Lassen Fastpitch

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this Corporation/Organization shall be Lassen Fastpitch Softball and shall be referred to in this document as LFS or League.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVE

The prime objective of the league is to provide girls an opportunity to participate in an organized softball program that offers them competition, teamwork, is safety oriented, and fun.  The fundamentals of softball will be taught while promoting good sportsmanship, citizenship, and builds strong character.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Team membership of the league shall exist in the following age divisions:

6U        Ages: 4 to 6 years of age

8U        Ages: 8 years of age and under

10U      Ages: 10 years of age and under

12U      Ages: 12 years of age and under

14U      Ages: 14 years of age and under

League age shall be determined based on the age of the girl as of January 1^st of each year.  Reference to this document shall be meant to refer to league age.

The 6U division shall consist of girls with league age between 4 and 6 years old.  Exceptions will be made for underage girls to “play up” based on the maturity, prior experience, and general athletic ability of the girl.  Consent of the player’s parent or guardian and the League President or Player Agent is required.  To accommodate a request to “play up” in the 6U division, the League President or Player Agent must approve the request.  A request for a player to “play down” may be submitted to the League Board for consideration.  The League President or Player Agent will have authority to approve and grant “play down” requests.  Game rules to be decided upon by the League Board and changes may occur if all coaches agree upon them.  Rule change requests must be submitted to the Player Agent for authorization.

The 8U division shall consist of girls with league age between 6 and 8 years old.  Exceptions will be made for girls to “play up”.  If requesting to “play up”, players must be present at the requested divisions assessments to allow the League President or Player Agent to properly assess the player’s ability. Requests to “play down” will follow the same approval criteria noted in the 6U division.  Games rules to be decided upon by the League Board and changes may occur if all coaches agree upon them and by following the same direction set forth in the 6U division.

The 10U division shall consist of girls whose league age is 10 years and under.  Exceptions will be made for girls to “play up” or “play down” with the same approvals and approval criteria noted in the 8U (“play up”) and 6U (“play down”) divisions.  Games rules to be decided upon by the League Board following the ASA guidelines.  For 6U division ONLY, changes may occur if all coaches agree upon them and by following the same direction set forth by league rules laid out by the board. 

The 12U division shall consist of girls whose league age is 12 years and under.  Exceptions will be made for girls to “play up” or “play down” with the same approvals and approval criteria noted in the 8U (“play up”) and 6U (“play down”) divisions.  Games rules to be decided upon by the League Board following the NSFA guidelines.  Changes may occur if all coaches agree upon them and by following the same direction set forth in the 6U division.

The 14U division shall consist of girls whose league age is 14 years and under.  Exceptions will be made for girls to “play up” or “play down” with the same approvals and approval criteria noted in the 8U (“play up”) and 6U (“play down”) divisions.  Games rules to be decided upon by the League Board following the NSFA guidelines.  Changes may occur if all coaches agree upon them and by following the same direction set forth in the 6U division.

ARTICLE IV: GOVERNMENT

The government of the league shall be vested in the voting members of the board at the general meetings.  The board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Player Agent, Umpire in Chief, Field Coordinator, Equipment Coordinator, FundRaising/Uniform Coordinator and Snack Bar Coordinator, along with CO-coordinators.  A quorum shall be established with a simple majority of the members present. Co-Coordinators will be non-voting members, they do not have the ability to vote on a board or league subject. The League Board shall be elected at a general meeting held prior to the start of each playing season.

The Executive Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Player Agent.

League Board members must attend at least 75% of all meetings.  Should a League Board member miss three consecutive meetings, they may be removed from office by a vote of the Executive Board of Directors.

