FAQ SHEET ABOUT FIYA ATHLETIC EVENTS
NOTE –THIS DOCUMENT UPDATED AS OF AUGUST 22, 2017 PROVIDES A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO FIYA. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE REVIEW THE FIYA REGULATION MANUAL WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN ‘ABOUT’ PAGE OF WEBSITE.
1. WHAT IS FIYA?
FIYA (PRONOUNCED FEYE-Yuh) IS THE ACRONYM FOR FOUNDATION FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC YOUTH ATHLETICS AND IT HAS OPERATED AS A 501(C)(3) SINCE AUGUST 2011. FIYA PROVIDES A VARIETY OF AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITIONS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. FIYA’S MISSION IS STRENGTHENING SCHOOLS THROUGH SPORTS AND IT IS OPEN TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
2. WHAT ATHLETIC EVENTS DOES FIYA OFFER AND FOR WHAT GRADE LEVELS?
FIYA OFFERS ATHLETIC EVENTS IN TWO FORMS – LEAGUE EVENTS AND TOURNAMENT EVENTS. LEAGUE EVENTS OCCUR OVER AN 8 TO 10 WEEK PERIOD AND INVOLVE A REGULAR SEASON GAME SCHEDULE AND PLAYOFFS FOR QUALIFYING TEAMS IN DIVISION 1/1A ONLY. TOURNAMENT EVENTS ARE GENERALLY ONE DAY EVENTS THAT TYPICALLY OFFER AN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION AS WELL AS A TEAM COMPETITION.
FIYA OFFERS THREE MAIN DIVISIONS FOR ITS ATHLETIC EVENTS KNOWN AS DIVISION 1, DIVISION 2 AND DIVISION 3. DIVISION 1 IS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 8 AND BELOW. DIVISION 2 IS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 AND BELOW AND DIVISION 3 IS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 4 AND BELOW. STUDENTS CAN ALWAYS PLAY UP A DIVISION IF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FEEL SUCH STUDENT’S SAFETY WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED. STUDENTS CANNOT PLAY DOWN A DIVISION. FOR EXAMPLE, A 7TH GRADER CANNOT PLAY ON A DIVISION 2 TEAM.
3. DOES FIYA STILL OFFER DIVISION 1A?
THE CONCEPT OF DIVISION 1A WAS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 8 AND BELOW EITHER FROM SMALLER SIZED SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS OR MADE UP OF PLAYERS WHO MAY BE RELATIVELY NEW TO THE SPORT. WE GENERALLY HAVE FOUND WHILE THE CONCEPT IS GOOD, THE REALITY DIFFERS FROM THE CONCEPT IN TERMS OF HOW SCHOOLS SIGN UP FOR DIVISION 1 OR DIVISION 1A. FIYA HAS FOUND THAT IT WORKS BETTER TO INCLUDE ALL TEAMS IN DIVISION 1 FOR LEAGUE PLAY AND THEN CREATE A TWO TIER PLAYOFF SYSTEM CALLED DIVISION 1 AND DIVISION 1A. DIVISION 1 IS COMPOSED OF THE TOP 2 TO 3 TEAMS FROM THE LEAGUE AND DIVISION 1A IS COMPOSED OF THE NEXT SET OF 2 TO 3 TEAMS.
4. WHAT LEAGUE EVENTS WILL FIYA OFFER? WHAT TOURNAMENT EVENTS WILL FIYA OFFER?
FIYA ORGANIZES LEAGUES FOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL AND CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL IN THE FALL; GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL IN THE WINTER; GIRLS AND BOYS SOCCER/FUTSAL IN THE SPRING.
FIYA CURRENTLY PLANS TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING TOURNAMENT EVENTS: CROSS COUNTRY IN THE FALL;WHIFFLE BALL AND SPIRIT IN THE WINTER AND TRACK & FIELD IN THE SPRING. TOURNAMENT EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE SO PERIODICALLY CHECK THE WEBSITE OR WITH FIYA STAFF FOR UPDATES.
5. CAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PLAY IN A FIYA ATHLETIC EVENT? CAN ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HELD BACK PLAY IN A FIYA ATHLETIC EVENT?
NO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF HIS/HER AGE, CAN PLAY IN A FIYAATHLETIC EVENT (UNLESS OF COURSE IT IS A DESIGNATED HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE). STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAN PLAY IN A FIYA ATHLETIC EVENT IF THEY MEET THE AGE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT (SEE ARTICLE III, SECTION 2 OF THE REGULATION MANUAL).
6. HOW DOES MY SCHOOL REGISTER FOR FIYA LEAGUES OR TOURNAMENTS?
FIRST CONTACT FIYA AT TO ENSURE THAT SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL IS ON THE FIYA EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST. IN ADDITION TO OUR WEBSITE (ONFIYA.ORG), FIYA SENDS PERIODIC EMAILS TO ITS DISTRIBUTION LIST ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS WHICH INCLUDES IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION.
SECOND GO TO THE REGISTRATION SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE AND VIEW THE INFORMATION FOR THE LEAGUE AND/OR TOURNAMENT EVENT FOR WHICH YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING. FOR LEAGUE EVENTS, USE THE TEAM ONLINE REGISTRATION WHICH IS A NEW REGISTRATION PROCEDURE STARTING IN 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR. FOR TOURNAMENT EVENTS, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS STATED FOR EACH EVENT.
7. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REGISTER FOR FIYA ATHLETIC EVENTS AND WHEN IS THE PAYMENT DUE?
STARTING IN 2017-18, THE COST TO REGISTER FOR A FIYA SPORTS LEAGUE DEPENDS UPON WHETHER A SCHOOL IS A FIYA MEMBER OR NOT. IT IS $495 PER TEAM FOR FIYA MEMBER SCHOOLS AND IT IS $535 FOR FIYA NON-MEMBER SCHOOLS. IN GENERAL, THIS GUARANTEES A TEAM BETWEEN 7 TO 9 GAMES AND COVERS THE ENTIRE EXPENSE FOR REFEREES, GAME OPERATORS, FACILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.
THE COST TO REGISTER FOR FIYA TOURNAMENTS VARIES BY TOURNAMENT. SEE THE INFORMATION LISTED FOR THAT PARTICULAR TOURNAMENT EVENT. THERE WILL BE A MEMBER FEE COST AND A NONMEMBER FEE COST FOR TOURNAMENT EVENTS.
CASH, CHECK AND CREDIT CARD ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT FORMS FOR FIYA ATHLETIC EVENTS. PAYMENT CAN BE MADE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION OR SOON THEREAFTER.
8. HOW DOES MY SCHOOL BECOME A MEMBER OF FIYA AND IS THERE A COST TO MEMBERSHIP?
IN ORDER TO BECOME A MEMBER, A SCHOOL NEEDS TO COMPLETE A SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP FORM WHICH IS CONTAINED ON THE FIYA WEBSITE’S REGISTRATION PAGE. THE COST OF MEMBERSHIP IS $100 PER SCHOOL FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR AND ENTITLES THE SCHOOL TO MEMBERSHIP PRICING FOR ALL FIYA ATHLETIC EVENTS. IF A SCHOOL INTENDS TO REGISTER MORE THAN TWO LEAGUE TEAMS DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR FOR ANY FIYA LEAGUE EVENTS, THEN IT IS ECONOMICALLY WISE TO BECOME A MEMBER. IN ADDITION, IF A SCHOOL INTENDS TO REGISTER NO MORE THAN TWO TEAMS DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR FOR ANY FIYA LEAGUE EVENTS BUT INTENDS TO PARTICIPATE IN FIYA TOURNAMENT EVENTS, THEN IT IS ECONOMICALLY WISE TO BECOME A MEMBER. IN SHORT, MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS ADVANTAGES. BY BECOMING A FIYA MEMBER SCHOOL, A SCHOOL HELPS SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF FIYA.
