1. Constitution:
1.1 Name:
The Club shall be called Hoddesdon Owls Football Club.
1.2 Objective:
The objective of the club shall be to arrange association football matches and social activities for its members.
1.3 Status of Rules:
These rules, Hoddesdon Owls F.C. rules, form a binding agreement between each member / Player of the club.
1.4 Rules and Regulations:
A. The club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of The Football Association by virtue of its affiliation to / membership of The Hertfordshire County Football Association. The Rules and Regulations of The Football association Limited and Football Association or any League or Competition to which the club is affiliated for the time being shall be deemed to be incorporated into the club rules.
B. No alteration to the Club rules shall be effective without approval of the Club Committee. The Club Rules will be reviewed and agreed at each Annual General Meeting, AGM, to be held at the beginning of the presentation social event each May on an annual basis.
2. Annual Membership:
2.1 Fees:
A. The Annual Subscription/Signing on fee and, or, match day subscriptions for all Members / players shall be decided by the outgoing Committee for the following season and will be announced at the May AGM each year. Fees shall not be repayable.
(Unless covered under item 2.1 B).
B. Any fees paid by members / players withdrawing from the Club during the playing season can only be returned in extendable circumstances and under the discretion of the committee who’s decision is final.
C. The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members / players as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objectives of the Club.
D. The Managers will be responsible for informing the Treasurer at the monthly meetings of any players who are more than two weeks behind of any subscriptions if applicable.
E. Parents/Guardians who have difficulty in paying subscriptions must inform their players Manager who with the Committee will decide on what assistance can be offered. Individual names will not be given out at any of the Clubs meetings.
3. Election of Committee/Powers:
3.1 The Committee:
A. The Committee of the Club shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Secretary, Child Protection Officer and Parent Representative all to be elected annually at the AGM. Managers appointed by the committee shall also be members of the committee. A Committee member will also take on the role as the Clubs Child Protection Officer.
B. Should no alternative nominations be received, Retiring officers who wish to remain in office will do so without an election being required.
3.2 Committee Powers:
A. The Committee shall meet monthly and deal with business as it arises. Decisions of the Club shall be recorded in the form of Minutes that will be maintained by the Club secretary. All Members and Managers are expected to attend.
B. Each Committee member shall have one vote at meetings. In the event of voting being equal on any issue the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. The quorum for the transaction of business of the club committee shall be three.
C. Save as provided for in Rules and Regulations of The Association and Affiliated Association to which the Club is affiliated, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect concerning the Club Rules.
D. All decisions made by the committee will be reported to the players/parents or guardians in the form of a newsletter.
E. A signed copy of the Clubs annual statement of accounts shall be provided by the Treasurer at the AGM.
F. The Secretary only has the control to correspond directly with the Herts. FA and any football leagues regarding Hoddesdon Owls Football Club. Exceptions to this will be weekly fixture problems and Informing league/leagues of weekly results to the appointed league person/s.
4. Disciplinary/Misconduct/Complaints by Members/Players/Guardians & Friends:
4.1 Misconduct:
A. The Club will not accept the use of bad language or other anti- social behaviour by any person connected with Hoddesdon Owls Football Club at matches, training or any events, which involve the Clubs name.
B. In addition to 4.1 A, any breaches of the Codes of Conducts attached as appendices, and, or the clubs Child Protection Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy and Anti Discrimination Policy will not be accepted.
C. Failure to comply with rule 4A or 4B will be referred to the committee who may at their discretion expel the player, parent/guardian or friend from the Club for any period between one week and life.
D. Any person expelled by the Committee for life shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the club’s assets. A. In the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered Discrimination in any way, or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct have been broken, should follow the procedures below. 1. They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee. Your report should include: i. Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place. ii. Any witness statement and names. iii. Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way. iv. Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made. v. A preference for a solution to the incident. 3. The Club’s Management Committee will have the power to: i. Warn as to future conduct ii. Suspend from membership iii. Remove from membership any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies or Codes of Conduct 4.3 Appeals Procedure: A. Any Member/Player/Guardian & Friends may appeal against the Committees decision firstly by writing requesting an appeal to the Clubs Secretary. B. At the next Committee meeting appeals will be held either by written correspondence or in person. C. The decision of the Committee will be informed to the appellant by written communication and the decision will be final. 5. Teams/Team Managers/Coaches: 5.1 Child Protection Procedure: A. Hoddesdon Owls Football Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all Children by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm or neglect. Our child Protection procedure insists that all Managers, Coaches and Committee Members are vetted and a Police enquiry known as ‘A Person record of Prosecution or Conviction History Section 21 Data Protection Act 1984’ prior to carrying out any activities with the Children unsupervised. B. That Hoddesdon Owls F.C. will adopt and follow the Football Associations Child Protection Policy. A. All Team Officials will abide by the Code of Conduct for Team Officials attached, as Appendix A. B. All Managers/Coaches will be expected to take Football Association Coaching Badges and First Aid courses. C. The maximum number of players per side permitted to be registered to the Saturday Leagues (7-A- Side Football U10’s & U11’s) is Fourteen. D. For the Sunday leagues (under 12s to 18s) the total is Twenty. E. Once the number of players reaches these totals that side shall be closed to any new players wishing to register. F. Managers/Coaches will be expected to encourage and help improve all players’ football abilities whatever the player’s standard. G. Managers/Coaches will arrange matches with opponents and referees for the coming week, preferably Sunday or Monday evenings. They will also be responsible for the conduct of the players and supporters at these matches. 6. Players, Parents/Guardians and Spectators: A. Once a player signs for membership of Hoddesdon Owls Football Club that player will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for Players attached as appendix C, and will not be transferred or de- registered unless that player wishes to be so. B. Any player that leaves the Club for any reason prior to: The Club Presentation Evening and/or The League Presentation evening and/or League arranged Cup Finals will not be entitled to any trophies or medals presented on these occasions. The player is deemed to be no longer a member of Hoddesdon Owls Football Club. C. All players will be encouraged to develop their football skills and social behaviour by their Managers/Coaches whatever their standard. Results of teams will not be judged. D. Training will usually continue throughout the summer months and a site arranged for once a week session during the season, particular times and dates are solely dependent on the team’s manager or Coaches’ availability. E. All subscriptions collected or sponsorship received will be used for the players benefit no Club committee member, manager or coach will be entitled to claim payments or expenses for duties carried out in the Clubs name. F. Information held on Computers by this club will only be used for club purposes and will not be passed onto third parties. This is in accordance with the current legislation: ‘The Data Protection Act’ 7.2 Anti Discrimination Policy: All associated with Hoddesdon Owls Football Club will be expected to abide with the policy attached as appendix E. 8.0 Equal Opportunities Policy: 9.0 Dissolution: B. The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club. C. Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be shared out equally to all existing Sub Paying Members. Signed by the Chairperson Sharon Pomfrett.
4.2 Club Complaints Procedure:
2. The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.
5.2 Standards:
All Coaches will abide by the Code of Conduct for Team Officials attached as Appendix B.
6.1 Players:
6.2 Parents, Guardians and Spectators:
All Parents, Guardians and spectators will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for Parents, Guardians and Spectators attached as appendix D.
7.0 Anti Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Policies:
7.1 Hoddesdon Owls Football Club is a club which solely promotes and develops participation of girls and young ladies in the game of football both in training and competitive Football. It is recognised that in the sport of football girls and young ladies have had limited opportunities to partake in the sport.
All associated with Hoddesdon Owls Football Club will be expected to abide with the policy attached as appendix F.
A. A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.
Last Updated: 5 July 2005