Approved June 18, 2021 CONSTITUTION OF SECTION III ATHLETICS ARTICLE I – NAME The name shall be the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section III Athletics (“Section III”). ARTICLE II – OBJECT Section 1: Objectives of Section III A. To organize and administer the interscholastic athletic program for member schools of Section III of the NYSPHSAA. B. To support and interpret the rules and regulations of the Commissioner of Education, the NYSPHSAA, and Section III. C. To continually strive to strengthen programs and improve athletic opportunities for all students in grades 7-12. ARTICLE III – MEMBERS Section 1: Membership A. The membership of Section III shall consist of the member schools of NYSPHSAA, Inc. which are located within the geographic boundaries of section III as defined by NYSPHSAA, Inc. and which are also members of NYSPHSAA Section III, Inc. Section 2: Duties and Rights of Membership A. Member schools must agree to abide by all Commissioner of Education, NYSPHSAA, and Section III rules, regulations and procedures. B. Participation in any tournament, meet, or invitational conducted by Section III shall be open to all member schools in good standing with Section III and NYSPHSAA, provided the school and/or individual meets all required standards. C. Sportsmanship is a fundamental element of the educational and athletic process. Schools participating in sectional activities will be held strictly responsible for the conduct of their participants, coaches, faculty members and spectators. Conduct which is detrimental to the educational experience of athletic activities may be deemed just cause for the school’s censure, probation, suspension from a particular sport or suspension from all Sectional activities. D. Section III schools will be subject to NYSPHSAA and Section III penalties for rules violations. E. Section III is not responsible for school and league rules and athletic programs planned and controlled by leagues and their personnel. All Section III schools must abide by game rulebooks, Section III and NYSPHSAA adopted variations. Section 3: Business Year A. The Business Year of Section III shall be August 1 through July 31. ARTICLE IV – ATHLETIC COUNCIL Section 1: Operations A. The business of Section III will be conducted by its Athletic Council (“Council”), which is comprised of: 1. League/School Representatives 2. Officers 3. NYSPHSAA Central Committee Representatives 4. Sport Coordinators 5. Standing Committee Chairs Section 2: Selection of Representatives A. League/School Representatives 1. Each league will be allotted one (1) representative for every five (5) schools that are in their league. An additional representative is added when the number is above a multiple of five (5). For example, 1-5 schools = 1 representative, 6-10 schools = 2 representatives, 11-15 schools = 3 representatives, etc. 2. Independent schools (those not in a league) will be allotted one (1) representative for every five (5) independent schools. An additional representative is added when the number is above a multiple of five (5). For example, 1-5 schools = 1 representative, 6-10 schools = 2 representatives, 11-15 schools = 3 representatives, etc. 3. The schools within each league, and the independent schools, shall designate their representatives for the following school year by the end of the current school year. a. Schools will designate an equal number of male and female representatives. b. In the event that there are an odd number of representatives, the schools within each league will determine the gender of the odd representative. 4. The term of office is one (1) year with a starting date of July 1st. a. If a vacancy occurs during the school year, the affected league, or independent schools, shall desginate a representative to fill the vacant position for the remainder of the school year. B. Officers 1. The officers of Section III shall be the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Vice-President of Boys Sports, and Vice-President of Girls Sports. 2. Officers shall be employed by a Section III member school, or associated with a Section III member school. 3. Nominations a. The Nominating Committee shall review, evaluate, and recommend to the Executive Committee in February no more than three (3) candidates for the positions of President, President-Elect, Vice-Presidents of Boys (male candidates) and Girls (female candidates) Sports. b. The Executive Committee shall endorse any or all of the candidates to stand for election, such endorsement not to be unreasonably withheld. 4. An election for these positions will be held by all member schools of Section III. a. Candidates may provide a cover letter and resume to be distributed to member schools prior to the election. b. A special ballot shall be sent to all schools via e-mail and/or USPS with one or more candidates on the ballot and with a line for a write-in vote. c. In order to be valid, the returned ballot must be signed by the Chief School Officer, Principal, and Athletic Director. 