LYEFC By-Laws
Legacy Youth Education Football & Cheer
Bylaws
- Purpose
- The articles contained in this document establish guidelines for managing the business operations and financial resources and the rules governing the members.
- The objective of Legacy Youth Education Football & Cheer is to provide for the youth of their areas a safe, healthy and enjoyable environment in which to learn football and cheerleader basic fundamentals, sportsmanship, self-pride, discipline and team spirit. Coaches will be expected to accomplish this objective with their best efforts in training and maximizing playing time for all team members.
- These Bylaws will outline the organizational structure, goals, objectives and basic requirements of LYEFC.
- The LYEFC bylaws are in place to facilitate the achievement of A & B above.
- Meetings and Voting
- LYEFC will meet monthly throughout the year with the exception of December. Regularly scheduled meetings will be held at a time and location to be determined and generally on the third (3rd) Sunday of each month. Timely and sufficient reminders of all meetings will be sent to all Hill Country Pop Warner Associations and Officers. These meetings may be cancelled or rescheduled by the LYEFC Executive Board if the meeting date falls during a Holiday or other special weekend.
- LYEFC Eligible Voters consist of ALL Permanent members of the LYEFC Board of Directors. In the event there is an even number of Permanent Association representatives present and a vote is split evenly between them, the deciding vote will be determined by the LYEFC Executive Board. In that case, each Executive Board member present at the meeting will cast one vote each, unless there is an even number of Executive Board Officers present and that vote is split evenly between them. In that case, the LYEFC President or other Executive Board Officer conducting the meeting will not cast a vote. A simple majority, either for or against, will then count as the deciding vote, either for or against the issue.
- LYEFC Executive Board Officers each have the authority to prevent any new issue from being voted on by requesting it be tabled until the next regular scheduled LYEFC Board meeting. The issue being tabled must be up for its initial vote and may not have been tabled previously anytime during that calendar year. Any issue that is tabled must be voted upon or removed from further consideration (during that calendar year) at the next regular scheduled LYEFC Board meeting.
- Proxies: Any member may give their proxy on any voting issue to any other member in writing before any vote. Written proxies also include Email and Text messages to all Executive Board Members. A Proxy must be obtained for each specific issue to be voted upon at a specific meeting and will be confirmed by the Executive Board prior to any vote.
- Association Presidents may appoint another member of that Association’s Board of Directors to represent their Association at any LYEFC scheduled or special meeting.
- All LYEFC Associations must be represented at every regular LYEFC Board meeting. Missing 3 or more meetings will result in the loss of voting rights for that Association for a period equal to the number of meetings missed
- The LYEFC Executive Board may at any time during the season call a Special Meeting to discuss issues it deems too involved or sensitive for an email vote or too urgent to wait for a regular vote at the next scheduled LYEFC Board meeting. These meetings will take place no later than Wednesday night of the week immediately following the incident(s), issue(s), etc. involved.
- All issues other than changes to LYEFC bylaws, officer elections, special issues and League membership may be resolved by an email vote of Eligible Voters with vote to be certified by the LYEFC Executive Board. This requires that a working email address be available for either Executive Board or Board of Directors membership. These email addresses will be available and published to all LYEFC Board of Directors and Executive Board members.
- Admission Day for Probationary Associations will fall on the Third (3rd) Sunday of January of every year in which there are eligible Probationary Associations within LYEFC. This day will coincide with the first regularly scheduled LYEFC Board Meeting of the year. Probationary Associations that have fulfilled all LYEFC requirements may petition for Permanent Membership at this meeting. This date will be confirmed at the final regular season Board Meeting of the preceding season and reminders sent prior to the January meeting.
- Any LYEFC Eligible Voter absent, or without Proxy, from any meeting in which a new or full membership is being voted upon, will be automatically counted as an affirmative vote for the admittance of the new Probationary Association/Permanent Member.
