NEW ORLEANS COED SOCCER LEAGUE BY-LAWS

Article I-Membership and Voting

Membership in this Association shall be in the following categories:

Players
Coaches
Executive Committee
Team Directors
Referees and Assessors

Players and Coaches will be considered members of the association when their team rosters, player applications, and appropriate fees have been received by the Association. The registration date shall be the date when the completed application was received by the Registrar. Applications for team membership must be accompanied by the season dues which shall be returned to the applicant if the applicant is not admitted to membership.

Referees and assessors will be considered members of the association when they have fulfilled the required application and fees requirements for the USSF registration.

Article II-Executive Committee

A. Subject to the limitations of the Constitution, By-Laws, and laws of the state of Louisiana, all of this associationıs powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directions. All business and other affairs of this association shall be controlled by the executive committee.

B. The authorized number of team directors shall be equal to the number of registered teams for the applicable season, in addition to the members of the executive committee.

C. The team directors, shall be elected by the team which they represent. Their presence at the pre-season meeting shall serve as public notice of their elected position. Each team directorıs term in office shall begin immediately upon their election and end when another team director is elected or the team fails to register.

D. The executive committee, shall be elected in staggered terms. Commissioner and Treasurer in even numbered years, Registrar, Secretary and Field Marshall in odd numbered years.

E. Vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining team director of the association, or at the special meeting called for that purpose. A vacancy, or vacancies shall be deemed to exist in case of death, resignation, removal, or disqualification of any team director. If the executive committee accepts the resignation of an executive committee member tendered to take effect at a future time, the executive committee shall have the power to elect a successor to take office when the resignation becomes effective. No reduction of the number of team directors shall have the effect of removing any team director or executive committee member prior to the expiration of his/her term of office.

F. The duties of the executive committee members shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Commissioner-the commissioner shall conduct all meetings of the team directors. The commissioner shall appoint, at the beginning of each season, subject to the approval of the team directors, any committee chairperson, other members at large, or other posts as needed for the commissioner to maintain the league.
2. Registrar-the registrar shall preside over meetings in case of the absence of the commissioner. The registrar will be responsible for the registration of all players, and shall be permitted to appoint other members to assist in this process. Further the registrar will be responsible for keeping NOCS in good standing with Louisiana Soccer Association, or any other professional organization that NOCS is affiliated.
3. Treasurer-the treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the financial well-being of NOCS. All accounts shall be paid by a check and shall bear two (2) signatures of the executive committee. The treasurer shall be responsible for keeping an accurate and current financial book of the leagues debts and credits. At no time shall related parties be the two (2) signatures on a check, regardless to whom the check is payable.
4. Secretary-the secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings. The secretary shall also be responsible for the preparation of the annual report to be presented at the first meeting of the following soccer year.

G. The executive committee shall be responsible for and have the sole authority for the following:

1. Enforcing and Interpretation the By-Laws and the rules and regulations of NOCS.
2. Approving teams seeking membership in NOCS and determining if a team successfully completes registration.
3. On occasion, making and enforcing rules and regulations for specific cases or occasions not provided for in existing documents, but which are deemed necessary by the Executive Committee, to carry our the objectives of NOCS.

Article III-Executive Committee

The executive committee shall serve between the team directors meeting for any emergency. All actions by the executive committee taken between meetings, shall be ratified by the Teams Directors at their next scheduled meeting.

Article IV-Subordinate Officers

A. The commissioner, with the approval of the team directors, may appoint such officers to be designated, appointed positions as the business of the association may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as provided in these by-laws or as the team directors may from time to time determine.

B. Subordinate officers shall not be voting members of this association, unless they qualify under the provisions of Article I of these by-laws.

Article V-Committees

A. The team directors shall appoint committees as may be necessary to assist the executive committee in the performance of their duties. Committees may include, but not be limited to competition committee, all-star committee, rules committee, etc.

B. The commissioner of NOCS shall appoint committee chairpersons, who then shall be responsible for assembling the committee. The committee chairperson shall designate a committee member who shall act as chairperson in case of their absence. The committee chairperson will be responsible for convening meetings, recording the events, and reporting the results back to the executive committee and the team directors.

