Amended May 17, 2000

Northern Soccer League, INC.
Bylaws

Goals and Objectives

The Northern Soccer League, Inc. is a Non-Profit Corporation working in concert with the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks and has been established as a co-ed, instructional youth soccer league for the fun and enrichment of our children. The general goal of Northern Soccer League is to provide for our youth a positively structured environment for the enjoyment and instruction in the game of soccer.

It is the expressed objective of Northern Soccer League to provide all children the opportunity to participate in the league, regardless of ability, race, creed, or cultural background. Northern Soccer League exists to promote the fun and positive benefits that team soccer provides to our youth and families alike.

Article I

Articles of Inc:

A. As provided for in the A of I, a Board of Directors, hereafter referred to as the Board, shall function to manage and operate the affairs and accomplish the objectives of the Northern Soccer League.
B. These By-laws are binding on all Northern Soccer League activities or functions.

Article II

Membership:
There are two classes of membership to the Northern Soccer League. The qualifications for each class are as follows:
A. Regular Membership are all adults who have children registered in the Northern Soccer League during a current playing session.
B. Player Membership are all children who have been registered in the Northern Soccer League by their parents, guardians, grandparents (adults), during a playing session.

Article III

Meetings:
A. General board meetings shall be held at a place and time designated by the President upon at least seven days written notice. General board meetings are open to adult regular members and coaches in good standing. One general board meeting is required at least once each playing session. The President shall set the date, place, and time of such meetings. The Board by majority vote may set a meeting in the absence of the President.
B. Special board meetings may be called by the President at any time upon at least seven days notice. These meetings shall not be open to the regular and player membership.
C. Any three Board Members can request a meeting of the Board to discuss topics of concern and issues affecting the operation of the league upon at least seven days written notice.
D. Emergency meetings: The President may, at his discretion convene a board meeting upon verbal notice to all Board Members to discuss any emergency which may arise.

Article IV

Dues/Registration Fees:

A. No dues shall be charged to player members.

B. The Board may assess dues and/or a registration fee as a requirement for regular membership.

C. The fee for dues/registration will be decided by the Board.

D. In cases of financial hardship, dues/registration fees may be waived by the Board for any regular member.

Article V

Officer Positions:

A. President:

1. Shall preside at all board meetings.

2. Shall represent the Northern Soccer League in all administrative transactions with the St. Mary’s County Department of recreation and Parks.

3. Shall coordinate the direction of the league.

4. Shall implement policy.

5. Shall enforce bylaws.

6. Shall act as league liaison with sponsors and any contracted Referee Association.

7. Shall appoint committees and other individuals to serve as needed.

8. Shall schedule all games and any make-up games, if necessary.

9. Shall conduct such other matters or perform such functions as may be necessary or proper which are in the best interest of the Northern Soccer League.

B. Vice-President:
1. Shall assist the President in the performance of his duties. 2. Shall coordinate requirements for all playing fields and ensure the quality of the playing surface. 3. Shall be responsible for the lining of fields as necessary, prior to each game. 4. Shall act as the President in the absence of the league President. 5. Shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
C. Secretary: 1. Shall maintain all written records for the league for any current season and two preceding seasons. 2. Shall record all minutes of each league meeting. 3. Shall assist elected and appointed officials in preparing correspondence. 4. Shall publish and distribute minutes of meetings and other information as may be necessary and appropriate. 5. Shall notify Board Members of date, time, and location of meetings. 6. Shall maintain a record of board positions that are open for election each year. 7. Shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
D. Treasurer: 1. Shall maintain custody and control of all monetary funds of the league and open and maintain such bank accounts in a federally insured banking institution. All such bank accounts shall require the signature of at least two officers, one being the treasurer, the other being the President or other officer as designated by the President. 2. Shall prepare and present to the Board of Directors at the General Meeting, a current financial statement. 3. Shall submit to an internal audit annually or when relinquishing duties. The date of the annual audit shall be determined by the President. 4. Shall prepare and file all required tax forms as required by law. 5. Shall obtain all necessary permits which may be required by law to conduct league business and functions. 6. Shall make every effort to recover bad debts i.e. returned checks, etc., and present the Board with a list of uncollected bad debts as part of the Financial Report. 7. Shall prepare a budget each session and submit same to the Board of Directors. 8. Shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
E. Website Manager: 1. Shall maintain the Northern Soccer League website. 2. Shall ensure that information posted on the website is current and accurate. 3. Shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
F. Equipment Manager: 1. Shall be responsible for maintenance and inventory of all league equipment and supplies. 2. Shall have equipment available and dispensed on game days, make-up games, and any other league functions. 3. Shall ensure that all league equipment is collected and secured at the conclusion of games or other league functions. 4. Shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.