- Election Day for Executive Board Officers will be on the date of the final regularly scheduled LYEFC Board Meeting of each year. This final meeting of the year will generally occur on the 3rd Sunday of November each year, but must be conducted before closing out LYEFC business for any year.
- A nomination cut-off date will be set prior to Election Day, but nominations may be put forward from the floor on Election Day as long as the person being nominated is present at that meeting. All nominations sent prior to the cut-off date will go to the entire Election Committee which will consist of as many members as directed, but will include the Executive Vice President and the Secretary at a minimum.
- Voting for Executive Board Officers will be by Secret Ballot. All other votes at LYEFC Board Meetings will be by oral proclamation unless too close to call and will then be by show of hands.
- The LYEFC Board of Directors will approve a ballot format and provide a copy of the ballot, pre-filled with the name of the candidate(s) being voted upon, to every LYEFC Eligible Voter prior to Election Day. Each Eligible Voter will also receive one (1) ballot for each confirmed Proxy they hold.
- Each member present for any Secret Ballot vote will be given one (1) ballot for themselves and one (1) additional ballot for each confirmed proxy they hold.
- The Election Committee will count all secret ballots which tally will then be ratified by the LYEFC Executive Board. However, any member may request the validation of the vote tally by the LYEFC Board of Directors if they question the results for any reason.
- No quorum will be necessary for any vote to take place at any Regular Scheduled LYEFC Board meeting. All issues require a simple majority of those members present at the meeting plus all certified proxies.
III. Executive Board Officers and Duties
- The LYEFC Executive Board will consist of:
1) President
2) Executive Vice President
3) Cheer Director and/or Assistant Cheer Director
4) Secretary
6) Social Mediator
7) Website Coordinator
8) Sponsorships & Fundraiser Coordinator
9) Treasurer (may be a paid, Non-Executive Board position)
10) Athletic Director-MPR Commissioner- Certification Commissioner
- Executive Board Officers will be elected for two-year terms. No member of the Executive Board may hold more than 1 position on the Executive Board. An Executive Board Officer may be removed from the Executive Board as established in the vote requirements.
- Within the constraints set by the LYEFC Board of Directors, the LYEFC Executive Board shall have administrative authority to conduct the affairs of LYEFC, issue and receive funds and enforce all LYEFC policies, rules and goals.
- The President, Vice-President (Football, Secretary and Certification Commissioner positions will begin their terms during Even numbered years. The Executive Vice President, Vice-President (Cheerleaders), Treasurer, Flag Commissioner and MPR Commissioner will begin their terms during Odd numbered years. Elections will be held at the Final scheduled meeting of the preceding season.
- No member of the LYEFC Executive Board, except the Secretary and Treasurer, may participate in any capacity with any football or Cheer Competition team on any association within LYEFC.
- The Executive Vice President must be an Unattached Officer as defined in Section II-B above regarding Eligible Voters.
- Duties of the President:
1) Chair all meetings and appoint members-at-large to standing and special committees.
2) Coordinate all LYEFC interaction with outside media and/or legal affairs.
3) Assume the additional duties of any Executive Board Officer absent from any LYEFC meeting.
4) Supervise and assist with, if necessary, the duties of all other LYEFC Executive Board Officers.
- Duties of the Executive Vice President:
1) Assume the additional responsibilities of the President in his/her absence from any LYEFC meeting.
2) Develop, maintain and update the LYEFC Bylaws, Procedures Manual and other LYEFC forms and documents at the direction of the Board of Directors.
3) Chair the Membership Committee and be the initial point of contact for all new Association applicants.
4) Chair the Election Committee.
5) Issue binding decisions on any questions pertaining to LYEFC bylaws arising during any competition. a) Determinations made by the Executive Vice President will be final unless overturned by the Board of Directors at its next regular or emergency meeting.
6) Direct Field Director training.
7) Create all game schedules for Pre-Season, Regular Season, BCS, Post-Season and Spring League games.
8) Purchase and distribute BCS medals and entry stamps to BCS Hosting Associations as well as coordinate T-shirt sales and other fund-raising efforts for BCS.
