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Updates pending to the Constitution below
NIAGARA SOCCER ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
BY-LAW
ARTICLE 1 - Name
a) The name of this Association shall be the Niagara Soccer Association hereinafter referred to as The Association.
b) The Association shall be affiliated with and be under the jurisdiction of The Ontario Soccer Association.
ARTICLE 2 - Head Office and Fiscal Year
a) The head office of the Association shall be in the City of St Catharines in the Province
of Ontario
b) The fiscal year of the Association shall be the one year period ending on November 30th
ARTICLE 3 - Objectives
a) To promote foster and govern the game of soccer both indoor and outdoor, within the area
defined by The OSA
b) The admit to membership all properly constituted clubs and leagues
ARTICLE 4 - Organization
The Association shall be composed as hereinafter set out and it shall be managed by a Board of
Directors constituted as stated in this By-law.
ARTICLE 5 - Membership
The Association shall be comprised of the following categories of members
a) ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP: All properly constituted clubs in the area governed by the
Association shall be eligible for Active Membership in the Association
b) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: All properly constituted District Leagues in the area
governed by the Association shall be eligible for Associate Membership in the Association
c) LIFE MEMBERSHIP
d) MEMBERSHIP FEES: Annual membership fees shall be recommended by the Board of
Directors and approved by the Membership
i) Consist of a levy on each player and team registered with an Active Member
ii) A levy on each Associate Member
ARTICLE 6 - Meetings
a) Meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert=s rules of Order insofar as they apply
b) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
i) The Annual General Meting to be held by January thirty-first each year.
ii) Each Member shall be sent written notice fourteen days in advance, stating the date, time and
location of the Annual General Meeting
iii) Quorum: A majority of Active and Associate Members shall form a quorum at all General
Meetings
c) SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
i) Each member shall be sent written notice fourteen days in advance, stating the date, time,
location and the business to be dealt with at any Special General Meeting:
a) by the Board of Directors
b) within thirty days and held within forty-five days, following the submission of a receipted
request signed by not less that one-third of the active and Associate Membership.
ii) Only the business for which the Special General Meeting has been called shall be dealt with
except with the unanimous consent of the delegates present.
d) GENERAL MEETING
Any member not attending a duly called General Meeting shall be fined the sum of one-hundred
& fifty ($150.00) dollars.
e) VOTING
i) ACTIVE MEMBER - Based on monies retained an Active Member shall be entitled to:
a) a vote for the first fifty dollars
b) an additional vote from fifty one dollars to two hundred dollars
c) an additional vote from two hundred and one dollars to four hundred dollars
d) an additional vote from four hundred and one dollars to seven hundred dollars
e) an additional vote from seven hundred and one dollars to one thousand dollars
f) an additional vote for each additional five hundred dollars
g) have all its cotes cast whether it be represented by one or all of its delegates but not by
any other member.
ii) ASSOCIATE MEMBER - an Associate Member shall be entitled to one vote based on
minimum fifty dollar Associate membership fee
iii) Officers and life Members shall be entitled to speak but may not sit as a delegate.
iv) the accounts of the Association shall be audited annually
ARTICLE 7 - Board of Directors
a) The business of the Association shall be conducted by a Board of Directors who are
designated as:
President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Four Directors
b) At Annual General Meetings held in odd numbered years the President and two Directors
shall be elected for a two year term
c) At Annual General Meetings held in even numbered years the Vice President, Secretary/
Treasurer and two Directors shall be elected for a two year term.
d) The immediate Past President shall sit on the Board to
i) advise and liaise when required
ii) confer in committee
iii)have a voice at all meetings but no vote
e) The Board of Directors shall meet not less than four times a year.
f) The office of a Directors shall be vacated if the Director is removed, or allowed to resign by
the Board for good and sufficient cause.
