ANTHRACITE MIDGET FOOTBALL LEAGUE. INC.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS ANTHRACITE MIDGET FOOTBALL LEAGUE. INC. Article 1, Section 1 As adopted Month day, Year Age and Weight Restrictions The player must have reached the age of 6 before September 1 in the year that the football season is played. The player cannot turn 15 before September 1 in the year that the football season is played. No high school freshmen are eligible. The age and weight restrictions for the three divisions are as follows: Age on Sept. 1 Tackle to tackle All Other Pee Wee B 6, 7, and 8 Unlimited 110 lbs. Pee Wee 6, 7, 8 and 9 Unlimited 110 lbs. Pony 10 and 11 Unlimited 125 lbs. Midget 12, 13, 14 and 15 Unlimited 155 lbs. All players on kick-off and kick-off returns must adhere to the all other maximum weight restrictions for each division. Weigh-ins are to be completed prior to the end of the previous game. 1

CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I NAME AND OBJECT Section 1 - NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The name of this organization is the Anthracite Midget Football League, Inc. with the approved abbreviation AMFL. Section 2 - OBJECTIVE OF ORGANIZATION: The objective of this league is to provide a program of supervised youth football in a manner which promotes the sport of football and instills the ideal of good sportsmanship in all participants. Section 1 - MEMBERS: ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP A. The AMFL is open to all teams willing to adhere to the Constitution and bylaws of the AMFL. B. Teams associated with the AMFL may not discriminate against any participant due to race, sex, religion or ethnic background. C. New team associations may be recommended for membership during a regular league meeting held prior to the March meeting. Acceptance into the AMFL will be by a majority vote of all existing teams. D. A team may be dismissed from the league only by a unanimous vote of all the other member teams. 2

ARTICLE Ill GOVERNMENT, OFFICERS AND DUTIES Section 1 - GOVERNMENT: A. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The government of the Anthracite Midget Football League, Inc., is a Board of Directors consisting of one Director-designate from each team associated with the AMFL. Each Director represents his sponsoring association as its authorized agent, spokesman and voting representative at all business meetings. The Director s presence at an AMFL meeting presumes the official notification to his sponsoring association of all business conducted during that meeting. The Board of Directors, upon a majority vote, can go to member team and demand the replacement of their director-designate due to malfeasance. Disruptive behavior or other just cause. Section 2 - ELECTED OFFICIALS: The Board of Directors shall elect a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer (collectively known as the Executive Committee) and Commissioner(s). A. TERMS OF OFFICE AND SUCCESSION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS: 1. The terms of Office for elected officials shall be for a period of one year. 2. Each elected official shall be eligible to succeed himself by re-election or to seek election to any other office. 3. Vacancies created by death, resignation or other causes shall be filled by special election, with the exception of the office of President. In such case, the Vice-President will succeed to the Presidency. 4. An officer or commissioner be removed from office for just cause by a two-thirds vote of all directors. Section 3 - DUTIES: A. PRESIDENT: The President shall supervise all officers and preside at all meetings. B. VlCE-PRESIDENT: The Vice-President assists the President in his duties and, in the absence of the President, 3

performs his duties. Prior to, and during the period of player registrations, he assures the availability and distribution of all necessary forms. He maintains liaison with the Commissioner(s), members of the Executive Committee and with team associates - making decisions and recommendations necessary to assure the accuracy and completeness of preseason registrations. C. SECRETARY: The Secretary keeps a correct record of the proceedings of all meetings. He receives and reads all communications. He answers all correspondence which is not determined to be the responsibility of the President. With approval, he is signatory for the President on correspondence which does not involve the payment or financial obligations of AMFL funds. The Secretary has charge of all books and papers appertaining to his office. He keeps correct lists of names of the board of Directors, and at the proper time he calls the roll, noting thereon the absentees. He assists the President in preparing the annual review of activities to be presented during the Annual Meeting. D. TREASURER: The Treasurer receives and banks all moneys due to AMFL and keeps bookkeeping records of such funds. He/She will pay whenever possible by checks, countersigned by the President and treasurer (or other authorized bonded official). He/She pays bills from officers and committee members only when clearly authorized and when receipts for expenditures are attached. He/She disburses all moneys as the League may direct and he/she gives a statement of finances as often as required. During the month prior to the Annual Meeting prepares the Treasurer s Statement, which includes a summary of the moneys on hand at the beginning of the year, the amounts paid out during the year, and the balance on hand at the end of the year. He/She presents the statement for the Board of Directors approval. The same procedure is followed upon termination or resignation from office but is completed within 24 hours after resignation. E. COMMISSIONER(S): The Commissioner(s) monitor, investigate, and assist the enforcement of all requirements contained in the AMFL Constitution, Bylaws and Standing Rules. The office of the Commissioner monitors compliance with player eligibility, receives and investigates all facts pertaining to team protests, provides overall operation of the safety precautions of the AMFL, and presents reports and recommendations to the board of Directors during meetings and protest determinations. He receives sufficient game information to substantiate team standings during the playing season and issues final official standings at the completion of the season. During preseason registration he coordinates closely with the Vice-President to solve problems which delay the accurate completion of registration requirements. He maintains a repository for completed registration documents and provides such documents as are needed to resolve questions of player eligibility during the playing season - as well as continued eligibility for succeeding seasons. 4