9) Perform the duties as Head of Officiating for LYEFC.
10) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Vice-President (Football):
1) Assume the additional responsibilities of the President and Executive Vice President in their absence from any LYEFC meeting.
2) Issue binding decisions on any questions pertaining to LYEFC football rules arising during any competition.
- a) May overrule decisions issued by the Flag Commissioner if there is a compelling reason to do so.
- b) Determinations made by the Vice-President (Football) will be final unless overturned by the Board of Directors at its next regular or emergency meeting.
- c) The Vice-President (Football) may not overrule an official on any NCAA football rule/UIL exception made on the field during a game.
3) Supervise, assist and direct as necessary the duties of the Flag Commissioner.
4) Perform the duties of the Spring League Commissioner in the absence of an elected SL Commissioner.
5) Perform the duties as Head of Coaching.
6) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Vice-President (Cheerleaders):
1) Administer the cheerleader program, organize and administer cheerleader competition.
2) Issue binding decisions on any questions pertaining to Hill Country Pop Warner Cheer Rules or Bylaws arising during any Cheer competition.
3) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Secretary:
1) Record, maintain and disseminate (in a timely manner) minutes of all LYEFC regular and special meetings.
2) Maintain and disseminate an up-to-date contact list for all LYEFC members and officers.
3) Coordinate maintenance of the LYEFC website keeping all online information accurate, legal and current.
4) Compile input from all LYEFC members to create an agenda for each upcoming regular and special meeting.
5) Compile all approved changes to the LYEFC Bylaws and Procedures Manual and forward all to the Executive Vice President for updating of these and other documents.
6) Coordinate and communicate all final, approved versions of LYEFC Bylaws, Procedures Manual, forms, documents and schedules to all members.
7) Sit as permanent member of the Election Committee.
8) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Treasurer:
1) Develop an annual LYEFC budget for approval of the Board of Directors.
2) Maintain all LYEFC insurance policies.
3) Manage the approved LYEFC report and status at each regular board meeting.
5) Ensure that all LYEFC bills are paid and revenues collected in a timely manner.
6) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Flag Commissioner:
1) Initiate updates to the LYEFC Flag Football Rules.
- a) Determinations made by the Flag Commissioner will be final unless overruled by the Vice-President (Football) for compelling reason or overturned by the LYEFC Board of Directors at its next regular or emergency meeting.
- b) The Flag Commissioner may not overrule an official on any NCAA football rule/UIL exception made on the field during a game.
2) Assist the Vice-President (Football) in his duties as Head of Coaching.
3) Secure and enforce the use of all special equipment required for Flag Football.
4) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the Spring League Commissioner:
1) Develop a marketing strategy to encourage the growth of LYEFC Spring League.
2) Ensure organizations outside of LYEFC are familiar with and have accepted rules and procedures.
3) Confirm team numbers and field availabilities to assist in the creation of the Spring League game schedule.
4) Coordinate with the Secretary to develop a contact list for all Spring League participating teams.
5) Coordinate with the Secretary to disseminate the approved Spring League schedule and any applicable changes (if they arise) to all participating teams and/or associations.
6) Coordinate with the Secretary to post game scores on our website and maintain standings for play-offs.
7) Coordinate with the Treasurer to ensure Spring League expenses are paid and revenues collected.
8) May assign duties, to be performed during an absence, to another member of the Executive Board.
- Duties of the MPR Commissioner:
1) Review MPR procedures and recommend improvements.
2) Review completed MPR sheets weekly during the season.
3) Recommend necessary sanctions for violations of MPR procedures or improperly completed forms.
- Duties of the Certification Commissioner:
1) Establish effective Certification procedures for all Associations.
2) Conduct training in all aspects of Certification forms and procedures.
3) Ensure compliance with Hill Country Pop Warner Certification process.
4) Ensure all LYEFC players and teams are properly Certified before the annual deadline.
