Halifax Soccer Club
Travel and Academy Soccer Programs
Mission Statement:
To provide every child from the age of 4 to 18 the opportunity to play soccer in a supportive, rewarding, and safe environment that emphasizes fun, a balance between individual skill development and team building, learning of life skills at a level that fits each player’s interest and ability, and which creates a challenging environment for the teams and players that aspire to reach their full potential.
HSC Purpose:
Our goal here at HSC is to encourage youth to develop a love of soccer that results in active, life-long participation in the sport by providing a competitive training and match environment. HSC will work closely with Blue Ridge Classic League –(BRCL), to deliver an expanding program to all youth. This includes developing a rewarding soccer experience that allows ALL players to develop to their full potential. We seek to provide this environment to players throughout their club soccer experience so as they grow as adults, they may continue to participate as players. This will encourage them to give back to the sport by developing the next generation of youth soccer players.
Halifax Soccer Club
Travel and Academy Soccer Programs
BYLAWS
May 26, 2011
MLR
Article I – Organization
1. Name The name of this organization shall be the Halifax Soccer Club (HSC), and shall be referred to as “HSC” throughout this document.
2. Purpose The HSC is organized for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including the establishment and supervision of a program of soccer education, training, and competition in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
a. To foster, teach and advance the game of soccer by developing, promoting, and administering the game of soccer among youth up to 18.
b. To foster and encourage sportsmanship and leadership by all players and persons involved in soccer.
c. To receive gifts or donations to promote the health, welfare and recreation of the general public through the sport of soccer.
3. Affiliation HSC shall affiliate with the Blue Ridge Classic League (BRCL), with the Virginia Youth Soccer Association in conjunction with US Youth Soccer (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). In consequence of that affiliation, HSC members, players, coaches, and personnel shall adhere to rules, regulations, and bylaws of those associations to the extent applicable to their activities connected with the HSC Program.
Article II – Membership
1. Membership The membership of the HSC shall be open to any soccer players, coaches, managers, administrators, and officials not subject to suspension under Section 4 of Bylaw 241 of the USSF Bylaws, VYSA rules and regulations, or related organizations. Members must remain in good standing with regard to payment of fees and dues. Membership is a privilege and not a vested right, contract (expressed or implied) or otherwise.
a. Nondiscrimination Policy HSC shall not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.
b. Notice of Meetings: Written or printed notice stating the place, day, and hour of meetings and , in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given not less than seven (7) days or more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.
c. Parliamentary Procedure: HSC board meetings shall use parliamentary procedures as found in Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order may be temporarily suspended with the consent of two thirds of those present and voting.
Article III – Board of Directors
1. Board of Directors The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the following elected positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Registrar, Treasurer, Travel Director, and Public Relation Director.
a. Terms and Election of Officers Board members shall serve a two year term. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors a minimum of two months prior to the general election of officers. Its purpose shall be to nominate candidates for the officers of the Board of Directors. Nominations shall normally take place at the December board meeting. An individual must be willing to serve in the positions for which they are being nominated. Elections shall be by majority vote of those present at the General Elections of Officers at the January Board Meeting. Newly elected officers shall take their positions at the close of the January Board meeting. In the event a Board member must vacate their seat on the board, the President and/or Board of Directors may nominate a new candidate and an election by the Board of Directors shall take place at the next appropriate board meeting.
All Members of the Board of Directors shall have one vote regardless of the positions held. A board member must be present to vote.
Article IV – Support Director’s
1. Support Director’s & Coordinators The Board of Directors shall appoint the following positions:
a. Field Director, Certified Assignor, Coaching Director, Fundraising Coordinator, Sponsorship Coordinator, Concessions Coordinator, Tournament Coordinator.
Article V – Standing Committees
1. Standing Committees The HSC Board shall maintain several standing committees including but not limited to the following:
a. Board of Directors: President, Vice President, Travel Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and Public Relation Director.
i. Rules and Discipline Committee: Chair: Vice President
ii. Budget Committee: Chair: Treasurer
iii. Appeals Committee: Chair: President
iv. Long Term Planning Committee: Chair: Public Relation Director
v. Tournament Committee: Chair: President
vi. Travel Council: Chair: Travel Director
The Chair of each standing committee (with the exclusion of the Board of Directors) shall present to the Board of Directors a list of prospective committee members for review and approval. Membership on any committee shall not be limited to those persons currently holding a position of responsibility in the HSC. The Board of Directors may appoint and establish short term committees as deemed necessary.
Article VI – Job Descriptions
· President – Presides over the Board of Directors, Chairs the Appeals Committee, Establishes meeting agendas and transmits to Board/Committee members prior to the meeting.
· Vice President –Manages Club Operations, Handles All Kid Safe Back Ground Checks. enforces by-laws and registration requirements pertaining to Club play, Chairs the Rules Committee. Also oversees Certified Assignor, Equipment Coordinator, Coaching Director.
· Secretary – Records and publishes meeting minutes from the Board of Directors meetings, Distributes minutes of meeting prior to the next scheduled meeting. Prepares and Files any necessary documentation pertaining to licensing/corporation status.