g) Should a vacancy occur the Board of Directors may appoint a person to fill the vacancy
h) The Board of directors may select, appoint and establish the duties and remuneration of a
District Administrator
ARTICLE 8 - Duties of Directors
Shall be as set out in Policies and Procedures
ARTICLE 9 - Committees
Shall be established as set out in Policies and Procedures
ARTICLE 10 - Amendments
a) all proposed amendments to the By-law must be received by the Association in writing not less
than thirty days prior to the General Meeting
b) copies of proposed amendments to this By-law shall be sent to the Membership not less than
fourteen days prior to the General Meeting at which they are to be considered
c) Amendments become effective upon attaining two-thirds of the votes cast by the delegates
present at the General Meeting
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
1) MEMBERSHIP
a) Application for membership to the Association must be made on a form supplied by the
Association. Membership fee must accompany the application. The Applicant=s Constitution
and a list of current officers must accompany the Application for Membership
b) The Annual Membership fee shall be set at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special
General Meeting. The Membership fee will be based on the number of teams in membership at
the conclusion of the previous season.
c) Application for Membership may be made at any time subject to the approval of the Annual
General Meeting or the Board of Directors
d) All clubs and Leagues in membership must within seven days notify the Association of any
change of officers or mailing addresses. Members failing to comply with this regulation shall be
assessed a fine.
e) All Members shall comply with this Associations=s Constitution and Policies and Procedures
f) All clubs and leagues in membership shall
i) hold their Annual General Meeting before December 1st
ii) file with this Association within fourteen days holding their Annual Meeting
a) a copy of their AGM minutes
b) President=s and/or Secretary=s report
c) Treasurer=s report and financial statement
d) Current constitution and amendments
e) Names and addresses of elected officers
g) If for any reason a club ceases to hold membership in the Association during the current year
it=s membership fee or other such financial interest as it may have in this Association shall be
forfeited and may only be returned at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
h) Unless for misbehaviour, indebtedness or failure to fulfill their obligations no club shall be
dismissed from the Association during the current year.
i) No club having a name similar to one already admitted to membership shall be accepted for
membership by the Association.
j) New clubs may be required to post an additional bond at the discretion of the Board of Directors
k) Life Members
i) Life Members shall be admitted from time to time at the discretion of the Association.
ii) The admission of a Life member shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the
voting delegates present at a General Meeting of the Association.
iii) All life membership nominations shall be submitted in writing thirty days prior to the
Annual Meeting. Nominations may be submitted by a Board, Active or Associate member.
iv) No incumbent of the Association shall be eligible to life membership
I) This Association will assume no liability or responsibility for injuries to any member of this
Association.
2) BONDS
a) The Board of Directors shall have the power to request a AGoodwill Bond@ at any time
b) The bond will be returned at the appropriate time provided the member is in good standing.
3) REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS AND TEAM OFFICIALS
a) Team Official Registration
All team officials in competition sanctioned or conducted by the Association shall be registered on the official form of the Association.
b) Player Registration
i) Each Club within the Association shall appoint their own Registrar. Registrars shall obtain
forms from the Association; registrars shall complete registration by the registration deadlines
set by the Association.
ii) All players in competition sanctioned or conducted by this Association must be registered
with the NSA and OSA.
iii) A youth player shall register for only one team during a season i.e. Provincial, Regional,
Multi-jurisdictional, District League or Recreational League.
iv)
a) No player shall be deemed registered for cup competition nor may he compete in cup
competition unless his registration form has been validated not less than seven days prior to
the competition in which he wishes to participate.
b) A player shall not play for more than one team in any cup competition.
v) No player shall be deemed registered for league competition unless his registration form has
been validated not less than twenty four hours prior to participation.
vi)All players Recreational and Competitive must be issued with an O.S.A. Registrant Book. Failure to present such documentation shall render the player ineligible to play.
c)
i) All players shall be encouraged to play at the highest level available in the region
d) Registration
i) Registration forms shall be obtained by the Association from the OSA
ii) The cost of registration shall be set annually
iii) Payment for Registration shall be in the form of cash, cheque or money order payable to the
Niagara Soccer Association. Payment for registration is due when rendered.
e) Applicable to Youth Players
i) Youth divisions shall be comprised of the following age groups
AGE DIVISIONS:
19TH Birthday ...............................Under 19
18th A ...............................Under 18
17th A ...............................Under 17
16th A ...............................Under 16
15th A ................................Under 15
14th A ................................Under 14
13th A ................................Under 13
12th A ................................Under 12
11th A ................................Under 11
10th A ................................Under 10
9th A ................................Under 9
8th A ............................... Under 8.
ii) Birth certificates, passports or other evidence acceptable to the Board of Directors will be
accepted as proof of age. The burden of proof of age shall rest with the player and the club.
iii) No youth team shall be permitted to have more than eighteen players registered at any one time.
iv) A youth player may be registered in any age division provided he has not reached the
stipulated age before January 1st of the current year.
4) MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS
Movement of players, (Transfers, Temporary Registration Permits and Trial Permits) shall be
in accordance with The OSA Constitution and Policies and Procedures.
a) Transfers
i) In outdoor soccer the transfer deadline shall be July 31st
ii) transfers shall be processed by the District Association to which the player is transferring
iii) The transfer of a player between the OSA and another Provincial Association or National
League shall be in accordance with the CSA published rules.
iv) A player shall be entitled to two transfers only during the current season within the
jurisdiction of a District Association. However a player once transferred cannot be transferred
back to the team for which he was originally registered until a period of thirty days has elapsed.
b) Temporary Registration Permits
i) A Temporary Registration Permit (TRP) shall entitle the player to play for a registered club team of a club other than the one with which he/she is registered, in a game of any registered
league or sanctioned competition. A TRP may not be used for movement between teams within
the same club.
ii) A player using a TRP in order to be eligible to play must also possess an OSA registrant book
(PRB) available for presentation at the game. Failure to present the OSA PRB shall render the
player ineligible to play in that game.
c) Trial Permits
i) A Trial Permit is a temporary registration with the OSA and which shall only be used by
players who are not registered with the OSA or a Provincial Association affiliated to the CSA
ii) A Trial Permit entitles a non-registered player to play two games for a registered team during
a fifteen day period.
Fees for Transfers, Temporary Registration Permits and Trail Permits shall be set annually by the
Board of Directors.
5) DUTIES OF OFFICERS
a) PRESIDENT
The President shall:
i) be the chief executive officer of the Association
ii) preside at all meetings of the Association
iii) act as spokesman for the Association at all times unless he otherwise delegates such
authority.
b) VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall:
i) be the senior officer of the Association next to the President
ii) have other such duties as prescribed by the Board
c) SECRETARY/TREASURER
The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
i) be responsible for the corporate and fiscal affairs of the Association
ii) keep the officers of the Association currently informed as to the business at hand and as to its
Disposition for action.
iii) liaise with budget directors to prepare a budget which shall be presented to the Board prior to
the Annual General Meeting
iv) keep full accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Association
v) sign each cheque together with one of two other appointed signatories.
d) DIRECTORS
Directors shall have such duties as described by the President or Board of Directors
6) COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors shall appoint such committees as it deems necessary to ensure the
efficient administration of the affairs of the Association.
7) DISCIPLINE
a) Notwithstanding discipline conducted by this Association members may conduct their own
discipline but shall remain responsible to this Association
b) Discipline arising from competitions run by the Association shall be dealt with at the
Association level.
c) Players, officials and spectators are allowed to take part in or attend matches on condition
that they observe the constitution and Policies and Procedures of this Association and The
Ontario Soccer Association.
d) Every member is responsible to the Association for the action of its players, officials and
spectators and is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectators threatening
or assaulting game officials and spectators.
e) Any member that is required to appear before the Association and fails to do so without
just cause will be fined.
f) Appeals from decisions of the discipline committee may be made to the Executive
Committee under the procedure set out in the Discipline notice.
8) PROTESTS
a) All protests and matters of dispute occurring within the jurisdiction of this Association shall
be dealt with by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
b) The protest together with the appropriate fee shall be sent to the Association secretary
within forty eight hours of the date of the game tp which it relates (Saturday, Sunday and
Holidays excluded). A copy of the protest must be sent to the opposing team within the same
time limit. All protests copies are to be sent by registered mail together with a copy of the
registration receipt sent to the opposing team. No telephone calls or discussion with Board
members are valid. In an instance where the use of registered mail is not available (mail strike)
the protest should be delivered by courier service to the Secretary of the Association and the
opposing team.
c) All valid protest hearings shall be scheduled to be held within twenty one days (Saturday,
Sunday and Holidays excluded)
d) The date of the postmark will be taken as the limiting date except in cases of postal strike
where the receipt from the courier delivery will be the limiting date.
e) Any protest relating to the ground, goal-posts or other appurtenances of the game shall not be
entertained by the Association unless notice is given with particulars by the team opposing
immediately it came to their notice and an objection has been lodged with the referee before the
commencement of the game. The referee shall require the responsible team to remove the cause
of the objection if this is possible without delaying progress of the game.
f) When an objection has been lodged with the referee a protest must be made to the Association
and no objection can be withdrawn except by leave of the Association=s Board of Directors.
g) The decisions of the Association are binding but are subject to an appeal to the OSA.
