials have the authority to remove a player from a game if the officials determine that the player needs a cooling off period in order to maintain control of the game as well as to assist the player in question to regain his/her composure.  It is within the game officials’ discretion in consultation with the coach to allow the removed player to re-enter the game.  Game officials also have the ability to eject a player from a game. Any ejected player shall automatically serve a minimum one game suspension.

 

6. Pre-Game Pledge:  Prior to each FIYA competition, players shall gather to say the FIYA Pledge:  I pledge to always show respect for my teammates, opponents, coaches and officials; to show good sportsmanship in both winning and losing; and to compete to the best of my ability at all times.

 

ARTICLE IV – Provisions for Coaches

 

1. Coach’s Role:  A coach in youth sports plays an incredible role in the lives of children. Valuable life lessons and important virtues are taught and developed on the playing field.  A coach therefore assumes the role of a teacher in FIYA and in light thereof, each coach shall act, speak and dress in a manner consistent with a professional teacher.  In addition, a coach is responsible for the conduct and supervision of the student athletes and the spectators for his/her team as well as supporting the officials' decisions during the game.  In light of this, coaches should share with their parents and spectators the FIYA Adult Code of Conduct listed in Article V.

 

 

 

2. Coach Requirements: To coach in FIYA, the following requirements are necessary:  A coach must be at least 18 years old, have 1^stAid/CPR training, complete the NAYS online coaching certification program and submit any necessary personnel documentation as required by the school for which he/she coaches.

 

3. Rosters:  In light of Article III, team rosters are used to validate the eligibility of each team member and as such schools may be asked to provide such eligibility verification.  Schools with more than 1 school team entered into the same sport may NOT interchange players from its multiple teams unless it declares beforehand and accepts a loss as part of the exchange.

 

4. Medical:  Coach should maintain a first aid kit and all emergency medical information for each player on the team at all practices and games.

 

5. Ejection:  A coach ejected from a game or competition will automatically be suspended for a minimum of the next two games or competitions.  A suspended coach who participates in a game/competition will cause that game/competition to be declared a forfeit and he/she will be subject to disciplinary action by FIYA.

 

6. 6.      Playing Time:  FIYA recognizes the value of youth sports for children and the incredible role that coaches have in the lives of children. Coaches should always strive to maximize each child’s playing time.  FIYA suggests the following guidelines:  A Division 3 athlete should play roughly an equal amount of playing time as his/her teammates; a Division 2 athlete should have at least one quarter of playing time and a Division 1 athlete should participate in each game.

 

7. Officials:  A coach shall endeavor to maintain a positive and professional relationship with game officials at all times.  The FIYA standard is to have minimum to no dialogue with game officials during the game. In the rare cases that a coach feels the need to discuss an issue with game officials, the coach should do so calmly and privately during a stop in play.
8. Protest:  A formal protest is a written objection directly associated with the FIYA Regulations Manual. Protests cannot be filed on a game official’s judgment.  All protests must be signed by a school administrator and a certified coach and received by FIYA within 48 hours from the starting time of the game.  The written protest must contain the following information:

 

1. Date, time and site of game.
2. Teams involved
3. Names of officials if possible.
4. FIYA Regulation that is alleged to be violated.
5. Factual account of the incident(s) that caused the protest.

FIYA reserves the right to investigate any situation that appears to be in direct conflict with the FIYA Regulations Manual.  Investigations will be handled on an individual basis depending on the severity of the violation.  FIYA will issue a written decision within three (3) business days of receipt of the protest.

9. Game Start Times:  The official starting time for games is what is set forth in a final game schedule.  See Article II, Section 8 regarding game schedules. Teams are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time.  Grace periods are subject to field/facility availability and the discretion of game officials in consultation with FIYA.
10. Game Results:  It is recommended that the coach of the winning team submit the results of the game to FIYA within twenty-four (24) hours of the game’s completion. Submission shall be by email or text message.
11. Standings:  Unless otherwise provided, league standings will be recorded as follows:  A win equals 3 points, a loss equals 0 point and a forfeit equals minus 3.  See Article II, Section 9 on how rescheduled games are treated with respect to final standings.  In the case of a tie in the standings, the first tiebreaker is the head to head result(s) amongst the tied teams.  If the head to head tiebreaker does not resolve the tie amongst multiple teams (more than 2 teams), then a coin flip will be conducted to determine the highest place.  Thereafter, head to head results will be used to determine subsequent places amongst the multiple tied teams.   In the case of ties where ALL the tied teams have not played any of the other tied teams, the first tiebreaker is the record amongst common opponents in league play.  If the common opponent tiebreaker does not resolve the tie, then a coin flip will be conducted to determine the highest place.  Thereafter, if necessary, coin flips will continue to be used if the common opponent tiebreaker does not resolve the tie.  Lastly, in cases where multiple teams (more than 2 teams) are tied and some but not all of the tied teams have played the other tied teams, the first tiebreaker will be head to head results involving all of the tied teams.

ARTICLE V – Provisions for Parents & Spectators

 

Adult Code of Conduct:  Each student athlete’s parent/guardian agrees to the FIYA Adult Code of Conduct (listed below) by consenting to allow his/her child to play in FIYA:  “I acknowledge and agree to be bound by the FIYA Adult Code of Conduct:  I understand that I represent my school and I will be a positive role model for my child and my child’s teammates and coaches at all practices, games and events.  I will treat EVERYONE in a respectful, courteous and professional manner. I will cheer POSITIVELY for my team and I will refrain from any negative cheering or comments directed toward any team or person including the officials and the coaches.  Questioning or commenting on officials’ calls or coaching from the sidelines are examples of negative cheering.  Lastly, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the conduct of all of my family members and guests and I further acknowledge that any behavior exhibited by me or my family members or guests that is not consistent with this Adult Code of Conduct may result in me being banned by school administrators from attending any games or practices or my child not being allowed to participate in the sports program.”

 

 

 

APPENDIX

 

1. BASKETBALL RULES

 

2. CROSS COUNTRY RULES

 

3. DANCE RULES

 

4. FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

 

5. FLOORBALL RULES

 

6. FUTSAL RULES

 

7. PING PONG RULES

 

8. SOCCER RULES

 

9. TRACK & FIELD RULES

 

10. VOLLEYBALL RULES