Article I Name and Object 

 

Section 1 – Name 

 

a.   The name of organization shall be the Lower Dauphin Youth Football Association (LDYFA) Inc. 

 

b.  The LDYFA is a Non­Profit Organization created in 2006 and reorganized in 2011. 

 

Section 2 – Object 

 

a.   The object of the organization is to establish and maintain a program of supervised football for children through the development of the following fundamentals:

sportsmanship, mental and physical health, character, cultural and scholastic achievements. 

 

b.  Establish and maintain a program of supervised cheerleading. 

 

c.   Follow the Constitution and Bylaws of the CFA Football League. 

 

Article II Structure of LDYFA 

 

Section 1 ­ Membership to LDYFA 

 

a.                  Membership is open to families wanting to participate in LDYFA football games as a football player or cheerleader. 

 

b.                  Members are to participate in LDYFA. Participation includes committees, fundraisers, volunteering and concession stand workers. 

 

c.                  Any Member leaving LDYFA will have ten (10) days to return or pay for any equipment or property that is property of LDYFA. 

 

d.                  All Board of Directors, and Appointed Staff with the exception of the Team Representatives and Special Advisor must have a background check yearly, prior to the start of the season or upon appointment to a position (Act 34 Criminal Record and Act 151 Child Abuse History Check).

 

Section 2 – Board of Directors 

 

a.  President 

 

1)    Position effective January 2016 for a one (1) year term.

 

2)    If a president leaves before expiration of their term, the Vice President (VP) will temporarily assume this position until such a time the board can meet formally to appoint a new president.

 

3)    Duties shall be to oversee the establishment and continued operation of LDYFA.

 

4)    Duty shall be to call and preside at all meetings, appoint all committees of which he/she will be an ex­officio member, cast the deciding vote in cases of ties in balloting. 

 

b. Vice President 

 

1)        Position effective January 2016 for a one (1) year term.

 

2)        If the Vice President leaves before expiration of their term, the board will appoint a temporary Vice President to assume this position until such a time the board can meet formally to appoint a new vice president.

 

3)        Duty shall be to assist the President in conducting the meetings and to carry out his/her duties and preside at meetings in case of the President’s absence. 

 

c. Secretary 

 

1)                       Position effective January 2016 for a one (1) year term.

 

2)                       If the Secretary leaves before expiration of their term, the board will appoint a temporary Secretary to assume this position until such a time the board can meet formally to appoint a new Secretary.

 

3)                       Duties shall include but are not limited to the following: 

 

A.             Record the minutes of all meetings, send out communications and notices to officers and head coaches.

 

B.              Record keeper of football / cheerleading coach’s background checks. Submit a Certificate of Compliance to the Commissioner of CFA listing all eligible individuals.

 

C.        Keep attendance records of members to LDYFA meetings.

 

D.     Prepare and distribute communication material on LDYFA business to coaches

/parents/community, to include the booster club.

 

d. Treasurer 

 

1)        Position effective January 2016 for a one (1) year term.

 

2)        Duty shall be to collect and deposit all monies of LDYFA in a specified account and to issue a report of the same at regular meetings. The Treasurer, no less than one other board member or 2 board members in the absence of the treasurer will count and deposit monies together.

 

3)        Two additional board members will be required on the LDYFA banking account. In order for a check to be written on the account outside of the designated purchaser no less than the President/Treasurer, any expense more than $50 needs to be approved by no less than 2 board members.

 

e.  Board Members 

 

1)        Three position(s) effective January 2016 for a one (1) year term.

 

2)        If a board member leaves before expiration of the initial one year term, there shall be only two board members for the balance of the term, until the replacement is voted upon.

 

a.      Board member positions

1.       Football Liaison 

a.       Duties include, but are not limited to, overseeing day to day football operations and maintaining fluid communication between coaches, parents, and board of directors.

2.      Cheerleading Liaison

a.      Duties include, but are not limited to, overseeing day to day cheerleading operations and maintaining fluid communication between coaches, parents, and board of directors.