· Travel Director – Manages Club Travel Operations: Attends League Meeting, communicates travel information to the Board of Directors and Teams, supervises collection of travel maintenance fees, brings before the Board of Directors the need for new travel teams and coaches and chairs the Travel Council.
· Registrar – Oversees registration throughout the Club’s participants, assembles and maintains a database of participants, parents and league volunteers for use by other committees, receives registration income and transmits to treasurer, and submits KID SAFE Information
· Treasurer – Prepares a preliminary budget for review, submits recommendation of budget committee to Board of Directors for approval, prepares and maintains a five year operating budget, prepares monthly income and expense reports for Board of Directors, receives and deposits all income, pays necessary bills, and maintains 501(c)(3).
· Public Relation Director – Oversees Sponsorship Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Concession Coordinator, Media Coordinator, and schedules team pictures and summer camps.
· Coaching Director – Works towards continual improvement of coaching instruction to further player skills through certified coaching programs and exposure to training seminars, helps recruit new coaches, maintains and monitors any coaching difficulties that arise throughout the season.
· Sponsorship Coordinator – Recruits sponsors, maintains an accurate register of sponsors, and organizes a seasonal sponsorship recognition event.
· Fundraising Coordinator - Manages any and all fundraising done on behalf of HSC, maintains complete records of fundraising events.
· Concessions Coordinator – Manages the concessions for HSC, schedules volunteers to cover concessions, maintains concession supplies, and transmits proceeds to the treasurer.
· Field Director – Responsible for scheduling all maintance required, responsible for scheduling field markings on a regular basis, and maintains field equipment.
· Tournament Coordinator – Responsible for coordinating future tournaments sponsored by HSC.
Article VII – Amendments, Repeal, or Suspension
1. These Bylaws may be amended, repealed or suspended, in whole or part, by the Board of Directors at any two consecutive regular Board of Directors meetings by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board of Directors. Amendments made by the Board of Directors must be reported to the membership of the HSC at the annual Meeting.
2. The Bylaws shall be reviewed on a regular basis at least every 2 years. The committee shall be chaired by a person appointed by the Travel Director and shall additionally consist of a minimum of two other members, but limited to a total of 5 members.
Article VIII – Adjudication, Enforcement, and Discipline
1. Jurisdiction The Board of Directors shall have original jurisdiction over matters relating to the accomplishment of its purposes as set forth in these Bylaws, and enforcement of its Bylaws and policies and procedures.
2. Hearings The HSC will provide equitable and prompt bearings and appeal procedures to guarantee the rights individuals to participate and compete.
3. Right to Appeal All grievances involving the right to participate and compete in the activities sponsored by the USSF, VYSA, and BRCL and decisions made by HSC Board of Directors may be appealed to the VYSA Appeals Committee in accordance with VYSA bylaws and policies. A decision rendered by the HSC Board of Directors is final pending any appeal to the VYSA.
4. Suspension and Expulsion of Members
a. Grounds for Suspension or Expulsion: Any member may be suspended or expelled from the HSC for willful infractions of the HSC rules or of any bylaw, or for acts of conduct that the Board of Directors may deem disorderly, injurious, or hostile to the interests or objectives of the HSC. The Board of Directors must give notice to such offending member of the proceedings against him or she and he or she is provided an opportunity to be heard in their own defense. No, Person who has been expelled from the Club may have a new membership considered for a period of less than two (2) years. Reinstatement must go before the HSC Board of Director’s.
b. Initiation of Suspension or Expulsion Proceedings under this section shall be initiated by resolution of the Board of Director’s or on complaint against any member signed by ten (10) other members and filed with the Travel Director of HSC. On adoption of the resolution or receipt of the complaint, as the case may be, the Board of Director’s shall schedule the matter to be heard at the first regular, or a special, meeting of the Rules and Discipline Committee. The Rules and Discipline Chair shall deliver to the accused member, at least five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing, a copy of the time and place of the hearing.
c. Hearing The Rules and Discipline Chair shall preside at such hearing and shall read the charges against the accused member. Such member shall be allowed to make a statements in his or her own behalf, question opposing witnesses, and call witnesses on his or her own behalf.
d. Determination of Hearing The Board of Director’s may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of its members, request the offending member to resign or may suspend or expel the member. Should he or she decline to resign following such request, the Board of Directors shall strike the member’s name from the roll.
e. Proceedings All such proceedings shall be in compliance with the requirements of US Youth Soccer, USSF, VYSA, BRCL, and HSC Hand book.
No party may invoke the aid of any court without first exhausting all administrative remedies provided in these Bylaws and in the rules of USYSA and USSF or any other Affiliate organization.
Violations of the Bylaws may subject the offending party to sanctions and fines, and the offending party may incur liability for all expenses of the HSC and its Officers, contractors, coaches, and agents that may arise from defending any court action, including but not limited to the following:
· Court Cost
· Attorney Fees
· Reasonable compensation for time spent by the HSC, its Officers, Contactors, Coaches, and agents in the actions, including responses to discovery and court appearances
· Travel Expenses
· Expenses for holding special meetings necessitated by the court action
· Fines and penalties of any government agency, city, county, or state enforcement agency