AYF Football Divisions
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOVA AYF/AYC 2016 Bylaws ARTICLE I Name of Organization Section 1.01 The name of this organization is Northern Virginia American Youth Football and Cheer (aka NOVA AYF / AYC. NOVA is a non-profit organization within the meaning of the statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America. NOVA AYF / AYC is a League officially chartered by the internationally recognized American Youth Football, Inc. (AYF) headquartered in Miami, FL. Confidential Property of the Northern Virginia American Youth Football Conference Page 1 ARTICLE II Purpose Section 2.01 NOVA AYF/AYC consists of five or more members joined by mutual consent for the common, nonprofit purposes of providing the youth of the Northern Virginia Area to include the following counties in Virginia (Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun Arlington, Stafford, Fauquier, Spotsylvania) and the Cities of (Manassas, Manassas Park, Fredericksburg, Alexandria and Falls Church) with organized, adult-supervised, football, cheerleading, dance and step programs, coaching, developing, educating and mentoring young athletes consistent with AYF/AYC rules. In doing so, this organization will constantly promote and provide a healthy approach to community, fellowship, great sportsmanship, and fair play, for adults and youth is our mission. play while ensuring that proper training, instruction, safety and equipment are furnished to the participants. ARTICLE III Definitions Section 3.01 A. Applicable Rules: The term “Applicable Rules” as used herein shall mean formally adopted AYF/AYC rules or other formally adopted rules by AYF/AYC Atlantic Region, NOVA AYF/AYC, or individual Association rules so long as such rules are allowed by AYF/AYC rules for the subject matter at hand. Refer to the current and future American Youth Football/American Youth Cheer Official Rules and Regulations Handbooks for more details. B. League: The term “League” shall mean the NOVA AYF/AYC. C. Associations: The term “Association” is utilized in the identification of 3 different types of Associations, as follows: 1. Association shall mean any group with three or more weighted core football teams (more specifically: Tiny Mites, Mitey Mites, Junior Pee Wee, and Pee Wee, Jr. Midget) or any group with four or more unlimited core football teams (more specifically: 8u, 10u, 12u, and 13u or 14u), who has by-laws, has an AYF/AYC membership as provided in AYF/AYC rules and shall further mean an organization that has been approved as a NOVA AYF/AYC Association, has paid the requisite fees during the calendar year as prescribed by NOVA AYF/AYC, and has one vote by the Association spokesperson on NOVA AYF/AYC board of diretors voting matters. 2. Probationary Association shall mean any group with three or more weighted core football teams (more specifically: Tiny Mites, Mitey Mites, Junior Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget) or any group with three or more unlimited core football teams (more specifically: 8u, 10u, 12u, and 13u or 14u), in their first year of Confidential Property of the Northern Virginia American Youth Football Conference Page 2 existence in NOVA AYF/AYC who has by-laws, has an AYF/AYC membership as provided in AYF/AYC rules, and has been approved as a NOVA AYF/AYC Probationary Association has paid the requisite fees during the calendar year as prescribed by NOVA AYF/AYC. 3. Local Team Association shall mean any group that does not meet the minimum core football team limit. D. Association in Good Standing: The term “Association in Good Standing” shall mean an Association whose fee payments to NOVA AYF/AYC are current, and are not subject to any pending or future known disciplinary action. ARTICLE IV Organizational Structure and Membership Section 4.01 General. NOVA AYF/AYC is a youth football, cheerleading, dance and step league that falls under the jurisdiction of the AYF/AYC and participates in the AYF/AYC Atlantic Region. NOVA AYF/AYC consists of individuals and associations dedicated to the promotion and advancement of youth sports and related activities, through public education, training, and skill development. Membership is open to football and cheer organizations in Northern Virginia and anyone wishing to render support, guidance and encouragement to individuals wishing to learn or enhance youth sports and related skills. The League is comprised of an Executive Board (comprised of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Football Commissioner, All-American Football Commissioner, Instructional Football Commissioner and Cheer Commissioner) and Board of Directors (comprised of Association Presidents). Associations are comprised of a management unit (e.g., Board of Directors), various committees or other positions of authority, and individual teams, which are further, comprised of coaches, other positions of responsibility, and youth participants. A. Volunteers. All persons holding any position of responsibility within NOVAAYF/AYC shall serve as volunteers without remuneration