AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL, INC. OPERATIONS MANUAL REVISED 2015 Reproductions of this document whole or in part, without written permission is prohibited. © Copyright 2015 American Youth Football, Inc. AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL® OPERATIONS MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 6 AYF MISSION STATEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 6 WHAT AYF DOES ............................................................................................................................................... 6 AYF GOALS ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 AYF STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................................ 7 AYF NATIONAL STAFF ...................................................................................................................................... 7 REGIONAL COMMITTEES AND CHAIRPERSONS ............................................................................................... 8 STATE DIPLOMATS .......................................................................................................................................... 10 KEEPING IN TOUCH ......................................................................................................................................... 10 AYF & AYC MEMBERS ...................................................................................................................................... 10 LOCATING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ........................................................................................................... 11 MEMBERSHIP SERVICES AND REWARDS ........................................................................................................ 11 HOW TO JOIN .................................................................................................................................................. 11 CONTACT INFORMATION AT MYAYF ............................................................................................................. 11 MEMBERSHIP FEE ............................................................................................................................................ 12 NON-AFFILIATED CHEER SQUADS ................................................................................................................. 12 MEMBERSHIP YEAR .......................................................................................................................................... 12 PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP ................................................................................................................................. 12 PLAYAYF.COM – ONLINE TEAM MANAGEMENT AND REGISTRATION .......................................................... 13 MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION STRUCTURE ................................................................................................... 13 TOURNAMENT COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY .................................................................................................... 14 THE AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL NAME AND LOGO ................................................................................. 14 ORGANIZING AN AYF PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................... 14 ORGANIZING YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME OR FOR THE SEASON ............................... 15 START-UP CHECKLIST ..................................................................................................................................... 15 PLANNING YOUR ORGANIZATION’S YEAR .................................................................................................... 16 THE FIRST MEETING ........................................................................................................................................ 19 SETTING UP YOUR ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................................... 19 COMMITTEE DUTIES ........................................................................................................................................ 19 APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP ......................................................................................................................... 20 PARTITION TOOL ............................................................................................................................................. 20 HOW MANY TEAMS CAN YOU SUPPORT? ...................................................................................................... 21 TOO MANY ATHLETES .................................................................................................................................... 21 DIVISIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM LEAGUES ............................................................................................................... 22 FLAG AND TOUCH FOOTBALL ....................................................................................................................... 22 2 | Page BOUNDARIES .................................................................................................................................................... 22 GAME OFFICIALS ............................................................................................................................................. 23 ADMINISTRATION: PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION ..................................................................................... 23 OFFICER POSITIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 23 LEAGUE CONTACT PERSON ............................................................................................................................ 24 DEFINITIONS OF TEAM, ASSOCIATION, AND LEAGUE/CONFERENCE ......................................................... 24 SPREAD THE RESPONSIBILITY ........................................................................................................................ 25 THE AYF ANTI-SUBSTANCE ABUSE RULE ...................................................................................................... 25 CHILD ABUSE/MOLESTATION ......................................................................................................................... 25 BOOSTERS AND AUXILIARY UNITS ................................................................................................................. 27 LEGAL COUNSEL .............................................................................................................................................. 27 CHECKING ACCOUNTS .................................................................................................................................... 27 HONORING YOUR VOLUNTEERS .................................................................................................................... 27 AWARDS FOR YOUR AYF/AYC COMMUNITY ................................................................................................. 28 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................................................................ 29 DUE DATES AT MYAYF.COM ........................................................................................................................... 29 ROSTER AND DATA COLLECTION .................................................................................................................. 29 MANDATORY PLAY ROSTER ........................................................................................................................... 30 PRIVACY POLICY ............................................................................................................................................. 30 FORMS AND WAIVERS ..................................................................................................................................... 30 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR ADMINISTRATORS ..................................................................................... 30 BACKGROUND CHECKS ................................................................................................................................... 31 501 (C)(3) TAX EXEMPTION ........................................................................................................................... 31 ONLINE REGISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, WEBSITES .................................................................................... 31 FIELD DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 31 BIRTH AND WEIGHT CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................. 32 EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ............................................................................................................................ 32