BYLAWS
and
RULES AND REGULATIONS
of
(a
Reviewed
BYLAWS
ARTICLE 1
Members
Section 1. Name. This body shall be known as the GREAT LAKES
CO-ED SOCCER LEAGUE. The acronym
"GLCSL" shall equally refer to this association.
Section 2. Purpose. It is the mission of GLCSL to foster the physical,
mental and emotional growth and development of area youth through the sport of
soccer at a recreational level. This
association shall be established as a non-profit and educational
organization. The association shall
provide the governing structure to administer youth soccer in
Section 3. Membership. Membership in the association shall be
restricted to affiliated clubs. No team
may be a member of this association, but it shall be part of this association
through a club. Any area recreational
youth soccer club is eligible for membership if approval is granted by a
majority of the clubs which are now affiliated with GLCSL. Motion to accept new clubs is subject to
discussion and vote at a scheduled League meeting.
Section 4. Conduct of Meetings. Meetings of members shall be presided over by the President
of the League. If the President is not
present, the next highest ranking officer shall preside (Vice-President,
Secretary or Treasurer, respectively).
At least one League officer must be in attendance. All elections and all questions shall be decided
by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting, unless otherwise
provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or by these bylaws.
a.
Attendance Requirement. Attendance at meetings by the officers and club
representatives is mandatory. Any club
which accrues three unexcused absences during the course of a calendar year
shall be placed on probation with loss of voting privileges for a period of one
year. Further attendance problems may
result in further disciplinary action which may include loss of membership
status in GLSCL.
Section 5. Voting.
Each member entitled to vote at a meeting of the League shall have the
right to cast one vote. Each club will be
entitled to only one vote regardless of the number of representatives at the
meeting.
Section 6. Action by Unanimous Written
Consent. If and when all the
members collectively consent in writing to any action to be taken by the
association, the consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote of the
members and shall be a valid corporate action as though it had been authorized
at an annual or special meeting of the members.
The written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of
the members.
Section 7. Registration Fees. Registration fees for all newly registered players, in
the amount determined from time to time by the members, shall be payable at a
date determined by the Board and shall be delinquent if not paid by a date
determined by the Board.
ARTICLE 2
OFFICERS
Section 1. Election of Officers. GLCSL officers shall be elected by the
members for two-year terms. The
President and Treasurer shall be elected in odd-numbered years; the
Vice-President and Secretary in even-numbered years. Officers elected by the members or appointed
to fill vacancies shall hold office, unless sooner displaced, until the annual
meeting at which their respective successors are to be elected and thereafter
until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors shall have the power
to fill any vacancy in any office occurring for any reason, subject to
affirmation by the members at the following meeting with a Roll Call vote. Elections will be held at the August or
September League meeting with the term to begin January 1 of the following
year.
Section 2. Disciplinary Authority. The Board of Officers (also called "the
Disciplinary Committee") has the authority to bar completely, suspend, or
otherwise discipline any player, coach, manager, team assistant, club
representative, League officer or member club for violations of League
policy.
Section 3. Election or Appointment. The officers of the League shall be a President,
Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected by a majority
vote of the club representatives.
Section 4. Term of Office. The term of all officers shall commence on January 1
following their election and shall continue as provided in ARTICLE 2 (Section
1). Any officer may be removed from
office only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at a meeting
called for that purpose, if, in the judgment of the members, the interests of
the association will be served thereby.
An officer may resign by written notice to the Board or at a time
specified in the resignation.
Section 5. President of the Board. The President shall preside at all meetings
of the members and of the Board of Directors.
He/She shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall
have general and active management of the activities of the association, and
shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect.
Section 6. Vice-President. In the absence of the President at any meeting of the
Board of Directors, the Vice-President shall preside as the chairperson of that
meeting. He/She shall have such other
powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed.
Section 7. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and
all meetings of the members and record all votes and the minutes of all
proceedings. The Secretary shall keep a
complete record of all teams and players for the purpose of player registration
and team affiliation and have such other duties as are delegated by the Board
of Directors. The Secretary or a
designated Registrar shall issue published procedures for the proper
registration of players consistent with USYSA and MSYSA policies regarding
player registration.
Section 8. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall have custody of the funds and
securities of the League and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts
and disbursements in books belonging to the League and shall deposit all moneys
and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the League in such
depositories as may be designated by the Board.
