Holy Spirit Athletic Association

By-Laws

Rule I – Membership Meetings

Membership meetings shall be scheduled in the Blaiser Club Building on the fourth (4th) Wednesday of each month with the exception of the November meeting, which will be scheduled on the Wednesday of the week prior to Thanksgiving.  No meeting will be held in December.  The Board has the authority to call special membership meetings at its discretion.

Rule II - Registrations

Section 1:  All registrations mentioned herein must be approved by the duly appointed Registration Committee (Art. VI, Sec. 2A).

Section 2:  The sports year runs concurrently with the school year, incorporating soccer and volleyball in one year (Fall) and basketball (Winter), softball, baseball, track and golf (Spring) in the following year.  In order to register for a sport, a child must be four (4) years old by July 31 when the sports year begins.  Exceptions must be approved by the Registration Committee and HSAA President.

Section 3:  Registration for Baseball/Softball shall be completed by the end of February.  Registration for soccer/volleyball shall be completed by the end of June.  Registration for basketball shall be completed by the end of October.  Registration times and deadlines for each sport season shall be established by the Registration Committee.  Registration times and deadlines for high school sports may be extended due to the timing of high school try-outs.

Section 4:  Registrations taken after the last scheduled registration date will be accepted with designated late fees in order to fill teams at the discretion of the Registration Committee.

Section 5:  Conditions of the current Archdiocesan CYC Constitution and/or District regulations governing additions to existing rosters are fulfilled.

Section 6:  All other matters pertaining to registration and/or eligibility are to be referred to the Archdiocesan CYC Constitution and/or District regulations.

Rule III - Assignment of Players/Teams

Section 1:  Team Minimums

A.    Each team must have the minimum number of players.

B.     The minimum number of players on any team for each sport of any age level and gender shall be the minimum established by the Constitution or By-Laws of the Archdiocesan CYC or District.  In their absence, the following table will be used:

Section 2:  Team Optimums

A.    The optimum number of players on any team for each sport of any age level and gender shall be:

B.     Late registrations with late fees will be accepted up to the team optimum.  Any registrations over the team optimum will be accepted at the discretion of the Sports Commissioner.

Section 3:  Coaches 

A.    Each team shall have one coach to be selected by the Sports Commissioner.  Coach candidates will be chosen from volunteers 18 years or older.  If no one volunteers to coach said team, the Sports Commissioner will try to recruit from qualified candidates.  If no volunteers can be found, the team may be dissolved.

B.     At the Board’s discretion, a coach of a team the prior year has the right to coach the team the current year.

C.     Each team’s assistant coach(es) shall be chosen by the coach.

D.    All coaches and assistant coaches must be in compliance with the Archdiocese, CYC, and HSAA coaching requirements.

Section 4:  Team Formation

A.    Only players meeting Holy Spirit, Archdiocesan CYC, and District requirements are eligible to play on a team.

B.     All on-time registrations will be accepted, even if that number exceeds the optimum number of players for a team.  The Association, with the assistance of parents, shall make every reasonable effort to recruit players in order to complete Holy Spirit teams, to create additional Holy Spirit teams rather than have overly large teams exceeding the optimum, and to place on Holy Spirit teams as many players as possible who want to play for Holy Spirit.  If the Association is unable, after a reasonable effort, to recruit players for Holy Spirit teams, then the Association shall make every reasonable effort to place elsewhere within the district players who signed-up but could not be placed on Holy Spirit teams.     

C.     Coaches may recruit players after registrations for their teams up to the optimum number of players, with the approval of the Sports Commissioner.  Any number above the minimum number stated in Rule III, Section 1, will incur a late fee. 

D.    Players may not be on the rosters of two Holy Spirit teams for the same sport during district play.

E.     Players desiring to switch teams can only do so with the consent of the coaches of both teams and with Board approval.  Players may not switch teams if by leaving a team that team would then have less than the minimum number of players.  

F.      Rule III shall be interpreted wherever possible as placing brothers, sisters, and similarly related children on the same team so that parents or guardians can avoid having to attend multiple games and practices, unless parents or guardians desire otherwise, and every reasonable effort shall be made to placing such players on the same team in accordance with the spirit of Rule III.  In order to fulfill the purpose of this paragraph, when teams are assigned players by choice or random drawing, choosing or drawing one brother or sister or similarly related child also is considered as choosing or drawing the other or others.  If, however, such players are at different age levels, the younger player cannot play up to a higher age level if that causes any team to fall below the minimum number of players.  Once a player has played up to a higher age level, the player is entitled to remain on that team.

G.    A player may request permission to play up to a maximum of one higher grade level:

a.       Under Rule III, Section F (sibling rule) noted above.

b.      When there is not a team at the player’s grade level.

c.       At the request of the parent provided that playing up does not cause the child’s grade level to fall below the team minimum outlined in Rule III, Section 1.

H.    Once a player has played up to a higher age level, the player is entitled to remain on that team.

I.       A reasonable effort shall be made to balance the teams by incorporating the different schools in the parish.

J.       In the event the Board deems the division of the players into teams unfair and not in accordance with the spirit of the Association's Constitution and By-laws, then the Sports Commissioner may place players on teams without following this Rule III and in a manner that may appear to conflict with this Rule III.

Section 5:  Team Assignments

1. No Prior Year Teams
   
   
1. If the number of players for any age level and gender is less than twice the minimum number so that there is an insufficient number of players to establish another team, then those players shall be placed on the team.
   