5. The term of office is two (2) years with a starting date of August 1st of the election year. a. If a vacancy occurs during the term of office, the Executive Committee, with the advice of the Nominating Committee, shall appoint a qualified person for the remainder of the unfilled term. C. NYSPHSAA Central Committee Representatives 1. Representatives to the NYSPHSAA Central Committee shall be: one Chief School Officer (CSO); one Principal; one Male Representative of Athletics; and one Female Representative of Athletics. 2. Representatives to the NYSPHSAA Central Committee shall be actively employed by a section III school district. 3. The Nominating Committee shall review, evaluate, and recommend to the Executive Committee at its Winter meeting no more than three (3) candidates for the positions of Chief School Officer (CSO), Principal, Male Representative of Athletics, and Female Representative of Athletics. 4. An election for these positions will be held by all member schools of Section III. a. Candidates may provide a cover letter and resume to be distributed to member schools prior to the election. b. A special ballot shall be sent to all schools via e-mail and/or USPS with one or more candidates on the ballot and with a line for a write-in vote. c. In order to be valid, the returned ballot must be signed by the Chief School Officer, Principal, and Athletic Director. 5. The term of office is four (4) years with a starting date of September 1st and ending date of August 31th. a. If a vacancy occurs during the term of office, the Executive Committee, with the advice of the Nominating Committee, shall appoint a qualified person, from that position of service in which the vacancy occurred, for the remainder of the unfilled term. D. Sport Coordinators 1. Each Sports Committee is allotted one Sport Coordinator as the representative. 2. Sports Coordinators will be elected by majority vote of that committee’s members. a. These appointments will be reviewed and approved annually by the Executive Committee. 3. The term of office is three (3) years. a. If a vacancy occurs during the term of office the Committee will elected a new Sports Coordinator to serve for the balance of the original term. E. Standing Committee Chairs 1. The Chair of each Standing Committee of Section III shall be a representative. 2. The Chair of each Standing Committee is selected per Article VIII. Section 3: Meetings A. The Athletic Council shall hold at least five (5) regular meetings per year, the time and place of which shall be designated by the President. Special meetings may be called by the President. 1. Attendance at Athletic Council meetings shall be open to anyone, however, only members may make motions or vote. Section 4: Motions A. Motions may be presented at all Athletic Council meetings by any member of the Council. B. Regular Motions are those motions presented to the Athletic Council to be voted upon at the next Athletic Council meeting. C. Any member of the Council may make a motion to turn a Regular Motion into a Special Motion requiring a written vote of the full Section III membership. Such a motion must be seconded and approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible voting Council members in attendance. 1. All Special Motions to be voted upon and mailed to schools shall contain only the motion and notes the Executive Committee deems necessary for clarification. D. Emergency Motions are those motions presented to the Athletic Council which, due to the timely urgency of the issue, as deemed necessary by the President, are to be voted on the first time they are presented to the Athletic Council. E. All action taken upon motions shall be final for one calendar year unless new information is presented to the Athletic Council, which causes the Council to reconsider the specific action taken previously. Section 5: Discussion A. Discussion at all Athletic Council meetings shall be limited to members of the Council, school administrators, and others recognized by the presiding officer. Section 6: Methods of Voting A. Regular Motions will be voted upon by the full Section III membership, as reported by designated League and Independent representatives in attendance. 1. League representatives shall report the total of the votes of each of their member schools. 2. Independent representatives shall report the total of the votes of each of the independent schools. 3. If no League or Independent representative is in attendance, then their member schools are deemed not to be in attendance for purposes of voting. B. Special Motions will have a deadline date and must be signed by the Chief School Officer, High School Principal, and Athletic Director in order to be valid. 1. There is to be no tabulation or recording of the ballots, or of schools submitting ballots, until after the established voting deadline.