SOCCER CLUB OF OAK RIDGE CONSTITUTION
Adopted January 26, 1989
Last Revised April 23, 2003
1. NAME
This Association shall be known as the Soccer Club of Oak Ridge, a nonprofit educational organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee (hereafter as SCOR) (IRS Tax ID 62-1522691).
2. PURPOSE
The purpose of SCOR shall be to develop, promote, and administer the sport of soccer among youth and adult players.
2.1. Sponsor teams registered through SCOR with the Tennessee Soccer Association (TS) with a goal of at least one youth team per age group in division 1, 2, or 3. Another goal shall be to strive to accommodate on a SCOR sponsored team any qualified player in the City of Oak Ridge and surrounding communities. A further goal shall be to encourage the development of talented soccer players from Oak Ridge and surrounding communities. An additional goal is to work toward improving soccer playing and practice facilities in Oak Ridge.
2.2. Cooperate with the City of Oak Ridge and/or other organizations to provide playing and practice facilities for SCOR teams registered through SCOR with TS.
2.3. Assist the City of Oak Ridge, American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and other organizations to develop, improve, and maintain needed soccer facilities.
2.4. Provide a supply of practice equipment (i.e. goals, nets, corner flags) for SCOR teams that is shared by more than one team from day to day and/or season to season basis.
2.5. Assist SCOR teams in securing high quality coaches by sponsoring educational activities for coaches that lead to proper coaching licenses for each coach of each SCOR team, and by having a Director of Coaching for assisting with the selection of teams of coaches for each SCOR team.
2.6. Sponsor summer soccer camps to help players, coaches, and referees to improve their skills.
2.7. Sponsor a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) referee education program, one per year, in order to provide qualified referees for games and any tournaments SCOR may sponsor.
2.8. Interface with representatives of Middle Schools of the Oak Ridge School System, and with qualified coaches, parent volunteers, and the Knoxville coordinator(s) for organizing boys and girls soccer teams for participation in Middle School soccer leagues.
2.9. Promote nurturing, team oriented, learning experiences that encourage fair play and sportsmanship to all players, and to emphasize that each practice and soccer game is for the betterment of each of the players.
3. AFFILIATION
SCOR shall be affiliated with, and shall abide by the Constitution, Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures of the TS and USSF as administered by its Youth Division, the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSF), and by the United States Senior Soccer Division (USSSD).
4. GOVERNANCE
SCOR shall be governed by its Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures, as modified and amended by SCOR, or when superseded by the governing authority of TS and USSF and its divisions with whom SCOR is affiliated.
5. MEMBERSHIP
Members of SCOR shall be affiliated organizations, individuals, and families interested in advancing soccer in Oak Ridge, and who pay fees and dues for registration with TS (state fees) and SCOR (local dues).
6. LEGAL AND TAX EXEMPT STATUS
6.1 The purpose for which SCOR is organized is exclusively educational within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any future Internal Revenue Code.
6.2 The Association shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any future Internal Revenue Code (IRS Tax ID 62-1522691).
6.3 In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the Association shall be turned over for exclusive public purposes to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) and 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or corresponding sections of Internal Revenue Code as amended.
BYLAWS
BYLAW 1. MEMBERSHIP
1.1 A Member shall be any person in good standing with the Soccer Club of Oak Ridge (SCOR) who is older than 18 years and whose annual TS state fees and SCOR dues for registration have been paid. A Youth Member shall be any person in good standing with SCOR who is 18 years old and under, and who is registered with a SCOR team. Any Head Coach of a SCOR team must be a member of SCOR.
1.2 It shall be the duty of all members to attend all Membership Meetings (Board Meetings), to be available for committee service and to make suggestions to SCOR Officers concerning improvement of SCOR's activities and operations and the promotion of the general welfare of teams registered with SCOR.
BYLAW 2. OFFICERS
2.1 The elected Officers of SCOR shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Registrar, Director of Coaching and Risk Management Coordinator.
2.2 The elected Officers of SCOR shall constitute the Executive Committee, and shall further include the Immediate Past President, and the Referee Assignor, and the Tournament Director of the SCOR Invitational Tournament.
BYLAW 3. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
3.1 It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Membership and , the Executive Committee, and the SCOR Board. The President shall, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, have general direction of the business of SCOR.
3.2 In the absence of the President, or in the event of his/her resignation or inability to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President.
3.3 The Registrar shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of SCOR and shall have custody of all official papers and records. At the expiration of the term, the Registrar shall turn over all books, papers, and other property of SCOR to the successor. The Registrar is to serve as expert of on SCOR's Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures, and is to advise the Executive Committee and SCOR Board of violations.
