Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect the integrity of youth athletics and uphold the values of fair play, safety, and sportsmanship within the Texas Youth Football & Cheer Association (TYFA). Betting or gambling on youth sports undermines these principles and creates an unsafe and unethical environment for young athletes. TYFA maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of betting or wagering related to its games or events. This includes TYFA Cheer events.

1. Policy Overview

Betting or wagering on any TYFA game, event, or activity is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of gambling involving money, prizes, or other items of value placed on the outcome or performance of TYFA-sanctioned games, events, athletes, teams, or squads.

2. Legal Context

Under Texas law, betting on youth football games — other youth tournaments — or other youth events such as cheer competitions — is not permitted. Texas law classifies illegal gambling as a Class C misdemeanor. Furthermore, even in states where sports betting has been legalized, wagers on events involving participants under the age of 18 are generally prohibited.

3. Applicability

This policy applies to all TYFA participants, including but not limited to:

• Certified Athletes (players, cheerleaders and dancers)

• Certified Volunteers (coaches, team managers etc.)

• Referees

• Parents, spectators and other non-certified volunteers

• TYFA administrators and member organizations

4. Enforcement and Consequences

Any individual found to be participating in, facilitating, or promoting betting or gambling related to TYFA events will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include:

• Immediate suspension or expulsion from the league

• Forfeiture of games or team sanctions (where applicable)

• Referral to law enforcement authorities for potential criminal prosecution under Texas law

5. Reporting Violations

Any suspected violations of this policy should be immediately reported to TYFA leadership. Reports may be submitted confidentially, and TYFA will investigate all credible allegations in accordance with its disciplinary procedures.

• Volunteer.tyfa.com has been created for all certified volunteers.

  1. • You can give it to them, and 

     • It is available when they log into the certification portal. 

• Parent.tyfa.com has been created for your parents so they have access to some of our policies, timelines etc.

  1. • You can give it to them, and 

     • It is available when they log into their child's portal. 

• Spectator.tyfa.com has been created for you to give to a spectator who claims they were hurt at your facility on game day, practices etc. 

• Please, Do Not, give Org.tyfa.com to anybody but your board.