ORGANIZATION NAME

This organization shall be known as the Northampton Soccer Club, Inc. hereafter referred to as the NSC. The NSC will be an affiliated club and will join the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association each year to maintain that affiliation.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the NSC is to develop and promote a vital and exciting competitive soccer program within Northampton, Massachusetts and the surrounding communities. This will be accomplished through programs designed to educate players and parents about the sport of soccer and develop public awareness. These programs will provide the opportunity for training and play for all interested parties and shall be designed to develop individual skills, fitness, teamwork and fair play. The NSC will also make players and parents aware of other opportunities available to them in the sport, such as premier teams and the Olympic Development Program.

DESCRIPTION AND GOVERNING BODY

The Executive Board of the NSC is responsible for the general administration of the NSC and will be responsible for setting and implementing policy, providing fields and equipment for its teams, recruiting and training coaches, passing information from the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League to its teams and vice versa, and for general organization.

The governing body of the NSC will be the Executive Board, hereafter referred to as the Board, which shall consist of the following:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Director of Coaching
• Director of Fields
• Director of Equipment
• Director of Sponsors. Promotions, and Publicity
• Director of Registration
• Director of the Developmental Program
• No more than 2 additional members drawn from NSC coaching staffs (including assistant coaches)

The Executive Board shall be elected, by a simple majority of those Voting Members in attendance, at the General Meeting to be held at the end of the spring season. While a single individual may be elected to serve as more than one Directorship on the Board, that individual shall not cast more than one vote on any voting matter. Only Voting Members may be elected to the Executive Board.

The terms of the Board Members shall be for one-year, beginning the date of the General Meeting at the end of the Spring season. All officers are eligible or re-election.

The appointing of new Board Members to fill unexpired terms shall be done by the Executive Board.

BOARD DECISIONS

All Board matters shall he decided by a simple majority vote of the quorum in attendance at the Board Meeting. A majority of the current active Board members shall constitute a quorum.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS

NSC Board Meetings will be held a minimum of four times yearly. Members will be notified in writing and/or by email of the yearly General Meeting, at least 15 days prior to the meeting. Special Meetings may he called by the Board as necessary, with the same notification.


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the members of the Board shall be as follows:

President:

1. officially preside at all meetings.
2. be Chair of the Board.
3. represent the NSC at Executive Board meetings of the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League.
4. represent the NSC at public functions requiring NSC attendance.
5. appoint another Board member to represent the NSC at PVJSL meetings and other functions if he is unable to attend.
6. be authorized to sign checks.
7. appoint special committees (subject to Board approval) as may be required for the proper operation of the NSC.

Vice-President:

1. shall succeed to the office and powers of the President in his absence.
2. shall serve the remainder of the President’s term if vacated for any reason. In the event of such a vacancy, the Board shall elect a successor to the post of Vice-President.
3. development and distribution of NSC Newsletter.

Secretary:

1. attend to all correspondence for the NSC.
2. keep detailed minutes of all Board and General Meetings.
3. administer all voting procedures and elections and tabulate and account for all votes.
4. disseminate and distribute all meeting notifications.
5. keep records as necessary.
6. be responsible for public relations.

Treasurer:

1. have charge of the finances of the NSC.
2. report on the finances at all Board and General Meetings.
3. submit and distribute a full written report of the financial transactions and the status of the finances at the annual General Meeting.
4. authorized to sign checks.

Director of Coaching:

1. arrange for workshops and clinics to allow certification of coaches.
2. keep coaches informed of any workshops, seminars and certification courses that are of interest.
3. arrange for clinics and workshops for NSC players.
4. work with the NSC board to identify new and/or potential coaches.
5. recruit new coaches and facilitate their entry into the organization.
6. observe, at least once a year, a coach’s practice and game.
7. investigate parental and player complaints about coaches.

