ARTICLE I: Name
The name of the organization shall be the FAIRVIEW PARK SOCCER ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as the FPSA.
ARTICLE II: Purpose and Philosophy
Section A: The purpose of the FPSA shall be to promote the game of soccer throughout the community of Fairview Park. The FPSA shall he committed to the philosophy of benefiting all Fairview Park youths interested in playing soccer by organizing, selecting, training, coaching, and supporting boys and girls travel soccer teams
Section B: FPSA shall be a nonprofit charitable organization designed to support soccer in Fairview Park through volunteer cooperation of adults teaching and training young boys and girls in the game of soccer. FPSA shall promote good sportsmanship through organized competition.
Section C: FPSA funds shall be used for operating expenses, and no part of funds will inure to the benefit of officers, directors, or the general membership.
Section D: FPSA shall not be involved in or participate in political campaigns or attempt to influence legislation other than legislation pertaining to the game of soccer.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section A: This Article pertains only to individual membership in the FPSA; team membership is addressed in Article VIII.
Section B: Any person in active participation in soccer, who is active in the promotion of soccer, or is interested in advancing the sport of soccer, is welcome to be a member of FPS A, providing said person complies with current requirements set forth by the Board. The Board shall determine membership dues, required contributions, and other incidents of membership.
Section C: All carded coaches of FPSA teams, including head coaches and assistant coaches, shall automatically become members of FPSA.
Section D: All FPSA members shall be entitle to vote at General Membership meetings.
ARTICLE IV: Governing Board
Section A: FPSA shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of officers elected by FPSA members at a General Membership meeting. Each Director shall serve a term of two (2) years. The President, Treasurer, Girls Representative, Registrar, Field Chair and Fundraising Chair shall be elected in even numbered years; the Vice President, Boys Representative, Secretary, Equipment Chair, Publicity, and At-Large Representative shall be elected in odd numbered years.
Section B: The Board shall consist of twelve (12) executive officers: President, Vice President, Boys Representative, Girls Representative, Treasurer, Secretary, Equipment Chair, Field Chair, Publicity, Registrar, Fundraising Chair, and At-Large Representative. Each Board member, other than the President, shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters concerning the FPSA. The President shall vote only in the event of a tie.
Section C: FPSA Board members' duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of responsibility:
President - Presides over General Membership and Board meetings; is responsible for long-range planning and objectives; recommend formation and personnel appointment to special committees, as necessary, presides over elections; presides over all grievance procedures as is defined in Article XIII, oversees and generally supervises the activities of all other Board members.
Vice President – Presides over General Membership and Board meetings in the absence of the President; arranges the date, time and place of Board meetings; attends and represents FPSA at all City of Fairview Park Recreation Commission, City Council and Board of Education meetings, if necessary.
Boys Representative - Serves as the representative to the boys leagues in which the FPSA participates; schedules all boys games; coordinates evaluations for all boys teams; responsible for scheduling all coaching and licensing clinics; ensures coaching license requirements are met for all boys coaches and notifies all boys coaches of upcoming tournaments.
Girls Representative - Serves as the representative to the girls leagues in which the FPSA participates;; schedules all girls games; coordinates evaluations for all girls teams; responsible for scheduling all coaching and licensing clinics; ensures coaching license requirements are met for all girls coaches and notifies all girls coaches of upcoming tournaments.
Treasurer - Prepares and presents budget to the FPSA; keeps records of all receipts and disbursements, which will be subject to annual audit: makes recommendations concerning investment of FPSA funds; initiates collection activity for unpaid FPSA fees.
Secretary - Keeps and preserves a record of the proceedings of the FPSA and all records (except those of the Treasurer); notifies Board members of meetings as set by the Vice President; performs the duties of a moderator.
Equipment Chair - Responsible for the purchase, inventory, security, issuance and reclaiming of all soccer field equipment, training aids, balls and uniforms (when necessary). The Equipment Chair may appoint assistants when necessary.
