Constitution of the Metro D. C. - Virginia Soccer Association

A. To develop, promote, and administer the game of soccer among players, men and women, within its jurisdictional area.

B. To provide for competitive competitions.

C. To foster national and international amateur sports competition and develop amateur athletes for national and international competition in soccer.

D. To promote soccer and physical fitness for all ages through instructional and educational programs designed to meet the needs of each age group.

E. To support the training and licensing of coaches and referees for soccer.

F. To organize and provide the necessary support for the activities to encourage more public support of soccer and physical fitness.

G. To do any other thing consistent with the purposes stated herein.

A. In accordance with the Amateur Sports Act and the requirements of FIFA and the United States Olympic Committee, the Federation shall be autonomous in its governance of the sport of soccer in the United States may not delegate its governance responsibilities.

B. The Association shall provide an equal opportunity to athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur soccer competitions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, or national origin.

C. Individuals serving on the Association's Executive Committee or any Council or committees of the Association shall be elected without regard to the individual's race, color, religion, age, sex, or national origin.

D. The Association may not have eligibility criteria relating to amateur status more restrictive than those of USSF.

A. The Council shall be the governing body of this Association and shall have all powers granted the Association. It may delegate such powers to officers or committees of the Association via the Constitution and Bylaws it may adopt.

B. The Council shall be composed of league representatives, officers of the Association, the past presidents, and five delegates-at-large.

C. Each member league shall be entitled to cast votes based on the number of registered teams in the league, which may be cast by individual delegated designated in writing, or by a single representative holding such authority in writing. Member leagues shall cast votes in accordance with the following:
1. Each league of four to six teams shall be entitled to two votes.
2. Each league of more than six teams shall be entitled to two votes plus one additional vote for each added increment of one to six teams that it has.
3. Any vote in order to be cast for or by an affiliated league may only be cast by the highest official of the league present and on record with the Association as a league representative prior to the meeting, or by a person designated in writing (by letter or e-mail) by the highest official of such league and that any person so designated may not cast a vote for more than any two (2) entities in total.


D. The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Registrar, an Executive Secretary, and a Recording Secretary. Each shall have one vote in a Council meeting except the presiding officer, normally the President, who shall vote only in case of a tie. Each Delegate-at-Large shall have one vote in a Council meeting.

E. The Council shall promulgate Bylaws which shall be directed toward filling the Association's responsibilities to U.S.S.F. and the members of the Association, the promotion of soccer as a sport, and the protection and strengthening of resources used by members of the Association.

F. The Council shall assert its authority in the following conditions under which teams under its jurisdiction may compete outside the jurisdictional area and under which teams from outside that area may compete within it.

G. The Council shall be the arbiter of policy for the Association. It shall have the power to:
1. Enforce the rulings of the U.S.S.F., its own rulings, the rulings of its Committees, and the Laws of the Game.
2. Elect officers and delegates-at-large for the following seasonal years.
3. Affirm, reject, or modify administrative decisions and practices of committees.
4. Settle all disputes between, affirm or reject appeals from the decisions of, and (upon appeal) mitigate penalties imposed by member leagues and other subordinate organizations.
5. Affirm or reject the President's appointment of any member of the Council or other individual to an office normally filled by election, except the office of the President which is automatically filled by the Vice President's succeeding to office.
6. Represent the Association and act for it in all situations involving other state associations and the national federation.
7. Declare vacant the office of any officer or delegate at large who, without cause is absent from three consecutive meetings.
8. Penalize by expulsion, suspension for a set period, fine, or other means any member proven guilty of violating any of its rules or those of a superior body, or for other misconduct.
9. Deal as it deems appropriate with any member competing with any entity expelled or under suspension.

A. President - the President shall preside at all meetings; shall appoint all committees subject to the approval of the Council, shall be a member of all committees ex-officio; shall appoint the State Referee Administrator (SRA); with the agreement of the Executive Committee, and jointly with the Virginia Youth State Association (VYSA) within the State; shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote at any meeting of the Council or any of its committees; shall lead the delegation of the Association to the Annual General Meeting of U.S.S.F.; and shall represent the Association at all official functions. The President shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired term of any other office ordinarily elected by the Council with the agreement of the Executive Committee.

