102.      AFFILIATION PROCEDURES

                              

102.1    Affiliate Membership requires application be submitted   by   every Affiliate or   organization annually   for   review   and approval. Affiliates shall be held responsible for the actions of its members.  Failure to exercise supervisory control and oversight may be grounds for denial of affiliation at annual review and approval.    Approval of the Affiliate may be denied by the BOD if (a) the Affiliate is or has been "not in good standing" during the previous year or (b) the Affiliate has proven to be in violation of FYSA, US YOUTH SOCCER or the Affiliate's By-laws and/or Rules. The application must include:

1.       Completed affiliation form.

2.       By application for affiliation with FYSA each applicant hereby agrees by application:

a.       The affiliate will maintain a Board of Directors, or governing authority, that is independent from any other sports organization

b.       The affiliate will maintain its own checking, bank account, or has direct control over it finances. Except were evidence is provided that the sponsoring entity by ordinance, statute, charter, or policy prohibits the applicant from having direct control over its finances (i.e. governmental sponsored organizations).  The applicant shall attach to the application evidence in support to support the request for waiver of this requirement.

c.       It is the intent of the organization by application that if granted affiliation, the member will register 100% of all players, coaches, administrators and volunteers (who will have direct interface with its players) each year with FYSA.

3.       Maybe each Affiliate with its annual application ought to attach a copy of its By-laws and Rules.

4.       Affiliate fee.  See fees (301.3 and 302.)

5.       All affiliates must affiliate in the district in which the majority of its players resided.

6.       District Commissioners and Regional Vice Presidents shall report in writing excessive affiliate complaints to the Board of Directors for consideration as to renewal of affiliation.  

7.       Additional Requirements:

a.  Playing field availability;  

b.  Names of leagues affiliate shall participate in;

c.  Name of current club assignor;

 

102. 2   In addition, first-time affiliates must include:

1.   If first time affiliates, written proof of playing field availability or a letter from a league in which your club will be scheduled.

2.   If first time affiliates, letter from the local District Referee Administrator indicating FSR’s capability to serve your club.

3.   To be approved, Affiliation must be for the good of soccer in the District, Region and State of Florida.

4.   New affiliates will pay an affiliation fee for the first two (2) years in the amount of 1500.00/year to be utilized as follows:   Affiliation fee of 135.00, prepaid registration fees in the amount of 1365.00

      (Any unused registration fees not utilized in the first two years will be carried forward to the third year affiliation.  At the end of the third year all unused registration fees will revert to FYSA’s general fund.)

5.   Any new affiliate must sponsor an entry level (grade 8) referee course within 24 month of affiliation.

6.   Upon approval the President, or designee, shall contact within thirty days (30) the President or Agent of Record and review the affiliation and registration requirements of membership with FYSA

 

 102.3     A new affiliate, once approved, will be placed on three-year probation.  At the end of the three years, the affiliated must submit a letter with their affiliation form requesting full membership.  The request for full   membership is neither automatic nor guaranteed.

 

102.4   A waiver to 102.2 (the additional 1365.00/yr.) may be granted if it is in the best interest of FYSA.  A written request for waiver must be submitted with the application for affiliation.  This request for waiver must be approved of the local District Commissioner, the Regional Vice President, and the BOD of FYSA. The decision of the BOD is final, binding and not appeal able by any of the parties.

 

102.5    All affiliates must affiliate within the district where the physically reside, in the district in which the majority of its players resided or physically play the majority of their home games. Any dispute as to in what district an affiliate will affiliate shall be decided by the Regional Vice President whose decision shall be binding upon all parties.

 

102.6    CHALLENGE PROCEDURES: AFFILIATIONS

The only entity within FYSA that can rule on affiliations and re-affiliations is the full Board of Directors (“BOD”) of FYSA.

 

In order to contest a re-affiliation, it is necessary that all parties be afforded due process prior to a decision being rendered by the BOD.

 

The entry point for the filing of charges or grievances for consideration by the BOD is with the local District Commissioner (“DC”) or Regional Vice President (“RVP”). 

 

1.       Charges or grievances must be filed in writing with all supporting documentation attached.

2.       Charges must include specific violations of either USSF, US Youth Soccer or FYSA rules.  

3.       All charges and documentation must be received by the DC/RVP not less than thirty (30) days prior to a scheduled BOD meeting.

4.       The DC/RVP shall forward the document(s) to the Secretary of FYSA, c/o FYSA’s State Office.

5.       Upon receipt of the charging documents, the Secretary shall inform the charged affiliate, in writing, that there is a filed challenge to its re-affiliation to be heard by the BOD at the next regularly scheduled BOD meeting, providing the date and time of that meeting.

6.       The Secretary shall notify the President of the challenge /grievance for inclusion on the agenda of the next BOD meeting. 

7.       The Secretary shall forward to the charged affiliate a copy of the charge/grievance with all supporting documentation attached. 

8.       The charged affiliate shall then have ten (10) days to respond to the Secretary with a written rebuttal to the charge/grievance and to supply any and all documents that the affiliate desires the BOD to consider.

9.       Upon receipt of this rebuttal, if any, the Secretary shall have send copies of all documents to all the members of the BOD at least Seven (7) days prior to the BOD meeting in order to afford the BOD time to study the documents.

10.   Both parties will be afforded the opportunity to address the BOD, subject to an equally imposed time limit for each side, if either party so desires to exercise this right.

11.   The BOD then will adjourn to an “executive session” for discussion and the rendering of a decision in the matter.   

12.   The Secretary shall then provide a written opinion of the BOD’s decision to each party within ten (10) days.

 

102.7  An affiliate who fails to affiliate for a seasonal year must reapply as a first-time affiliate and meet all requirements as set forth under Rule 102.2.

  

Any affiliate who in the preceding seasonal year fails to register fifty (50) players shall submit with the renewal application a detailed explanation as to justification for re-affiliation and/or a plan to increase membership in the following seasonal year.  Any affiliate who fails to register 50 players in two consecutive seasonal years must submit to the BOD a petition listing the reason (s) the application should be approved.  This petition will be presented by their District Commissioner.  The application for renewal may be denied by the BOD. This rule shall be effect with the 2005-2006 seasonal year.