Director of Fields:

1. contact, maintain communications and secure permission for the use of soccer fields.
2. provide for the preparation, laying-out, maintenance and development of soccer fields.
3. arrange, cause to be made, develop, or purchase all necessary goals, nets, flags, paint and other equipment, supplies and materials for the preparation, laying-out, maintenance and development of soccer fields.
4. determine suitability of fields for safe play and rate fields guidance to PVJSL for scheduling.
5. approve the use of fields for games, practices and evaluations of all parties.
6. coordinate and maintain a schedule for the use of fields for games, practices and evaluations, to avoid conflicts and prevent their overuse, for all parties.
7. investigate new sources and locations for additional soccer fields, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Director of Equipment:

1. provide standards and order and purchase all uniforms and other equipment, subject to Board authorization.
2. arrange for storage of NSC inventory.
3. maintain records of inventory.
4. investigate new sources of supplies and equipment.

Director of Sponsors. Promotions, and Publicity:

1. develop, coordinate and implement, subject to Board approval:
   • programs of solicitation of sponsorships, including corporate.
   • programs to generate supplemental funds.
   • programs to generate publicity and promotion of the NSC (i.e. flyers, brochures, posters, press releases).

Director of Registration:

1. develop and implement registration forms and procedures.
2. register all players with the MYSA, and all other appropriate state and/or national organizations.
3. preside over the formation of teams.

Director of the Developmental Program:

1. develop, organize and implement, subject to Board approval, a program for the development of soccer interest and skills for children who are too young to qualify for the U-9 program.

Coaches/Assistant Coaches:

• Team coaches and assistant coaches shall be seasonally approved by the Board.

MEMBERSHIP

General Membership in the NSC shall be open to all youth soccer players and coaches duly registered on one of the NSC team rosters as well as Board members and officers, insofar as they are not rostered as coaches.

Voting Members of the Northampton Soccer Club, Inc. shall be all members of the NSC Executive Board, as well as all current head coaches or their proxies. Voting privileges may also be extended by the Board to those who, over a period of at least one season, have provided significant assistance to the NSC (eg. in fundraising, public relations, etc.).

Unless otherwise indicated, all votes of the Voting Members shall he decided by a simple majority vote of the quorum in attendance at the General or Special Meetings. A majority of the current active Voting Members shall constitute a quorum.


CONDUCT

The Board shall have the authority to suspend any member of the NSC whose conduct is considered detrimental to the organization.


FINANCIAL POLICY

Fiscal Year: the fiscal year of the NSC will be from I January until 31 December.

Budget: A balanced budget for the forthcoming year shall be prepared by the Finance Committee (consisting of the Treasurer and at least two other Board members) and approved by the Board before the new fiscal year.

Major Expenses: Major non-budgeted expenses over $500 from any individual or corporation shall require approval by a majority of the Board.

Bank Account: All monies shall be promptly deposited in NSC accounts.

Expenses: Bills shall he paid when due by the Treasurer.

Expenditures: Funds shall be spent only in the interest of the NSC.


DISPOSITION OF FUNDS

Should the NSC be dissolved, all funds currently in the treasury will be donated, by the Board, to a recognized 501C(3) organization.


OTHER MATTERS

The Board shall have the power to deal with any matters not explicitly covered by the NSC Bylaws.


MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

This Constitution, or any section thereof may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at the Annual General Meeting or at a special meeting. Written notice of any proposed changes shall he made to each member of the Board and each voting member of the NSC at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which such proposed changes shall be submitted to a vote.


MODIFICATIONS TO THE BYLAWS

The Bylaws, or any section thereof, may be amended by a simple majority vote of the Board members present at a Board meeting. In addition, changes may be proposed by a voting member at the Annual General Meeting and approved by a simple majority of the voting members present


ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

This Constitution was originally approved at a General Meeting on January 21, 1993 , and subsequently amended on:

Article I: TEAM ORGANIZATION

A. The rosters of the Northampton Soccer Cub teams will be determined by tryouts conducted at the completion of the spring season. The rosters selected at these tryouts will be valid for the entire soccer year (i.e. for both the fall and subsequent spring seasons, provided that that same team fields a spring team). If spots become available on the roster after its formal submission to PVJSL for the fall season, new players may he added to the roster without additional tryouts at the discretion of the coach (this includes both the fall and spring seasons).

B. Open tryouts/evaluations must be conducted to fill rosters for the Fall season. All players must try out.

C. For U9 and U10 teams, if the number of registrations exceeds the PVJSL roster limit of 14, every effort will be made to form a second team at that age level. If there are two Under-9 teams, one of the two teams will consist of younger players (Under-8) so that they can move up the age groupings together in subsequent years.

