LYNDHURST YOUTH SOCCER CLUB, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Constitution:
Article I, Name and About LYSC……………………………………………….. 1
Article II, Mission Statement……………………………………………………. 1
Article III, Purpose and Program………………………………………………… 1
Article IV, Affiliations…………………………………………………………… 2
Article V, Membership…………………………………………………………… 2
Article VI, Dissolution Clause…………………………………………………… 2
By-Laws:
Article VII, Governing Body……………………………………………………… 3
Article VIII, Responsibilities and Duties of Executive Board……………………. 4
Article IX, Responsibilities and Duties of Executive Committee………………… 5
Rules of Competition:
Article I, Laws of the Game……..……………………………………………….. 6-8
Article II, Disciplinary Action Guidelines …..…………………………………… 8
Article III, Draft Guidelines……………………………………………………… 9
Article IV, Transfer of Players…………………………………………………… 9
Article V, Travel Soccer…………………………………………………………. 9
Constitution & By-Laws
of
LYNDHURST YOUTH SOCCER CLUB
Constitution
ARTICLE I
Name:
The name of this organization shall be the Lyndhurst Youth Soccer Club (“LYSC”), which was created as a non – profit corporation in 2008.
About LYSC:
LYSC is a volunteer non-profit corporation, run by an elected Executive Board of Trustees, which the club consists of 45 teams and about approximately 720 children. The main purpose of our Club is to provide children with a place to play soccer with quality instruction and proper training, while stressing the concepts of team play and good sportsmanship. We accomplish this through three basic programs provided in Article III.
ARTICLE II
Mission Statement:
“To govern a recreation league to foster national or international amateur soccer competition that will be family oriented and develop soccer players and coaches to be fun and competitive and to create and enforce policies that will always work towards building self esteem and confidence to all players, while producing highly skilled and competitive players for our traveling teams.”
ARTICLE III
Purpose:
a) Teach, promote and advance the game of soccer.
b) Develop and field teams for competitive, tournament and recreational play.
c) Emphasize individual skill, teamwork, and team tactics.
d) To develop the children to be good sportsmen, develop leadership skills and learn the game of soccer.
e) To build and encourage the children’s self confidence to increase self esteem.
Programs:
1) Recreational play
2) Competitive level play
3) Tournament play
Recreational Level: Kindergarten aged children will participate in a weekly clinic program. Children entering first through eighth grade will participate in an in-town non-coed league. Most games are scheduled for Saturday play.
Competitive Level: Teams will compete in the Northern County Soccer Association (“NCSA”) league for both fall and spring seasons. Most games are scheduled for Sunday's after 1:00pm. All coaches are New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association (“NJSYSA”) certified or have an accredited certification diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (“NSCAA”).
ARTICLE IV
Affiliation:
LYSC shall be an affiliate of, and comply with the authority of, Northern Counties Soccer Association and US Soccer Club which is a National Affiliate member of the United States Soccer Federation (“USSF”).
ARTICLE V
Membership:
The membership of LYSC shall consist of Lyndhurst Township Affiliated Clubs, teams, players, coaches, administrators, and players’ parents and guardians. All members are volunteers and are not paid or compensated for participating as a Board member, coach or parent and guardian.
DEFINITIONS
Club: An organization that has an identifiable membership of youth soccer players on whose behalf the organization conducts or engages in youth soccer activities.
Affiliated Club: A Club comprised of travel teams accepted for participation in NCSA.
Team: A recognized entity, comprised of “youth players” (as defined by “US Soccer Club”), created for the purpose of playing the sport of soccer.
ARTICLE VI
Dissolution Clause:
Upon the dissolution of LYSC, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
By-Laws
ARTICLE VII
Executive Board/Officers:
A) The governing body of this organization, whose power shall be delegated in the BY-LAWS shall be composed of the following Executive Board members:
* President * Secretary
* 1st Executive Vice President * Treasurer
* 2nd Vice President - Traveling Teams
Who acting together shall constitute the Executive Board. They shall be elected by majority vote by ballot of the members in good standing. A majority of voting members must be present at the Annual General Meeting of the Club in order to cast a ballot. They shall hold office for one year or until a successor is elected. A member must be in the organization for at least three (3) months before he/she is allowed to vote (for the election of officers only).
B) The Executive Board shall have the authority for:
1) Enforcing and recommending amendments to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Competition and regulations.
2) Adopting temporary rules and regulations for specific cases or occasions not provided for by the Constitution, By-Laws or Rules of Competition and regulations which are deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of this organization.
3) The Executive Board reserves the right to make amendments to the by-laws at any time and may do so with a majority approval of the Executive Board.
