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CONSTITUTION

1:01 NAME

1:01:01 This Association shall be known as the California Youth Soccer Association, Incorporated, also referred to as "CYSA". This Association is a tax-exempt organization under the laws of the United States, and shall maintain its tax-exempt status.

1:02 PURPOSE

1:02:01 The purpose of this Association shall be to develop, promote and administer the games of outdoor and indoor soccer, among youth (boys and girls under nineteen years of age) within the northern California territory for the benefit and development of all youth as young men and women as the higher and greater purpose of youth soccer and not just as players.

1:02:02 The purpose of all Association members shall be to offer, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin and/or ability, a soccer program to all youth (boys and girls under nineteen years of age) within their geographical area.

1:03 AFFILIATION

1:03:01 This Association shall be an affiliated branch of and comply with the authority of the US Youth Soccer (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). To the extent permissible under applicable law, this constitution and bylaws shall be consistent with USSF, and USYS articles of incorporation and bylaws. To the extent permissible under applicable law, this Association and its members shall abide by USSF's and USYS's articles of incorporation and bylaws. CYSA will annually register with USSF and USYS players, team officials, and administrators who are registered with CYSA.

1:04 BOUNDARIES AND TERRITORIES

1:04:01 The territory of this Association shall be that area of the state of California, south from the Oregon state line, to a line across the state, formed by the southern boundary line of the following counties: Monterey, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo.

1:04:02 The governing authority of this Association may create geographical sub-divisions, within the territory, which shall be known as "Districts".

1:04:03 The governing authority of this Association shall sanction or create, geographical sub-divisions, within the districts, which shall be known as "Leagues". At no time will there be more than one (1) league within the same geographical area, unless they are distinctly designated as outdoor and indoor leagues, except as provided in Article 1:05:02.

1:04:04 District boundaries shall be fixed and/or modified, by the governing authority of this Association, before, but no later than, the first of February of the preceding seasonal year.

1:05 MEMBERSHIP

1:05:01 Membership in this Association shall be by affiliated leagues consisting of sufficient registered players to form a minimum of four (4) teams in three (3) age groups for play within their own league. No indoor team can be counted as an outdoor team and no outdoor team can be counted as an indoor team. No team may apply for membership directly to this Association. Team registration must come through an affiliated league. The recognized administrative bodies, within this Association, are those of designated League Administrations. Participation in the activities of this Association and its affiliated leagues shall be open to any soccer player, coach, trainer, manager, administrator and official, provided such person is not barred from participation by CYSA, affiliated leagues, USSF, or USYS.

Please refer to PIMs 78- 1 and 93-1 for additional information.

1:05:02 Special membership may be granted to a "District League." Such membership may be granted only under the following special provisions.

A.      Lack of players and/or teams exist within, or in part of, a district to individual leagues and a district league would serve to provide a temporary vehicle of organized play until development allows the establishment of independent leagues.

B.      Affiliated leagues within a district wish to form a district playing league for inter-league team competition to compliment their own league activities and responsibilities.

1:05:03 All member leagues, their teams and players, shall abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the California Youth Soccer Association, the United States Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation; all General Procedures and Specific Rules as set forth by the Board of Directors and all applicable rules and regulations of the United States Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation.

1:05:04 Any applicant for membership in this Association, shall submit yearly, with the appropriate fee(s):

A.      A properly completed League Affiliation form. In the case of an established league, this affiliation form shall be submitted by the first (1st) of March of the preceding season.

B.      Properly completed CYSA Membership Form and a Team Roster, prepared in accordance with the current registration instructions and procedures.

Please refer to PIMs 93-1 and 10-1 for additional information.

1:05:05 Annual fees for players are due and payable, unless otherwise provided for by the Board of Directors, at the time of, but no later than, such player's first team or league practice and/or game. Teams are not considered registered until all of that team's player fees are paid.

1:05:06 All bank checks, drafts and/or money orders submitted to this Association, shall be made payable to the California Youth Soccer Association or to "CYSA."

1:05:07 All member leagues shall be responsible for governing those persons and their actions associated with their operations. Teams shall abide by the league rules under which they are registered and in which they are playing.

1:05:08 Falsification of records shall be grounds for disbarment from future participation and/or membership in this Association.

Please refer to PIM 08-3 for additional information.

1:05:09 A plea of ignorance to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, Specific Rules and Policy Interpretation Memoranda of this Association, the United States Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation is not sufficient and violators may expect appropriate action by the Board of Directors of this Association.

1:05:10 Any person found guilty of violating the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, Specific Rules and Policy Interpretation Memoranda of this Association, the United States Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation may be asked to appear before the Board of Directors of this Association in order to explain his/her action.

Please refer to PIM 08-3 for additional information.

1:05:11 All non-member teams or leagues who are not part of an organization recognized by the United States Soccer Federation, within the territorial jurisdiction of this Association, shall be deemed as an "Unaffiliated Organization." Any registered team or affiliated league playing games or "doing business" with an unaffiliated organization, without written consent of the Board of Directors, shall face disciplinary action and/or suspension by the Board of Directors. Teams and individuals not formed under a league affiliated with CYSA may be allowed to participate in CYSA events upon complying with CYSA Board of Director requirements.

1:05:12 Players, near the territorial limits of this Association, may be given permission to affiliate with other recognized Associations as outlined in USSF Rules.

1:06 AUTHORITIES

1:06:01 This Association shall be governed by its Constitution and Bylaws; any Specific Rules and Procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, and the Rules established by the United States Youth Soccer (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

A.      This Association shall provide annually to the USSF Secretary General: (1) copies of its constitution, bylaws, and governing documents; (2) any changes to its constitution, bylaws, and governing documents within 90 days of their adoption; (3) a report on its activities; and (4) its most currently completed financial statement no later than 90 days of USSF's seasonal year.