C. The executive committee when establishing a committee or referring business to a committee shall:

1. establish the specific purpose of function the committee is expected to fulfill
2. designate the powers the committee may have in order to complete its task
3. set a time limit for preparing and presenting a report or resolution to the team directors
4. provide a budget, when necessary, for reimbursement of committee related expenses incurred by the committee

Article VI-Meetings

A. Regular meetings of the team directors shall be held prior to the beginning of each season, by the call of the commissioner. The agenda for regular meetings shall included, but not be limited to the following:

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Introduction of guests
4. Acceptance of minutes
5. Correspondence
6. Treasurerıs Report
7. Committee Reports
8. Unfinished business
9. New Business
10. Adjournment

B. All meetings of the team directors for any purpose shall be called at any time by the commissioner, or if absent or refusing to act, by any three (7) team directors. Notice of the time and place shall be delivered personally to all team directors via the NOCS website or by email. Notice of meetings must be delivered 48 hours prior to the meeting time, complete with location, date, and time of the meeting.

C. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the team directors may be taken without meeting, and with the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors, if all team directors individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such consent shall be signed and filed with the regular minutes of the team directors. Any certificate or document relating to any action so taken by written consent shall state thereon that it was taken by the unanimous consent of the team directors of NOCS without a meeting thereof and that the by-laws of the association authorize to so act.

D. At all meetings of the team directors, 50% of the team directors membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VII-Fees

A. The team directors shall determine prior to the beginning of each season, at the regular preseason meeting, the membership fees required of each team.

B. Seasonal fees for players and teams are due and payable, unless otherwise provided for by the team directors at the time of, but not later than such playerıs first team practice and/or game. Teams are not considered registered until all team fees are paid.

C. All bank checks, drafts, and/or money orders submitted to this association shall be made payable to NOCS.

Article VII-NOCS records and reports-Inspection

A. NOCS shall maintain adequate and correct accounts, books, and records of its business and properties. All of such books, records and accounts shall be ke[pt at its principal place of business in the State of Louisiana, as fixed by the team directors from time to time.

B. All books and records shall be open to inspection for the team directors and members of NOCS, from time to time, and in the manner provided by the team directors.

C. All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness, issued in the name or payable to NOCS, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such a manner as shall be described in these by-laws.

D. The team directors, except as otherwise provided, may authorize any office or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of NOCS. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized by the team directors, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind NOCS by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit, or to render it liable for any purpose or to any amount.

E. The team directors shall cause an annual report or statement to be prepared and presented at the beginning of each soccer year, at the regular pre-season meeting. Such annual report or statement shall become a part of the permanent records of business of NOCS.

Article IX-Financial Disclaimer

NOCS shall not assume, nor be liable for, the debts and./or financial responsibilities, either implied or incurred, of any player, coach, manager, team assistant, official, or referee.

Article X-Responsibilities

A. Teams registered in NOCS shall abide by the rules and regulations of NOCS.

B. Falsification of records shall be grounds for disbarment from future participation and/or membership in NOCS

C. A plea of ignorance of the by-laws or rules and regulations is not sufficient and violators may expect appropriate action by the team directors.

D. Any person found guilty of violation the by-laws, rules and regulations, or the spirit of the laws of NOCS may be asked to explain their actions before the team directors and/or the executive committee.

Article XI-Liability Protection

All officers of this association and officials of member teams shall be covered against personal liability claims by NOCS for performing acts and duties related to work of NOCS.

Article XII-Amendment of By-Laws

A. Each team director that is in good standing with NOCS may submit amendments to these by-laws via the commissioner or any such rules and regulations committee. Such amendments must be submitted on or before the regular pre-season meeting.

B. An amendment shall be deemed adopted by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the voting members present at the regular pre-season meeting.

C. Any amendment to these by-laws adopted at the pre-season meeting shall become effective at the start of the season immediately following the meeting.

Article XIII-Arbitration of Disputes

A. In the event of a claim against NOCS or any of its directors or executive committee members, including subordinate officers, the parties, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, hereby agree that any controversy, claim, or alleged breach, including torts and statutory claims arising out of or related to these by-laws shall be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. Demand for arbitration may be made no later than the time that such action would be permitted under the applicable state statute of limitation. Any dispute regarding the timeliness of the demand for arbitration shall be decided by the arbitrator(s). Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators shall be binding and non-appealable and may be entered in any Court having jurisdiction thereof in order to obtain compliance therewith. In rendering their award, the arbitrator(s) shall determine the rights and obligations of the parties according to the laws of the State of Louisiana. The arbitration proceedings and hearings shall be conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana or at such other place as may be selected by mutual agreement. No party, nor the arbitrators may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of all parties.

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