4) General supervision and control of all activities of LYSC.
C) Three-fifths (3/5) of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. Board members must attend at least 50% of all general meetings and all board meetings unless excused in order to retain voting privileges.
D) Vacancies or additions to the Executive Board may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board.
E) The Executive Board shall have the right and authority to suspend, bar completely or otherwise discipline any player, coach, team or officer for due cause as defined in “Rules of Competition, ARTICLE II-b”. Any player, coach or officer suspended or expelled by the Executive Board may ask for a review of the expulsion. Such appeal must be made in writing within 48 hours. A full hearing will be given and a vote taken within 48 hours of receipt of such appeal.
F) Any member directly involved with a voting matter shall be excused from voting.
G) The Executive Board shall enforce the following financial policies of the league:
1) All disbursements over $500.00 (five hundred dollars) shall first be approved by the Executive Board.
2) When practical all amounts will be paid by check by two (2) of the following officers: Secretary, Treasurer or Vice President.
3) All checks must be signed by two of the following officers: Treasurer, Secretary or 1st Executive Vice President
H) Meetings:
1) The Annual General Meeting shall be held at the Senior Citizens Building in Lyndhurst Township, NJ during the month of April.
2) Regular meetings shall be held on the third (3rd) Monday for the months of March through August and the third (3rd) Wednesday for September, October and November or as called by the Executive Board.
3) Special meetings can be held at any time at a call by the President, the Executive Board or by a written petition of no less than 20% of the members in good standing.
4) Meeting of the Executive Board shall be held regularly at such time and place as the Executive Board may determine.
ARTICLE VIII
Responsibilities and Duties of Executive Board/Officers:
President:
Serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Organization with responsibility of overall operations and organizes and holds all meetings.
Delegates authority, assigns specific functions, create special committees and takes similar action in consultation with the Executive Board.
Responsible for all uniform orders.
Executive Vice President:
Takes over duties of the President when he/she is not available or present.
Acts as the Committee Chairperson for any player development committees.
Develops and implements programs/workshops to better the skills of players.
Recommends programs for the development of all coaches, referees and volunteers.
VP for Traveling Teams:
Assumes responsibility as the President and Club Representative to the Traveling League.
Acts as Committee Chairperson to any committees formed for the traveling program or players.
Treasurer:
The treasurer shall administer the management of all monies of LYSC.
Responsible for all monies to be deposited in institutions or Funds approved by the Executive Board in the name of LYSC.
All checks shall have two authorized signatures.
Proposes budget and payment schedule to the Executive Board.
Monitors all fund raising activities.
Prepares a monthly and annual report of disbursements, receipts, balances, and other financial I nformation to be given to the members and executive committee.
Responsible for the filing of all forms and reports required by state or federal government agencies.
Secretary:
Shall keep and present minutes at all meetings.
Shall keep and maintain any changes to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Competition.
Shall process all correspondence for the LYSC
ARTICLE IX
Executive Committee:
The Executive Board will appoint and approve the positions of the Executive Committee.
Responsibilities and Duties of the Executive Committee:
Referee Assignor:
Trains, develops and evaluates referees.
Assigns referees for each game.
Reviews all referee reports and discusses with Executive Board any disciplinary conduct committed by coaches or players.
Games Chairperson:
Assigns and publishes schedules for all games.
Collects referee reports and determines standings of teams.
Reschedules games as necessary due to weather.
Sponsorship Chairperson:
Shall be responsible for the soliciting of new team sponsors.
Collects sponsorship fees to be provided to Treasurer for deposit.
Registrar:
Shall process, record and register all players.
Maintain accurate rosters for placement of players.
Division Representatives:
Responsible for all issues and complaints related to their respective divisions prior to any involvement by the Executive Board.
Shall be responsible for communicating between the coaches of their respective divisions. This includes game cancellations and notice of meetings communicated by the Executive Board.
Shall organize and oversee the draft of players for their division rosters. Will place late registrants on rosters by team draft order and will keep registrar updated on team rosters.
Concession Chairman:
Orders and maintains an inventory necessary for the operation of the stands. Opens and closes the stand.
Chairs the committee of volunteer team mothers to coordinate the schedule for coverage of the stand.
Rules of Competition
ARTICLE I
A) The rules of play shall be the “Laws of the Game” as published by Federation International of Football Association (“FIFA”). Special modifications are permitted for this organization.
B) All recreation players must be Lyndhurst Residents and show proof of residency at the time of registration.
C) Each team shall not consist of more than 15 players, unless limit must be exceeded so all registrants can play.
