LHSOA Soccer Committee Bylaws
BYLAWS OF THE SOCCER OFFICIALS COMMITTEE OF THE LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE 1 – NAME
This organization shall be known as “Soccer Officials Committee of the Louisiana High School Officials Association.” (“Soccer Committee”).
ARTICLE 2 – AUTHORITY
This organization is created by authority of the Louisiana High School Officials Association (“LHSOA”). The organization will abide by and follow the rules of the LHSOA.
ARTICLE 3 – PURPOSE
The purposes of the Soccer Committee are to improve the quality of high school soccer officiating in Louisiana through the following efforts:
- To increase participation in soccer officiating and to assist statewide projects in recruitment and retention of soccer officials in order to provide structure and consistency for improvement by all soccer officials.
- To serve as a single voice for local soccer official associations for promotion of their rights and welfare in addition to being a representative group of soccer officials in which ideas of general interest may be discussed and to which they may be referred for the friendly exchange of information resulting in better relationships.
- To promote the rules knowledge and mechanics and a closer cooperation among officials, coaches, players, administrators, and the media through a high standard of ethics, fair play, and sportsmanship.
- To make recommendations to the LHSAA Director of Officials regarding soccer rules and officiating policies, philosophies, and mechanics.
ARTICLE 4 – MEMBERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Section 1 – Overall Composition of the Soccer Committee. The Soccer Committee shall be comprised of designated members from local soccer officials associations, as recognized by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (“LHSAA”), representatives from the LHSOA Executive Committee, and a representative from the LHSAA, as further set forth in this Article. Any member shall be an active soccer official, but may hold other positions as well. The Soccer Committee shall have a Chairman and Secretary, but the Committee shall have no other officers.
Section 2 – Local Association Representation on the Committee. An officer/member, or other designee of each local soccer officials association recognized by the LHSAA shall be a member of the Committee.
Section 3 – LHSOA Representation on the Committee. The Soccer Committee shall identify and recommend two soccer representatives to the LHSOA Executive Committee. Consistent with the LHSOA Constitution, these representatives will be geographically diverse and will serve terms as outlined in that Constitution. All representatives are subject to ratification of the LHSOA Executive Committee.
Section 4 – LHSAA Representation on the Committee. The LHSAA Director of Officials shall serve as a member of the Soccer Committee and may take part in any discussion, may introduce motions and resolutions, but shall have no vote on any matter.
Section 5 – Chairman of the Committee. One of the LHSOA Representatives, as chosen by the LHSOA President, shall preside as Chairman of the Soccer Committee.
Section 6 – Duties of the Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Soccer Committee. The Chairman shall take care to execute all orders and resolutions of the Soccer Committee and shall perform all duties incident to his office as well as those that may be required by the Soccer Committee. He shall call special meetings of the Soccer Committee as needed. He shall provide for the appointment of standing committees and appoint special committees as needed.
Section 7 – Secretary of the Committee. One of the LHSOA Representatives, as chosen by the LHSOA President, shall preside as Secretary of the Soccer Committee.
Section 8 – Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall issue notice of all meetings of the Soccer Committee. He/she shall record and maintain minutes of meetings, maintain custody/have access to all legal documents including the LHSOA Constitution, Soccer Committee bylaws, as well as the LHSOA membership roster for all soccer officials. He/she shall serve as custodian of records for the Soccer Committee. He/she shall communicate with local soccer official associations as needed and shall obtain the names of those persons who shall serve as members of the Soccer Committee. He/she shall perform such other duties incident to the office or which may be required by the Soccer Committee or its Chairman. He/she shall, in consultation with the LHSOA Treasurer, inform the Soccer Committee of any financial matters relating to the Soccer Committee.
Section 9 – Terms of Office. The LHSOA representatives on the Soccer Committee shall serve terms consistent with the LHSOA Constitution. The Soccer Committee shall have ownership over the selection, and qualifications of its LHSOA representatives, subject to LHSOA Executive Committee ratification. It shall accept, upon satisfactory documentation, the appointment to the Committee of the local soccer association designee.
Section 10 – Meetings. The Soccer Committee shall conduct business at no less than one regular meeting during the year, and shall also hold special meetings as necessary. Except as otherwise noted herein, all meetings shall be conducted according to the most recent version of Robert’s Rules of Order. A majority of the voting members of the Soccer Committee shall constitute a quorum to do business. Meetings may be in person, by conference call, and/or other electronic means as deemed appropriate.
ARTICLE V –RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 1 – Ratification. These Bylaws shall become effective upon approval by a majority vote of the LHSOA Executive Committee.
Section 2 – Amendments. Following ratification, these Bylaws may be amended at any time upon approval by two-thirds of the Soccer Committee members present and voting, so long as it is also approved by a true majority of the total number of eligible voting members. No proposed amendment shall take effect unless it shall have first been submitted to the Secretary and thereafter sent to all members of the Committee. In any event, once approved by the Soccer Committee, amended bylaws are subject to ratification by the LHSOA Executive Committee.