Managers/Coaches conduct is essential to the League.  Good sportsmanship, positive attitude, and exhibiting respect towards players, parents, umpires, and League officials are all key qualities and expectations of those assuming those responsibilities.  If violations of the expectations noted above occur, the League Board will hold a special meeting to evaluate and assess the validity of the complaints and/or problems.  If a Manager/Coach is found to be in violation of the Constitution of the League, the individual will be afforded a warning and will be placed on “monitoring status”.  If additional violations occur, the League Board will hold a special meeting to vote on the removal of the individual from their coaching/managing responsibility.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

1.  PRESIDENT: The elected President shall preside over all meetings, shall have primary responsibility for the administration of the League, including but not limited to overseeing League finances, scheduling of all games and make-up games (with the Umpire in Chief), handling of disputes, coordinating with umpires and/or the Umpire in Chief, and shall perform executive and administrative duties as would naturally fall within the duties of the office.  This position is generally elected for a 2-year term and shall serve as a Director on the Executive Board of Directors.

2. VICE-PRESIDENT: The elected Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President at any meeting, exercise the powers and duties of the President.  The Vice-President shall perform all special duties and projects as required by the President or the Executive Board of Directors.  The Vice-President is generally responsible for monitoring the conduct of all League managers/coaches; this also includes any issue that may arise between parents and coaches.  This position is generally elected for a 2-year term and shall serve as a Director on the Executive Board of Directors.

3. SECRETARY: The elected Secretary shall:

●      Keep an accurate record of all meetings;

●      Post meeting information and add minutes to website;

●      Be responsible for ensuring the Constitution/By-Laws, League rules, and draft rules are updated, at minimum, annually;

●      Establish drafting policies and rules and initiate changes to draft rules or policies that are deemed necessary.  These actions will be governed by the Executive Board of Directors and approved as such;

●      Keeping current files of all League registration sheets and proof of age for all active players in the League;

●      Be responsible for any insurance claims;

●      Update the League’s social media and website accounts; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of this office.

This position is generally elected for a 2-year term and shall serve as a Director on the Executive Board of Directors.

4. TREASURER: The elected Treasurer shall:

●      Keep an accurate record for all financial transactions of the League;

●      Report at League Board meetings current financial status/updates;

●      Administer the League checking account and be responsible for all transfer of funds into or out of the account;

●      Working with financial advisor to file annual taxes;

●      Working with Umpire Chief to distribute umpire pay;

●      Receiving and handling snack bar cash flow; and

●      Performance of others duties that would fall within the duties of the office.

This position is generally elected for a 2-year term and shall serve as a Director on the Executive Board of Directors.

5. PLAYER AGENT: The elected Player Agent shall:

●      Serve as the Agent for all players in the league; 

●      Investigate grievances or complaints between all players and team management;

●      Responsible for the placement of all players onto all league teams, including administration of the annual assessments and drafting of players onto teams in all divisions;  

●      Provide emergency contact and rules binders to each coach; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of this office.

This position is generally elected for a 2-year term and shall serve as a Director on the Executive Board of Directors.

6. FUNDRAISING/UNIFORM COORDINATOR: The elected Fundraising/Uniform Coordinator shall:

●      Be responsible for the establishment of a League fundraiser and the implementation of such event upon League Board approval;

●      Ensure all uniforms are available for all players in the League.  League issued uniforms shall consist of a jersey top, pants and socks.  Individual teams are required to be dressed alike;

●      Purchase uniforms from a quality, competitively priced source;

●      Address any uniform concerns or issues; 

●      Purchase prizes for raffle ticket sellers and order raffle tickets;

●      Coordinate fundraising opportunities; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of the office.

This position is generally elected for a 1-year term.

7. UMPIRE IN CHIEF & CO-UMPIRE IN CHIEF: The elected Umpire in Chief & Co-Umpire in Chief shall:

●      Be responsible for the training and scheduling of all Umpires;

●      With the assistance of the Player Agent, coordinate the scheduling of all practices and games for all divisions;

●      Provides Umpires with game cards, which shall be utilized to properly track all final game scores for divisions that require score keeping (8U, 10U, 12U  & 14U);

●      Track Umpire pay;

●      Step in to Umpire when the scheduled Umpire is absent; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of the office.

This position is generally elected for a 1-year term. The duties of this position may be divided among two elected League Board volunteers if applicable. Duties shall be divided and approved by the League Board and documented in the meeting minutes.