3.4 The Registrar shall keep accurate financial records and have custody of all monies of SCOR. The Registrar shall submit a report at each Executive Committee meeting on the monies received and disbursed since the last report. The Registrar shall pay all bills for approved expenses as directed by the President or the Executive Committee. At the expiration of the term, the Registrar shall turn over to the successor all books, monies, records, and other property of SCOR. The Registrar shall arrange for an external audit of SCOR's financial activities for the year past. The external auditor must be an individual who is not personally involved in handling the finances of SCOR. The Registrar shall prepare a report and a proposed budget for the new year for presentation at the Annual Meeting.
3.5 The Secretary shall keep accurate records of the minutes and proceedings of SCOR Board Meetings, and shall periodically issue notices to the members of the SCOR Board (i.e. Team Managers and/or additional team representatives) about upcoming meetings, events, and announcements.
3.6 The Director of Coaching shall be appointed by the Executive Board with approval by a majority of the SCOR Board. The Director of Coaching duties shall include advertising for coaches, interviewing potential coaches, assisting each SCOR team with selection of coaches, scheduling training and certification courses for coaches, and providing guidance to each coach to facilitate communications between coaches, players, and parents of SCOR teams. If necessary under Section 12 and 13 of the SCOR Bylaws, the Director of Coaching may discipline and/or remove a coach, with the approval of a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
3.7 Risk Management Coordinator The Risk Management Coordinator shall ensure the safety of all participants in the Region by inspecting all field equipment, goalposts and fields to ensure they are in safe condition. The Risk Management Coordinator must also ensure that all SCOR teams possess a first-aid kit. The Risk Management Coordinator shall also disseminate and make available safety information to the Region's coaches, referees, and participants as appropriate. The Risk Management Coordinator shall be appointed by the Executive Board with approval by a majority of the SCOR board.
3.8 Fields/Equipment Coordinator The Field/Equipment Coordinator shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining SCOR-owned equipment and ensuring that playing fields are in playable shape and properly lined during the season. The coordinator shall ensure that nets and corner flags are provided for each team at the beginning of the season. Serves as SCOR representative for equipment and field management during the SCOR-IT tournament held in the fall of each year. Make recommendations on the upkeep and maintenance of equipment and soccer fields used by SCOR and to expend SCOR funds budgeted for upkeep and maintenance of goals and fields. As Field/Equipment Coordinator, shall also be responsible for maintaining an itemized listing of all SCOR owned soccer related equipment and shall provide to the Executive Committee an inventory listing when requested. The Fields/Equipment Coordinator shall be appointed by the Executive Board with approval by a majority of the SCOR board.
3.9 The Immediate Past President, the Referee Assignor, and the Tournament Director of the SCOR Invitational Tournament shall serve as voting members of the Executive Committee.
BYLAW 4. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
4.1 The Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Membership. Voting shall be by secret ballot for any office that is contested. Each officer position shall be filled by the nominee receiving the most votes for that office.
4.2 The term of all Officers shall be approximately one year. The year is from the end of one Annual Meeting to the end of the next Annual Meeting. The term may be extended due to agreement of the full SCOR Executive Committee.
4.3 At least one nomination of a Member for each office shall be submitted by a Nominating Committee of three Members appointed by the President. One member of this committee shall be on the current Executive Committee while the other two shall not be on the current executive committee. In addition, nominations of Members may be made by any member in good standing at the Annual Membership meeting. A Member cannot hold more than one office at the same time. If a Member holds a current office, he/she must resign from that office upon being elected to another office.
4.4 The current President shall not be eligible to serve in any office other than Immediate Past President for the year immediately following the year in which he/she is President.
4.5 Vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by election by the Executive Committee SCOR Board. Officers filling vacancies shall serve to the end of the next Annual Meeting.
4.6 The Officers of SCOR shall receive no monetary compensation for their services as Officers.
BYLAW 5. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
5.1 The Annual Meeting of the Membership shall be in January or February of each year. The date, time, place, and agenda shall be determined by the Executive Committee SCOR Board. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be mailed to the Membership by the Secretary Registrar not less than 20 days prior to the date of the meeting. A public notice of the Annual Meeting shall be placed in the Oak Ridger by the Secretary Registrar not less than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, and shall include a request for nomination of Officers.
5.2 Special meetings of the Membership may be called by a majority of the Executive Committee. The purposes of such meetings shall be set forth in the notice to the Members, and no decisions other than those for which the meeting was called shall be transacted. Notice of special meetings shall be mailed to the membership by the Secretary Registrar not less than 5 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.