- Insurance
- LYEFC will provide excess medical, liability and executive board insurance coverage for all participants.
- Coaches/ Sideline Personnel
- All coaches must be certified each year as well as submit to and pass a background check. Upon successful completion of the certification course and acceptable background check, each coach will receive, through their Association, an approved Coach ID badge. It is the responsibility of each coach to find out from their organizations the time and place for their fall coach certification training.
- The number of coaches allowed on the sideline, per team, is limited as follows:
1) Tackle …………………………Maximum of 6 coaches, including the Head Coach and MPR Coach (MPRC)
2) Flag …………………………Maximum of 4 coaches, including the Head Coach and MPR Coach (MPRC) 3) Cheerleaders………………….2 coaches for squads of 2-12 cheerleaders / 3 coaches for squads of 13 or more
- Coaches will adhere to both the Coaches Code of Conduct as well as the LYEFC Coaches Code of Conduct. Head Coaches are responsible for the conduct of his team’s spectators and assistant coaches. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against those spectators or coaches also counts as against that team and Head Coach.
- No Person will be on the sideline without a LYEFC issued badge. All sideline personnel must have their badges clearly visible while they are participating in a game.
- No electronic or other communications devices (except radios used by field directors/officials) shall be allowed on either sideline for any purpose. These shall include, but are not limited to, 2-way radios, walkie-talkies, cell phones or any other such device intended for or capable of transmissions or communications from one point to another.
- Player Eligibility / Recruiting / Registration
- Players may be both males and females between the ages of 4 to 12 years old (for football) or 4 to 13 years old (for cheerleading) – based upon age on July 31 of the current season.
- There is a weight limit on participants except in the Pee-Wee Division.
- LYEFC associations must accept all children who attempt to register before the registration cut-off date, as long as they are able to make required payments, provide LYEFC required documents and meet all other LYEFC eligibility requirements. In order to accomplish this, all associations must provide the Executive Board with proof of their efforts to reach out to all the children in their area.
- Early and Final registration cut-off dates will be established by the LYEFC Board of Directors prior to the start of each season, but in no case may registration be closed by any Association before Official Draft Day.
- Theft of services or equipment from any LYEFC Association or outstanding financial obligations to any LYEFC. No player may participate at any LYEFC association if he/she or his/her parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have any outstanding financial obligation to any Association or have unresolved allegations of stolen property or services from any Association.
- Each association will certify their participants. Cheerleaders will be certified at the same time as football players.
- Players who sign up with one Association and then want to go to another Association after August 1 of that season must ask for a release. The intent is to allow the losing Association to determine if there is a problem that they need to take care of and after meeting with the parents, release should be granted.
VII. Team Make-Up
- Each Association with two or more teams in any age group will place all players within that age group into a draft pool.
- LYEFC reserves the right to overturn any Draft if there is compelling evidence the directors and/or coaches of an Association conspired to create a stacked team at the expense of the other team(s) of that Association. Potential remedies are detailed in the CTYFL Procedures Manual section on Drafting.
- The goal of LYEFC is to teach the sport of football to ALL children and can be achieved only by developing all players in practice and getting them on the field during games as much as possible. Smaller teams are encouraged and coaches who prioritize winning over playing all their players are encouraged to coach in a different league.
- All teams are restricted to a maximum combination of practices and games of 4 per week.
VIII. Mandatory Play Rule (MPR)
- The purpose of the Mandatory Play Rule (MPR) is to ensure the development and training of each player registered within the LYEFC.
- Mandatory play will be in the form of minimum plays for Tackle and minimum touches for Flag and is detailed in the Procedures Manual and Coaches Handbook.
- The MPR Coach (MPRC)for each team must be certified as any other coach and will count as one of that team’s allowed coaches on the sideline. They will track each player during the course of the game by using only the approved Mandatory Play Sheet (MPS).
