July 2015
REGULATIONS OF BLAZER MIDGET FOOTBALL
ARTICLE I - GENERAL PURPOSE
Blazer Midget Football (BMF) was formed for the purpose of operating the football and cheerleading program. The sole purpose of this program is for the recreation and development of our children.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Anyone with a child in the program. A member must have attended at least three (3) previous BMF general membership meetings in the current calendar year (December does not count).
ARTICLE III - GOVERNING BODY
Section 1: BMF will be governed by Five (5) Officers (also known as "Board”) President, two (2) Commissioners (one representing football and one representing cheerleading), Treasurer and Recording Secretary and Twelve (12) Committee Managers.
Section 2: All Officers and Committee Manages are annually elected by the general membership.
Section 3: The only member of BMF excluded from holding a position of Officer are Varsity Head Football and Varsity Head Cheerleading Coaches, Designated JV Football Head Coaches and assistant football coaches designated to vote for the subsequent year head coaches and vice versa. However, a Varsity Head Coach and/ or a Head Football JV Coach, and/or an assistant football coach designated to vote for the subsequent year head coaches may be elected to hold the position of League Representative or Alternate League Representative or Committee Manager.
Section 4: The President will preside over BMF meetings and conduct these meetings per Robert’s Rules of Order. The President will also report the state of BMF to the General membership.
Section 5: One of the Commissioners will serve in the President’s absence.
Section 6: The Treasurer will receive and account for all money BMF takes in. The Treasurer and President are the only individuals in BMF authorized to sign checks. The Treasurer is ordered to give a complete accounting to the general Membership upon request and an annual report each January.
Section 7: The Recording Secretary will record and transcribe all proceeding at BMF meetings. A copy of the minutes will be given to the President so it can be included in the report to the general membership The Communication Director will post the minutes in a timely manner to the BMF website.
ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES
Section 1: Each committee will be managed by a Committee Manager who is elected by the general Membership annually.
Section 2: It will be the responsibility of the Committee Manager to enlist the aid of others and to organize the operation of his/her committee.
Section 3: The following are detailed descriptions of what each of the Twelve (12) Committees are responsible for and is not limited to these duties, but also miscellaneous duties as assigned by the Board.
A. CONCESSION COMMITTEE (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager is responsible for having enough personnel to operate the concessions stand during all home games. The Committee Manager is responsible for all money taken in and will turn all money over to the Treasurer. The Committee Manager is responsible for procuring all Food and Beverages and maintaining all equipment used in preparing our food.
B. SPONSORSHIP/GRANT COMMITTEE
The Committee Manager is responsible for all aspects of the development of sponsorship and grants. All monies received are to be turned over to the Treasurer.
C. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
The Committee Manager will be responsible for organizing and managing all fund-raising activities not under other committees. The Committee Manager will purchase, with board approval, and resell, at a profit for the organization, items which have the BMF logo such as; jackets, hats, etc. The Committee Manager is responsible for all money taken in and will turn over all Monies received to the Treasurer.
D. EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE - FOOTBALL (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager has the responsibility to report to the officers all equipment needed before the season starts at a regular BMF meeting. The Committee Manager will keep complete records of all equipment issued in order to keep track of equipment not returned at the end of the season and retrieve said equipment. Each team will have an equipment manager who over sees their respective team equipment and reports to the Equipment Manager.
E. EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE – CHEERLEADING (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager has the responsibility to report to the officers all equipment needed before the season starts at a regular BMF meeting. The committee will keep complete records of all equipment issued in order to keep track of equipment not returned at the end of the season and retrieve said equipment. Each team will have an equipment manager who over sees their respective team equipment and reports to the Equipment Manager.
F. FOOTBALL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager will have the representatives from the committee on the chains at all home games and ensure that announcers are available for each game. The Committee Manager will have the responsibility of the following: Bleachers, Goal Posts, Blocking Sleds and all aspects of the field, including lining. It is also the responsibility of the Committee Manager to have the field cleaned up after each game. The Committee Manager is also responsibility for the maintenance and care of the rest room facility and all other buildings. The committee Manager and Mighty Mite Coaches are responsible to acquire volunteers from parents to set up before home games and the committee manager and Midget Coaches are responsible to acquire volunteers from parents to dismantle after each home game.
G. CHEERLEADING OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager will be responsible for checking field conditions and advising cheerleading commissioner if it is unsafe to cheer and/or stunt. Assist cheerleading commissioner with practice schedules, safety classes, and competition paperwork, cheer camp and assist at registration.
H. FIRST AID COMMITTEE (Football & Cheer Equipment Managers will cover this)
The Committee Manager is responsible for coordinating with teams to ensure a first aid program has been designed for all JV and Varsity Teams. The Committee Manager will also be responsible for coordinating with the ambulance and have them to attempt to make all home games. The Committee Manager is also responsible for maintaining for all first aid kits. It is mandatory that each team has a medical kit at all practices and games.
I. REGISTRATION COMMITTEE (Key Operational)
The Committee Manager has the responsibility of coordinating with the Officers to have registration at least three times before the school year terminates. The Committee Manager must comply with registration rules of the Berks Inter-County Youth Football League (BICYFL)
J. LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE (Key Operational)
The League Representative and one Alternate shall be elected annually by the general membership. The league Rep and/or Alternate shall be at every BICYFL meeting. The League Rep and/or Alternate shall instruct BMF on league rules and procedures, which include having coaches meeting before the first practice of the season each year. The League Rep and/or Alternate will provide maps and directions to away games and keep BMF informed of leagues scores and standings and present to the BICYFL any rule changes BMF wishes to make. Team scrimmages can be scheduled by Head Coaches and League Rep and/or Alternate, but must be approved by the Football Commissioner.
