ST. MARY’S SOCCER

SELECT LEAGUE BY-LAWS

1.     Definitions:

(a)   The Select League division of St. Mary’s Youth Soccer (SMYS) shall be named the:

 

St. Mary’s United Soccer Club (a.k.a. the United)

 

2.     Purpose - as described in SMYS Constitution

3.     St. Mary’s United Soccer Club Membership - Shall consist of the current coaches in good standings & their assistants (CMT: If coach is not in good standing  does this mean assistant coach is not a member?), parents/guardians of those players rostered, and the St. Mary’s United Club President.

(a)   Voting privileges of the St. Mary’s United Soccer Club are for the purpose of:

(1)   Operating teams in the (various) travel leagues and/or tournaments and club business.

(2)   Providing a forum to enhance coach, player and spectator  soccer awareness,  education, education and understanding.

(3)   Providing a vehicle to ensure United teams are coached by the most competent coaches available.

(4)   Providing nominations for the St. Mary’s United Club President position when required.

(b)   Voting members and duties.

(1)   Coaches

(a)     Educate players/team(s).

(b)     Insure team is represented at all meetings (The Head Coach must be present at not less than 50% of the United meetings).

(c)      Vote on club business.

Note:  Asst. Coaches or team manager may vote only in absence of Coach.

(d)     Ensure managers have properly registered players and adults.

(e)     Abide by the rules of good sportsmanship and act accordingly.

(f)       Ensure game scores are reported to the appropriate league.

(g)     Notify United Club President of:

(1)     Practice schedule.

(2)     Complaints/Protest requests.

(h)Seek to help elevate level of knowledge relating to the game.
Note:  As practicable, hold a minimum of one clinic to educate recreational coaches.

(i)    Elect St. Mary’s United Club President.

 

(2)   St. Mary’s United President (AKA. United General Manager)

(a)     Calls and chairs meetings for St. Mary’s United Soccer Club.

(b)     Serves on the SMYS Executive Board as United 2nd VP when approved after the SMYS General Election.

(c)      Acts as single-point liaison with travel league(s) and county representatives.

(1)     Voice appropriate feedback to travel league commissioner(s).

(2)     Approves and submits any formal game protest requested by a United coach.

(3)     Works to secure and coordinate practice locations in conjunction with SMYS Recreation 2nd VP.

(d)     Votes on United issues:

(1)     In the case of ties, majority goes with the St. Mary’s United Club President vote.

(3)    Identifies and/or appoints a St. Mary's United Club Secretary.   The Secretary's responsibilities will be:

(1)To insure all meeting minutes are recorded and distributed in a timely manner. 

(2)To distribute meeting agendas in a time sufficient to allow voting members review.

 

4.     Select Program Meetings

(a)   Will be held monthly or as required.  If possible, coordinate with the SMYS Executive Board to hold consecutive meetings to limit the total number of monthly meetings.

(b)   Quorum

(1)   Shall consist of St. Mary’s United Club President, and

(2)     50% of United teams represented by coach, assistant or previously identified manager.

5.     Number of United Teams

(a)   The St. Mary’s United Soccer Club will attempt to field one team per age group, regardless of league affiliation - unless;

(1)   A No competent coach is identified for an age group.

(2)     (2)   The formation of Mmultiple teams within an age group shall be based on:

(a)     The addition of more than one team per age group will be based upon the availability of competent coaching first.

(b)   Availability of appropriately skilled players shall not drive the addition of multiple teams within an age group.  The combination of competent coaching and appropriately skilled players shall be the principal criteria.

(c)  (3)  The skill level of players will be evaluated by multiple coaches, in good standing, prior to formation of additional teams within an age group.

6.        Laws and general policies

(a)   Laws of the Game, Law interpretations, and registration policies shall conform to MSYSA, the appropriate travel league(s) policies, and St. Mary’s United Club policies and in otherwise undefined areas, SMYS policies.

7.     United Recruiting Policies

        (a)   No promises of favors or guarantees shall be given to any player prior to, during, or after team selection. 

(b)     (b)           United coaches are restricted from recruiting players currently rostered and playing for another United team without first contacting the respective coach and Club President.

(c)       (c)           United coaches are encouraged to recruit from SMYS recreational league teams, including the rec-plus program,  prior to the commencement of a season.

(d)   Adhere to recruiting policies and restrictions of the appropriate league(s) as well as MSYSA.

8.     Tryouts
United coaches shall: 

(a)     Adhere to the club policy of try-outs at the end of the spring season.  The club will host, as practicable, try-outs for all age groups at the same time and location.  The club will host a minimum of three try-outs for the upcoming season – coach’s discretion for one additional try-out is authorized.  Any additional requirements must be coordinated and addressed through the Club President prior to being conducted.  The requesting coach will be responsible for advertising the time and location of additional try-outs.  (A historical guideline has been two weeks notice prior with advertisements in the local papers.  The club will pay for the advertising associated with the coordinated try-outs; individual coaches are responsible for additional independent requirements).

(b)     United coaches shall have all players try-out for teams within their respective age group except:

(1)     – When player skill level after evaluation by not less than 3 coaches (in good standing) from applicable age groups is determined to be capable of competing at a higher age group.

(a)     Maximum allowable deviance:

(1)     Per player – Dependent upon player skill level.

(2)     Per team - 25%.

(c)      All coaches in good standing at the monthly meeting prior to rostering the team will entertain waivers for all players agesplaying out of their age group.  Waivers can be granted on a case by case basis and reviewed before the next calendar year of play.

