Bylaws Table of Contents 

1. Bylaws Introduction 

2. Membership Requirements 

3. Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Responsibilities 

4. Webmaster 

5. Executive Board 

5.1. Executive Board Introduction 

5.2. Eligibility 

5.3. Term Limits 

5.4. Decision-Making by all SWCAC Members 5.5. Duties of the Board as a Whole 

5.6. President 

5.7. Vice President 

5.8. Treasurer 

5.9. Secretary 

6. Adding or Removing Teams 

6.1. Voting 

6.2. Current Member Schools Adding New Teams 6.3. Non-Member Schools Joining SWCAC 

6.4. Leaving SWCAC 

7. Eligibility 

7.1. Boys and Girls Teams 

7.2. High School Grade and Age Eligibility 

7.3. Middle School Grade and Age Eligibility 

7.4. Academic Eligibility 

7.5. School Enrollment Eligibility 

7.5.1. Full-time and Part-time Students 

7.5.2. Homeschooled Students 

7.6. Recruitment 

7.7. Rosters 

8. Sportsmanship 

8.1. Code of Conduct 

8.2. Ejections 

8.3. Fights 

8.4. Inter-school Grievances 

9. General Sports Rules and Guidelines 

9.1. Rescheduling 

9.2. Forfeits 

9.3. Saturdays 

9.4. Unforeseeable Circumstances 

9.5. Awards 

(Bylaws updated April 2025)

SWCAC Bylaws 

1. Bylaws: How the SWCAC Governs Itself 

Bylaws are fundamental rules drawn up by organizations to govern their internal affairs and their 1.1. 

dealings with members and others. They include rules that the organization considers so important that they cannot be changed without prior notice to members and the vote of a specified majority. League bylaws define the league’s purpose and how it organizes to further that purpose. They are meant 

to protect the organization and to provide an operating framework. 

1.2. 

Boards should review their bylaws from time to time to make certain they are still appropriate based on 

changed circumstances or actions in the athletic world. All updates to the bylaws will be voted on by 1.3. 

the league members that are impacted by the change. 

2. Membership Requirements: Members are the league’s most valuable asset. The following are what the SWCAC requires for all members: 

Attend the yearly all-members meeting in the spring (April). The league also has two 

2.1. 

sports-specific meetings. Fall sports: soccer and volleyball meet in August and Winter sport: basketball meets in November. Any member offering a league team in that season must attend those meetings. 

2.2. 

Membership dues make up a significant portion of the income for the league. Each member must pay their membership dues and sports specific dues. Those fees are decided at the April meeting. The treasurer will send out invoices to each school. The dues and fees are due by the date set forth at the April meeting, or before any league games are played, whichever comes first. Any league game played before a school’s dues have been paid will be forfeited by that school. 

2.2.1 If you pay an invoice for a team but cannot field one, you can request a refund from the treasurer by  the start of the season when you are sure you cannot field a team that year. Quitting a sport after you've  started it does not qualify for a refund.  

School members must abide by all SWCAC bylaws. 

2.3. 

Update the Webmaster with rosters and league schedules. Report the scores to the webmaster. 2.4. 

Volunteer and/or Leadership participation: The SWCAC needs all schools to help with our yearly events. Volunteer  2.5 

opportunities can be but are not limited to: hosting league events (meetings, playoff games) and/or volunteering to  help at league events (playoff / championship games). The league has various leadership roles available from year to  year, such as ports specific commissioners and the league has an executive board. 1

3. Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Responsibilities: Oversee the sports level and season in the following ways: 

3.1. 

Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners may receive stipends determined by the league (changes may be approved at spring meetings). 

3.2. 

Deputy Commissioners will assist commissioners as needed.  

3.3. 

Make sure schools are reporting scores and have updated the webmaster on needed information. Make sure all members are aware of playoff dates, times, scenarios and locations. This includes tie-breaker situations. 