D. For U11 and older teams, If the number of players trying out in a particular age group allows for two teams to be formed in that age group, there shall be established an “A” team and a “B” team. The “A” team shall be comprised of the more developed skilled players, with the “B” team giving the opportunity for those to improve their skills development. Each team shall play in the PVJSL Division that best suits its abilities.

E. All players must play within their age groups as defined by MYSA. A written petition must be made, and the Board may grant permission, for a player to “play-up” to an older age group if that player is in that age group’s grade in school

ARTICLE II: COACHES

A. Applications to coach and KidSafe forms must be submitted to the Director of Coaches and approved by the Board prior to submission of rosters to PVJSL each season.

B. Coaching selections shall be based on licenses obtained, soccer knowledge, playing experience, coaching experience, temperment, and reliability. Coaches are expected to conduct practices and teach competitive soccer through the development of skills, strategy and good sportsmanship.

C. All coaches shall have, or be in the process of obtaining (and it must be obtained by the start of the Spring season), the appropriate USSF or NSCAA licenses (or Board approved equivalents):

U9 – USSF G License
U10 – USSF F License
U11 – USSF E License or NSCAA Regional Diploma
U12 – USSF E License or NSCAA Regional Diploma
U13 – USSF D License or NSCAA Advanced Regional Diploma
U14 – USSF D License or NSCAA Advanced Regional Diploma
U15 and over - USSF C License or NSCAA National Diploma
Upon petition, the Board may waive or reduce these requirements.

D. Coaches are responsible for the administration of their team, and for participating in all NSC activities, including but not limited to Tag Day, jamborees/tournaments and field maintenance.

E. Coaches may be dismissed in mid-term by the Board for conduct considered detrimental to the organization.

ARTICLE III: UNIFORMS

A. The basic colors of NSC uniforms shall be gold shirts, navy blue shorts, and gold socks.

B. The Board shall select the standard brand, cost and distribution of all uniforms.

ARTICLE IV: FEES

A. The Board shall set all fees.

In order to maximize playing time for all team members, the following is recommended, although it is up to the discretion of the individual coaches to set their rosters:

a. although the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League allows rosters of 18 players for team of Under-11 and older, the NSC considers 15 to be the ideal number of players for a team these age brackets.

b. although Under-9 and Under-10 rosters could have as many as 14 players, the NSC considers 12 players to be the optimal size in these age groups.

2. Level of Player Commitment:

All youth soccer players of the Northampton Soccer Club are expected to bring with them a desire to learn the game of soccer and to make a strong effort to improve their individual and team-related skills.

a. All NSC players must have the proper equipment. This includes: shinguards, soccer cleats, full uniform, water, soccer ball (size 4 for age brackets up to and including Under-l2: older groups use size 5 ball).

b. All NSC players are expected to attend all practices and games. If you cannot attend a practice or game, you must notify the coach at least 60 minutes prior to the activity.

c. All NSC players are expected to regularly practice at home the various drills and skills they are shown at practice. This is a very important part of a player’s development since practice time is usually quite limited.

d. All NSC players are expected to show good sportsmanship and to be supportive of teammates, coaches and referees at all times.

e. All NSC players are expected to participate in our seasonal TAG DAY. The NSC relies on its TAG DAY each season to pay the costs of equipment for its teams (game balls, goalie shirt and gloves, first aid kit, practice cones, etc.) and the various fees necessary to enter them in the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League (MYSA fees, PVJSL fees, referees fees, tournament pins, etc.). Registration fees alone are not sufficient to cover these costs.

3. Tournaments:

All NSC teams are expected to participate in area or regional tournaments at least once a year. Not only are these events lots of fun, but players also get to play against opponents they may not normally see. Much can be learned from the experience of tournament play, especially against opponents of high quality.

The NSC will provide, free of charge, pins/patches for players to exchange with opponents.

4. The following restrictions shall apply to all NSC Fields, Facilities and Events:

a. no smoking
b. no alcohol
c. no illegal drugs
d. no dogs
e. carry-out all of your trash