Abington Youth Football, Inc.

 

BY-Laws    May 9, 2002

 

Article I

Name and Objective

 

Section 1.         This organization shall be known as the Abington Youth Football League, herein after referred to as the League.

 

Section 2.         The objective of the League shall be to provide supervised, competitive football and cheerleading activities while at all times promoting the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, and loyalty within the participants.      

 

Article II

Executive Board

 

Section 1.         The League shall managed by an Executive Board of responsible for establishing, maintaining and enforcing all League rules and regulations designed to support the League objective and ensure operation within the overall guidelines of the Old Colony Youth Football Association.

 

Section 2.         The Executive Board shall consist of the following duly elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Commissioner, Cheerleading Representative and Parent Representative.

 

Section 3.         All executive board decisions shall require a majority vote with a quorum of at least five board members.

 

Article III

Officers’ Nominations, Elections and Terms

 

Section 1.         Nomination of Officers shall be accepted from the general body at the Annual League meeting to be held in February or soon thereafter as is determined practical by the current Executive Board.

 

Section 2.         Election of the nominees for the positions being filled shall be conducted at the same meeting that nominations from the general body are accepted.

 

Section 3.         The term of all duly elected officers shall be two(2) years, commencing on March 1St and ending on February 28th of the second year. There shall be no restrictions on successive terms being served by any officer provided the nominations and elections comply with Article III, Section 2, of the League By-Laws.

 

Section 4.         Written resignations will be submitted to the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall appoint and fill any vacancy for the remainder of the term in accordance with Article II, Section 3, of the League By-Laws.

 

Article IV

Officers’ Duties and Responsibilities.

 

Section 1.         The President shall preside at all general and executive board meetings. He/She shall be responsible for calling the meeting to order, maintaining proper conduct during the meeting and adjourning the meeting.

 

Section 2.         The Vice President shall preside at all general and executive board meeting in the absence of the President. He/She shall also perform all duties assignes by the President.

 

Section 3.         The Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all general and executive board meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for all League correspondence received and mailed as well as other duties assigned by the Executive Board.

 

Section 4.         The Treasure shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate accounting of the League’s receipts and disbursements. The Treasure shall make available all League financial records immediately upon request by an Executive Board member. General membership may request disclosure through any Executive Board officer presiding at the time.

 

Section 5.         The Commissioner shall represent the League at the Old Colony Football meetings. He/She shall speak and vote the consensus of the League Executive Board on all business matters before that assembly. He/She shall be responsible for disseminating pertinent subjects resulting from these meetings to the Executive Board for review and consideration.

 

Section 6.         The Parent Representative shall be available to parents/guardians for information, questions and schedules. The Parent Representative shall take any issue to the board for clarification or discussion. The Parent Representative shall not hold any coaching position.

 

Section 7.         The Cheerleading Representative shall be available to parents/guardians for information, questions and schedules. The Cheerleading Representative shall bring any issue to the board for clarification or discussion. In addition, any Abington Youth Football correspondence that is sent home with the player/cheerleaders needs to be sent to the Cheerleading Representative or Parent Representative and brought to the AYF board for approval prior to it being sent home.

 

Article V

Meetings

 

                        General meetings shall be held on an as needed basis as determined by the Executive Board. These meetings shall be announced approximately ten (10) days in advance. Any parent or guardian with problems concerning the League or its’ members should bring them before the Executive Board at the general meetings. Discussing problems with coaches during games or practices is inappropriate and will not be condoned. If a problem should arise that needs immediate attention, contact an Executive Board member and he/she address the problem in a proper manner.

 

Section 2.         Ant parent/guardian may request a meeting of the Executive Board by contacting a member of the Board.

 

Article VI

Coaching Requirements

 

Section 1.         A team or squad’s coaching staff is in complete charge of the team or squad whenever it is together on the practice field, traveling as a group to and from practice sessions and games, or together for any team function, such as a banquet.

 

Section 2.         The team or squad is under the direction of one (1) Head Coach who may have a Staff of Assistant Coaches to be determined by the Head Coach.

 

Section 3.         The Head Coach must be at least 21 years of age and has the final responsibility for his/her actions, those of the Assistant Coaches, and players.

 

Section 4.         All Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must submit a CORI and SORI(when available).

 

Section 5.         Head Coaches shall be approved by the Executive Board.

 

Section 6.         Head Coaches shall assemble their staff of Assistant Coaches. The Staff section shall be presented to the Executive Board for final approval.

 

Section 7.         Each coach approved by the Executive Board is approved to coach for a one (1) year term. To coach the following year, the same League approval is required. Any violation of the rules committed by a coach during the season, even though a hearing is not held until after the close of the season, is still under the jurisdiction of the League. Preference will be made to previous Head Coaches.

 

Section 8.         Coaches do not make team or League policy. Rather, they carry it out. However, on the playing field and practice fields, the coaching staff is in complete charge and shall not be interfered with except in cases of rules and violations or any other conduct deemed by higher authority to be contrary to the welfare of the youths involved.

