CHEMUNG VALLEY SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC. BY-LAWS Approved: 1996 Amended: 8-2007
ARTICLE I AGE LIMITATIONS SECTION ONE: AGE LIMITATIONS Membership on a team in the League shall be limited to boys and girls in their particular age group category as defined in the House League Laws. A player may only participate in a lower or higher age bracket with the Board s approval. Age will be determined by the Schedule set forth by CVSA board of Directors. ARTICLE II REGISTRATION SECTION ONE: PROCEDURES The Board of Directors is to determine the structure of the upcoming preseason and season schedule and assign the following duties: 1. Walk-in registration locations are to be secured and manned by designated board members. 2. A designated board member is to secure and distribute flyers announcing walk-in times and locations to all school districts in the playing area. 3. Administrator is to send sponsor request letters to all eligible sponsors of the previous seasons plus any prospective sponsors he/she is informed of. 4. Registrar is to deliver all collected registrations, separated by geographic playing areas; to the first board meeting after the Last walk-in Registration cut-off date. Under no circumstance will late registrations be accepted after the cut off date. 1
ARTICLE III TEAM MAKE UP SECTION ONE: ROSTER MAKE UP MEETING Team make-up and sponsor assignments are to be done by area representatives at area representative meetings. The CVSA Executive Board reserves the right to review and approve final team rosters. SECTION TWO: TEAM MAKE UP The Board of Directors shall assign players to teams based on the following criteria in the following order of priority: 1. Age as defined by CVSA schedule. 2. No child will be allowed to play in an age group above his/her own without the written permission of the parent or guardian. 3. No child will be allowed to play in an age group below his/her own without the written recommendation of a Health Care provider and approval from the CVSA Board of Directors. 4. Head coaches have the option to have his/her own child assigned to his/her own team. 5. Head coaches are not allowed to coach multiple teams. 6. In the spring season, players will return to the team they played on in the fall season, if possible. 7. Location of a player s residence: teams shall be formed under the neighborhood concept, if possible. 8. The Board of Directors by majority vote shall have the authority to modify the above to assure the equality in team ability and competitiveness. 2
SECTION THREE: PARENTAL REQUESTS Requests for a specific coach need not be honored. A parent may, however, request not to have a particular coach for their child. All requests must be in writing and will be approved or disapproved by the Executive Board. If approved, the player in question may be assigned to any team in the League without regard to Article III, Section Two. SECTION FOUR: ROSTER DISTRIBUTION Area representatives are ultimately responsible for the distribution of the rosters to the head coaches in their area no later than two weeks before the first game. The Board may reserve the right to hand out rosters at a coach s meeting/clinic if one falls within the time limit. ARTICLE IV COACHES SECTION ONE: HEAD COACHES 1. Coaching a team in the CVSA is a privilege not a right. The coach s conduct must be above reproach at all times. The Board reserves the right to approve, disapprove, or remove any coach by majority vote. 2. Head coaches are responsible to contact his/her players as to the practice and game schedules within 10 days of receiving rosters. 3. Head coaches shall have complete responsibility to the league for their teams, assistant coaches and player parents and guests, including conduct, discipline, and compliance with League Rules. 4. The head coach shall be responsible for his/her team s uniforms and equipment. 5. Head coaches must be twenty-one years of age or older. 6. Head coaches shall be issued a copy of House League Laws. 7. Head coaches will be strongly encouraged to attend a training clinic. 8. Head coaches will not be allowed to coach multiple teams. 3
9. Head coaches must sign the CVSA Coach s Code of Conduct prior to receiving their team uniforms & schedule. 10. The Board of Directors by majority vote shall have the authority to modify the above to assure the equality in team ability and competitiveness. SECTION TWO: ASSISTANT COACHES 1. Assistant coaches are responsible to the team s head coach; however, as they are members of the teams, they are responsible to the league for their actions. 2. All assistant coaches shall be eighteen years of age or older. 3. All assistant coaches shall be named after team rosters are completed. 4. Assistant coaches will be strongly encouraged to attend a training clinic. 4
ARTICLE V GAMES SECTION ONE: ELIGIBLE PLAYERS A player is eligible to play only for the team he/she is assigned to at the beginning of the season. Each player must have a signed code of conduct in the team folder prior to first game. SECTION TWO: RULES All league games shall be played according to FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) rules, except where House League Laws apply. SECTION THREE: SCHEDULING 1. All regularly scheduled league games shall be played on the field designated by the appropriate schedule. 2. All league wide cancellations will be played on a date approved by the President, or his designee. 3. No head coach or assistant coach will reschedule a game without the approval of the opposing head coach and the President. 4. Any disputes in scheduling will be resolved by the Board. The final schedule will be available for board approval at the regularly scheduled board meeting prior to League Coaches meeting (Tee-shirt Meeting). 5. Bye games must be played by week Five. 6. In late developing situations such as a thunderstorm the on field referee shall have the final say as to the playability of the field. The rescheduling of an un-started game will be determined by the President or his/her designee. 5
SECTION FOUR: TEAM NO SHOW The disposition of a game involving a no-show of a team or teams scheduled other than specified above shall be canceled. SECTION FIVE: FACILITIES The CVSA are guests at the facilities where we play and practice. As such we ask all participants and their families to act accordingly and obey any restrictions. Some examples are NO smoking, NO pets, and NO alcohol allowed at the fields. Please check your area maps for any additional restrictions. ARTICLE VI EQUIPMENT 1. All field players shall wear a uniform shirt visible when participating in a league game. The league will issue this shirt to each player. If a player does not have a league uniform shirt on when he/she reports for a league game, that player will not be allowed to play and or participate, and will not be allowed on the playing field. 2. All head coaches and assistant coaches shall wear a uniform shirt visible when participating in a league game. The league will issue this shirt to each coach. If a coach does not have a league uniform shirt on when he/she reports for a league game, that coach will not be allowed to coach and/or participate, and will not be allowed on the playing field. 3. Goalkeeper must wear an official goalie shirt of a color different from the colors of either team. 4. Team shirts may not be altered in any way. 5. No player may wear any equipment that, in the opinion of the Referee, could be hazardous to another player or himself. This includes nonorthodontic braces, casts, watches, barrettes, rings, earrings, etc. This also includes improper shin guards (Only the sock-type or socks over shin guards are allowed). 6. The coach should always have the House League Laws with him/her, in order to clarify any misunderstanding. 6