B. Vice President - the Vice-President shall assist the President in the performance of his duties; shall exercise all the powers of the President in his absence; and shall be a member of the Council entitled to vote.

C. Treasurer - the Treasurer shall be bonded: shall have charge of and receive the monies of the Association; shall keep a detailed account of income and expenditure, shall submit a complete written report showing all Association financial transactions at every Council meeting, accompanied by a statement of the balance on hand; shall open new Association bank accounts only with a resolution by the Executive Committee, shall provide that all accounts be paid by check; checks of significant amounts (as documented in the Bylaws) must bear two (2) manual signatures, and shall be a member of the Council entitled to vote.

D. Registrar - the Registrar shall procure registration materials from the U.S.S.F.; shall distribute them to all members entitled to them, assuring the collection of requisite fees and keeping financial records thereby entailed; shall conduct or supervise the registration of all players; shall maintain a file for the current seasonal year and the preceding two seasonal years of all senior player registration in the Association; shall hold or dispose of any senior player passes needed to enforce suspensions or expulsions; shall mail every 60 days to all member leagues a list of all disciplinary actions taken by the Association, shall procure the required registration information from member leagues such as: team names, players names and addresses, in a timely manner, shall register coaches in similar manner if required; and shall be a member of the Council entitled to vote.

E. Executive Secretary - the Executive Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Association in a timely manner; shall have charge of all properties of the Association, unless the duties of another officer indicate otherwise; shall carry out other administrative tasks as required, and shall be the channel of official communication between the Association and other bodies, unless the duties of another officer indicate otherwise; and shall be a member of the Council entitled to vote.

F. Recording Secretary - the Recording Secretary shall record and publish all meeting minutes; shall give written notice of meetings to all members, stating whether the meeting is regular or special, and, if the latter, the nature of the business; and shall be a member of the Council entitled to vote.

G. If the office of President should become vacant, the Vice President shall succeed to office for the remainder of the term. If the office of any other officer should become vacant, the President shall appoint an individual to fill the office, subject to the approval of the Council, for the remainder of its term. Provision shall be made for an officer who will be unable for an extended time to fulfill the duties of an office to have a leave of absence. During said leave of absence the President shall appoint an interim office holder subject to the approval of the Council.

H. Officers shall exercise their powers and carry out their duties with the advice of and in cooperation with other members of the Executive Committee. Assignment of a particular task to a given office shall not preclude its performance, if necessary, by any other officer.

I. Any officer is subject to removal from office if proper charges are brought against that officer and proven. Charges shall be made in writing and a copy given to the accused officer, who shall be allowed adequate time to prepare a defense. Removal shall be by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Council present and voting.

J. One person may not simultaneously hold two offices.

A. The officers and delegates-at-large shall be elected at the AGM by a majority vote of the persons present and empowered to cast votes in the election of officers.

B. Officers shall be elected for terms of office for two (2) years duration. The President, Treasurer, Executive Secretary, shall be elected in even numbered years, and the Vice President, Recording Secretary and Registrar shall be elected in odd numbered years. All Delegates-at-Large shall be elected for a one (1) year term. Officers and Delegates-at-Large shall be eligible for reelection.

C. In the event that no candidate received a majority on the first or any subsequent ballots, the candidate with the smallest number of votes shall be eliminated and another ballot cast. This procedure shall continue until a candidate receives a majority of votes cast. An abstention is not a vote cast.

D. Only persons who consent to serve prior to balloting shall be elected. Votes cast for persons whose consent has not been ascertained shall not be counted. The fact that a person is not present at the meeting shall not preclude that person from being elected to office, provided written consent is received.

E. Voting for officers and Delegates-at-Large shall be by secret ballot.

F. Nominations may be made by any member of the Council.

G. Council members not present may make nominations in writing.

H. An Officer shall commence a term of office after the conclusion of the meeting in which elected or appointed, or immediately after a vacancy has occurred.

I. At no time shall any one person hold two offices.

Metropolitan D.C. - Virginia Soccer Association, Inc. 2239-A Tacketts Mill Drive Woodbridge, Virginia 22192 (703) 492-KICK info@mdcvsa.org http://www.mdcvsa.org Copyright © 2007