ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Mid-Hudson Soccer Officials Association,
hereinafter referred to as the Association.
ARTICLE II - AFFILIATION AND TERRITORY
| Sect. 1 -
| The Association shall maintain an affiliation with the New York
State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. (hereinafter referred to as NYSPHSAA).
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| Sect. 2 -
| The territory of the Association, recognized by the NYSPHSAA,
shall be primarily the Dutchess and Ulster Counties (Mid-Hudson) Region of New York State.
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ARTICLE III - PURPOSES
| Sect. 1 -
| To recruit, educate and unite in one local organization,
the registered New York State Approved Soccer Officials in the territory.
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| Sect. 2 -
| To promote the uniform interpretation and administration of the
rules of soccer by all Association members.
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| Sect. 3 -
| To collaborate with soccer coaches, school administrators, and
other officials' organizations in the advancement of soccer in the territory.
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| Sect. 4 -
| To adhere to the constitution, by-laws, rules, annual
registration, and regulations of the NYSPHSAA and through its soccer committee,
make recommendations for improvement of the game of soccer.
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ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
| Sect. 1 -
| Officials applying for active membership in the Association must
have previously passed the appropriate examination(s) as a New York State Approved Soccer
Official with a minimum score of 85%. New High School Official candidates must pay a test
administration fee. An official "in good standing" with another "approved" federation shall
have the test fee waived. An Association member who has been expelled, has been under suspension,
or who has allowed his/her membership to lapse must take a written examination prior to reinstatement.
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| Sect. 2 -
| To obtain active membership in the Association, a new transfer-in
New York State Approved Soccer Official shall:
| A.
| Complete and submit a membership application to the
Secretary-Treasurer along with the annual dues.
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| B.
| Be accepted into membership by a majority vote of members in
attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Association.
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| Sect. 3 -
| To obtain/maintain inactive membership, active members must:
| A.
| Submit a written request to the Secretary/Treasurer providing the
reason(s) for the change in status along with the annual inactive membership dues (if any).
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| B.
| Be accepted into or approved to remain at inactive status by
a majority vote at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Association.
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| C.
| Be aware that they will not be assigned games except in an emergency.
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| D.
| Understand that such membership is limited to two (2) consecutive
years unless the official is called to military service, which shall increase the limit to
four (4) consecutive years.
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| E.
| Be advised that their names will remain on the Association roster
but without voting rights.
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| Sect. 4 -
| To return to active membership status, an inactive member shall:
| A.
| Advise the Secretary/Treasurer in writing and pay the
active membership dues.
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| B.
| Satisfy all other membership requirements and responsibilities.
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| Sect. 5 -
| To retain approved official "in good standing" status, a
member must:
| A.
| Adhere to the "approved" member requirements of the
"Five Point Plan" established by the NYSPHSAA.
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| B.
| Complete annually, the appropriate examination as a New York
State Approved Soccer Official.
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| C.
| Fulfill all membership responsibilities and not bring discredit
upon the Association or the game.
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| D.
| Pay, within five (5) days, all fines assessed and the annual
membership dues on time.
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| Sect. 6 -
| Members shall be designated into assignment classifications by
the Executive Committee.
| A.
| The Committee will review the previously attained
experience/credentials of the transfer-in members and determine the appropriate initial
assignment classification. Transfer-in members must present a letter from their former
association outlining their ranking and/or, the number of games worked, the current status
of their membership, as well as any other information pertinent to the Executive
Committee being able to properly classify them.
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| B.
| The assignment classifications are:
Class 3 - Primarily assigned matches between Modified teams and may be assigned
JV matches. An official who has not refereed twenty matches as a High School Official or
as a USSF Referee must be so classified. An active member with twenty or more matches may
also be designated Class 3 if the Executive Committee judges the official to be in need of
significant improvement in interpreting and enforcing the rules of the game and/or managing
and communicating with players, coaches, or other officials; or if a member has not officiated
in two or more immediate past seasons or who may be judged guilty of having violated
any section of Article V.
Class 2 - Primarily assigned matches between JV teams and Modified teams, but may
be assigned Varsity matches. An official who has refereed twenty matches but fewer than
forty matches as a High School Official or as a USSF Referee may be so classified.
Class 1 - Primarily assigned Varsity matches, but may be assigned JV and Modified
matches if needed. An official who has refereed sixty matches as a High School Official or
as a USSF Referee may be so classified.
Class 1A - Primarily assigned Varsity and "Priority" games during the regular season
and may be considered for assignment to sectional and intersectional competitions. The
Executive Committee will use superior ratings from fellow officials, coaches, athletic directors,
and their personal observations of matches to decide which members are rated Class 1A.
In general, a member must have been a Class 1 official and officiated at least six (6) contests,
three of them at the Varsity level, in the most recent season to be considered for Class 1A
designation.
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| C.
| To maintain a 1 or 1A classification the official must take the State
fitness test as defined by NYSCOS prior to October 1st. An official cannot be upgraded to a 1 or 1A
unless he/she has taken the State fitness test.