K. PARENTS DAY/END OF YEAR PLAYER RECOGNITION
The Committee Manager has the responsibility of all special functions conducted for BMF (e.g. the Homecoming game, BMF Night at DBHS, end of year recognition)
L. COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Committee Manager has the responsibility of keeping the existing BMF Website and Face Book Page current and communicating all BMF communications in a timely manner as directed by the BMF President or Board Member.
ARTICLE V - Coaches
Section 1: BMF will have Three (3) Head Coaches for Football, One (1) for Mighty Mites, Mites and Midgets. Recreational Cheerleading will have Six (6) Head coaches one for 2nd Grade, one for 3rd Grade, one for 4th Grade, one for 5th Grade, one for 6th Grade and one for 7th Grade. BMF will have one Flag Football Coordinator and one Flag Football Cheerleading Coordinator responsible for the coordination of the program. The Flag Football and Flag Cheerleading Coordinator will be assigned by the BMF Board in accordance with BICYFL rules.
Section 2: The Football Head Coaches will be elected each year by the Officers and the previous year’s Head Coaches and One (1) Assistant coach. Head Coaches shall have a vote on their successors. The Cheerleading Coaches will be elected each year by the Officers and the previous year’s Six (6) Head Coaches.
Section 3: It will be the responsibility of each Head Coach to select his/her assistants and JV staff. The Football Head Coach will select the one assistant coach eligible for voting at the end of the year by the BMF Board Meeting and provide that person’s name to the President. All Varsity and JV Coaches fall under the Head Coach.
Section 4: If for any reason it would be necessary to remove a coach (Head or Assistant) from his/her position, the President can call a special meeting of the Officers to vote to remove a coach in questions. A four-fifth (4/5) vote of those eligible to vote is required removing a coach once the season has started. If a head coach is removed during the season, it will be the responsibility of the Officers to select his/her replacement. If a coach receives a league sanction the BMF Board has the right to remove the coach.
Section 5: All Head Football and Cheerleading Coaches and Assistants must be at least Eighteen (18) Years of age and defined as a member in Article II.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1: BMF meetings will be held monthly or more if required by BMF. Each Officer, Committee Manager and Head Coach or designated representative, shall attend each monthly meeting.
Section 2: At BMF meetings, each Officer, elected Committee Manager and Head Coach or Designated representative will report to BMF and the general membership.
ARTICLE VII - VOTING & ELECTIONS
Section 1: At each November BMF meeting, names will be accepted in nomination for the Three (3) Football Head coaches and Six (6) Cheerleading Head Coaches.
Section 2: Any member, as defined in Article II, of BMF may have his/her name placed in nomination for any and all Head Coaching, Committee or Officers position. Any member of BMF may nominate another member for Head Coach and make as many nominations as they see fit to make.
Section 3: The purpose of this section is to allow BMF membership to an individual that is unable to attend (3) regularly scheduled monthly BMF meetings due to their work schedule or other legitimate obligations. For the sole purpose for being eligible to be nominated and elected as Head Football Coach or Cheer Coach, a person can be granted BMF membership with a four fifth (4/5) vote of the Officers during the November nomination meeting.
Section 4: At the December BMF meeting, the President will announce next year’s Nine (9) Head Coaches (Three (3) for Football and Six (6) for cheerleading). Eligible nominees must have attended 3 meetings in the current year, prior to December. If there are no eligible nominees, the Board and Coaches will accept open nomination to fill the positions.
Section 5: At the November BMF meeting, names will be accepted in nomination for the Five (5) Officers and Twelve (12) Committee Managers. Any member can run for a position and any member can nominate. Those being nominated, as Officers and Committee Managers must qualify as a member as defined in Article II. If there are no eligible nominees, the Board will accept open nomination to fill the positions.
Section 6: At the December meeting, elections will be held for the Officers and Committee Managers. The Officers and Committee Managers will be those receiving the majority of the votes. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by the five Officers by way of a special meeting to discuss and vote for the position(s) in question.
ARTICLE VIII - PROPOSALS & AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Any member may propose any plan to the membership for their consideration whether it be to amend or repeal the Regulations; be financial in nature or for the general betterment of BMF. If the proposal is seconded by a fellow member, it must be voted on by the Officers. Amendments to the bylaws require a four-Fifth (4/5) vote of the officers for acceptance. Amendments must be read at three (3) consecutive board meetings after Officers have approved the change for proposed change to take effect.
Section 2: If in the judgment of the President any plan submitted lacks information or facts necessary for the Officers to reach an informed decision. The President can recommend the submitting member investigate further and resubmit at the next BMF meeting.
Section 3: All unbudgeted expenditures exceeding Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) needs to be approved by the BMF board. Expenditures are defined as: Youth Football and Cheerleading Equipment, field equipment and supplies, referees and league dues.
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1: On or about the first practice a mandatory parent meeting will be held to outline coaches and board rules and expectations.
Section 2: BMF will have a Grievance Committee, which is automatically the elected officers of BMF. The Grievance Committee will be responsible for settling all disputes between coaches and parents. All parents, regardless of their position in BMF, must approach one of the Grievance Committee members with complaints about any coach if no reasonable resolution could be reached with the coach and his/her staff. The Grievance Committee must act on the complaint and report their findings back to the parent. Coaches must notify a Grievance Committee Member of any disciplinary action taken upon a football or cheerleading participant.