except contracted sports officials (referees, umpires, scoreboard officials, announcers, photographers etc.). B. Qualifications 1. Adult Volunteers (Coaches, Team Moms, Trainers, etc.) All adult volunteers must be 21 years of age or older before August 1st of the season. Adult volunteers having any contact with children shall meet all qualifications established by applicable Rules for the position in question and shall be subject to a criminal background check (to include sexual offenders registry) prior to undertaking his or her responsibilities. Confidential Property of the Northern Virginia American Youth Football Conference Page 3 2. Coach Trainees. Coach trainees shall be at least sixteen (16) years of age and meet all qualifications as established by Applicable Rules. 3. Youth Participants Youth football participants shall be between the ages of five (5) and fifteen (15) and, cheerleading, dance and step participants shall be between the ages of five (5) and fifteen (15) both ages inclusive and shall meet all qualifications established by Applicable Rules. C. HEAD COACHES Head Coaches have daily personal contact with the community’s children, and by definition and tradition, serve as important role models and mentors. Head Coaches must be at least 21 years old, meet all the qualifications set forth in Applicable Rules and must have at least one-year relevant coaching experience. Associations shall select their Head Coaches and ensure the Background Check is fully completed and included in team notebooks for certification process. IMPORTANT NOTE: Head Coaches must attend ALL mandatory NOVA AYF Commissioner Meetings to ensure proper understanding of League policies and expectations. Unless an Association promulgates more stringent rules, Head Coaches may appoint as many Assistant Coaches, Coach Trainees, Team Mom/Dad, and Trainers as AYF rules/rosters allow. 1. It is required by the NOVA AYF/AYC that all Head Coaches be AYF certified. All Head Coaches must be AYF certified to be eligible to coach in any Regional/National AYF games. Head Coaches are also encouraged to ensure his complete staff be league certified. 2. All head coaches must be identified in writing and added to the myayf.com system on/before August 1st of the upcoming season. 3. Any coach moving from one club to another club in the NOVA AYF/AYC is restricted from taking any players, except their own children. Exceptions may be granted provided both organization commissioners/presidents approve or by appeal to the Board of Directors. D. Finances. NOVA AYF/AYC functions on a fiscal year basis. The fiscal year begins on January 1 and runs through December 31 of each year. NOVA AYF/AYC functions primarily through fees collected from associations and tournament fees. E. Annual Fees 1. All NOVA AYF/AYC Associations shall pay an annual membership fee to maintain the league affiliation. The NOVA AYF/AYC Executive Board will determine no later than February 1st of each year the fees to be paid by each NOVA AYF/AYC association for that season. Each team associated with NOVA Confidential Property of the Northern Virginia American Youth Football Conference Page 4 AYF/AYC will pay the approved annual membership fee no later than May 1st, plus the approved per team AYF/AYC National/All American division. The first per team fee is due no later than June 1st; additional per team fees for football and cheer will be due no later than August 1st. Annual membership fees and per team fees will be used to help defray league expenses. 2. Each Association that participates in NOVA AYF/AYC shall collect its own individual participant registration fees, the amount of which shall be up to the sole discretion of each Association. F. Sponsorship Donations. NOVA AYF/AYC may solicit sponsorship donations from persons, business, and other organizations. Such sponsorships shall be used to defray league expenses. Associations possessing their own Internal Revenue Service tax/employer identification number may seek and keep for their own use sponsorship donations. 1) Divisions. NOVA AYF/AYC will consist of teams in the National Division and the All-American Division. National Division will be comprised of older but lighter age groups. Specifically, the National Division CORE TEAMS will consist of, Tiny Mites, Mitey Mites, Cadet, Junior Pee Wee, Pee Wee and Jr. Midget levels. All-American Division will be comprised of our UNLIMITED grade-based teams. Specifically, All- American Division CORE TEAMS will consist 8u, 10u, 12u, and 13u/14u age based unlimited teams; There shall be no high school football players allowed on AYF teams, during the regular season or during the playoffs. However, for football players in middle school, AYF may allow players to participate/play for both their middle school team and for NOVA each year. After November 1, no team may have a middle school player who is also actively playing for his middle school team. While NOVA does not encourage this practice, NOVA will allow middle school ball players on teams so long as the player's parent/guardian consents in writing.