ARTICLE IV AMENDMENT PROCEDURES AND QUORUMS Section 1- AMENDMENT PRODECURES: A. Constitutional Amendment: A proposed amendment to the Constitution may be acted upon providing it has been entered verbatim into the minutes of a previous meeting and notice of the amendment has been provided to team associations. Action on the amendment requires the approval of a unanimous vote of the Directors who comprise the complete AMFL Board of Directors. B. Bylaw Amendments: Procedures for amending the Bylaws shall be the same as for a Constitutional Amendment except that action on the Amendment shall require a 2/3 majority vote of the Directors present with a majority of Directors in attendance. ARTICLE V MEETINGS Section 1 - ANNUAL MEETINGS: The rules contained in Robert s Rules of Order shall govern league meetings in all cases not inconsistent with policies and procedures contained in the Constitution, bylaws and standing rules of the Anthracite Midget Football League. Section 2 - ANNUAL MEETINGS: The Annual Meeting and election of officers of the AMFL shall be held during the January meeting unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors. A written notice of the date, time, and place of the annual meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each Director at least (7) days prior to the date of such a meeting. In addition to the normal business which is conducted during a Regular Meeting, the following reports will be presented to the Board of Directors: Annual Treasurer s Report. Call for recommendation for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws; President s review of the previous year s activities and expected actions for the coming year; Nomination for Officers (the nominations shall be reopened from the prior regular meeting); Election of Officers; Greetings from the newly elected President. Officers elected at this meeting will assume office following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting. Also at this meeting, yearly dues of an amount determined by 5

the directors will be declared due and payable at the next scheduled meeting. Section 3 - REGULAR MEETINGS: Regular meetings normally will be held without notification and understood to be convened at the Tower City American Legion on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:15 P.M. or other times as designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may suspend monthly meetings in periods of inactivity. The Agenda for regular meetings includes: Call to Order; reading of previous minutes; correspondence reported by the Secretary, Motions deferred; Treasurer s Report; Committee reports; Action on unfinished business; New business; Announcements; and Adjournment. Section 4 - SPECIAL MEETINGS: A Special Meeting of the AMFL will be held at the call of the President or upon written request to him. At least (5) days notice, before the desired date of the meeting, will be required. The President shall notify each member at least (4) days in advance of the meeting date. 6

BYLAWS ARTICLE I PARTICIPANTS Section 1 - ELIGIBlLITY: Players to be eligible to compete in AMFL games must meet the following age and weight requirements: A. Participants who will have reached the age of 6 before September 1 and who have not reached the age of 15 before September 1 are eligible to play. The age/weight designations will be: Age on Sept. 1 Tackle to tackle All Other Pee Wee B 6,7, and 8 Unlimited 110 lbs. Pee Wee 6,7,8 and 9 Unlimited 110 lbs. Pony 10 and 11 Unlimited 125 lbs. Midget 12, 13, 14 and 15 Unlimited 155 lbs. A) Ages 6, 7, and 8 shall be eligible to play in both Pee Wee B scrimmage and Pee Wee A games. B. Determining weight eligibility: 1. Weigh-ins will be held at each game site using a certified balance-beam scale. 2. Participants are allowed to be weighed wearing at a minimum shorts. 3. Participants not making skilled position weight can play from tackle to tackle. ( with the exception of unbalanced line ) Weight restricted players must be in down stance. 4. Weight restricted players can not advance the ball. 5. Weight restricted players must have a sticker on helmet. C. Each participant must have written consent from his parents or guardian to play. D. Each participant shall have a physical examination report from his physician before participating in any league play. E. Any potential AMFL participant who plays in a scholastic football game during the season shall be 7

