Summaries of each FAF policy are below. For the full legal text, download the PDF linked at the bottom of each section.
This Code of Conduct covers everyone involved in FAF activities: players, parents, spectators, coaches, volunteers, and board members. It applies at practices, games, tournaments, clinics, travel, and all community events across every Frisco Elite division, NFL FLAG league play, and TFFA/Zorts tournaments.
Treat teammates, opponents, coaches, referees, and spectators with respect. Accept officials' calls without argument. Win and lose with dignity. No trash talk, no excessive celebration aimed at opponents. Play by the rules and report injuries (including suspected concussions) to a coach right away. No profanity, slurs, bullying, fighting, threats, or substance use at any FAF activity.
Cheer for your child and team. Don't yell at refs, opposing coaches, or other parents. Don't enter the field during games. Follow the 24-hour rule: wait a day before raising concerns about coaching decisions, and raise them privately with the coach or through [email protected], not on social media or in group chats. Supervise your non-participating children at events. No substances, no physical confrontations, no unauthorized recording.
Held to a higher standard. Prioritize player safety, development, and enjoyment over winning. Instruction must be constructive; yelling at or humiliating a player is never acceptable. Complete all required background screening before interacting with players. Follow the Abuse Prevention and 1-on-1 Interaction policies at all times. Never be alone with a minor in a non-observable setting. Never communicate privately with a minor without a parent copied. No romantic or sexual relationship with any participant under 18 (zero tolerance). No medication to players without prior written parent authorization.
Report violations to any board member or [email protected]. Consequences range from warnings to permanent removal depending on severity. Serious violations (violence, threats, child safety, substance use around minors) can result in immediate removal without prior warning. Fees are not refundable for disciplinary removal.
FAF has a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of minors. This policy applies to all coaches, volunteers, board members, and any other adult who interacts with minors through FAF programs.
Any sexual contact, sexually suggestive behavior, or showing sexually explicit material to a minor. Any physical discipline (hitting, grabbing, shaking). Physical contact that isn't related to instruction, safety, or first aid. Persistent yelling at, demeaning, or humiliating a child. Using authority to intimidate or isolate a minor. Providing alcohol, drugs, gifts, or money to individual minors without parental knowledge. Private electronic communication with a minor. Sharing a sleeping area with a minor who is not your own child.
At least two unrelated adults must be present whenever minors are being supervised during any FAF activity. If a second adult is not available, the activity does not proceed. This applies at practices, games, tournaments, overnight travel, and everywhere in between.
All coaches, volunteers, and other adults who work with minors must complete background screening through National Sports ID (NSID) and NFL FLAG before their first interaction with players. No exceptions.
A parent or guardian must be copied on every electronic message between an adult and a minor. No private one-on-one messaging. No following or friending a minor's personal social media. Team group chats are the preferred method, with at least one parent per player included.
Under Texas law (Family Code Chapter 261), anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect must report it immediately. You don't need proof; you need a reasonable suspicion. Failing to report is a Class A misdemeanor.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Then report to the Texas DFPS Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 (24/7) and notify FAF at [email protected].
The accused adult is immediately suspended from all FAF activities pending investigation. FAF cooperates fully with law enforcement and DFPS. FAF will not retaliate against anyone who reports a concern in good faith.
FAF requires criminal background screening for all coaches, assistant coaches, and volunteers who have regular or unsupervised access to minors. No one may begin working with FAF players until screening is complete and cleared.
Parents and spectators who attend games but don't serve in a coaching or volunteer role are not required to be screened (but are still subject to the Code of Conduct). One-time helpers who are never left unsupervised with minors are generally exempt, but if occasional involvement becomes regular, screening is required.
Two screening pathways, both required: a background check through National Sports ID (NSID), which includes identity verification, national criminal database search, sex offender registry search, and county criminal records; and NFL FLAG's own background check through the NFL FLAG registration system. Both must be cleared before a coach or volunteer's first interaction with players.