He/She shall disburse the funds of the League as may be ordered by the
Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements and shall render to the
League at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it an
account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the
League. The Treasurer shall submit a
fiscal report showing income and expenses by budget categories and the current
balance of all association accounts at each delegates' meeting. If required by the Board, the Treasurer shall
give the association a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as
shall be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful performance of the duties
of office and for restoration to the association (in case of death, resignation
or removal from office) of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other
property in his/her possession or under his/her control and belonging to the
association. The Treasurer shall also be
responsible for preparing any and all federal or state tax returns. The Treasurer shall be responsible for
preparing any and all papers regarding the tax exempt status of the
association.
Section 9. Expenses. The Officers of the association, as such, shall not be
compensated for the performance of services for the association, but may be
reimbursed for expenses incurred on behalf of the association, including, but
not limited to, expenses for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 3
Seasonal Year and Fiscal Year
Section 1. Seasonal Year. The seasonal year of this association shall begin on
August 1 and end on
July 31 of the
following calendar year.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the association shall be January 1
through December 31.
ARTICLE 4
Amendments; Rules and Regulations
Section 1. Amendments. These bylaws may be altered, repealed or new bylaws may
be written in lieu thereof by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any
regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Board. One delegate from each club and the League
officers will be eligible to cast one vote each.
Section 2. Rules, Regulations and
Policies. The rules,
regulations and policies of this association as now established and as
hereafter amended may be altered, repealed or new rules, regulations and
policies may be adopted in lieu thereof by a majority vote of the Board of
Officers then in office and present at the meeting of the Board.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULE 1. Responsibility for
Discipline.
Section 1. General Cases. In general terms, the clubs shall be
responsible for governing those persons associated within their operation and shall
establish procedures for doing so.
However, it is the duty of all club officers, coaches and referees to
report immediately any infraction outlined in Rule 2.
Section 2. Line of Authority. Should any person, team or League want to
appeal any adverse decision, the line of authority shall be from the League to
the District Appeals Committee (if one exists) to the MSYSA Appeals Committee
to the next line of authority specified
by the United States Youth Soccer Association.
Section 3. Coaches Code of Ethics. A copy of the Coaches Code of Ethics shall be
signed by each member of each team's coaching staff and kept on file with the
local club.
Rule 2. Regular Season and Tournament Disciplinary
Rulings and Minimum Punishments
(in
addition to the game ejection).
Section 1. Player Fighting and/or
Violent Behavior. A player guilty
of fighting and/or other violent behavior before, during or after games shall
receive a minimum suspension of two (2)
games.
Section 2. Player Profanity. A player guilty of using profanity or abusive
language, either by word or sign, directed against another player, coach,
referee, spectator, or any League official shall receive a minimum suspension of two (2) games. Non-directed profanity shall result in a one (1) game suspension.
Section 3. Player Threats. A player guilty of making threatening
gestures against another player, coach, or spectator shall receive a minimum suspension of one (1) game. A player who threatens a referee or any
League official shall receive a minimum
suspension of three (3) games. All
incidents shall be reported to the League President.
Section 4. Abuse Against an
Official. The referee or site director
shall report any incident of physical
abuse by a player, coach or other individual against any referee or
assistant referee to the League President.
These matters will be automatically referred to the MSYSA Disciplinary
Board for review and action. No player,
coach or other individual may participate in any GLCSL activity (which includes
regular season games, tournament games, practices, etc.) while his/her case is
pending before the MSYSA Disciplinary Board.
A player, coach or other individual who physically abuses (pushes,
strikes or grabs) a site director or League official must appear before the
GLCSL Board of Officers and shall receive a minimum suspension of five (5) years.
Verbal abuse by any player toward any referee, assistant referee,
site director or League official must be reported to the League President who
shall deal with each incident on a
case-by-case basis (see Section 10 below).
Section 5. Player Ejection. Any player or coach issued a red card by a
referee shall receive a minimum one (1)
game suspension (also, see Section
10 below). A second
red card will result in suspension from the League for the remainder of the
season and shall disqualify the individual from participation in the
post-season tournament. A League red card may be issued by the President
for cause and will count as a red card against an individual. No one may participate in any team practice
or game while his/her review is pending.
