CONSTITUTION
1. Name
Name of the league will be the North Region Girls Football League hereinafter referred to as The League, and they shall be affiliated as full members to Scottish Women’s Football. All in membership, players, clubs and league, shall be bound by the SWF Article of Association. The League shall participate in Regional Football in accordance with the SFA designated Regions.
2. Object/Aims
The object of the League shall be to provide organised football for girls at the relevant age-groups identified by SWF within the designated Region.
In pursuance of that object, the League shall be empowered to organise and administer league and cup competitions at such age groups as may be authorised from time to time.
The league shall support the SWF Youth Committee, and shall have representation on such committee as detailed in the SWF Articles.
The League may work with any other league or association affiliated to the SWF to promote and encourage the game for girls in Scotland, with the prior knowledge and consent of the SWF Youth Committee.
3. Membership
Clubs will be admitted into membership of the League at the Annual General Meeting.
Application for membership shall be made in writing to the SWF. On receipt of application, the League shall be advised and approval shall be granted to the club, in conjunction with the SWF. Membership will only be granted to players and clubs who reside in the designated Region, unless prior agreement is made with the SWF.
All clubs accepted must comply to the requirements of the League in respect to Insurance, First-Aid, Coaching Certificate, and any other regulations as deemed necessary by the SWF Youth Committee from time to time.
No team will be allowed entry into the league once the season has commenced.
There shall be three categories of membership: Player membership, Club membership and Associate Membership. Membership shall be open to all who fulfil the league criteria.
3.1 Player: A player shall be recognised by the League as a Player Member through her participation in a Club providing she has not been removed or barred from membership by the League or SWF, subject to the following provisions:-
Submission to the League of the Players Recreational Form as per SWF Registration procedures (to be collected by the League), which will effect her agreement to adhere to the Laws of the Game, this Constitution, the Rules & Regulation and other statues/codes as required, by the League, SWF or SFA, from time to time.
Players will be allowed to play at two age-groups, excluding all Cup competitions. This will be reviewed annually.
Players can only play in their own age group or one age group above, unless approval to play up two age-groups has been received from the Regional Youth Committee.
Players must play in the region they reside unless approval has been received from their Regional Youth Committee. This applied only applies to players who register as new players from season 05-06.
3.2 Club: A club shall be recognised by the League as a Club Member through its participation in the League providing that it has not been removed by or barred from membership by the League or SWF, subject to the following provisions;
payment of the Annual Subscription (to be collected by the relevant League and submitted to SWF, as per SWF Articles); and
submission to the League of the Club Affiliation form in terms of which it has
agreed to adhere to the Laws of the Game, this Constitution, the Rules & Regulation and any other statues/codes as required, by the League, SWF or SFA, from time to time.
3.3 Associate Membership
At the discretion of SWF a Club may be admitted as an Associate Member on receipt by SWF of an application in the form prescribed by the Committee from time to time. The terms and conditions of Associate Membership and the Associate Member’s annual subscription shall be as prescribed by the SWF from time to time
At the discretion of the League a former Player may be admitted as an Associate Member on receipt by the League Management Committee of a written application. The terms and conditions of Associate Membership and the Associate Member’s annual subscription shall be as prescribed by the League from time to time
Associate Club Members will have no voting rights, and will not participate in the League’s competitions but may participate in non-league games/tournaments, by invitation, within the designated area.
3.4 Patrons
The League shall have the power, by resolution at the Annual General Meeting, to invite any person to accept nomination as a patron of the League. This will be a non-voting role. Acceptance shall be confirmed by a three-quarter majority vote, of those present and entitled to vote at the AGM
3.5 Life Membership
The League shall have the power, by resolution at the Annual General Meeting, to convey life membership upon any person whose service to girl’s football at youth levels within the area is deemed meritorious. A life member shall be entitled to attend at all meetings of the General Committee and the Annual General Meeting. This will be a non-voting role. Acceptance shall be confirmed by a three-quarter majority vote, of those present and entitled to vote at the AGM
4. Affilation to SWF
The League shall procure that each of its clubs pays the Annual Subscription to the SWF timeously which it shall collect on behalf of the Association and pay to the Association by the Annual General Meeting in each season.