D) Divisions shall be organized among teams of equal age groupings as follows:
Division I under 19 years (Travel Soccer)
Division II under 16 years (Travel Soccer)
Division III under 14 years (and in grade school)
Division IV under 12 years
Division V under 10 years
Division VI under 8 years but not less than 6 years (and in 1st grade)
Little Kickers under 6 years but not less than 4 years
In the event that circumstances dictate, divisions may be combined or realigned to provide sufficient teams and players for competition.
E) Length of games and ball size for each group shall be as follows, unless temporally changed before the beginning of the season:
Division III 2x40 minute halves Size # 5 ball
Division IV 2x40 minute halves Size # 5 ball
Division V 2x30 minute halves Size # 4 ball
Division VI 2x25 minute halves Size # 3 ball
There will be an intermission of at least five (5) minutes between halves; the game will be restarted by the referee.
F) No scheduled games shall be postponed or changed without the consent of the Games Chairperson.
G) No grace period is allowed. Fail to appear by either team at the appropriate game time, shall result in the forfeit of the missing team by the score of 1-0 with the ball placed in the center of the field and one (1) player moving the ball to score the goal.
H) When a game is conducted with eleven (11) players per side, a team must have a minimum of eight (8) players to play the game. A team with less than eight (8) players will forfeit the game by a score of 1-0.
I) Teams will be allowed unlimited substitutions. That may be made, with the consent of the referee at the following:
Prior to your own throw-in (either team in Division VI)
Prior to any goal kick.
After any goal.
After half time.
After an injury – By either team up to the number of injured players.
After a goalie ejection.
When a goalie substitution is made at any time the coach must notify the referee of such change. A player ejected from the game (red carded) cannot be substituted for.
J) Each registered player is guaranteed to play at least twenty (20) minutes in a game provided that have attended at least two (2) of the last three (3) scheduled practices. Traveling practice counts as an attended practice if it conflicts with a recreation practice
K) Decisions to cancel games for inclement weather will be agreed upon by at least two (2) of the following officials; President, Executive Vice President, Games Chairperson, Referee Assignor or Division Representative as early as possible. The games that are postponed or canceled will be rescheduled by the Games Chairperson. All coaches will be notified of the postponements/cancellations at least two (2) hours, where possible, before the scheduled playing time so the coaches can contact the players. In the event a game has started or about to start and the weather will not permit the game to be played safely, the Referee or the Referee Assignor will determine if the game is played. A game that is started and then canceled because of weather will be replayed in its entirety at a time determined by the Games Chairperson.
L) Standings will be based on:
3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
In the event of a tie for first place, and where the schedule permits, there will be a one game play-off. In the event a play-off game can not be played and for all other ties, the following tie breakers will determine placement:
1. Head to head competition
2. Most wins
3. Goal differential (Head to Head)
4. Least goals against (average per game)
5. Draw lots
M) Coaches will not interfere with the referee’s actions.
N) Coaches and volunteers must adhere to the ratified “FAIR PLAY” and “COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT” policies.
O) Teams will line up and shake hands after every game.
P) In the event an assigned referee fails to appear for any scheduled game, both team coaches must agree upon a substitute. If in any way the substitute is related to a player or anyone on the field, all parties must be made aware.
Q) Seven goal rule - In an effort to limit excessive scoring, any team that wins a game with a greater than 7-goal differential shall be deducted one point for each goal above the 7-goal differential. The first offense will result in a warning to the head coach. A second offense will result in an automatic one game suspension. Any coach that records two wins in a season with a greater than 7-goal differential shall also have to appear before the Executive Board.
R) Each team will have only three people on the sideline (head coach, assistant coach and team mother. Boys teams can have a team manager in place of a team mother)
S) Coaches may only give instruction from the technical box (ten yards from either side of the midfield line). Division VI coaches may coach from the field for the first half only and must STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY AREAS.
T) There is no slide tackling in any division. Depending on the severity of the foul the referee may issue a yellow or red card without warning to the offending player.
Play-off Tournament Guidelines:
a) All teams will make the end of the season play-off tournament. Any coach that refuses to play in the play-off tournament will face disciplinary action from the Executive Board.
b) Teams will play in format scheduled by the Games Chairman.
c) In the event of a tie at the end of regulation the teams will play two ten minute overtime periods, no Golden Goal. The teams will switch sides between the periods with no break.
d) In the event the game is still tied after overtime they will go to a penalty kick shootout:
The team to take the first kick is decided by a coin toss and the referee chooses the goal at which the kicks are taken. All kicks are taken at one goal.
All players other than the kicker and the goalkeepers must remain in the pitch's center circle.
Each kick is taken in the general manner of a penalty kick.