Section 6. Inappropriate Behavior by
Coaches. Coaches or team officials who use
insulting, abusive or threatening language and/or gestures toward other
coaches, players, or League officials shall be required to appear before the
GLCSL Board of Officers or the General Board for disciplinary action. Disciplinary action shall be handled on a
case-by-case basis.
Section 7. Coach Fights. Coaches or team officials who fight or
otherwise physically abuse (push, strike or grab) another coach, team official
or player must appear before the GLCSL Board of Officers and shall receive a minimum suspension of three (3) years.
Section 8. Coach and Fan Misconduct. Coaches and other team officials shall be
subject to all rules pertaining to misconduct contained herein and as set by
the USSF, including cautions, ejections and standard suspensions. Any other individual who may be reasonably
construed to be associated with a team, such as parents, relatives and
spectators, shall also be subject to the jurisdiction of this association. A coach, team official and/or individual club
may be held responsible for the actions of any individual(s) who violate these
rules and who in the opinion of the disciplinary authority is a supporter of
that team.
Section 9. Minimum Penalties. Clubs may adopt more stringent penalties,
which will prevail for their members, but in no event may penalties be less
than those listed herein.
Section 10. Authority of President in
Disciplinary Matters. The League
President has the authority to require any player, coach, spectator, referee or
other individual to appear before the GLCSL Board of Officers or the General
Board and additional penalties other than those specifically outlined above
(Rule 2 Sections 1-7) may be imposed at that time. Failure to appear when requested shall result
in the suspension of the offending individual from all GLCSL activities until
such time that compliance has been rendered.
The President may issue League red cards to any individual for
cause and may disqualify any individual or team from further participation the
remainder of a season. A League red card
shall count as a red card in determining an individual's eligibility to play. The President shall also have the authority
to reduce or suspend any penalty resulting from a red card if he/she feels
mitigating circumstances warrant such action.
RULE 3. Insurance
All players registered with the association shall be
required to have in effect a medical insurance program specified by their
League and approved by the State association.
Section 1. Public Liability Insurance. All officers of the association and officials
of member teams and Leagues shall be covered against personal liability claims
by the MSYSA for performing acts and duties related to the work of the association.
Section 2. Report of Insurance Claims. All injuries to be claimed against the
medical insurance shall be completed on the proper form (obtained from the
League) and submitted within 72 hours of the injury.
Section 3. Personal and/or Property
Damage Disclaimer. The GLCSL, its
clubs and its coaches are not responsible for injuries or damage to property
during the season. A signed registration
form from the player's parents or legal guardian must be on file with the club
before a player may participate.
Section 4.
All players and coaches shall be registered by their clubs with the
organization with which the League affiliates, thus providing them with
secondary insurance.
Section 5.
All officers and members of the Board of Directors will be covered by
liability insurance from whichever State or national organization is affiliated
with the League.
RULE 4. Rules of Play.
Rules of play shall be the "Laws of the Game"
as published by FIFA with special modifications as permitted for local
associations and youth soccer. All
contests sanctioned by this association shall abide by the "Laws of the
Game" and the modifications as published by the United States Soccer
Federation (USSF) rule book and GLCSL modifications.
Section 1. Coaching from the
Sidelines. Coaching from
the sidelines, giving directions to one's own team on points of strategy and
position, is permitted provided:
1. No mechanical devices are used.
2. The tone of voice used by the coach is
informative and not a harangue.
3.
The coach is in the team's bench area (between the 18 yard
lines) during the game.
4.
Instructions are not continuous and constant throughout
the game.
Section 2. Uniforms. When colors of uniforms are similar, the home
team must change to colors which are distinct from those of the visiting
team. No player will be allowed to play
with a wound or injury that will expose players, coaches, or referees to
contact with body fluids on either a player's person or uniform.
Section 3. Player Equipment. Player equipment shall consist of a jersey
(shirt) with a minimum 6-inch number on the back. Each number on an individual team shall be
distinct. A player may have his/her last
name and the initial of his/her first name on the jersey (optional), but no
nicknames may be used. Shorts, socks,
footwear and shin guards shall also be worn during play and the socks must
cover the shin guards completely.
