Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League

Constitution

« back to home


ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League, and may be referred to as NOGSL or the League in this Constitution or other pertinent documents. The organization shall be a state chartered, non-profit, non-charitable organization.


ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of the NOGSL is to organize and promote soccer through our community team membership and our Premier Clubs for female youth up to and including the U-19 age level.

The NOGSL will encourage and monitor good sportsmanship, fair play, and the continued soccer education of our players, coaches, and league administrators.

The policies and objectives of the NOGSL in achieving its purpose will be consistent with policies and objectives of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and its affiliated organizations.


ARTICLE III – AFFILIATION

The NOGSL may be affiliated with any organization approved by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).


ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership – Affiliation with the NOGSL is open to properly constituted youth soccer teams at the competitive and premier level. A team or club may apply for membership with a written request to the League Board of Directors. The Board of Directors must approve all applications by a majority vote.
  2. Dues, Fees, Fines - The board of directors of the NOGSL has the power to establish dues, fees, fines and disciplinary actions within its jurisdiction as a league. A schedule of the aforementioned will be published and provided to the NOGSL membership giving proper notice to all its members.
  3. Compliance - Each member team or club will retain its own autonomy, but shall adhere to the Constitution and Rules of the NOGSL in all matters pertaining to League play and shall also adhere to the Constitution of the USSF or its sponsoring affiliates such as OYSAN (Ohio North) or the USYSA (United States Youth Soccer Association) in all matters pertaining to interstate, regional, or national competition.
  4. Voting Rights - Members in good standing shall vote in the election of League officers and for any amendment to this constitution. Each paid-in-full community or premier club shall have one (1) vote to be cast by their approved league representative or associate representative. No member of this League shall vote on any matter before the League if his or her dues, fees and fines are not paid in full.

ARTICLE V – TERMS OF OFFICE

The terms of office for all elected members of the Board of Directors will be two (2) years, conforming to the January-through-December calendar year. The annual meeting of the NOGSL and elections of Board members shall be held in November of each year. There will be no limit to the number of terms officers may serve if elected.


ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. Administration:
    The responsibility for the management of this league will reside with a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will consist of five (5) elected positions. The Board of Directors shall be the trustees of the league.

  2. Removal from Office:
    1. Each Director will serve a two (2) year term, unless the President secures his/her resignation at an earlier time.
    2. In the event of a resignation, removal, incapacitation or death of a Director, a replacement can be appointed by the current Board to serve until the next scheduled annual election.
    3. Any Director can be removed for just cause by the affirmation vote of a simple majority of the members of the Board at a meeting called specifically for that purpose.

  3. Role of the Board of Directors
    1. The Board of Directors will be the official ruling body of the League. The Board will have control and management responsibility of the League business. The Board shall be the policy making body of the League, offering proposals for change to the general membership at scheduled meetings. Changes and/or additions to League policy must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the general membership.
    2. The Board of Directors may adopt regulations and rules, which are not inconsistent with this Constitution. They will publish to make known officially those rules, and enforce all rules governing the activities of this League.
    3. The Board of Directors has the power to appoint standing or temporary committees to the League to ensure its smooth operation.
    4. The Board of Directors can initiate sanctions against any member of the league. Any sanctions must be approved by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting.
    5. The Board of Directors will ensure that the Constitution and By-Laws of the NOGSL will not be in conflict with the policies of the USSF.
    6. The Board of Directors will establish that the League membership is represented in all dealings with the USSF and affiliated organizations.
    7. The Board of Directors will institute registration deadlines and procedures within the League, set dues, fines and affiliation fees, etc. and communicate these to the League membership.
    8. The Board of Directors will approve by a simple majority vote any individual expense over $250.00 that is not part of a pre-approved budget item.

  4. Voting Members of the Board
    The Board of Directors shall be composed of five (5) elected members with full voting rights. They will be as follows: PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, AND SECRETARY.

  5. Non-Voting Members of the Board
    The President of the league shall have the power to appoint a maximum of five (5) ex-officio directors and officers as non-voting members to the Board following their confirmation by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. They may remain in these assigned positions for a period of one year.

  6. Election of Directors
    The election of individuals to the offices of President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, will be held from a pool of nominated, affiliated-member candidates in good standing. The nominations of candidates will be made by a Nominating Committee of no less than four (4) members of the league, all in good standing. The winner of the election shall be determined by a simple majority of the votes cast.