8.  EQUIPMENT COORDINATOR(S): The elected Equipment Coordinator(s) shall:

●      Supply each team with League equipment prior to the start of the 1^st scheduled practice of the season.  League equipment shall consist of bats (recommended 2-3 per team), batting tee (one per 6U team); batting helmets, catchers gear (including mask, shin guards and chest protector), practice balls (at least 7 per team), and an equipment bag of sufficient size to hold all equipment.  All coaches should be supplied with the combinations and keys (if applicable) to unlock storage containers housing field bases and/or pitching machines;

●      Must ensure all equipment is returned at seasons end;

This position is generally elected for a 1-year term.  The duties of this position may be divided among two elected League Board volunteers if applicable. Duties shall be divided and approved by the League Board and documented in the meeting minutes.

9. FIELD MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR & CO-FIELD MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR: The elected Field Maintenance Coordinator & Co-Field Maintenance Coordinator(s) shall:

●      Procure field maintenance equipment, supplies and make available for use by the League for the preparation and maintenance of the playing fields.  In general, this will consist of 2-3 working line painters/chalkers, a supply of line paint/chalk, a line or string for laying outlines, a groundskeeper rake, a field drag mat, bases, home plates, and pitching rubbers in good condition for all fields;

●      Ensure that all fields and facilities are ready for use throughout the season;

●      Ensure that a first aid kit is supplied and readily available in the snack bar for the administration of first aid for injuries that may occur while one is playing or attending a softball game; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of the office.

This position is generally elected for a 1-year term.  The duties of this position may be divided among two elected League Board volunteers if applicable. Duties shall be divided and approved by the League Board and documented in the meeting minutes.

10.  SNACK BAR COORDINATOR: The elected Snack Bar Coordinator shall:

●      Provide menu with prices to Board by March 1st;

●      Plan, stock, and schedule the staffing of the snack bar facility;

●      Ensure the snack bar fare is procured from reputable, competitive, and quality sources:

●      Ensure the cleanliness of the snack bar meets or exceed regulations for food preparation and serving establishments;

●      Maintain copies of receipts for supplies; develop a system to track sales and money collected, which is turned into the Treasurer weekly to be deposited into the League bank account; 

●      a CO-SNACK BAR COORDINATOR can be added as a Non-voting Board Member at the discretion of the elected SNACK BAR COORDINATOR; and

●      Performance of other duties that would fall within the duties of the office.

This position is generally elected for a 1-year term.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

The President shall call a general meeting to be held monthly to successfully and properly administer League business. These meetings shall be open to the general public, with the exception of discussion of League coaches/managers applications and player drafting meetings.

ARTICLE VII: CHANGES

This Constitution/By-Laws may be changed and amended at any meeting of the Executive Board of Directors and by a majority vote.

ARTICLE VIII: EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

All equipment or supplies issued by the League to the teams or League management remains the property of the League except as provided for separately under special League Board approved agreement or program.  The equipment and supplies are to be turned in at the end of each playing season.  At the discretion of the League Board, pictures or awards may be withheld pending receipt of issued equipment belonging to the League.  The League has the right to request monetary reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment.

ARTICLE IX: TERMS OF OFFICE

The terms of office for the Executive Board of Directors are to run for 2 years, with each office subject to re-election every 2 years.  There is no established limit to the number of years or consecutive years that they may serve.  If any of the Executive Board of Directors members decide not to fulfill their 2-year term, they may resign in writing to the Board as set forth in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE X: TEAM MANAGEMENT

It is the desire of the League that every team, as a minimum, has a head coach and an assistant coach. After drafts, each team may add an additional assistant coach. Any additional assistant coaches will need to complete a volunteer form, be voted on by the league’s board and complete a background check prior to the start of the season.  It is believed that proper attention to the needs of the players, the parents, and the League cannot be provided without this minimum team staff.  The League Board will be responsible for the recruitment and approval of team managers, coaches, and assistant coaches, who are appointed on a voluntary basis.  All managers, coaches, assistant coaches, and parent volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application and may be subject to a general background check prior to the start of the season/drafting process.  In the event that a background check brings forth issues or arrests that may jeopardize the safety of players, player’s parents, League officials, umpires, or volunteers, the League Board has the right to refuse a volunteer application.

Last Updated: 9/24/2024