Section 4. Miscellaneous. The home team will be responsible for the
condition of the grounds, the proper field markings and the proper
equipment. Nets and corner flags are
required. It will be the responsibility
of the participating teams to have a game ball and to insure that their fans
behave in a proper and respectful manner.
Section 5. Field Size.
Section 6. Pregame Requirements.
1. Each team may
be required to have equipment (shoes, cleats, etc.) checked by the game
officials.
2. Each player's
name and number on the roster may be checked before the game.
3. Each team must
have at least 7 players on the field to begin the game (U12 on up).
Section 7. Game times.
1. Game time
shall be set per scheduling.
2. Official game
time shall be kept by the referee on the field.
3. The referee
shall have the authority to shorten or cancel a game due to inclement weather.
4. No game shall
be played if lightning is present.
5. Games ended in the first half due to inclement
weather may be rescheduled. Games
stopped in the second half shall be considered complete.
6. Officials may shorten the halftime to keep
games on schedule, but the duration of the games should not be shortened unless
absolutely necessary and then only with the consent of both coaches and/or the
site director.
Section 8. Officials.
1. Each club shall be responsible for hiring all
game officials.
2. The referee or site director shall report to
the League President all misconduct of players, coaches and spectators (red
cards). Particularly poor behavior shall
be reported even if no red card was issued.
3. For all games U14 though U19, a USSF
certified referee is required to officiate in the center and the three-official
system must be employed. The center
referee must be at least 2 years older than the age group he/she is
officiating. For example, a referee must
be USSF certified and at least 21years of age to officiate a U19 game. The assistant referees must be at least in
the same age group as the players on the field.
The home team is responsible for providing two assistant referees if the
referee is working alone and requests assistance.
4. For the U10 and U12 games, the two-official
system may be employed and the referees must be at least 2 years older than the
players in the game he/she is officiating.
5. Referees shall be paid the standard League
fee established by the League Board and this shall be paid prior to the kickoff
by the home team club (see Section 12 below).
6. The referee shall be in charge of all matters
pertaining to the field and the game.
All participants are required to abide by the League rules and
regulations. Poor behavior observed by a
site director or League official may be reported to the President who shall
decide if a League red card is warranted.
7. The League will notify all clubs in writing
prior to the season of any rule changes or modifications.
8. To the greatest extent possible, all referees
shall be USSF certified. USSF certified
referees shall be given preference over non-certified officials.
Section 9. Coaches.
1. Each coach is bound by the Coaches’ Code of Ethics, established by
the League which he/she must sign and have on file with the home club.
2. The coaches are responsible for the conduct
of all those representing his/her team at all times, including before, during
and after the game. No players are
allowed on the field unless their team is participating.
Section 10. Player Participation. All eligible players who are not under
disciplinary action shall play in both
halves of each game and shall play as nearly a minimum of one-half of each game as possible. U6 and U8 players shall not sit out more than
one quarter at a time. This rule shall
not prohibit players from playing more than the minimum required time. In addition, co-ed teams in age divisions U10 and older must field a minimum of 2 girls at all times. If this is not possible, then the team must
play shorthanded.
Section 11. Soccer Balls. Regulations concerning soccer balls are as
follows:
1. Home teams
will provide a game ball which meets the requirements of the USSF rule book.
2. The size of
the ball shall be as follows:
A. U6 and U8 use a size 3 ball.
B. U10 and U12 use a size 4 ball.
C. U14 and older use a size 5 ball.
Section 12. Number of Players, Game
Duration and Referees.
U6: 3
Players on the field, no goalie. Maximum number of players on
the roster, (6). 4 x 8-minute
quarters; 1 referee paid $12.00 (if certified).
Parents are allowed to officiate.
Only the referee and players are allowed on the field.
U8: 4 Players on the field, no
goalie. Maximum number of players on the roster (10). 4 x 10-minute quarters; 1 referee paid
$12.00 (if certified). Parents are
allowed to officiate.
U10: 8
Players on the field (5 minimum); 2 x 30-minute halves; 2 referees paid $12.00
each.
U12: 11
Players on the field (7 minimum); 2 x 30-minute halves; 2 referees paid $12.00
each.
U14 & U15: 11
Players on the field (7 minimum); 2 x 35-minute halves; 1 referee paid 18.00*
and 2 assistant referees paid $12.00 each.
U16 & U19: 11
Players on the field (7 minimum); 2 x 40-minute halves; 1 referee paid $25.00*
and 2 assistant referees paid $15.00 each.