ineligible to compete in the AMFL for that season. F. Rosters of all players must be provided to all league member teams, the President and the Commissioner(s), at the August regular meeting. Additions to team rosters will be allowed only during the first three weeks of scheduled league games. Failure of any team to provide a roster prior to the first game shall be assessed a fine payable to the league. 1. Team Rosters will have player s name, age, weight, and date of birth, and will also have the names and phone numbers of (2) coaches for each playing level. Teams are to include the colors of jerseys on each roster as well. 2. First year players are required to furnish a Birth Certificate Copy or other proof of date of birth acceptable to the Board of Directors. 3. A copy of all changes to the roster will be mailed out by the league to all teams after the 3rd week of scheduled play. Section 2 - EQUIPMENT: 1. Full safety playing equipment must be provided to each participant by their sponsoring team and shall consist of at minimum the following: 1. Helmet with face guard 2. Mouthpiece 3. Numbered Jersey 4. Shoulder Pads 5. Football pants with proper thigh, hip and knee pads. 2. Shoes may not have cleats longer than one-half inch or be of metal construction or have any metal exposed. 3. Official game balls: 1. Midget ball will be the Wilson TDY 2. Pony ball will be the Wilson TDJ 3. Pewee ball will be the Wilson K2 8

ARTICLE II DUES and FINES Section 1 - DUES League dues of $300.00 - will be assessed each team annually. It shall be paid at or prior to the April Meeting. Section 2 - FINES 1. A fine of $50 per occurrence will be assessed against a team for failure of their director designate or stand-in to attend any authorized meeting of the AMFL. 2. Sanctions imposed on a team resulting from a protest may include a fine of up to $50. 3. Failure to provide a complete and correct roster by the required time will result in a fine of $25. 4. Teams missing two consecutive meetings without any notification will be given written warnings. 9

ARTICLE Ill SCHEDULING AND PLAYOFFS Section 1 - LENGTH OF SEASON: A. Practice sessions may not commence until August 1. B. Regular season games will be scheduled to start the weekend before Labor Day. C. All effort should be made to schedule the season including playoff games, championship games and all-star games so as to conclude the season by November 15. D. The scheduling of games will be done at the April meeting. Section 2 - PLAY-OFF GAMES: A. In the event a playoff game is necessary to determine a conference/division champion, the site of the playoff game will be determined by a rotating schedule of all league teams. All gate receipts and 50/50 drawing shall go to the AMFL treasury. The proceeds from Concession stands will be for the hosting team. The current rotation sequence is: 1. Pine Grove 2. Millersburg 3. Line Mountain 4. Shikellamy. 5. Lykens 6. Schuylkill Haven 7. Tri-Valley 8. Williams Valley 9. Shikellamy 10

ARTICLE IV GAMES Section 1 - GAME RULES AND REGULATIONS 1. Conference games shall be played according to P.I.A.A. Football Rules and Regulations, except that: 1. Pee Wee,Pony and Midget games will consist of four 8 min. quarters. a) In the case of a tie, at the end of the regulation game, P.I.A.A. tie-breaker rules will govern with the exception that there will be a maximum of two possessions per team ( if needed ) from the 10 yard line. b) Pee wees will be one possession from 10 yard line 2 nd possession from the 5 yard line. (if needed) c) Each team to be awarded one time out in overtime play. 2. Extra points will be scored as two (2) points for a kick and one (1) point for a run or pass. 3. Pee Wee B will have one timeout per half, stop watch will be kept by home team with 45 seconds to run play or loss of down, and change of possession will put ball on 40 yard line. 2. All officials used in conference games shall be P.I.A.A. approved football officials. Four (4) officials will be provided by the home team, or as designated by the Board of Directors, for each game. A minimum of three (3) officials are required. 3. Officials will be paid by the home team s organization. 4. Official time shall be kept by a P.I.A.A. official. 5. Scoreboard clocks are not official time, unless specified prior to game time and after agreement of P.I.A.A. officials and both teams. 6. Starting time of the Pee Wee game shall be 5:30 p.m. on Saturday or 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, unless another starting time is determined by mutual consent of both teams. The Pony game followed by the Midget game will commence immediately after the conclusion of the Pee Wee game. 7. The home team must furnish an ambulance or other suitable arrangements at each game for all divisions. 8. Each team will pay its own transportation expenses to games and return and will be responsible for all other expenses that may result: such as meals, medical care, etc. 11