5. Annual League Affiliation Fee
The League management committee shall agree at the AGM the League fees required for the following season. It shall also agree on League Player Registration Fees. A Club Registration meeting shall be held following the AGM, to register clubs and determine the league set-up for the following season.
6. Termination
The League may terminate any membership should any infringement of the Constitution, and/or regulations or other statues or codes by broken, also if
and/or
7. League format
A League shall consist of no less than six teams and no more than twelve teams, without the prior permission of the Youth Committee. Sub-divisions will be formed by the League Management Committee when there are more than twelve member teams.
Should a team resign mid-season from the League, the League will continue until the end of the current season, when the situation will be reviewed by the LMC.
8. League Council
The League Council shall be formed from a maximum of two members per club, which will include the League chairperson. The League Council shall meet no less than four times per year. Each club shall have one vote but no individual in attendance at a meeting of the League Management Committee shall have more than one vote.
The Chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting vote and his/her ruling shall be final.
Retiral
Any representative including the Chairperson will be required to retire from any meeting of any committee in the event of a matter pertaining to her club being the subject of discussion.
9. League Management
The League shall be overseen by an Executive Committee, drawn from the League Council, which may consist of the following positions: The remit of these positions are detailed in Management Roles.
Chairperson
Vice-chairperson
Treasurer
League Administrator
Disciplinary Chairperson
The LMC shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, and shall hold office until retirement. None of the Management Committee roles may be combined. No club will be allowed more than one representative to sit on the Executive Committee. The Executive committee will have the power to fill any vacancy which may arise, and to co-opt and create any sub-committee’s as deemed necessary from time to time.
At all meetings of the Executive, three members of the Committee shall form a quorum.
The Executive shall meet as and when required, but not less than four times in a year.
.
Retiral
Any representative may be required to retire from any meeting of any committee in the event of a matter pertaining to his club being the subject of discussion.
10. Two representatives of the Executive Committee will represent the League on the SWF Youth Committee.
10. Annual General Meeting
a) The AGM of the League shall be held annually at a date in June when the order of business will be as follows:
1. Minutes of previous AGM
2. Matters arising
3. Chairperson’s Annual Report
4. Financial report
5. Proposed Amendments to the Constitution
6. Admission of New Teams
7. Election of Office-Bearers
8. League set-up
The AGM will require a quorum of two thirds.
11. Extraordinary General Meeting
On a special requisition signed by not less than one-half of the clubs in membership of the League and stating the business to be considered, the League Administrator shall be required to convene an EGM without undue delay. The EGM will require a quorum of two-thirds.
The majority of members of the Executive Committee will also have the power to request the convening of an EGM.
12. Exclusion of Teams
The Annual General Meeting will have the power to exclude from continued membership any team whose conduct has been deemed to be objectionable. Any motion to this effect will require an absolute majority of all those entitled to vote.
13. Amendments to the Constitution
All proposed amendments must submitted to the SWF Youth Committee for approval prior to the AGM. They will then be presented to the SWF AGM for ratification and acceptance
No amendment shall be made to this Constitution except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose. A minimum of twenty-one days notice shall be given in writing to the Secretary of any proposed alteration which must be proposed and seconded by representatives of different Clubs. The Executive Committee shall be empowered itself to propose any amendment.
A copy of any proposed amendment shall be sent to all teams not later than fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting at which it is to be considered. Any counter-proposals must be submitted 7 days prior to the AGM. No amendment shall be made to the Constitution unless two-thirds of those present and qualified to vote shall have voted and a majority of members voting shall be necessary to carry the motion.
14. Accounts
the league Management Committee will have the authority to request a copy of club accounts, as required, from time to time.
15. Insurance
SWF recommends that all youth clubs should insure through the SYFA policy. Clubs who do not wish to do this shall a submit a copy of their insurance policy to the league for approval.
16. Child Protection
Al clubs must have a Child Protection Policy and adhere to the SWF CP Policy
17. Dissolution of the League
The League will not be dissolved except with the consent of not less than two-thirds of the members present at a Special General Meeting called especially for that purpose. However, should the Association be wound up, any remaining funds will be transferred to another organisation having similar aims and objectives to that of the Association.
18. Interpretation
The LMC shall have full powers to determine any matter relating to the interpretation of the Constitution, and matters not covered within will be covered through SWF Articles of Association.
12th July 05