Make the executive board aware of any issues within the season or playoffs. If possible, handle situations as 3.4. 

needed. The commissioner can always involve the President if needed. Some examples: if the situation involves the member’s own team or if the commissioner feels the issues are going to create a serious issue with the members involved in the situation. 

Between head commissioner and deputy commissioner, ensure that someone representing SWCAC is at  3.5 

the championship game running things.  

4. Webmaster: 

Keeps the website updated 

4.1. 

Collects all needed information from members 

4.2. 

Works with the commissioners on scores and playoff situations 

4.3. 

Webmaster may receive a stipend determined by the league (changes may be approved at spring meetings). 

5. Executive Board 

5.1. 

The executive board is the administrative and policymaking team for the league. 

5.1.1 

The executive board may receive a stipend from the league. Changes to yearly stipends can be done by  vote at the Spring whole-league meeting. 

5.2. 

The executive board is made up of current or former school members. It is not a requirement that 

someone is currently employed at a member school to be a board member. 

5.3. 

The SWCAC board has no term limits but board members will be approved at the all-members meeting for the next year. If someone wants to take on one of the roles of the executive board, they should contact the president. The president will inform the members that we have a possible replacement/ change in the board. 

5.4. 

Board members often assume specific duties, but all members of the board are responsible for planning and decision-making in several broad interdependent areas. The Board may appoint Special Advisors to  

help them with specific things when needed (for instance, a homeschool advisor helps ensure schools  report homeschooled students on their rosters). 2

5.5. The board as a whole is responsible for: 

5.5.1. Organization and Management via membership growth and participation 5.5.2. Sets priorities and goals for the organization 

5.5.3. Carries out overall planning and decision-making within the authority given via bylaws 5.5.4. Supports membership, development and visibility activities 

5.5.5. Represents and promotes the league in the community 

5.5.6. Safeguards the league’s reputation 

5.6. President 

5.6.1. Leads the league 

5.6.2. Speaks for the league 

5.6.3. Empowers and trains league leaders 

5.6.4. Convenes and presides over meetings 

5.7. Vice President 

5.7.1. Leads the league 

5.7.2. Speaks for the league 

5.7.3. Empowers and trains league leaders 

5.7.4. Convenes and presides over meetings when the president is not available 5.8. Treasurer 

5.8.1. Handles finances for the league 

5.8.2. Collects league dues and sports fees 

5.8.3. Pays for officials for league events 

5.8.4. Gives a yearly report on league finances at the Spring meeting 

5.9. Secretary 

5.9.1. Takes minutes at league meetings 

5.9.2. Should bylaws be updated by the league, the secretary will amend the document 5.9.3. Communicates with the league on behalf of the Executive Board 

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6. Adding or Removing Teams in SWCAC 

6.1. Adding Teams to SWCAC will be done by league Athletic Director votes. 

6.1.1. Typically the Athletic Directors from the division the new school or team would be joining will vote and those from the other division(s) will abstain; however, abstaining is not mandatory. An across-division Athletic Director may have knowledge about a team or school that is pertinent to the vote. 

6.1.2. Typically, the league votes on new teams at the spring Athletic Directors meeting. A majority vote of the present Athletic Directors will win. 

6.1.2.1. Adding a school or team at the league’s fall meeting instead of the previous spring will require a unanimous vote by the Athletic Directors of the division the 

team would be joining. 

6.2. Current SWCAC Members Adding a Team 

6.2.1. Any school wishing to add a team who did not participate in the league the previous school year must normally notify the league president and vice president by March 15. 6.2.1.1. This date may be waived on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the president or executive board of SWCAC; however, the team will still need to be voted in by 

the league. 

6.2.2. In order to be added to the league schedule, it is recommended that a school have successfully played a substantial exhibition season, which demonstrates a strong 

likelihood of a team for the next season. This would include a middle school team that projects having enough players to field a high school team. 

6.2.2.1. A school may be able to show that their new team is ready to join the league without this substantial exhibition season on a case-by-case basis and may be put 

forward for a vote. 