9. No score shall be kept for Pee Wee B scrimmage. 10. Teams shall be permitted to ask up to $2.00 donation. 11. Home team shall provide new game balls for games. 12. There shall be no nose guards allowed for Pee Wee B scrimmage. 13. Home team is responsible for chain gang. Section 2 - CANCELLATION AND FORFEITURE OF GAMES: A. Only severely bad weather should cause the cancellation of a scheduled game. Cancellation shall be left up to the home team. (Notification to visiting team should be made 3 hours prior to first scheduled game s time). Any disagreements will be resolved by the President and his decision will prevail. B. When a game is canceled, a new date and time must be set and the Commissioners office notified of such change. C. A game forfeit may be recorded as a win for the non-forfeiting team at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 12

ARTICLE V GAME PROTEST AND PENALTIES Section 1 - BASIS FOR A PROTEST: A. Team showing up thirty (30) minutes later than the scheduled game starting time. B. Playing an ineligible player. C. Unsportsmanlike conduct by individuals, spectators, teams or coaches. D. Team personnel who may cause fighting among opponents or spectators, before, during, or after a game, or who may threaten, push, profane, or otherwise abuse officials or conference staff. E. Field insufficiently or improperly lined as determined by P.I.A.A. Officials. Section 2 - PROCEDURE FOR FILING PROTEST: A. A statement of facts shall be submitted to the conference Commissioner and President in writing in triplicate within forty-eight (48) hours after the incident causing the protest. All protests must be accepted and presented to the League Board of Directors and then if the board thinks the protest is of sufficient merit, will then submit the protest to the Commissioner for a final decision of the protest board. B. The League President shall have the duty to select members from the board of Directors (excluding the parties involved) for a protest committee. C. Each protest must be accompanied by a $50.00 fee which will be returned if the protest is validated. Section 3 - PENALTIES: A. Forfeit of a game 13

B. Such action as the Protest Board may deem advisable including a fine. Section 1: ARTICLE VI TROPHIES AND AWARDS The AMFL will award a team trophy to each championship team. Section 2: ARTICLE VII LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Section 1: 1. The Overall League Championship will be determined by a game played between the winners of the playoff games. 2. Playoff will consist of # 1 vs # 4 # 2 vs # 3 3. Rankings shall be determined by: A) Total points ( win = 2, tie = 1, and loss = 0 points) B) Head to head competition C) Playoff game ( for 4 th seed 3 way tie only ) will count points against each of 3 teams involved. The team with least points allowed will get bye then play the winner of the other 2 involved in the 3 way tie. Winner of the 2 nd game shall be 4 th seed. 2. All scheduled games must be completed before the Championship games are played. A. Each team will incur their own traveling expenses. The AMFL will furnish new game balls and officials. B. Weigh-in is required of all players. C. In the case of a tie, at the end of the regulation game, P.I.A.A. tie-breaker rules will govern 14

with the exception that play must continue until one of the teams can be declared a victor. ARTICLE VIII TAXI SQUAD Section 1: A taxi squad may be used by all member organizations to help fill rosters. A. By placing an asterisk (*) on the roster before a participants name, he will be eligible to play in a total of six (6) quarters. Teams may taxi from the Pee Wee to Pony or Pony to Midget team only. B. Participants are still required to make age and weight requirements for Pee Wee, Pony and Midget teams to be eligible. C. Not making Pony requirements does not eliminate a player from playing Midget games if all other requirements are met. D. Any player playing both halves of a Peewee game is only eligible to play 2 quarters of the Pony game. 15