5.3 A quorum at all membership meeting shall consist of a minimum of 12 voting Members of SCOR.
5.4 A written verbal report prepared by the President summarizing SCOR activities for the year ending shall be presented at the Annual Meeting.
5.5 An external audit of SCOR's financial activities for the year past and a proposed budget for the new year shall be presented by the Registrar at the Annual Meeting.
5.6 All Membership Meetings shall be conducted according to Parliamentary Law as set forth in the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
BYLAW 6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
6.1 The Executive Committee shall meet within 30 days of taking office and at least once every 3 months thereafter during their term of office. Meetings may be called by the President upon his own volition or upon request of a majority of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be notified of such meetings by the Secretary Registrar, President of Vice President.
6.2 A quorum at Executive Committee meetings shall consist of 3 officers.
6.3 A report of SCOR's financial status shall be presented at each meeting of the Executive Committee by the Registrar or his/her designee.
6.4 All Executive Committee meetings shall be conducted according to Parliamentary Law as set forth in the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
6.5 The SCOR Board shall consist of one representative of each team registered under SCOR, the Executive Committee, and the Head Coaches of each registered, active team. Voting members of the board are limited to one representative per team and CANNOT be a Head Coach of a registered team. Voting members of the SCOR Board are selected to the SCOR members associated with the team (i.e., the parents of the members of the team).
6.6 The SCOR Board shall meet at times called by the President or upon the request of the majority of the SCOR board, with written or email notice by the President at least one week before each of the proposed SCOR Board Meeting(s).
6.7 A quorum of the SCOR Board shall consist of a majority of the voting members.
6.8 All SCOR Board meetings shall be conducted according to Parliamentary Law as set forth in the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
6.9 Pre-Season Coach Meetings Coach's meeting will be held in August and March prior to the outdoor seasons. The Director of Coaching (or the President if there is no DOC) will preside. At the meeting, practice fields will be assigned/reviewed and necessary coaching information on season changes, rules, and regulations will be provided. Coaches will have an opportunity to raise and discuss current issues and make motions to be heard at SCOR and Executive board meetings.
BYLAW 7. VOTING
All elections and matters voted upon at meetings of the Membership or the Executive Committee or the SCOR Board require that a quorum be present. Votes shall be determined by a majority of those present and voting except in the case of removal of an Officer, removal of a Coach, and amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws. These exceptions must be approved by a two-thirds of those present and voting. The President shall vote only in the event of a tie vote; his/her vote is to serve as a tie-breaker.
BYLAW 8. REGISTRATION
All players participating in the SCOR program will register with TS through SCOR as required by TS Policy No. 2. Registration fees and dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee. They are payable in advance of a person becoming a Member and they shall apply to the period September 1 to August 31 of the following year.
BYLAW 9. FINANCE
The funds of SCOR shall be deposited in banks designated by the Executive Committee. Funds shall be withdrawn only b check or money order signed by the Registrar, President, or Vice President.
BYLAW 10. JURISDICTION AND HEADQUARTERS
10.1 The jurisdictional area of SCOR shall be Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and surrounding counties.
10.2 The headquarters of SCOR shall be located at the home of the President or at a location designated by the President.
BYLAW 11. AMENDMENTS
11.1 Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws require that a quorum be present. They must be approved by two-thirds of the voting members present at a Membership Meeting.
11.2 Proposed amendments may be submitted by any Member.
11.3 Proposals should include the number and text of the current item, the text of the proposed new or revised item, and the reason for the change.
11.4 Proposals to amend the Constitution and Bylaws and Policies and Procedures of SCOR shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary Registrar at least 20 days in advance, and distributed for study to Members by the Secretary Registrar at least 10 days in advance of the Membership Meeting at which the proposals shall be considered.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The extensive Policies and Procedures of the Tennessee Soccer Association apply to the Soccer Club of Oak Ridge (SCOR). They are not repeated here, but deal with a wide range of generic issues such as adding and dropping players, equipment, and rules for tournaments. The following Policies and Procedures are specifically for SCOR.
1. Fees for registration during the Fall and Spring seasons shall be set by the Executive Committee SCOR Board prior to the start of each season. Each select team is free to establish an additional team fee as needed for soccer balls, tournament fees, etc.
2. A member of the SCOR Executive Committee shall be selected to attend each meeting of the Oak Ridge Soccer Federation and relevant meetings of the Oak Ridge AYSO Executive Committee. The Oak Ridge Soccer Federation and the AYSO Executive Committee shall be notified of relevant meetings of the SCOR Membership and Executive Committee and shall be strongly encouraged to attend.
3. Each select team must have at least two USSF certified referees (adult or youth) associated with each team by the start of [its] the team's third season. This policy is needed because of the TS liability insurance requirement that every game have a center referee who has been certified by TS.