    The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board no less than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled election. The positions of President and Secretary will be voted on in odd numbered years; while the positions of Vice President, Second Vice President, and Treasurer will be voted on in even numbered years. Elections will be held in November of the appropriate year. The Nominating Committee will name no less than one (1) consenting member for each pending position and will submit a list of nominees to the Board of Directors at least seven (7) days before the November election.

    Candidates to the Board may also be nominated by any member in good standing in writing to the Nominating Committee within ten (10) days of a scheduled election.

    Thirty (30) days prior to scheduled election, the Secretary will provide written notice of the meeting, time, place and slate of officers to the membership.

  7. Officers
    1. The President of the League shall preside at all Board meetings and the annual meeting. The President will oversee all League activities and all committee chairpersons will be responsible to him/her for the responsibilities assigned to them. The President shall prepare a yearly report of the League activities to be presented at the November annual meeting.
    2. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of and act as League President in the event that the President is absent or unable to perform his/her functions. The Vice-President will be the Board’s liaison to the general membership body. He/she will be responsible for coaching issues (including training/licensing, risk management and credentials), discipline and game activities.
    3. The Second Vice-President shall be responsible for competition, including tournaments and the All-Star game. He/she will coordinate the activities of Referee Assignors and supervise appointed commissioners who manage the various age group brackets. The Second Vice-President may assume any other functions deemed necessary by the President.
    4. The Secretary will record the minutes of all Board meetings, general meetings, and the annual meeting. The Secretary will attend to all correspondence and keep the non-financial records of the league.
    5. The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all monies, including registration, dues, fees, and fines of the league. The Treasurer will keep detailed accounts of income and expenses and present a Treasurer’s report at each general meeting. The Treasurer shall prepare a balance sheet for the June meeting.
    6. An independent committee comprised of at least two (2) Board members exclusive of the Treasurer, two (2) general members in good standing of the league and a minimum of one (1) non-affiliated league individual shall be appointed by the President at the end of each year to audit/evaluate and check the financial records maintained by the Treasurer. The committee will report its results at the general meeting each August.

  8. Liability
    Board members, ex-officio directors and officers, League officials and coaches shall not be personally liable for any legal or financial action taken against the NOGSL, the Board of Directors, or its member teams or clubs as long as they have acted in good faith in what is considered the best interest of the League and are not guilty of negligence or misconduct.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS

The Board of Directors may propose amendments to the Constitution. These proposals require a simple majority vote of the entire Board. Any recommended changes to the Constitution must be voted on by the membership at the next scheduled meeting.


ARTICLE VIII – STANDING COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors shall have the ability as appropriate to establish sub committees such as Scheduling, Coaching and Player Education, Appeals, Tournament and Marketing. The President will appoint the chairpersons of the committees following approval by a simple majority of the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE IX – MEETINGS

  1. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once every quarter at a place and time set by the President. A majority vote of the Board shall decide all questions before them.
  2. Qualified representatives to the League by member communities and clubs shall be defined as duly appointed representatives. The NOGSL reserves the right to ask for proof of credentials, which then will need to be presented by the next NOGSL meeting. Proof of credentials shall be either a letter (notarized) bearing community or club letterhead addressed to the Secretary of the League or a copy of the member community/club by-laws.
  3. League meetings will be called monthly as needed to conduct business.
  4. League meetings will be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, and the order of business at each meeting shall be:
    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call by the Secretary
    3. Reading of the previous meeting Minutes
    4. Financial Report
    5. Reading of Correspondence or Communities
    6. Reports from Officers and Committees
    7. Unfinished Business
    8. New Business
    9. Program
    10. Adjournment

ARTICLE X – MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

The Board of Directors has the right to refuse membership, or propose sanctions against any member community or club that does not fulfill the following criteria:

  1. Proper registration
  2. Full payment of all fees, dues and fines by deadline dates
  3. Ability to provide a home field
  4. Attendance at each general meeting by at least one approved representative or associate representative
  5. In good standing with the League, with no unresolved charges or sanctions against it
  6. In good standing with the USSF and its affiliated organizations

ARTICLE XI – SEASONAL YEAR

The seasonal year for NOGSL will be August 1st of the current year to July 31st of the following year.


ARTICLE XII – DISSOLUTION

A three-fourths (3/4) vote of the membership and Board of Directors is required to dissolve and end this League. In that event, the assets of this League will be distributed to the membership of record at the time of dissolution.


Revised and approved: 10 March 2008