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| Sect. 7 -
| Life membership may be granted by majority vote of the members
in attendance at a regular meeting, to person(s) who have demonstrated great dedication
and/or made significant contribution to the Association and/or the local soccer community.
Such members shall not pay annual dues, nor have voting privileges nor officiate games.
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| Sect. 8 -
| Membership lists sent to assigning groups, if required, shall be
verified by the Executive Committee as containing only active members in good standing at
their correct assignment classification.
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ARTICLE V - RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP
| Sect. 1 -
| Association members shall conduct themselves honorably at
all times on and off the field and maintain the dignity of their profession.
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| Sect. 2 -
| Members shall not accept an assignment or officiate a match,
(1) if a participating team is from his/her school work location,
(2) at a school in which a relative is a player or coach,
(3) if he/she is uncomfortable with someone perceiving partiality because of a close
personal or adversarial relationship between the official and a player, coach, team, school
or school district.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Members may appeal their assignment classification, in writing,
to the full Executive Committee.
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| Sect. 4 -
| Members may appeal their suspension by the Executive Committee to the
full membership at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Association.
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| Sect. 5 -
| Members shall be notified, in writing, of the meeting time and place
where their expulsion will be considered. A two-thirds vote of the active members in attendance
at a special or regularly scheduled meeting is required for expulsion.
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| Sect. 6 -
| Officials are to assure their uniform is clean, neat, complete
and in conformance (including proper badge) to all NYSPHSAA requirements.
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| Sect. 7 -
| On the field officials shall control players effectively by
being courteous and considerate. Members will work closely in positive support of their fellow
official(s) and never speak negatively of a fellow official in the presence of players,
coaches or others outside the Association.
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| Sect. 8 -
| If a member is unable to attend a scheduled meeting, he/she must advise the
secretary/treasurer of the reason for the absence. Such notification must be in writing or via e-mail
prior to or within 24 hours following the absence. An active member who does
not attend the required number of meetings without being excused, shall be assessed a fine
equivalent to 1/2 of a Section 1 (BOCES) Modified Game Fee for each unexcused absence.
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| Sect. 9 -
| Active members may officiate within the territory of any
soccer officials' association.
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| Sect. 10 -
| Members of the Association shall not officiate games for less
than the minimum fee established for the matches by current contract. Violators shall
be suspended and fined a full Section 1 Varsity fee.
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| Sect. 11 -
| All members will participate in any rating system enacted by
the Executive Committee. It will be the responsibility of each member to submit an evaluation
(RATING) for each contest worked. If a member works more than one contest per season with
the same official, an evaluation is only required for the first completed game.
Additional evaluations may be submitted if warranted.
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ARTICLE VI - DUES
| Sect. 1 -
| Active membership dues shall be determined by a majority
vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled dinner meeting of the Association.
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| Sect. 2 -
| Inactive membership dues shall be 20% (rounded to the next
lowest dollar) of the active membership dues.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Life members shall not pay dues.
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| Sect. 4 -
| Elected Officers dues shall be waived.
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| Sect. 5 -
| Dues for the following year must be paid on or before December 1.
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ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
| Sect. 1 -
| A President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer,
Interpreter and four (4) Directors shall be elected by the active members every two years
at a dinner meeting. Officers and directors must be active members in "good standing"
to be nominated/elected.
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| Sect. 2 -
| The term of office for the eight (8) elected members shall be two years.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Any vacancy occurring in the elective offices of this organization,
with the exception of President, shall be filled by nomination from the floor and election
by a majority vote of the active membership at any regularly scheduled meeting
of the Association.
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ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
| Sect. 1 -
| President - shall preside at all meetings of the Association and chair the
Executive Committee. The President shall supervise the administrative affairs of the Association,
appoint such committees as are required to promote the work and purposes of the Association,
attend NYSPHSAA meetings, and be the spokesperson on all Association matters unless otherwise
delegated. The President shall assume, discharge or delegate such other duties normally
empowered to an organization president.
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| Sect. 2 -
| Vice President - in absence of the President,
shall assume and perform the duties of the President. If requested by the President,
act as the Association's contact or contract negotiator with the high school section(s) served.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Secretary/Treasurer - shall keep minutes of all meetings
and attend to all correspondence of the organization. He/she shall keep the books of all
accounts, assure expenses are submitted in writing with receipts attached, deposit all money
in the general fund of the Association and issue checks when authorized by the membership.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit a financial report at each meeting of the Association,
provide expense projections and submit a motion for dues and fines to cover these
expenditures at the annual dinner meeting. He/she shall submit the list of approved officials'
names, addresses, telephone numbers and assignment classifications to the Secretary/Treasurer
of the NYSPHSAA and other assigning and/or regulating groups as required, on or about
January 5th.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall send written notification to any member who is fined or suspended.
The reason for the fine/suspension, as well as what action is required to return the member
to good standing, will be detailed in the notification. The Secretary/Treasurer will report
at each meeting the names of members not in good standing and the reason for their
fine/suspension.