B.      Copies of this Association's constitution, bylaws, and governing documents shall, upon reasonable request, be made, available to members.

C.      This Association will allow USSF, upon reasonable request, to review its basic documents and procedures as may reasonably be required to determine compliance with USSF Constitution and bylaws.

1:06:02 The governing authority of this Association whose powers shall be designated in the Bylaws, shall be vested with the Board of Directors of this Association.

1:06:03 The governing board, hereinafter to be known as the "Board of Directors," shall be comprised of the District Commissioners plus the Chairman, 1st Vice Chairman, 2nd Vice Chairman, 3rd Vice Chairman, Past Chairman, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, and other Members-at-Large; but in no case will the Board of Directors exceed twenty-one (21) members.

1:07 ANNUAL MEETING

1:07:01 The CYSA Chairman shall call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members to be held during the month of January, February, March, April or May and, not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days before the meeting, shall give written notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting to each affiliated league and each member of the Board of Directors.

1:07:02 The order of Business, at the Annual General Meeting, shall be as follows:

A.                                   Call to Order

B.                                   Roll Call

C.                                   Credentials Report

D.                                   Introduction of Guests

E.                                    Acceptance of Minutes of the previous AGM

F.                                    Reports:

1.            Chairman

2.            a) Chief Financial Officer

b) Independent Auditors Report

3.            Secretary

4.            Executive Director

5.            District Commissioners

6.            Committees

G.                                   Unfinished Business

H.                                   Proposals for change to Constitution, Bylaws, and/or General Procedures and Specific Rules

I.                                      New Business

J.                                    Good of the Game

K.                                   Adjournment

1:07:03 The Board of Directors will annually recommend to the membership, the procedures, rules and fees required for affiliated leagues, registered teams and/or registered players, for ratification at the Annual General Meeting. Any changes in existing procedures, rules and/or fees, being recommended by the Board of Directors, shall be forwarded, in writing, to all member leagues, at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

1:07:04 Each affiliated league shall be entitled to one (1) one vote for every 500 players or fraction thereof that are, on the 60th calendar day before the date of the Annual Meeting, properly registered, including the payment of registration fees, and in good standing with the affiliated league and with CYSA. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed. The Chairman of this Association shall cast a vote only in case of a tie.

1:07:05 A quorum shall consist of any number of members present at the Annual General Meeting.

1:07:06 In the event there are two or more rule change proposals, or resolutions that are to be voted on at the Annual General Meeting of the California Youth Soccer Association that conflict with each other: the rule change proposal that receives the greatest number of "yes" votes shall prevail providing that it receives a two thirds majority of those voting, in the case of resolutions that conflict, the resolution that receives the greatest number of "yes" votes shall prevail, providing that it receives a majority of those voting.

1:08 CHANGES

1:08:01 Any affiliated league, the Board of Directors and any member of the Board of Directors may submit proposed changes to the existing Constitution and Bylaws; Specific Rules and Procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. Proposed changes shall be submitted to the CYSA Office no less than 120 days prior to the AGM.

1:08:02 Amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Procedures of this Association shall be made at the Annual General Meeting of the membership, except in such cases as specified in the Bylaws of the Association, the United States Youth Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation.

1:08:03 An amendment shall be deemed adopted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting.

1:08:04 Any and all amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules of this Association, adopted at the Annual General Meeting, shall become effective at the beginning of the seasonal year immediately following the Annual General Meeting.

A.      Teams shall be governed by the rules of the seasonal year for which they are registering.

B.      Events (games, tournaments, etc.) shall be governed by the rules of the seasonal year for which their participants are registered.

1:09 SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

1:09:01 The Board of Directors may by a two-thirds vote call a special meeting of the members to be held not less than 60 days nor more than 120 days from the date of the call by the Board of Directors. Not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days before the meeting, each affiliated league, each of its registered teams, and each member of the Board of Directors shall be given written notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting may include proposed changes to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules of this Association approved for proposal by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

1:09:02 Voting at a Special Membership Meeting shall be as specified in section 1:07:04 and a quorum shall be as specified in section 1:07:05.

1:09:03 Proposed changes to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules of this Association shall be deemed adopted at a Special Membership Meeting by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those eligible to vote attending and voting at the Special Membership Meeting.

1:09:04 Changes to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules of this Association and any other matter adopted at a Special Membership Meeting shall become effective immediately unless an effective date is specified in the proposal adopted.

1:10 RULES OF ORDER

1:10:01 The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern this Association in all cases in which they do not conflict with the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures and Specific Rules of this Association, the United States Youth Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation.

1:11 RULES OF PLAY

1:11:01 Rules of play, except as provided by US Youth Soccer (USYS) and its affiliates, the FIFA "Laws of the Game" shall apply to any and all competitions sponsored by the Association. Players under ten years of age, may play soccer under the auspices of this Association in accordance with the rules of this Association's development player program: modified playing rules for Under-6, Under-8, and Under-10.

1:12 COLORS

1:12:01 The representative colors of this Association shall be blue and gold.

1:13 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PROHIBITION

1:13:01 The use and/or consumption of any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, immediately before, during or immediately after the playing of any youth soccer game, is expressly prohibited.

1:13:02 Any player, team official, league official, or any other member of this Association, who violates this prohibition, shall be subject to disciplinary action and/or suspension by the Board of Directors of this Association.

Please refer to PIM 08-3 for additional information.

1:14 DISSOLUTION

1:14:01 Should this Association be dissolved, all assets remaining after payment of all debts shall be turned over to the United States Youth Soccer Association for the express purpose of the development of youth soccer.