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6.3. Non-SWCAC Schools Wishing To Join 

6.3.1. Normally, SWCAC requires prospective schools to apply to join SWCAC by March 15 so the league can consider the subject at the spring meeting of Athletic Directors. 

6.3.2. A school may wish to join SWCAC under various extenuating circumstances, so a prospective school may be considered on a case-by-case basis, including the potential to waive this March 15 requirement. 

6.3.3. The President and/or Executive Board will first consider the applications of prospective schools before deciding whether to bring the consideration to a vote by the Athletic Directors. 

6.4. Any team leaving the SWCAC 

6.4.1. Teams leaving should give a one-year warning to the other schools so they can have time to plan any necessary changes or expansions to replace that team. 

7. Eligibility: Institutions are charged with making sure their SWCAC athletic programs remain in compliance with SWCAC eligibility standards, as follows 

7.1. Eligibility for Boys or Girls Teams 

7.1.1. Male students will play on boys teams and female students will play on girls teams 

7.1.2. Should a school not have a girls team, females may join boys teams, except for in flag football. 

7.1.3. Sex distinctions are based on biology–the anatomical sex organs at birth. 

7.2. High School Sports Grade and Age Eligibility: 

7.2.1. Grades 7-12 may play for Varsity teams at the member school’s discretion. 

7.2.2. A pupil shall be ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition upon attaining the age of nineteen years, with the following exception: if the age of 19 is attained on or 

after July 1, the pupil shall be eligible, age-wise, to compete through that school 

year. 

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7.3. Middle School Sports Grade and Age Eligibility: 

7.3.1. Grades 5-8 may play for Middle School teams at the member school’s discretion. 7.3.2. A pupil shall be ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition upon attaining the age of fifteen years, with the following exception: if the age of 15 is attained on or after July 1, the pupil shall be eligible, age-wise, to compete through that school 

year. 

7.4. Academic eligibility: 

7.4.1. Each school should have their own academic eligibility policy. The league will not oversee each school’s policy. The league would like each school to maintain high academic standards and enforce the school’s policy. 

7.5. School Enrollment Eligibility: 

7.5.1. All students who participate on an SWCAC league team must be enrolled, at least part-time, in the school. 

7.5.1.1. Students must play for the school in which they are enrolled—no league school can create a co-op with another school for league play. 

7.5.1.2. Students may only play for one (1) league school per academic year, even if the school for which he or she first participates does not have a certain sport 

that he or she wishes to play later in the year. The student may appeal to 

SWCAC for a waiver. 

7.5.2. Schools may choose to allow homeschooled students to participate on their teams if the students meet the following conditions: the student-athlete must earn an 

academic credit from the school for at least one academic class at the school. An 

“academic class” cannot include physical education, art, or any other non-academic elective. Bible is acceptable. 

7.5.2.1. A homeschooled student-athlete is eligible to participate in SWCAC league  sports seasons for only one (1) SWCAC league school per school year. He or she cannot  compete in league sports for more than one league school per school year – even if the school for  which he or she first participates does not

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7.5.2.2. 

7.5.2.3.   

The homeschooled student’s status as a homeschooled, part-time student will be indicated on the rosters that are turned in to the commissioner and/or website coordinator. (See Rosters 7.7) 

Schools must report homeschoolers to the league’s homeschool advisor by league roster  deadline(s).(See Rosters 7.7)

Recruited Students: 

7.6. 

7.6.1. No coach or other school representative will make initial contact with a student-athlete of another SWCAC school for the purpose of encouraging that student-athlete to transfer to his/her school. Any recruiting contact, which violates this league policy, must be reported to the president. Any questionable transfers or violations of this rule will be brought before the league to determine player eligibility and school sanctions. Any violations of this policy must be reported to the president as soon as possible. The athletic directors of the schools involved should try to work the problem out on their own. If this is not possible, the president will contact all the other schools to determine the course of action. The president needs to be contacted in order to ensure documentation of the infractions. 