3.      Parent Volunteer Coordinator

a.      Duties include, but are not limited to, overseeing the booster comity and coordinating parent volunteers.    

3)        Limitations: Spouses may not be on the board at the same time.

 

 

Section 3 – Appointed Staff 

 

a. Weigh Master 

1) Appointed position by the Board of Directors of LDYFA for a one (1) year term.

             

b. Football Coaching Staff 

 

1)   Appointed position by the Board of Directors of LDYFA in compliance with the CFA by Laws.

 

2)   Per CFA Bylaws the following coaching requirements must be met:

A.                  All coaches must have a background check yearly, prior to coaching. (Act 34 Criminal Record and Act 151 Child Abuse History Check).

 

B.                  It is mandatory that all coaches must attend the CFA/PIAA rules meeting with requests for exceptions being submitted in writing to the board two weeks prior to the next scheduled board meeting.

 

c. Cheerleading Coaching Staff 

 

1)  Appointed position by the Board of Directors of LDYFA for a one (1) year term. 

 

2)  Per CFA Bylaws the following coaching requirements must be met:

A.  All coaches must have a background check yearly, prior to coaching. (Act   34 Criminal Record and Act 151 Child Abuse History Check).  

 

d. Team Representatives

 

     1)  Appointed position by the Board of Directors of LDYFA for a one (1) year term. 

 

e. Removal of Appointed Staff 

 

1)        The Board of Directors is empowered to immediately remove any football, cheerleading or other appointed staff with or without cause upon a majority vote of the Board. 

 

2)        Any individual serving as a football, cheerleading or other appointed staff serves in such capacity at the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board and must attend 75% of all scheduled meetings, failure to do so without written approval from the President Vice President will result in immediate termination of your position. (there is no express and/or inherent right to such position). 

 

 

f. Senior Advisor

 

1)        The outgoing President may serve as a senior advisor to the incoming President for the term of 2 years.

 

2)        Senior Advisor shall be a non voting position working solith the President and is privy to any and all confidential information in executive sessions.

 

3)        If the outgoing President chooses not to be a Senior Advisor the position will remain vacant until such time that the newly elected President's term ends and /or they resign.

 

 

Section 4 ­ Terms of Office and Elections (Exceptions noted in Section 2, above)

 

a.  Board of Directors 

 

1)        Upon establishment of LDYFA, (after the initial terms outlined in Section 2 are fulfilled) all Board Members will be elected for a one (1) year term.

 

2)        In order for nomination to an office position, an individual must have been a member of LDYFA for one (1) season. 

 

3)        LDYFA will accept nominations (with nominees consent) at a scheduled meeting prior to the end of the season or as deemed necessary.

 

4)        Election of Officers will be held at the first scheduled meeting of the new year corresponding with each term or as deemed necessary.

 

5)        Officers and Board Members may serve consecutive terms. 

 

 

 

b. Appointed Staff 

 

1)  Team Representative, Weigh Master, Football Coaching  Staff, Cheerleading Coaching Staff. 

 

2)  Positions appointed by the LDYFA Board of Directors are for a period of one season. Retention for consecutive seasons will be voted upon annually following Board elections.

 

3)   The Board of Directors is empowered to immediately remove any football,

cheerleading or other appointed staff with or without cause upon a majority vote of the Board.

 

4)   Any individual serving as a football, cheerleading or other appointed staff serves in such capacity at the sole and exclusive discretion of the Board and that there is no express and/or inherent right to such position. 

 

c. Vacancies 

 

Except as established in Section 2 of this Article, a vacancy occurring in an officer/ staff position shall be filled for the remainder of the term through an appointment by the Board of Directors.

  

Section 5 ­ Committees 

 

a. Lower Dauphin Falcons Booster Club

 

- Overseen by the Parent Volunteer Coordinator 

­ Members shall be known as Advisors 

­ Research, plan, schedule, distribute and collect fundraising sales. 