Article VI

Board of Directors:
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of thirteen directors.
B. The Board of Directors shall be elected by voting members as set forth in Article VIII.
C. All decisions requiring a board vote shall be at least a majority of active Board Members. A quorum of the Board is required to conduct all business.
D. The primary duties of Board Members are as follows:
1. Determine league laws. 2. Approve the playing schedule. 3. Decide upon the number of divisions, teams in each division, and the number of players on each team. 4. Set registration dates and locations. 5. Determine sponsorship fees. 6. Determine registration dues/fees. 7. Approve all persons desiring to become a coach. 8. Terminate coaches upon a vote by a quorum of the Board. 9. Approve league functions outside the scope of weekly games. 10. Assist in mediating disputes among coaches, players, and regular members. 11. Conduct such other business as may be necessary and proper.

Article VII
Removal from the Board:
A. A Board Member may be removed from office by a vote of a quorum of the Board provided:
1. A proposal to remove a Board Member is made by a Board Member and seconded by another Board Member.

Article VIII
Elections to the Board:
A. Elections for open Board positions will be conducted at the end of the spring session on a date decided upon by the Board. B. Elections will be staggered over a three year cycle so as to allow one third of the Board to be open for election each year. C. Candidates for open Board positions will be accepted from the regular members, coaches, or the public at large. D. Candidates for Board positions will be elected by a majority vote of the Board each year. E. The term of each Board Member will be for three years. F. Officer positions will be filled by a sitting Board Member upon election by a majority vote of the Board each year. G. The position of President will be filled by a Board Member who has served at least one year in office, upon election by a majority vote of the Board. H. In the event a vacancy occurs for any elected position between regular elections, the board will nominate candidates and select a new Board Member by a majority vote. The newly elected member shall fulfill the term of the vacant position. I. Terms of office will begin July 1 to June 30.

Article IX
Conduct:
A. All Board Members, coaches, regular members and player members are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner as ladies and gentlemen. Any deliberate and willful violations of the Bylaws or Northern Soccer League Laws, may result in suspension or termination from the league upon a majority vote of the Board. B. The President, Vice President, or Field Manager may at their discretion, terminate any game in which coaches, spectators, or players are engaging in conduct which is detrimental to the safe, and orderly continuation of any game.

Article X
Training:
Coach certification by the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and conducted by the St. Mary’s County Parks and Recreation Department, shall be required of all persons desiring to be a coach for the Northern Soccer League.

Article XI
Team Structure:
A. Players will be divided into the following divisions: 5-6 year old, 7-8 year old, 9-10 year old, 11-12 year old, 13-14 year old, and 15-17 year old teams. When insufficient players are available in the 13-14 year old division or in the 15-18 year old division, the upper age division may include a 13-15 year old, a 13-16 year old, or a 15-17 year old division. B. Age groupings will be determined by a child’s birth year, January 1 to December 31. C. All players will rotate to the next year age grouping during the fall session of each year. D. The board reserves the right to remove any player from a team roster who consistently misses practices or games or who has resigned from a team. E. Only the players registered as members of the Northern Soccer League during a playing session will be allowed to practice or play in any league practice or game. Due to liability issues, there will be no exceptions. F. A player may only play on the team that he/she is assigned. However, during games where there are not enough players present to field a team with the minimum number of players required, coaches of that game may allow players from other teams within that age division to supplement the affected team until such time as the affected team has a minimum number of players from their roster to continue play. G. Players in a younger division may play in an older division for unusual circumstances with the consent of the affected child’s parents and the approval of the President. H. Players from an older division may play in a younger division for unusual circumstances with the consent of the affected child’s parents and the approval of the President.

Article XII
Game Procedures:
A. All games will be conducted in accordance with current FIFA Laws, except for those modifications allowed by League Rules. B. Mandatory Playing Time: Each player will play a minimum of one half of the total time allotted per game. Coaches are not obligated to field a player the full allotted time if: 1. The player is late for the start of the game. 2. The player has severely misbehaved at practice. 3. The player has an injury or is injured during the game. 4. The player’s parent does not want the child to play for any reason.
C. Games can be canceled by the league President or his representative due to rain, snow, or any unforeseen circumstance, which may be determined to undermine the safety or orderly conduct of any game. D. If a game cannot be played the full allotted time, the Board may reschedule the game, order the score to stand or have the remaining time played at a later date. E. If, for any reason, a coach is unable to attend a scheduled game, an assistant coach will be selected to coach that game. The league President or his representative will be notified prior to game time of the name of the replacement coach.

Article XIII
Amendments:
These bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote of the Board at a duly called Board meeting, to be held not less than two weeks after such changes have been proposed. Notice that bylaw amendments are on the agenda shall be included in the notice of such a meeting.

Acceptance:

These bylaws are accepted by the Board of Directors for the Northern Soccer League, St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Authenticated,

Barry Lewis
President