7.7. Rosters: 

7.7.1. Institutions are responsible for compiling an accurate roster for each league sport and for sharing this information with the commissioner of said sport, as well as in the league-wide eligibility list. 

7.7.2. Team rosters should be organized in alphabetical order and include each player’s name, grade, date of birth (month and year only), and, for any homeschooled student, their part-time enrollment status. 

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7.7.3. Team rosters must be submitted to the website coordinator by the date assigned in the April meeting or before any league games are played, whichever comes first. Any league game played before a school’s roster has been turned in will be forfeited by 

that school. 

7.7.4. Each team’s roster and demographic information shall be made shareable to any athletic director who requests it. 

7.7.5. Any additions to the rosters should be submitted in writing to the commissioner and website coordinator until the Final Roster due date, after which no changes may be 

made. 

7.7.6. Final Rosters Due Date 

7.7.6.1. Changes may not be made after September 20th for Flag Football, October 1st for Soccer and Volleyball, and January 15th for basketball. 

8. Sportsmanship: SWCAC expects athletic directors and institutions to follow league rules and standards. Should students or teams fail to adhere to this code of conduct, discipline will be as follows: 

8.1. Code of Conduct: 

8.1.1. All in attendance at games (players, coaches, and fans) are to refrain from negative comments and attitudes toward all other players, coaches, fans, and officials. 

Violators will be asked to leave the premises. 

8.1.2. The offended athletic director will first reach out to the other athletic director about any issues from the opposing team. 

8.1.3. If they cannot resolve this, they can bring this to the executive board. 

8.1.4. Executive Board may open issues to a committee or even a league vote. 

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8.2. Ejections:

8.2.1. Any player ejected from an SWCAC game will be suspended for the next SWCAC game. (If there is a non-league contest in between, that player is eligible for that game but not the next league game). This rule would apply for a basketball player who received 2 technical fouls but would not apply to a soccer player who received 2 soft yellow cards. With a red card, a team may appeal to the commissioner and the grievance committee to determine if the red card is suspension-causing. (Committee will speak to referees and the opposing coach, etc.) 

8.2.2. Any coach ejected from an SWCAC game will be suspended for the next SWCAC game. This rule would apply for a basketball coach who received 2 technical fouls. This would apply to a soccer coach who receives a hard red card. When an ejection takes place in a game, both schools involved in the game should contact the 

commissioner of that sport to report it. The commissioner will then contact all 

schools involved in the player’s suspension. 

8.3. Fights: 

8.3.1. If a fight takes place during an SWCAC league game, each school’s athletic director should send a detailed report based on his/her own observations and/or eyewitness account before 12pm the next day. The email should go to the league president, vice president, and sport commissioner. 

8.3.2. Any player deemed to have participated in a fight will be suspended for five (5) league games. 

8.3.3. Any coach deemed to have participated in a fight will be suspended for one (1) calendar year. 

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8.4. Inter-school Grievances 

8.4.1. As a Christian league, SWCAC looks to Matthew 18:15-17 for guidance on how to solve conflicts. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be 

established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” The executive board, the commissioners, or the league may step in to help solve a conflict, but the first steps are for the athletic directors to discuss the offenses and perceived offenses together. 

8.4.2. After involved schools have first tried to resolve the grievance, those grievances which cannot be resolved should be submitted in writing to the commissioner. The commissioner may try to mediate and/or may ask the executive board for help. If the commissioner and/or the executive board can’t resolve the issue, then the issue will be brought to the entire league and if necessary be voted upon by the uninvolved athletic directors. 

8.4.3. If a serious issue arises with a school or team, or if there is repeated misconduct with a school or team, first the Matthew 18 policy should be attempted, but it should also be brought to the attention of the president. If the president feels that some sort of sanction may be necessary, he will convene a special committee of officers, athletic directors, and/or advisors. After conducting an investigation and after 

communicating with the offending school, the committee will make a 

recommendation of sanctions. The sanctions may include, but are not limited to, the following: postseason bans, suspension of players/coaches/fans, probationary status, revoking a school’s right to vote, and expulsion from the league. If the offending school agrees that the committee’s recommendations are fair, the recommendations shall be accepted as sanctions. If the offending school does not agree, the entire community of athletic directors will be called upon to vote. 