 

Article VII

Code of Ethics for All Coaches

 

Section 1.         Coaches approved by the league are expected to be Teachers, Mentors, Protectors and Role Models to All youth involved in the program. At a minimum, all coaches must adhere to the following strict guidelines. Any violations of these guidelines shall result in the coach being subject to removal from the coaching position by the Executive Board following a suitable hearing held by the Executive Board.

                       

                        •  Under no circumstances shall alcohol and other drugs be used during AYF        events, games or practices where children are present.

                        •  Team members, opponents and officials shall be treated with respect, independent of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status or skill level.

                        •  Players shall be shielded from any physical or verbal abuse.

                        •  Players in this program are children and at no time shall they be disciplined or spoken to with inappropriate language. Swearing shall not be tolerated.

                        •  Coaches must pledge to protect the players from any act of sexual assault or harassment by anyone associated with the team or League.

                        •  Violence at games and practices is absolutely prohibited.

                        •  Coaches must help the team learn to win and lose class and are responsible for establishing and maintaining team pride (regardless of record).

                        •  Taunting after a win and refusing to recognize opponents after a loss is unacceptable.

 

Article VIII

League Discipline

 

Section 1.         Members of the Executive Board shall, upon evidence of misconduct by any boy or girl, may request the respective coach, parent(s)/guardian and/or participant to appear before the Board for a hearing to determine if any disciplinary action shall be imposed or their right to future participation revoked. Any and all decisions in these matters shall be done by a majority vote as dictated in Article II, Section 3.

 

Section 2.         Coaches and Board Members reserve the right to discipline ant player or cheerleader immediately, if warranted.

 

Section 3.         Any coach not complying with the League By-Laws or the Old Colony League rules during games or practices shall be subject to reprimand by the Executive Board. Reports of inappropriate behavior by any coach made by a parent/guardian, player, Board Member, or Old Colony League Official shall be addressed at a League meeting attended by all those involved. Violations of By-Laws may result in the removal of the coach if so decided by a majority vote as dictated by Article II, Section 3.            

Section 4.         Any Board member acting inappropriately is subject to reprimand by the remaining Board members.

 

Section 5.         Problems involving parents/guardians may be presented at the General meetings for discussion and to be reviewed by the Board for any necessary action.

 

 

Article IX

Registration

 

Section 1.         A player cannot practice with a team or squad until he/she has completed registration.

 

Section 2.         Registration is considered complete once the registration form has been completed, a birth certificate has been provided, and the registration fee has been provided to the League.

 

Section 3.         Football players must be 7 years of age by September 1st, and no older than 15 years of age by November 15th of each season and age appropriate to OCYFL regulations Article VII, Section 2.

 

Article X

Banquets and Awards

 

Section 1.         The decision to hold a banquet shall be made by the Executive Board according to the League’s financial abilities.

 

Section 2.         Trophies shall be presented to each child that participates throughout the full season, unless the League’s financial abilities cannot afford it as determined by the Executive Board.

 

Section 3.         Any football team winning a Super Bowl Championship shall receive a jacket to be decided by the financial status and the Executive Board.

 

Section 4.         Any cheerleading team winning a Super Bowl Championship shall receive an award comparable to that awarded to the football team.

 

Section 5.         Any football player or cheerleader participating through the Mite, Pee Wee, and Midget programs for a period of six (6) consecutive  years and at least two(2) years at the Midget level shall receive a long standing award to be decided by the Executive Board and the League financial status.

 

Article XI

Equipment and Inventory

 

Section 1.         Every football player is required to wear a helmet, shoulder pads and any other equipment that the League determines to be necessary for the safety or other reasons.

 

Section 2.         It is the responsibility of each parent/guardian to take care of all equipment issued. Parent(s)/guardians are also financially responsible to the League for ant equipment lost, damaged, or stolen.

 

Section 3.         The League is responsible for providing safe and proper equipment to each child.

 

Article XII

Revisions of By-Laws

 

Section 1.         By-Laws will be reviewed annually and shall be amended and ratified at the annual meeting.

 

Additions to By-Laws

 

                       

Attendance at all cheerleading practice and games is mandatory. This is a sport that requires skills that can only be learned by constant repetition and instruction from the coaches. Each cheerleader is assigned an important position in a stunt group. If any member of the stunt group is not in attendance that group can not practice and/or perform during the half time routine. We strive for safety at all times and without consistent practices this becomes difficult to achieve. If a cheerleader will be absent from a practice or game they must contact their parent advisor or the coordinators to inform to inform them of their absence.

 

Cheerleading By-Laws Amendment

 

                        Every cheerleader will be allowed to participate once they and a parent have reviewed and signed for receipt of Cheeleading Outline Handbook which will list their obligation as an Abington Youth Cheerleader.

 

                        All girls will be allowed three (3) absences during the season, any subsequent absence will result in dismissal from the squad.

 

                        NOTE: Examples of excused absences are: family emergencies, sickness, religious obligation.