University of West Florida Sport Clubs are groups of students that have a common interest in a competitive sport or recreational activity. The group has joined together and organized to further their interest and enjoyment in this activity. Ultimately, the goal of each club is to promote an opportunity for all students to participate. Previous experience is not a prerequisite for membership. Sport clubs, unlike varsity sports, are run by students and for students, with a NO CUT POLICY! Some clubs may be limited on how many members can travel or be on a field/court, therefore we recommend developing different levels within the club. All club members are expected to follow sport club procedures and policies within the Sport Club Manual. Qualifications of a Sport Club The club must be sport-like in nature and represent the truest form of its specific sport The club must be directly associated with a nationally governing body (membership within that body s association is suggested but not required) The club cannot be a duplicate nor have strong similarities with another current sport club The club must be able to prove it has at least 10 active student members at any given time The club must have a facility/staff advisor at all times How to Form a New Sport Club Any club seeking Sport Club status should follow the following guidelines: 1. Meet the definition and qualifications of a sport club (see above). 2. There must be a minimum of 20 interested current UWF students or the minimum number of members required to form a team in order to form a new club. Using the enclosed Petition, gather contact information of students interested in starting this new club. 3. Arrange a meeting of all those interested in the formation of the club. At this meeting you will want to discuss various possibilities and goals for the club and obtain a list of names of those interested in joining the club. 4. A constitution outlining your club s purpose and guidelines will eventually be required. Use the enclosed sample constitution to build a drafted constitution to organize ideas and goals. While the example does not need to be followed completely, the following must be included in your final constitution: meetings (dates, times, place), executive board (what offices will be filled, duties, and vacancy procedures), and advisor (qualifications and functions of the advisor). 5. Those interested in forming the new club will propose the new club to the Sport Club Council for approval. At this meeting those interested in forming the new club will share their purpose and drafted club constitution. If you are ready for presentation (meaning you have a completed Petition and ideas and goals for the club), please contact a Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant at sportclubs@uwf.edu. 6. After becoming a recognized Sport Club, you will be required to complete the Registration process using IMLeagues.com (this will include providing an official roster of all officers and members). Email (sportblubs@uwf.edu) a finalized constitution and any other information required by the Competitive Sports Office. Please contact the Competitive Sports Office with any questions, concerns, or ideas during any of the above steps if necessary sportclubs@uwf.edu or 850-474-2521
New Sport Club Petition Name of Club Date Name of Contact Local Address Telephone # E-mail Governing Body Interested Members Argus ID(UWF Email) Phone # 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.
EXAMPLE SPORT CLUB CONSTITUTION All clubs are required to have a constitution. These can be very helpful in easing problems when differences come up as to how the club should handle a situation or what direction it should take. The format below is to be used as a guide for your organization. It is not necessary to follow the form exactly, but it is important to include all areas that apply. The areas that must be completed are the following: Meetings, Executive Board, Advisor. CONSTITUTION OF Your Club s Name ADOPTED Date ARTICLE I NAME The official name of your Sports Club. ARTICLE II PURPOSE The reasons for forming your club and the club s objectives. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Who can qualify for membership, what a person must do to be recognized as a full member, a guest member etc., and what rights and privileges these members have. ARTICLE IV MEETINGS How many meetings of the membership, when and where meetings are to be held throughout the school year. Any procedures for calling regular and special meetings. ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE BOARD What officer s will be elected by the club, what each officer s duties will be, and how vacancies will be handled. ARTICLE VI ELECTIONS How officers will be selected by the membership, how long their terms will be, and how many times a person may hold the same office. How members are nominated for office and when elections will be held, including procedures for runoffs. ARTICLE VII FUNDS How the club requests funds form the Student Government Association and how it raises its own funds.
ARTICLE VIII DIVISIONS What divisions and committees will exist in the club and the function of each. ARTICLE IX AFFILIATIONS Affiliations with local, state. Regional or national organizations and ruling body rules to which adherence will be required. ARTICLE X ADVISOR Qualifications for and functions of the club advisor. ARTICLE XI COACH/MANAGER Qualifications and procedures for selection of a coach/manager and his/her duties. ARTICLE XII RATIFICATION How the constitution will be approved by the membership. ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS How an amendment to the constitution will be presented to the membership and how it will be ratified. ARTICLE XIV BYLAWS The inclusion of any rules or regulations.