9. ARE THERE REFUNDS OR DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MEMBERSHIP OR REGISTRATION FEE?
THERE IS NO REFUND FOR THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE. WITH RESPECT TO A REGISTRATION FEE FOR A LEAGUE EVENT, IF A SCHOOL TEAM DROPS FROM A FIYA LEAGUE EVENT ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF THE MANDATORY COACHES MEETING, THE SCHOOL WILL NOT OWE A REGISTRATION FEE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE MANDATORY COACHES MEETING, THE SCHEDULES ARE FINALIZED AND ANY SCHOOL DROPPING FROM A FINALIZED SCHEDULE STILL OWESTHE REGISTRATION FEE. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE SCHOOL TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE TO FIYA IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT ANY OF ITS TEAMS NEEDS TO DROP OUT OF THE LEAGUE.
FIYA STRIVES TO KEEP ITS COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. COMPARED TO THE MARKETPLACE, FIYA’S REGISTRATION FEE IS VERY REASONABLE. NEVERTHELESS, FIYA WORKS WITH SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT FINANCES DO NOT PREVENT THEIR STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING. IN ADDITION, SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE GYMS AND/OR FIELDS TO HOST FIYA LEAGUE GAMES ARE GIVEN DISCOUNTS OR REBATES TO THE REGISTRATION FEE.
10. HOW ARE FIYA LEAGUE EVENTS ORGANIZED? WHERE AND WHEN ARE THE GAMES?
FIRST FIYA ORGANIZES THE LEAGUES GEOGRAPHICALLY. THAT IS, WE GROUP SCHOOL TEAMS TOGETHER BASED ON THEIR PHYSICAL LOCATION IN ORDER TO KEEP TRAVEL TO A MINIMUM. IF YOUR ,SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN A REGION WHERE THERE CURRENTLY ARE NOT ANY SCHOOL TEAMS PLAYING IN FIYA, WE ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR SCHOOL TO GET OTHER NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS INVOLVED.
SECOND FIYA WORKS ON A CENTRALIZED MODEL WHICH MEANS OUR LEAGUE EVENTS OCCUR AT A LOCATION(S) IN THE REGION WHERE MULTIPLE GAMES ARE PLAYED ON EACH GAME DAY. FIYA GAMES OCCUR ON THE WEEKDAYS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4 PM TO 8 PM. IT IS EXTREMELY RARE FOR FIYA LEAGUE EVENTS TO OCCUR ON THE WEEKENDS.
11. WE HAVE A GYM OR FIELD. CAN WE HAVE HOME GAMES?
YES WE CAN SCHEDULE GAMES SO THAT YOUR SCHOOL HAS HOME GAMES AS LONG AS THE CENTRALIZED MODEL IS ADOPTED. THAT IS, WE NEED TO SCHEDULE AT LEAST TWO GAMES (BACK TO BACK) AT YOUR SCHOOL’S GYM/FIELD. FIYA PROVIDES A DISCOUNT FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE TO SCHOOLS WHO PROVIDE THEIR GYM AND/OR FIELD AS A HOST FACILITY.
12. ARE THERE PLAYOFFS? ARE THERE AWARDS GIVEN?
FIYA OFFERS CITY WIDE PLAYOFFS FOR ALL QUALIFYING TEAMS FROM ITS DIVISION 1 AND DIVISION 1A LEAGUES. FIYA CURRENTLY DOES NOT OFFER PLAYOFFS FOR DIVISION 2 AND DIVISION 3. A FIYA LEAGUE CHAMPION PLAQUE IS GIVEN TO TEAMS THAT WIN ITS LEAGUE. IN ADDITION, A TEAM TROPHY AND INDIVIDUAL MEDALS ARE GENERALLY AWARDED TO TEAMS THAT PLAY IN THE FIYA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. TOURNAMENT EVENT WINNERS ALSO RECEIVE AWARDS.
13. DOES FIYA SUPPLY EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS OR COACHES?
FIYA DOES NOT SUPPLY ANY OF THESE ITEMS. HOWEVER, FIYA CAN AND HAS PROVIDED REFERRALS TO OBTAIN EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE AS WELL AS PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COACH THEIR TEAMS.