TYASA is a voluntary national standard-setting and sanctioning organization focused on strengthening youth and amateur sports through:

• Clearly defined governance frameworks

• Pilot-based, incremental implementation

• County- and state-level collaboration

• Respect for existing local organizations and autonomy

TYASA is designed to work within existing law and structures, not replace them.

TYASA is not:

• A day-to-day operator of teams or leagues

• A mandate imposed on local organizations

• A replacement for community-based programs

• A one-size-fits-all national league system

Participation in TYASA-sanctioned frameworks is opt-in and contractual, and applies only where organizations or public partners choose to adopt TYASA standards.

This distinction is intentional and foundational.

Across the country, counties and states face growing challenges related to youth and amateur sports, including:

• Inconsistent governance and safety expectations

• Rising costs and access inequities

• Fragmentation across municipalities and organizations

• Limited shared data to inform policy and funding decisions

• Increasing liability exposure without common frameworks

Local organizations do critical work, but many operate without coordinated infrastructure or public-sector alignment.

TYASA was created to address these gaps without disrupting local control.

TYASA advances change through deliberate, real-world testing, not broad mandates.

Our model emphasizes:

• County-based pilots as the entry point

• Defined timelines and evaluation periods

• Collaboration with existing organizations

• Continuous refinement based on outcomes and feedback

This approach allows public partners to explore improvements responsibly and incrementally.

TYASA is currently focused on preparing a county-based pilot initiative in New Jersey, beginning in Burlington County.

The pilot is designed to test the TYASA framework in a controlled, collaborative environment before any broader consideration of expansion.

Additional information is available on the New Jersey Pilot page.

Prefer email? Contact: david.dunkerson@tyasa.org