*
USSF certified referees only.
Section 13. Substitutions. "Players may be substituted only during
a stoppage of the game." -Law 3, International Board
Decision #6, and Law 9, Paragraph (a) and (b). The number of substitutions shall be
unlimited. Substitutions may be made:
1. Prior to your throw
in.
2. Prior to a goal kick by either team.
3. After a goal by
either team.
4. After an injury by either team when the
referee stops play (one for one).
5. At halftime by
either team.
6. When a player is carded by either team (one
for one).
A player may not enter or leave the field of play until
he/she has been given a signal to do so by the referee.
RULE 5. Tournament Games.
The authority for approval and/or operational control of
the tournament, including dates and times of the games that are to be played, shall
be vested with the Board of Directors of this association. Also, see Appendix A and Appendix B.
RULE 6. Age Limit Definition.
Section 1. Youth Player. The term "youth" as applied to this
Constitution shall mean an amateur player who has not attained his/her
nineteenth (19th) birthday before August 1 preceding the seasonal year in which
he/she applied for registration.
Section 2. Attaining Age Limit. Players attaining the limited age for any age
group on or after August 1 will be eligible to play for the full seasonal year
(August 1 through July 31) in that age group.
Section 3. Age Groups. All clubs, unless otherwise sanctioned by the
Board, shall divide play among teams as listed below (for example, U19
represents the "under 19 years age group"):
U19 U15 U12 U8
U16 U14 U10 U6
Age
divisions shall consist of players who are under the age group limit as of
August 1 of the seasonal year. For
example, a U10 player must be 9 years old or less on July 31 in order to play
in the U10 age group. Clubs are not
required to enter teams in all age divisions to remain in good standing in the
League.
Section 4. Proof of Age. A birth certificate, passport, board of
health record, certification of naturalization, or alien registration card
shall be sufficient for proof of age for registration and verification if
challenged.
Section 5. Authority to Contest Age of
Players. Any player can be called upon to
prove his/her legal age by the Board, the MSYSA Registrar, a district
commissioner, or a club director. Such
requests shall be verified at the next League meeting.
RULE 7. Player Registration, League
Entry and Team Affiliation.
Section 1. Proper Registration
Procedure.
1. All players are required to submit a properly
completed club player registration form to the team. The submission of a club player registration
form signed by the player or his/her parent or legal guardian (if the player is
under 18 years of age) and MSYSA player fees binds that player to that team for
the season unless granted a transfer or release under RULE 9.
2.
Each team shall be required to submit to the appropriate
League officer various forms as may be required for the operation of the
association and shall pay all dues, fees, or fines that may be levied by the
League or association. Also, each team
is responsible for sending proper League affiliation forms and fees directly to
the person responsible in the League.
3.
Each club shall be responsible for ensuring the proper
registration of the players, affiliation of the teams, proper accounting of
fiscal transactions and accurate reporting to the GLCSL Board.
4.
All clubs must have their final rosters submitted to the
League by a date to be decided by the League, accompanied by the appropriate
registration fee. There must be on file
a complete roster which includes each player's name, address, telephone number,
birth date, and League ID number. Rosters
may be checked against birth certificates by a representative approved by the
Board of Directors if deemed necessary.
The roster will also include the name of the head coach and any
assistant coaches and their telephone numbers.
The roster must include the team name and club affiliation.
5.
Only rostered players and
coaches may participate in practices and games.
Section 2. Ineligible or Improperly
Registered Players. Any team using a player who is ineligible, whether accidentally,
intentionally, or otherwise, shall forfeit the game(s) in which that ineligible
player participates and may face further disciplinary action by the League,
depending upon the nature of the violation. In the case of forfeiture, the score shall
stand as 1-0 against the forfeiting team, unless the League or competition has
a different forfeiture rule.
RULE 8. Youth Eligibility.
A youth player will be permitted to play an unlimited
number of senior games without losing his/her youth eligibility if the youth
participation forms are approved by MSYSA/GLCSL. Any youth playing for a senior club without
such approval shall be declared an ineligible player for youth games. Any youth team using an ineligible player
shall forfeit all games in which that player participated under the provisions
of RULE 7, Section 2.
RULE 9. Player Release and
Transfer.