   
2. If the number of players for any age level and gender is equal to or greater than twice the minimum so that there is a sufficient number of players and there are coaches to establish more than one team, the teams shall be determined by the Sports Commissioner that meets the school balance objective stated above.
   
   
2. Prior Year Teams
   
   
1. If the number of players for any age level and gender is less than twice the minimum number so that there is an insufficient number of players to establish another team, then those players shall be placed on the team.
   
   
2. If the number of players for any age level and gender is equal to or greater than twice the minimum so that there is a sufficient number of players and there are coaches to establish more than one team, the teams shall be determined by the Sports Commissioner that meets the school balance objective stated above.
   
   
3. From 1 Team to 2 Teams

a.       The Sports Commissioner will work with the coaches to find an amicable solution that meets the school balance objective stated above.

b.      If there is not an amicable agreement, then the teams will be formed by:

1.      Coaches selecting players by alternating turns.

2.      Random drawing of players

c.       The Sports Commissioner must approve the teams.

4. 2 Teams to 2 Teams
   Players on the team the previous year remain on the team.  New players will be assigned  by the Sports Commissioner with consideration given to:

a.       Teams not having the optimum number of players

b.      School balance

c.       Parent request as indicated on the registration form

d.      Random assignment

5. 2 Teams to 1 Team
   All Players registered on time will be assigned.  The coach will be selected by the Sports Commissioner based on the following criteria (in this order):

a.       Involvement in HSAA above and beyond coaching

b.      Experience coaching in the specific sport at HSAA

c.       Board recommendation

6. 3 Teams to 2

a.       Coaches will be selected by the Sports Commissioner based on the following criteria (in this order):

1.      Involvement in HSAA above and beyond coaching

2.      Experience coaching in the specific sport at HSAA

3.      Board recommendation

b.      The team of the coach not selected will be divided.

c.       The Sports Commissioner will work with the coaches to find an amicable solution that meets the school balance objective stated above.

d.      If there is not an amicable agreement, then the teams will be formed by:

1.      Coaches selecting players by alternating turns.

2.      Random drawing of players

e.       The Sports Commissioner must approve the teams.

3. If a player leaves a team for one (1) or more seasons and then registers, said player shall be treated as a new player.

Rule IV - Player Participation.

In accord with the spirit of Article II of this Constitution, every team player present at a game must actively participate in said game per District and Archdiocesan CYC guidelines.

Note:  If for any reason a manager or parent is dissatisfied with any phase of a team member’s participation, said parties shall, as soon as possible, meet and together arrive at an agreeable course of action.  If unable to do so, said parties will meet with the appropriate sport coordinator, who will, in turn, render a decision.

Rule V - Fees.

The registration fees, tournament fees and monies appropriated for City County Champion teams shall be established by the Executive Board.

Rule VI - Agreements.

Section 1:  Parents shall provide transportation for players to and from practices, official games, and any other team related functions scheduled by the manager or his designee.

Section 2:  No manager is to leave players unsupervised from the conclusion of a game or practice until players have been picked up by a responsible person or transported home.  Parents are responsible to be aware of start and stop times and should arrive and pick up at these times unless other arrangements have been made with the responsible manager or his designee.  If this is not complied with, the manager has the right to withdraw player from his roster.

Section 3: No manager, coach, or parent shall use language, or show inappropriate behavior unbecoming of a representative of the Association.  Any infraction of this agreement shall constitute a revocation of membership of said party by decision of the Executive Board.

Section 4:  A schedule of games shall be provided for parents of all players. 

Section 5:  The Executive Board reserves the right to allocate tournament funds for HSAA-sponsored tournaments. Teams may enter as many sanctioned tournaments as desired.  If entry fees exceed the allocated amount, it shall be the sole responsibility of the team manager, coaches, and players to fund such fees.

Section 6:  In the spirit of Article II, members of the Association hereby agree to abide by rules and regulations established by other Associations governing their tournaments.

Section 7:  A minimum deposit per uniform per sport may be assessed each player and such deposit refunded upon return of the uniform in good condition at the prescribed uniform return time.  If the uniform is not returned as prescribed, such player will be ineligible to participate in any sponsored sport program until return of the uniform to the Association or monetary compensation set by the Board.

Section 8:  The Points Committee is empowered to assign the players’ parents/guardians to work duty; said assignments will be made in a fair, reasonable, and equitable manner.  Shifts are expected to be worked as assigned, and the parent/guardian is responsible for working the assigned shift or finding an alternate.  If the assigned shift is not worked, then the points deposit check will be cashed.  A fee set by the Executive Board (see Rule V, Section 1) may be substituted for points.

Section 9:  Holy Spirit Athletic Association (HSAA) will only be financially responsible to Holy Spirit-sponsored teams for:

A.   Monies designated for awards to teams winning City County - Archdiocesan championships shall be set by the Executive Board in a fair and equitable manner (See Rule V).  Awards shall be first approved by the Executive Board.

B.   Any other awards, plaques, etc., are the financial responsibility of the managers, coaches, and parents of their teams.

Rule VII - Knowledge of Constitution & By-Laws.

All significant parties will have access to the Constitution and By-Laws on the parish website; they shall acquaint themselves with the contents.  Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse for violation of the Constitution and By-Laws.

Rule VIII -

Any matter not covered by this Constitution and By-Laws shall be left to the discretion of the Executive Board of the Association and when these matters are ruled on they shall be read at the following Holy Spirit Athletic Association meeting.

(Revised February 2012)