Automatic, no-exceptions disqualification for: any sexual offense, any crime against a child, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, or current sex offender registry status. Presumptive disqualification (board review required) for: any felony in the past 10 years, any violent or drug-related misdemeanor in the past 7 years, or a pattern of offenses that raises concern. The board makes the final call after giving the individual a chance to provide context.
After initial screening, all coaches and volunteers must notify FAF board leadership within 72 hours of any arrest, charge, conviction, CPS investigation, or protective order. Failure to disclose is grounds for immediate and permanent removal.
Background check results are limited to FAF board members with a need to know. FAF does not retain copies of screening reports.
No coach, volunteer, or other adult in a FAF role may be alone with a single minor in a non-observable setting at any time. This policy protects children from potential harm and protects adults from false accusations. It covers every FAF activity: practices, games, tournaments, clinics, travel, and community events.
At least two unrelated adults must be present at every practice, game, or event where minors are present. If the second adult hasn't arrived, the activity doesn't start. Individual instruction is allowed only in an open, observable setting with other adults nearby. Closed-door private sessions are not permitted.
If a player hasn't been picked up and only one adult remains, stay in a public, observable area and contact the player's parent or guardian right away. Don't move to a car or private area. If the parent asks you to bring the child home, follow the transportation rules below.
No coach or volunteer may transport a minor who isn't their own child without express permission from the child's parent or guardian. When possible, have a second person in the vehicle. When transporting a player alone with parental permission, notify the parent when you leave and when you arrive, and go directly to the destination with no unplanned stops. Standing arrangements (e.g., a coach who regularly drives a player home) must be reported to FAF board leadership.
A parent must be copied on every message between an adult and a minor. Group chats are preferred over individual messages. No following or friending a minor's personal social media. Keep messages football-related, during reasonable hours (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
Provide first aid in an observable setting with other adults present. No one may give medication (including over-the-counter) to a minor without prior written authorization from the parent specifying the medication, dosage, and circumstances.
No adult may share a sleeping room or area with a minor who is not their own child. Room assignments are made by parents, not coaches. All team activities during overnight trips must follow two-deep leadership.
All participants (and parents/guardians for minors) must sign this waiver before taking part in any FAF activity. It covers practices, games, tournaments, clinics, combines, camps, travel, and community events across all divisions.
Flag football, like all sports, carries physical risks that can't be eliminated. Incidental contact between players is common. Heat and weather in Texas create additional risk. Field conditions, equipment, and the actions of other participants are unpredictable. In rare cases, serious injury is possible.
By signing, you confirm the participant is physically able to participate and that you've disclosed all known medical conditions, allergies, and limitations in the registration. You voluntarily accept the risks that come with the activity.
You release FAF, its coaches, volunteers, officers, NFL FLAG, TFFA, tournament operators, and facility owners from claims arising out of ordinary negligence. This release does not cover gross negligence or willful misconduct. You also agree to indemnify the released parties against claims brought by others.
If the participant is injured and the parent isn't immediately available, you authorize FAF to obtain emergency medical treatment. You're responsible for all costs. FAF does not carry medical or accident insurance for participants.
This waiver can be signed on paper or electronically through Zorts, Accord, or another registration platform. Both formats are equally binding under Texas and federal law.
FAF photographs, films, and records its programs and events. This release governs how that media may be used. It is separate from the Participant Waiver.
By signing, you give FAF a perpetual, royalty-free license to use photos, video, and audio of the participant (or yourself, if you're an adult signer) for any lawful nonprofit purpose: the FAF website, social media, printed materials, newsletters, grant applications, sponsor materials, recruiting videos, and press coverage. FAF will not sell media to third parties. FAF may identify a minor by first name, team, or jersey number, but will not publish a minor's last name, address, school, phone number, or email without separate written consent.
Consent is voluntary. No payment or royalty is provided for the use of media under this release.
You can revoke consent at any time by emailing [email protected]. FAF will stop using the participant's media in new materials going forward, but revocation applies prospectively only. FAF is not obligated to take down media that was already published, printed, shared with sponsors, or otherwise distributed before receiving the request.
This release can be signed on paper or electronically through Zorts, Accord, or another registration platform. The full text is available at fathersandfootball.org/media-consent.html.