Post by YFL Admin on Jan 17, 2015 5:34:48 GMT
2015 RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Rules: These rules shall remain unchanged throughout the tournament season. Interpretation and enforcement of Youth Fishing League rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. The Tournament director may impose sanctions as deemed appropriate for rule infractions without limitation e.g., disqualification, weigh deduction penalties, forfeiture of prizes and or entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. Tournament Director's decisions are final in all matters. Federal, state, local and water body authority laws and rules must be obeyed at all times and shall supersede YFL rules when in conflict.
2. Participation & Eligibility: This Tournament is open to all individuals, male or female, ages 6 through 18 and signed for by a Parent or Legal Guardian. Membership in the Youth Fishing League is required. ($25 Annual Dues. January 1st through December 31st) Participants without membership may join at the event.
3. Non-Boaters: Participants without Parent or Guardian as a Boater, will be provided with a Boater (if available) if informed of need a MINIMUM of 72 hours before registration, and permission (Waiver) is granted by Parent or Guardian. Non-boaters will be required to offer compensation to Boaters for gas and boat use. A sum of $25 will be minimum offer.
4. Liability Waiver: Upon entering any Youth Fishing League Tournament, contestants release Youth Fishing League officials and sponsors from liability of accidents, losses or thefts. Contestants are responsible for knowing and understanding these rules and signing "Membership Application -Tournament Waiver". NOTE: It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to have adequate general liability insurance covering him/her and passengers.
5. Divisions: (Age as of January 1st of tournament Year)
Little League: Ages 6, 7, 8 and 9
Minor League: Ages 10, 11 and 12
Major League: Ages 13, 14 and 15
All Stars: Ages 16, 17 and 18
Participants may fish in the division above theirs if they so desire. Two participants may fish from the same boat provided they are in different age divisions (unless approved by Tournament Director). Only one Division may be fished per tournament, and points earned will be counted for that Division only.
6. Scoring Fish: Each participant may weigh-in five (5) fish per day, a minimum of 14 inches in length (16 inches on Conroe), measured on a flat board with mouth closed and tail compressed. Any contestant weighing-in a fish shorter than the legal tournament length will be assessed a 2lb. penalty per short fish plus the loss of all short fish. Any contestant bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. A penalty of .50 pounds per dead fish will be deducted from the total weight. A dead Big Bass will be penalized .50 pounds due to this being a separate prize. Only Largemouth, Spotted, or Kentucky Bass will be scored. Fish will be measured on an official tournament measuring board. Ties for prizes will be settled by the largest bass between tied contestants. Points will be awarded equally for tying contestants. Any contestants' weight will not be counted, if not checked-in by the designated check-in time.
7. Sportsmanship: ADULTS MAY NOT ADD FISH TO THE CREEL FOR PARTICIPANTS. Assistance is allowed ONLY for boat operation, tying on or removal of lures, and netting of the fish. In the Little League Division assisting with casting is permissible, however, the adult may NOT set the hook and hand child the rod. In ALL Divisions, the child MUST catch their own fish.
8. Culling: No more than a maximum of five (5) fish may be in a live well at any time. No culling is allowed in the host marina area.
9. Entry Fee and Registration: Entry fee is $40 for all Divisions. Registration may be by mail (if postmarked on or before Tuesday prior to event) and at takeoff site on the morning of the tournament beginning approximately 1 1/2 hours before official start time. Contestants will receive boat I.D. numbers according to order received. Official tournament hours will be announced the morning of the event.
10. Boats and Motors: All boats must be a minimum of 16 feet in length, and meet US Coast Guard and state regulations. All boats must have an emergency kill switch. All boats must have an aerated live well. All fishing must be done from a previously inspected boat. Any boat that has NOT gone through inspection will not have their catch allowed for that day.
11. Safety: During tournament competition a U.S. Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver (PDF) Type III or higher, must be worn and properly fastened any time the engine is operating and in gear and the kill switch must be attached to the driver with a lanyard. All participants under the age of 13 will be required to wear a life jacket as required by the State of Texas during tournament hours.
12. Tackle and Equipment: Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. Trolling with the aid of combustion motor is not permitted. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait permitted with the exception of pork rinds and Berkley Gulp! Liquid and aerosol attractants are allowed. Only one (1) rod may be used at any one time. The use of underwater cameras is not allowed during competition.
13. Permitted Fishing Waters: No tube, bank or wade fishing allowed. No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of another tournament boat without mutual consent. Hole sitting, or having a non-contestant sit on a hole for you shall not be tolerated. Contestants must be able to get the boat into the fishing area without getting out of the boat. Navigable waters are the only waters to be fished during the tournament. Contestants cannot leave the boat to land a fish. Restricting natural movement of fish by any means such as but not limited to: use of nets, tanks or dams will result in immediate disqualification. Restricting access to waters normally accessible to anglers by any means such as but not limited to: felling of trees or placement of obstructions will result in disqualification.
14. Guides: The use of Guides on the tournament lake, or the gathering of any outside information about the lake (from anyone other than Parent/Guardian, or another contestant) is not permitted ONE WEEK prior to any YFL Tournament.
15. Championship Points: Championship Points will be based on a pure point format beginning with 100 points for first place and descending down by one 1) point per place. In each event "First Place" will receive 100 points, e.g., 1st Place = 100 points, 2nd Place = 99. This procedure will be followed for all contestants weighing fish. All remaining contestants that did not weigh fish will receive twenty (20) points less than the last person weighing a fish.
16. Championship Qualification: To qualify for The Championship, an angler must fish a minimum of four (4) events and finish in the Top Six (6) of their Division. The Championship will be held on a lake TBD with the Top Six (6) qualifiers in each Division participating.
Also available on our web site at www.youthfishingleague.com