4. Head Coaches are required to have at lease an USSF E License or an AYSO C License in order to be a Head Coach [for] by the start of the teams [a] third season (i.e. Fall, Spring, then License obtained before the next Fall season). An USSF D license is strongly encouraged for teams of age U12 and older..
5. The Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and manager of each SCOR team shall adhere to all requirements of the TS liability insurance policy, especially with respect to the reporting of accidents/injuries.
6. If conflicts concerning the selection or retention of coaches cannot be resolved by the parties involved, the issue will be resolved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee after presentations by the parties involved, and by the Director of Coaching. The coaching issue will be handled as stated in Item 13 b. below.
7. The youngest select team that shall be sanctioned by SCOR is Under-[11] 9 starting in the Fall of each year. It is strongly recommended that age appropriate players be selected for each team in each age bracket. Player(s) who seek to "play up in age" will be allowed by SCOR if the player(s) is/are of exceptional ability.
8. Selection of each SCOR team prior to the fall season shall be based on tryouts open to all eligible players. Announcements of tryouts shall be made in the Oak Ridger and by whatever other means seem appropriate.
9. Replacements to fill vacancies at any time during the year shall be selected by means of publicizing the vacancy in the Oak Ridger and inviting candidates to practice with the team.
10. SCOR encourages the formation of teams by single calendar years. A player may play up only be mutual agreement of the Head Coaches of the two teams involved, the Director of Coaching, and by the player's parent(s).
11. SCOR does not have a specific policy on amount of playing time per player per game. This policy is to be decided by the Head Coach by whatever process he/she determines is optimal for the team and the individual players. The philosophy of SCOR, however, is that if a player is selected for a SCOR team, and the player regularly attends practices, he/she can expect to play in most games; otherwise the player should not have been selected. If a player is to be absent from a game or practice, the player or parent has a responsibility to inform the Coach or Manager in advance. Lack of attendance at practice and games is a legitimate basis of influencing playing time.
12. Code of Conduct for Members
a. Should you as a Member (player, parent, Coach, Manager, Referee, Officer) disagree with a Coach or Manager, discuss your differences with him/her before bringing the matter to the attention of SCOR Executive Committee representatives. If the discussions with the Coach or Manager prove unsatisfactory, you may bring the matter to the attention of any Officer of SCOR by means of a written complaint.
b. Refrain at all times from any abusive criticism of Referees. Official complaints about the officiating referee shall be in writing or by email and presented to at least one member of the Executive Committee of SCOR, for discussion at the next scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee. Cases involving lack of knowledge of the Laws of the Game shall be handled by the Executive Committee. If the complaint is based on a judgment call, it will not be considered by the Executive Committee since the field/center [r]Referee has the final word. If the circumstances merit further evaluation in the eyes of the Executive Committee, an official complaint will be forwarded to the State USSF office by the Executive Committee.
c. Under no circumstances shall abusive comments or behavior from any Member toward an opposing Coach, player, or spectator, or his/her own Coach, players, or spectators be tolerated. Any Member participating in repetitive abusive comments or behavior during a SCOR sponsored game can be denied the privileges of Member status in accordance with Section 13, Discipline of Members, as stated below. Repetitive abusive comments or behavior over a period of more than one half of play by a Coach, player, or spectator associated with a SCOR player, will lead to the ejection of the person committing the repetitive abusive comments or behavior, and the Coach, player, or spectator being banned from at least one month of participation with a SCOR team.
d. Positive and limited coaching by the Coaches from the sideline during a game is encouraged. Negative and excessive coaching is discouraged, and may result in a warning or ejection from the Referee or lead to disciplinary action by the Executive Committee SCOR Board.
13. Discipline of Members
a. The Executive Committee SCOR Board may, by two-thirds vote of all Officers, reject any membership application or cancel any membership where a Member's activities are not in accord with the Constitution, Bylaws, and/or Policies and Procedures of SCOR.
b. When a complaint is presented to the Executive Committee in writing, the complaint shall be referred to a Special Committee. This Special Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall consist of at least three members. The parties involved shall be notified in writing of the nature of the complaint, and shall have an opportunity to be heard by the Special Committee. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Special Committee shall present its findings to the Executive Committee, together with a recommendation for action. Resolution of disputes by the Executive Committee shall be binding upon the membership.
c. Any Officer may be removed from office by two-thirds vote of the other members of the Executive Committee the SCOR Board for the following reasons:
14. Amendments to the Policies and Procedures required that a quorum be present. Amendments must be approved by one-half of the voting members present at a membership Meeting. Bylaws 11.1 through 11.4 apply to amending the Policies and Procedures.