Field Chair – Coordinates with the City of Fairview Park regarding the preparation and maintenance of the fields for practice and games. This includes lining the fields and installing nets and stakes thirty (30) minutes before game time. Responsible for the purchase, inventory and security of field preparation equipment and consumables. The Field Chair may appoint assistants when necessary.
Publicity - Responsible for website content or coordinating this content, publicizing meetings and registration; maintaining an e-mail distribution list provided by the Registrar at the end of registration each season.
Registrar - Coordinates and conducts all registration for both boys and girls teams, individual players, and coaches; establishes dates and procedures to register players, teams and coaches; performs registrations for the fall and spring seasons; provides Publicity Chair current e-mail distribution list for members after registration each season.
Fundraising Chair - Coordinates all fund raising efforts by the FPSA; establishes an annual fund raising goal and suggests potential fund raising projects; coordinates and works with all Team Representatives to conduct annual fundraising events.
At-Large Representative - Provides assistance to all Board members when necessary; attends girls or boys league meetings in the absence of Girls or Boys Representatives; acts as a liaison between the Board members and all other FPSA members.
ARTICLE V: Elections
Section A: The Board of Directors shall submit a list of candidates for the various elected positions to the General Membership prior to the General Membership meeting.
Section B: Nominations from the floor shall be considered at the General Membership meeting.
Section C: Election of Board members to the FPSA Board shall be held at the General Membership meeting held in May of each year; installation of newly elected officers shall be held immediately after the election at the May General Membership meeting.
ARTICLE VI: Board Meetings
Section A: FPSA Board meeting shall be held at such times as deemed necessary by the President or any two (2) Board members.
Section B: FPSA Secretary shall notify each Board member at least seven (7) days in advance of such special Board meetings. Notice for the General Membership meeting shall be through the e-mail, FPSA website, FPSA newsletter and / or other appropriate news media.
Section C: FPSA Board meetings will require at least four (4) voting members for a quorum.
Section D: There shall be at least four (4) Board meeting each year, to be held in January, April, August and November. In addition, special meetings may be called when deemed necessary by the President or by any two (2) Board Members.
Section E: All FPSA members may attend the Board meetings, however, they shall not be entitled to vote, other than at the General Membership meetings.
Section F: Robert’s Rules of Order shall apply to all FPSA Board meetings.
ARTICLE VII: General Membership Meetings
Section A: The General Membership meeting shall take place each May at a time to be designated by the FPSA Board. The Secretary shall notify the General Membership seven (7) days prior to the General Membership meeting through e-mail, FPSA website ,FPSA Newsletter and / or other appropriate news media.
Section B: Robert’s Rules of Order shall apply to all FPSA General Membership meetings.
Section C: The order of business at FPSA General Membership Meetings shall be as follows:
1. Reading of the minutes of the previous General Membership meeting:
2. Report of the Board members;
3. Old or unfinished business:
4. New Business
5. Date of the next General Membership meeting;
6. Adjournment.
Section D: Special General Membership meetings may be called whenever deemed necessary by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII: Teams
Section A: The Board shall establish guidelines for selection of players for teams. Player evaluations, if necessary, shall be held at a time and place designated and communicated by the Board. Players shall be ranked and teams formed by coaches with Board oversight and approval. The decision of the Board regarding player placement shall be final.
Section B: Each team formed following evaluations shall be the official FPSA team for the fall and spring season for that year. Additional players may be added to fill open roster spots, or players may be dropped from rosters at player or guardian request, upon approval by the Board.
Section C: Each team shall have one (1) Parent Representative, chosen by the Head Coach. This Parent Representative shall attend Board meetings, as necessary, and serve, along with the Fundraising Chair, on the FPSA Fundraising Committee. The Parent Representatives’ names shall be provided to the Fund Raising Chair prior to the first game of each season.