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| Sect. 4 -
| Interpreter - shall attend NYSPHSAA meetings, conduct
soccer clinics for prospective officials prior to the first official meeting of the Association
and conduct a rules interpretation clinic for all members. The Interpreter shall also
represent the Association at coaches meetings and serve as the official contact for the
Association on questions of rules and procedures.
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| Sect. 5 -
| Directors - will audit the financial records of the
Association on an annual basis and present the audit results and recommendations to the
membership at the dinner meeting.
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ARTICLE IX - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
| Sect. 1 -
| The Executive Committee shall be composed of the four (4)
elected officers, the four (4) elected directors and the immediate Past President.
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| Sect. 2 -
| A quorum for the transaction of business shall be five (5) Executive
Committee members.
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| Sect. 3 -
| The Executive Committee shall recommend policies, activities,
verify assignment classification and membership status, and accept or reject requests
for excused absence at the meetings.
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| Sect. 4 -
| It shall also have the power to conduct the affairs of the
Association, in emergency situations, between regularly scheduled meetings.
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| Sect. 5 -
| The Executive Committee shall serve as the Review Committee for
any school or party against any member or officer of the Association. It shall hold hearings
on such complaints and members shall be given full opportunity to be heard in their own
defense. The Executive Committee shall have the power to immediately suspend members of the
Association for violations of the constitution. It shall also provide the reason for and
recommend expulsion of any members to the full membership.
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| Sect. 6 -
| The Executive Committee shall also recommend members for
consideration to the Mid-Hudson chapter of the National Intercollegiate Soccer
Officials Association.
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| Sect. 7 -
| If the immediate Past President is serving the Association in
any other capacity or is unable to fulfill his/her position on the Executive Committee for any
other reason thus creating a vacancy, the vacant position will be filled for the remainder
of the term by a majority vote of the membership present at the meeting where the
nomination is made.
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| Sect. 8 -
| The membership shall be alerted to any specific vacancy/election at the preceding meeting or
otherwise be notified by mail at least ten days prior to the vote.
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ARTICLE X - MEETINGS
| Sect. 1 -
| Members are required to attend five (5) meetings unless excused
by the Executive Committee.
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| Sect. 2 -
| A quorum for the transaction of business at a regular or special
meeting of the membership shall be two-thirds of the active membership.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings
of the Association, except as otherwise specifically ordered herein.
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ARTICLE XI - FINES & SUSPENSIONS
| Sect. 1 -
| Any member who fails to pay his dues in accordance with
Article VI, Section 5, shall be suspended. Suspended members shall be reinstated only after
paying all the back dues plus a Section 1 (BOCES) Varsity Game Fee.
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| Sect. 2 -
| Any member who does not attend the required number of meetings
without being excused (Article X, Sect. 1) will be fined 1/2 of a Section 1 (BOCES) Modified
Game Fee for each meeting missed and not excused.
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| Sect. 3 -
| Any member failing to officiate an assigned game in the official
uniform as described in Article V, Sect. 6, may be suspended from the organization as per
the requirements of Article XI, Sect. 4. Omission of the NYSPHSAA patch from the official
uniform will be cause for a $5.00 fine.
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| Sect. 4 -
| Any member failing to purchase the official NYSPHSAA uniform
as designated by the Executive Committee of the Association, shall be INELIGIBLE to officiate
contests until such uniform is provided to the Executive Committee for inspection. All members
shall possess both the primary and alternate uniform shirts in both long and short sleeves.
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| Sect. 5 -
| Any member failing to participate in a peer rating system
(Article V, Sec. 11) shall be fined a Section 1 (BOCES) Modified Game Fee.
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| Sect. 6 -
| Any member officiating matches for less than the established
fees (Article V, Sect. 11) will be suspended for the balance of the season and fined a
Section 1 (BOCES) Varsity Game Fee.
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ARTICLE XII - AWARDS
| Sect. 1 -
| The Association shall present awards at the MHSOA Annual Dinner Meeting in honor of Tony Mastreani
and Bill Garvey. The Executive Board shall select, by majority vote, the recipients in sufficient time for the presentation.
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| Sect. 2 -
| The Tony Mastreani Award -
This award recognizes a first or second year official for his/her enthusiasm and love of the game of soccer.
The award consists of a plaque, up to $50 in value, and the waiver of Association membership dues for the next season.
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| Sect. 3 -
| The Bill Garvey Award -
This award recognizes a head coach in either Section I or Section IX who is professional, courteous, and exhibits a high level of
sportsmanship toward his/her team, the opposition, and match officials.
The award will consist of a plaque, up to $50 in value, and a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
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ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution may be made by two-thirds vote of those members present at a
duly constituted regular meeting, provided notice of the amendment(s) has been presented
to the membership at least one meeting prior to the vote.
Enacted - date ??
Amended - November 1995
Amended - September 1999
Amended - October 2000
Amended - January 2002
Amended - November 2003
Amended - November 2004
Amended - September 2005
Amended - November 2005
Amended - September 2007
Amended - October 2007
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