­ Team & Individual Photographs 

­ Schedule and distribute photographs 

 

b. Field Maintenance 

­ President  and Football Coaches are chairpersons. 

­ Game field maintenance and preparation for game day. 

 

c. Concession Stand

- Overseen by the Parent Volunteer Coordinator 

­ Chairperson to be appointed yearly by the Board of Directors 

­ Board of Directors are chairpersons. 

­ Operate concession stand during game hours. 

­ Set and tear down, clean up of concession stand. 

 

d. End of Year Banquet 

- Overseen by the Parent Volunteer Coordinator 

­ Chairperson to be appointed yearly by the Board of Directors. 

­ Responsible for the planning of LDYFA end of season banquet. 

 

Section 6 ­ Meetings  

 

a.                  Meetings will be on the second Tuesday of each month as agreed upon by LDYFA, once a month in the off season, and more often, if necessary during the season. 

 

b.                  If necessary, special meetings can be requested by members. Only the President can call special meetings. 

 

c.                  At regular or special meetings, three (3) voting Board Members shall constitute a quorum to transact business of LDYFA. This must be, at a minimum, the President or Vice President and two (2) Board Members.

 

d.                  Any changes or amendments that are made to the Bylaws of LDYFA shall  be completed at a monthly meeting prior to the first game of the season.

 

Section 7 ­ Registration and refunds 

 

a.   LDYFA registration fee shall be set annually prior to the start of the season. 

 

b.  Refunds. 

 

1)                       As a rule no registration fees will be refunded after the first day of practice. 

 

2)                       LDYFA reserves the right to review refund request on a case by case bases. 

 

3)                       The registration rate will be set solely and exclusively by the board and annually prior to the start of the season.

 

c.   Scholarship Program ­ In order to qualify for the Scholarship Program, The family must submit a confidential nomination form. The nomination will be reviewed by the Board Members in a Private Executive Board Meeting. All nominations and sponsored families are kept confidential. If a family receives a scholarship, the child must attend a certain % of practices, which will be communicated by the Executive Board and the family must volunteer with concession stand or other committee. Scholarship must be received prior to the first game and the parent / guardian of the scholarship recipient must volunteer for all organized events.

 

Article III Conduct & Zero Tolerance Policy 

 

Section 1 ­ Conduct 

 

a.  Conduct by spectators, team members, or coaches, that violates the values of good sportsmanship will not be tolerated. 

 

b.  Team personnel (players, coaches, coaching assistants, board members, and appointed staff) who engage in acts of serious misconduct or who may cause fighting among themselves, opponents, or spectators before, during or  after a game, or who may threaten, push, verbally abuse through the use of  profanity or otherwise abuse players, coaches, officials, league staff or spectators will be subject to discipline by the officers of LDYFA. 

 

c.  LDYFA will follow all CFA Football League Conduct Policies. 

 

d.  Possession and use of alcohol and tobacco will be governed by local ordinance or landowner policy.  LDYFA reserves the right to establish and enforce more restrictive measures if deemed necessary for the safety and comfort of its members, players and patrons. 

 

 

Section 2 ­ LDYFA Zero Tolerance Policy 

a.     All players, coaches and parents associated with LDYFA are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with good sportsmanship and with respect for all other players, coaches, officials and parents. Verbal abuse, profanity, or overt insubordination directed toward officials, coaches, and other players will not be tolerated.

 

b.    Any violations of the above will result in the following actions:

 

1)    1st Offense: Warning by a Board Member. 

 

2)    2nd Offense: A meeting before the Board of Directors to discuss actions.

 

3)    3rd Offense: You will be asked to leave LDYFA. 

 

Article IV Dissolution Policy 

 

Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Board of Directors or governing staff, shall after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the organization, dispose of all the assets of the organization in such manner, or to such organization(s) organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization(s) under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors or governing staff shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. 

 

 

 

Lower Dauphin Youth Football Association Bylaws

Approved January 2011 by the Board of Directors 

1st revision November 2013

2^nd revision January 2016