- The first violation of the MPR either by not getting players their mandatory plays/touches without acceptable cause or filling out the MPS incorrectly shall result in the suspension of the Head Coach for one game. Second and subsequent violations are cause for indefinite suspension.
- Rules
- LYEFC will use the current year NCAA Football rules (with UIL exceptions) for all tackle football games. Any exceptions must be youth oriented, must be approved by the LYEFC Board and must be established in the LYEFC Procedures Manual and Coaches Handbook.
- Flag football will be governed by the Flag rules in the LYEFC Procedures Manual and Coaches Handbook.
- Cheerleaders will be governed by all applicable LYEFC Bylaws and the rules detailed in the Cheerleader sections of the Procedures Manual and Coaches Handbook.
- Conduct
- Each Association is responsible for providing a safe, pleasant and trouble-free environment for visitors and teams.
- It may become necessary to take appropriate action if people violate rules, common sense or the law. LYEFC reserves the right to ban any person or persons who endanger the safety of others participating in the program, or anyone that participates in behavior that is deemed otherwise inappropriate or detrimental to any association.
- Any person guilty of assault is subject to automatic, immediate and indefinite suspension.
- LYEFC has the authority to request assistance of law enforcement organizations or the courts, if necessary, to promote a safe environment.
- In order to ensure participant safety, any team receiving two (2) USC penalties on their spectators will immediately forfeit that game. Continued unsportsmanlike conduct by those spectators may result in further actions including sanctions against that team by LYEFC.
- Two (2) ejections, upheld on appeal, in a season by a player, coach or spectator will result in the suspension of that player, coach or spectator for the remainder of the season. Further action may also be taken at the discretion of the LYEFC Board of Directors.
- LYEFC may not have the authority to require a person to leave some facilities such as a public park or school, but failure of a coach or spectator to leave the facility when directed to do so by a Field Director will be considered a flagrant violation of rules and will be grounds for permanent suspension from all future LYEFC participation at the discretion of the LYEFC Board of Directors.
- Scheduling
- Each Association will provide Hill Country Pop Warner dates and times of field availability. In the case of any associations which do not directly control or own their field(s), a written commitment from the party or parties that do control or own the field(s) will be required to satisfy this provision. This commitment must be provided to no later than July 1 each year. Failure to provide this commitment may result in no home games being scheduled for that association unless there are extenuating circumstances.
- LYEFC will provide a fair and equitable schedule and will attempt to schedule equal home and away games for all teams. Associations receiving fewer home games due to an odd number of regular season games in any year, will be given priority for receiving the extra home games the next year there are an odd number of scheduled, regular season games.
- Only an Unattached Executive Board officer may hold the position of Scheduler to avoid any conflict of interest. XI. Game Officials
XII. Game Officials
- All Game Officials must be members (in good standing) of the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO).
- The minimum numbers of officials required to begin and officiate a game are as follows:
(1) Flag…………..1 (2) Pee Wee Tackle…………………2 (3) Rookie, Junior & Senior Tackle………….3
- Only the LYEFC Head of Officiating will assign officials for games. No substitutes may be used unless assigned by the LYEFC Head of Officiating.
- All Game Officials will adhere to the LYEFC Codes of Conduct for Officials.
- The chain crew and timer will be under the direction of the officiating crew.
- Officials will work with the Field Director at each field to ensure the safety of the participants/spectators.
XII. Field Directors
- All hosting Associations will provide two (2) Field Director for each field that is in play. At least one Field Director will be in their allotted areas on each sideline.
- Field Directors will adhere to the LYEFC Codes of Conduct for Field Directors.
- Field Directors are responsible for ensuring a safe and sportsmanlike atmosphere is maintained in the entire area of the Facility outside the Limit Lines defining the Field Area. Facility, Field Area and Limit Lines are defined in the Definitions section of the Procedures Manual.
- Field Directors will not interfere with the normal conduct of any game, as that is solely within the jurisdiction of the Officiating Crew, except as authorized above and to ensure no unauthorized personnel are on the sidelines.