Each kicker can kick the ball only once per attempt. If the ball is saved by the goalkeeper the kicker cannot score from the rebound (unlike a normal penalty kick). Similarly, if the ball bounces off the goal posts, the kicker cannot score from the rebound.
Teams take turns to kick from the penalty mark in attempt to score a goal, until each has taken five kicks. However, if one side has scored more goals than the other could possibly reach with all of their remaining kicks, the shootout ends regardless of the number of kicks remaining.
If at the end of these five rounds of kicks the teams have scored an equal number of goals, sudden death rounds of one kick each are used until one side scores and the other does not.
Only players who were on the pitch at the end of play are allowed to take kicks.
No player is allowed to take a second kick from the penalty mark until all other players on his team (who have not received a red card) have taken a kick from the penalty mark (including the goalkeepers). However, if at the beginning of kicks from the penalty mark one side has more players on the pitch than the other, then the side with more players shall select an appropriate number of players who will not take part. For example, if Team A has 11 players but Team B only has 10, then Team A will choose one player who will not take part. Note that it is not allowed to deselect a goalkeeper from having to take part in kicking from the penalty mark. Players deselected cannot play any part in the procedure.
ARTICLE II
Disciplinary Action Guidelines for:
a.) Player(s):
Who receives two (2) yellow cards in one game will be given a red card and will be assessed a one game suspension.
Who receives Three (3) yellow cards during the season will be given a red card and will be assessed a one (1) game suspension.
A player will sit out one (1) game for every two (2) yellow cards they receive after the initial three (3).
A red card will cost a player to miss the next scheduled game, a minimum of two (2) games if the card was issued for violent conduct.
Fighting will result in up to a four (4) game suspension.
Pushing, striking or threatening any officer, official, coach or volunteer will result in up to a one (1) game suspension.
b.) Coach(s):
A neutral Executive Board member or the assigned referee shall have the authority to ask a coach/spectator to leave the field if a coach/spectator conducts himself/herself in an unruly manner or unsportsmanlike fashion.
Remarks by a coach that degrade the authority of the referee or the Spirit of the Game shall be considered unsportsmanlike and against the Code of Conduct and shall result in the ordering off the field the coach or coaches involved.
Any coaches asked to leave the field shall be required to appear before the Executive Board within seventy-two (72) hours for a disciplinary hearing.
ARTICLE III
Draft Guidelines:
Head Coach’s child is not considered a pick. (Does count to team roster size)
An Assistant Coach must be a coach on that team for one (1) year prior to his/her child moving up to that team and that child will be considered a 3rd pick. * **
Siblings are not considered a pick. (Does count to team roster size)
Each team will have only three people on the sideline (head coach, assistant coach and team mother. Boys teams can have a team manager in place of a team mother, in either case the player must be drafted first and can not be placed on a team)
Draft Order is reversed team standings of the year before.
Late registrants after the draft is held will go to the next team in draft order.
_____________________
* In a situation where a head coach needs an assistant coach, the executive board will get together to decide
how that child will be placed as a pick for that team during the draft.
**In a situation where a head coach and an assistant coach move up together to the next division, the
assistant’s child will be that teams 1st pick.
ARTICLE IV
Transfer of Players:
If for any reason the commissioner of the recreation department rules any child to be placed on any other team than the one he/she has been drafted on, the executive board will determine a comparable solution for that team.
ARTICLE V
Travel Soccer:
In an effort to develop competitive and elite soccer players the LYSC will field travel teams. The travel soccer club will be known as the Lyndhurst Soccer Club (LSC).
The 2nd Vice President will assume the titles and duties of President and Club Representative of the LSC. He/she will report to the LYSC Executive Board all issues regarding travel soccer and the LSC.
He/she will register teams and pay fees (from a separate LSC checking account) to the travel soccer league.
He/she will be responsible for registering and carding players with the appropriate governing agency.
He/she will represent the LSC at all league meetings and functions and will act and vote on behalf of the Club in the Club’s best interest.
All Lyndhurst residents must register and play recreation soccer for LYSC in order to be eligible to play travel soccer for LSC.
All LYSC registered players are welcome to tryout for LSC travel soccer teams. LSC teams are select teams and players are not guaranteed a roster spot.
LSC teams can register non-resident players if they can not fill their rosters with LYSC players. Once a non-resident player has registered with LSC they will be treated as if they were a resident player and can not be released to open up a roster spot for a resident player.
As select teams they are not governed by the LYSC rules of play regarding playing time and will follow their travel league rules in regards to FIFA Laws of the Game and their league exceptions.
The following committee members have amended these rules on 8/30/2009: Alex Papanastasiou, Tony Yallo, Ricky Franchino, Jerry Mezzina and Stephanie Ingenito.