9) APPEALS
a) Appeals may be made against decisions of District Clubs & Leagues. The appeal will be
submitted to the Association secretary and will specify the exact nature of the appeal. Appeals
must be lodged within five days (Saturday, Sunday and Holidays excluded) of the date of the
original decision being received in writing. A copy of the appeal must be sent to the affected
parties. All appeals are to be sent by registered mail, with the appropriate fee and the registration receipt of the copy sent to the affected party(s). The date of the postmark shall be
taken as the limiting date in all cases. In an instance where registered mail is not available
(Mail strike) the appeal should be made by courier service to the secretary of the Association
and the affected party(s) and the receipt of the courier service will be the limiting date.
b) Appeals against this Association=s decisions may be made to the appropriate governing body.
10) REFEREES
a) Only referees on the official list of the OSA shall be used in games. If for any reason
appointed officials fail to appear, teams shall have the right to agree in writing on a substitute
referee and he shall be the officials referee.
b) FEES
i) fees for referees and linesmen for games run by the Association shall be set annually by the
Board of Directors
ii) fees for referees and linesmen for league games shall be set annually by each individual league.
iii) referees and linesmen shall neither ask for nor receive a larger fee than agreed upon under
b) i) & ii).
11) COMPETITIONS
a) TOURNAMENTS
Tournaments shall be run in accordance with the NSA and OSA guidelines
b) APPROVAL
i) Applications to host tournaments must be made on a form supplied by the Association
ii) Clubs wishing to host a tournament must submit to the Association a copy of their
tournament rules and where applicable a bond when making application.
iii) Tournament applications must be made in accordance with the time lines set out by the OSA
c) Tournament reports must be submitted the NSA and the OSA within fourteen days of the
conclusion of the tournament.
d) TRAVEL
Any team wishing to participate in tournament or exhibition games outside this district must
apply for permission to travel.
i) Teams must apply to travel on a form supplied by the Association.
ii) A copy of the tournament application form must be submitted when applying for permission to travel.
iii) Travel applications must be in accordance with time lines as set out by the OSA
iv) Teams travelling out of province must obtain travel insurance and make available proof of
insurance upon request by the Association.
e) CUP COMPETITIONS
Cup competitions shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Association and
The OSA.
12) GENERAL RULES
a) The laws of the game shall be those adopted by the CSA
b) The season shall be designated by this Association in accordance with the CSA rules
c) The Board of Directors may declare any date a closed date. A maximum of two dates per
group per calendar year shall be permitted. No games shall be played thereon by the affected
group, except those games sanctioned and approved by the Board of Directors
d) Where both teams colours are not sufficiently distinctive the League or competition rules
shall apply. Goalkeepers and teams must wear uniforms distinctive from the referee uniform.
e) Any team having two or more players selected for District, Provincial or National team duty
may have those affected games postponed provided that no less than seven days notice has been
given to the appropriate club and league.
f) Members of the Board of Directors and Life Members of this Association shall be furnished
with a card attesting to their status and all clubs belonging to this Association shall admit the
holders without fee to their grounds and stands upon production of such card.
g) A player must be dressed in socks, shin guards, shorts and numbered top. Footwear shall be
at the discretion of the referee.
h) No two players on a team shall wear the same number
i) No player may change his number during the game without the permission of the referee.
j) A game must take place if both teams have a minimum of seven players. The game must be
completed to full regulations time, failure to do so the offending team=s club shall be subject to
disciplinary action.
13) MATTERS NOT INCLUDED
a) The Board of Directors may change by-laws, policies and procedures, titles and paragraph
numbers as may be required for simplification of reading
b) All matters not provided for affecting the conduct and operation of this Association or of an
emergency nature shall be dealt with by the Board of Directors in accordance with the OSA
Constitutions, Policies and Procedures.
If you want to read or download a PDF copy of the NSA, click the link
Constitution.
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Created by: Robert Lewis -- Last updated:Jan 24, 2008
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