Section D: The FPSA shall supply all first-year teams with appropriate uniforms. Following the first year of play, all teams are responsible for obtaining or purchasing their own uniforms. All uniforms must conform to FPSA color requirements (red, white, and black), and must first be approved by the Board. Generally, the FPSA uniform shall consist of red socks, red/black shorts, and jersey approved by the Board.
ARTICLE IX: Coaches
Section A: Coaches, including head coaches and assistant coaches, shall serve under the direction and control of the FPSA. All coaches shall be recommended, prior to the start of each season, either by the Boys Representative (for boys coaches) or Girls Representative (for girls coaches), for approval by the Board.
Section B: Coaches shall be responsible for FPSA teams, including training players, scheduling team practices, fielding registered players for all FPSA League games, scheduling tournament games for players, and assisting with annual evaluations, if needed.
Section C: Coaches shall be removed by the Board for actions violating the intent, philosophy, or rules of the FPSA.
Section D: The Head Coach shall be responsible for the conduct of the Assistant Coaches and players at games and practices. The Head Coach will make every effort to ensure the parents and other spectators behave in an orderly, respectful manner.
Section E: Coaches shall support the referee and assist him or her in maintaining order before, during, and after the soccer game.
Section F: At least one coach from each team shall attend the Board meetings, and all coaches are requested to attend the General Membership meetings.
Section G: All coaches, both head coach and assistant coaches, must meet league licensing requirements.
ARTICLE X: Players
Section A: All players in the FPSA shall be either Fairview Park residents or attend Fairview Park public, parochial, or private schools. Participation in the FPSA shall be available to all such individuals regardless of race, sex, and national origin. Eligibility may be expanded subject to Board approval.
Section B: Players may be removed from FPSA play for actions violating the intent, philosophy, and/or rules of this organization.
Section C: Players on all teams shall conform to the age and/or grade requirements set forth by the league under which the FPSA is operating. Any and all exceptions to this rule shall be made with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board.
Section D: When, and if necessary, the Board shall establish rules, priorities, or other regulations concerning team participation and player eligibility.
ARTICLE XI: Registration
Section A: FPSA shall have on record registration papers, including permission slips for all players which must be signed by the player's parent or guardian.
Section B: FPSA youth registration papers shall release FPSA, its officer, coaches, and agents, from any and all claims for injury, negligence, or any type claim.
ARTICLE XII: Games
Section A: FPSA games will be scheduled by the league(s) in which FPSA participates.
Section B: FPSA teams participating in soccer competitions outside the normal league game schedule shall obtain the prior approval of the Board of Directors before participating.
ARTICLE XIII: Grievances
Section A: Grievances must be in writing and submitted to the President within five (5) days of the occurrence.
Section B: The President must submit the grievance to the Board within three (3) days after receipt.
Section C: The Board must address the problem and submit their findings in writing to all parties involved within five (5) days of receipt from the President.
ARTICLE XIV: Amendments
Section A: Proposed constitutional and/or bylaw changes and amendments shall require notification of the General Membership seven (7) days prior to the General Membership meeting.
Section B: Proposals shall be discussed and voted upon at the General Membership meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and authorized to vote shall be sufficient to amend the Constitution.
ARTICLE XV: Conduct
Section A: Any officer, director, or member of FPSA shall be ineligible for membership in FPSA due to conduct detrimental to the interest of FPSA or for action contrary to the stated resolution of the Board or contents of the Constitution.
Section B: Charges for ineligible membership shall be submitted in writing to the President or the Vice President of the FPSA.
Section C: FPSA Secretary shall notify all interested parties of the time and place for the meeting to hear the charges.
Section D: Three (3) affirmative votes of the FPSA Board present shall be necessary to determine the person' eligibility for further participation in FPSA.
ARTICLE XVI: Nonprofit Status
Section A: As a nonprofit organization and in the event of dissolution, the assets of FPSA will be donated to the Fairview Park Youth Association.
Section B: The organization to receive assets of FPSA must be under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.