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9. General Sports Rules and Guidelines 

9.1. Rescheduling policies 

9.1.1. Teams may only reschedule without penalty on the following: weather, school closing, transportation issues outside the control of the athletic director, and building issues and properly scheduled officials not showing up for a game. Schools will have one week to set a reschedule date for the game. 

9.1.2. Before rescheduling a game that involves a third school. The athletic director should contact and confirm with the third school before finalizing any schedule changes. 

9.1.3. The league recommends giving other schools as much time as possible when needing to reschedule. 

9.2. Forfeit policy 

9.2.1. All league games are to be played. Schools must complete their league games to maintain membership in the league. 

9.2.2. Any forfeits/no shows that occur too late to have the officials canceled will result in the team causing the cancellation to pay for the officials. 

9.2.3. If a team forfeits a game, the loss is permanent. The team that forfeits cannot benefit from the forfeit for purposes of tiebreakers. 

9.2.4. Any school that forfeits may impact their playoff eligibility. 

9.3. Saturday contest policy 

9.3.1. No Saturday games (conference or non-conference) are to be scheduled on the Saturday prior to the beginning of play-off week. If you need to reschedule to that 

date please contact the league commissioner. 

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9.4. Unforeseeable circumstances

9.4.1. Sometimes unforeseeable things come up that are not addressed in these rules. When such things happen, the president should form a special committee of officers, 

athletic directors, and/or advisors. That committee should make the wisest decision 

possible and then inform the league of the committee’s decision. If there are 

objections, the whole league should vote. 

9.5. Awards: 

9.5.1. Trophies will be awarded to the champions and runners-up for each division in the regular season and to the champion and runner-up in the playoffs. 

9.5.2. Medals - Will be awarded to the winners of the playoff championship team 

9.5.2.1. Middle School Volleyball (10) 

9.5.2.2. Middle School Soccer (16) 

9.5.2.3. High School Volleyball (12) 

9.5.2.4. High School Soccer (18) 

9.5.2.5. Middle School Basketball (12) 

9.5.2.6. High School Basketball (15) 

(Bylaws updated April 2025) 

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SWCAC 

Flag Football: 

Regular season champion trophy 

Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

MVP trophy 

20 metals for the championship team 

Varsity Soccer: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tri-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

x2 MVP trophies 

20 metals for the championship team 

MS Soccer: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tti-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

20 metals for the championship team 

Varsity Volleyball: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tri-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

x2 MVP trophies 

15 metals for the championship team 

MS Volleyball: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tri-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

15 metals for the championship team 

Trophies are to be purchased before the beginning of each school year. 

Yearly Trophy and Medal Orders Checklist 

Boys Varsity Basketball: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tri-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

x2 MVP trophies 

15 metals for the championship team 

Girls Varsity Basketball: 

Greater Pittsburgh Regular season champion trophy 

Tri-County Regular season champion trophy Playoff champion trophy 

Playoff runner-up trophy 

x2 MVP trophies 

15 metals for the championship team 

MSB Basketball: 

Greater Pittsburgh East Regular season 

champion 

Greater Pittsburgh South Regular season champion 

Tri-County North Regular season champion Tri-County West Regular season champion Playoff champion 

Playoff runner-up 

15 metals for the championship team 

MSG Basketball: 

Greater Pittsburgh East Regular season 

champion 

Greater Pittsburgh South Regular season champion 

Tri-County North Regular season champion Tri-County West Regular season champion Playoff champion 

Playoff runner-up 

15 metals for the championship team 

Schools may choose to purchase additional medals if their roster size exceeds the numbers of medals provided by SWCAC.