 

9.     St. Mary’s United Club President and United Coach Selection Policies

(a)   The St. Mary’s United Club President, shall be known as the Vice President (United) on the SMYS Executive Board  under the following conditions:

(1)     The St. Mary’s United Soccer Club shall be the nominating and approving committee for St. Mary’s United Club President.

(2)     The club President will be placed on the SMYS ballot as the only nominee for the position of SMYS Vice President (United).

(3)     The general membership of SMYS will vote to accept the St. Mary’s United Club’s nominee for SMYS Vice President (United).

(b)   United Coaches shall be selected as follows:

(1)   Head Coaches must meet one of the following minimum certification requirements below, AND??? (should this be OR?)

(a)     Any of listed combinations appropriate to the age group:

(1)     USSF “D” License or equivalent

(2)     Four seasons of recreational coaching

(3)     Two seasons competitive coaching experience

(4)Competitive-level playing experience

(5)Competent knowledge of the game for the age group in question as evaluated at a club meeting

(6)     Other combinations of above if approved by majority vote

(b)                        Meet MSYSA coaching standards of conduct (i.e., no violent criminal convictions, etc.)

(c) Not presently coaching another select or premier level team, regardless of club or league affiliation. (Waivers can be granted in certain circumstances)

(2)   Be nominated and approved by majority vote of club coaches in good standing.

(a)                       Coaches in good standing are defined as those who are either actively coaching a team in the current year; coached a team in the previous year and awaiting the spring season (i.e., high school age players).  Or those who have not had a team for more than one calendar year and have attended at least 50% of the club meetings since last coaching.

(b)     (d)           Coaches are encouraged to participate at another age group once their child team has graduated out of the club. 

(c)      Experienced coaching is necessary to sustain the higher level of play desired by the club. United coaches should recognize the necessity for the club to utilize the most competent and/or experienced coaches available.

(3)  The list of approved St. Mary’s United Club coaches will be submitted to the SMYS Executive Board for acceptance, in compliance with the SMYS Constitution.

10.   Conduct

(a)   All St. Mary’s United Soccer Club members will conduct their actions in accordance with these by-laws, the SMYS Constitution, the appropriate travel league policies, as well as MSYSA & USYSA guidelines.  

(1)   Inappropriate conduct, including unsportsman like behavior, shall be reported to the United Club President for disciplinary action.

 

11. Discipline Authority and Policies

(a)     Upon notification of a violation of the United bylaws, or agreed upon policy, the Club President has authority to commence an investigation.  An investigation will be initiated for, but not limited to, the following action(s):

(1)     Working against the principles, purpose, and policies of St. Mary’s United Soccer Club.

(2)     Professional dishonesty, cheating, etc.

(3)     Injuring the professional standing of a member.

 (b)  A three member or more Review Board utilizing United coaches (including the St. Mary’s United Club President) shall be convened to review incidents or review the findings and recommendations of other investigative individuals or committees initiated by the Club President as stated above.  The Review Board, with a majority vote, can recommend to the Club President that:  (a) no further action is warranted; (b) suspensions, sanctions, or other action(s) as deemed appropriate should be issued; or (c) forward the Club recommendation be forwarded for action to the SMYS board for disposition.

(c)    Convene the Executive Board at a special meeting to review, investigate, or impose such penalties, sanctions, and or training requirements necessary to make the Parent, Player or Coach aware of the fundamental responsibilities they must adhere to as a member of SMS.  The Club President would preside over the Executive Board and his/her vote would be counted as a member of the board.  This may include, but is not limited to the following: 

(1)     a)     Requiring the individual(s) to review the constitution and by-laws of the United Club, Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), and/or other affiliated Leagues.

(1)

12.   Appeals Process

(a)   If the St. Mary’s United Club President approves suspensions or sanctions or any other actions, the Club President will provide written and verbal notice to the individual(s) concerned within 45 days of the incident.  Additionally, the individual(s) will be provided a copy of the USYSA and Club by-laws which outlines the appeals process that the individual(s) can initiate. 

(b)   No Club member, official, SMS, league, Coach, Referee, or Player, or their representative, may invoke the aid of the Courts of any State or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within appropriate soccer organizations.  This includes the MSYSA and as set forth in section 5(c), of Rule 4020, “Appeals”, of the USYSA.  For violation of this rule, the offending party shall be subject to the sanctions of suspension and fines as applicable.  The individual shall be liable to SMS and other appropriate soccer organizations for all expenses incurred by the SMS and its Officers, state and national associations and their Officers, as appropriate, in defending each court action, including but not limited to the following: 

(1)   Court costs.

(2)   Attorneys fees.

(3)   Reasonable compensation for time spent by SMU, SMS, MSYSA, and USYSA Officers and employees in responding to and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and court appearance.

(4)   Travel expenses.

(5)     Expenses imposed by the State Association and USYSA.

(a)     Refer to the current USYSA Official Administrative Rule Book for rules governing the Appeals process and associated costs.  A coach may rebut the actions taken, however, the rebuttal must be submitted in writing to the St. Mary's United Club President within 2 weeks of the action taken.

 

 

13.     Fees and Dues

(a)     The United Club shall review and assess fees on an annual basis.  This shall be concluded and posted prior to the start of the new playing season on or about August 1st of the applicable year.

(b)     The Club itself will assess each team annual dues based on the number of eligible roster spots for the appropriate age group.  This means if a team can roster 18 players, that teams dues will be the per player fee multiplied by 18.  These fees/dues can include, but are not limited to:

(1)Professional Training.

(2)Club/team equipment to loan to teams.

(3)     Uniforms.

(4)Tournament Fees.

(5)Defray costs associated with field maintenance and upkeep.