1. NAME CONSTITUTION OF THE LUTHERAN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1.1. The name of the organization shall be the Lutheran Athletic Association (LAA). 2. MEMBERSHIP 3. PURPOSE 2.1. Any WELS school shall be considered eligible for membership in the LAA. (ELS schools will also be eligible for membership in the LAA). 2.2. New membership into the LAA will be granted through the WLHS Principals Conference by a two- thirds vote of the member schools. 2.3. Schools should make their requests to the WLHS Principals Conference to enter or leave the LAA by January of the preceding school year. Acceptance will be voted on at the January meeting of the Principals Conference. 2.4. Voting membership shall be limited to one vote per school on voting matters. 3.1. The purpose of the LAA is to provide organized, Christ- centered athletic activities for WELS/ELS schools. 3.2. Through the LAA, member schools will work to accomplish the following principles: 4. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 3.2.1. To promote Christian sportsmanship among Association members; 3.2.2. To help develop physical, social, moral, and spiritual characteristics of the involved students, parents, and spectators; 3.2.3. To promote Christian fellowship among Association members; 3.2.4. To develop athletic opportunities that meet the needs of WELS/ELS students; 3.2.5. To develop a better understanding of the athletic activities that the Association offers; and 3.2.6. To strengthen the WLHS Conference PreK- 12 concept. 4.1. The WLHS Principals Conference will oversee the operation for the LAA. 4.2. An Athletic Board will be established to carry out the general functions of the Association. 4.3. Additional responsibilities will be handled at the conference levels. 4.4. Each member school can take related issues to the proper governing bodies at conference, Board and Association levels. 5. PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE 5.1. The Principals Conference shall be responsible for the following: 5.1.1. Serve as the governing body of the LAA. 5.1.2. Serve as the final vote on important issues and matters that require by- law or constitutional change. 5.1.3. Appoint a principal representative to the LAA Board.
5.1.4. Approve base conference representatives to the LAA Board. 5.1.5. Handle membership issues of the LAA. 5.2. Any principal of a LAA school is considered to be a member of the governing body of the LAA. 5.3. LAA business will be addressed at WLHS Principals Conference meetings. All LAA principals are encouraged to maintain active membership in the WLHS Principals Conference. 6. ATHLETIC BOARD 6.1. An Athletic Board will be established to assist with the responsibilities associated with the LAA. 6.1.1. The Athletic Board will be accountable to the WLHS Principals Conference who will serve as the governing body of the LAA. 6.1.2. The Athletic Board will assist the principals in carrying out the Association s purpose. 6.2. The Duties of the Athletic Board: 6.2.1. Handle the general functions and decision making of the LAA. 6.2.2. Assign schools into appropriate base conference affiliations and review the alignments on a regular basis. 6.2.3. Establish guidelines for all sports and scheduling. 6.2.4. Hear concerns from the conferences as they arise and act upon them when needed. 6.2.5. Present by- law and constitutional change recommendations to the Principals Conference for approval. 6.2.6. Work with WLHS and individual conferences to organize tournaments. 6.2.7. Report to the WLHS Principals Conference. 6.2.8. Attend conference meetings to share information regarding scheduling, change of rules, etc. 6.3. The Athletic Board shall consist of the following members: 6.3.1. One (1) principal 6.3.2. One (1) athletic director from each of the LAA base conferences 6.3.3. Each Association school may have no more than two members serving on the Athletic Board at one time. 6.3.4. The chairman will be a male called worker serving on the Athletic Board. 6.4. Election of the Athletic Board 6.4.1. Members shall be elected to a three- year term. Election for each term shall be held every third year as to provide continuity for the Athletic Board. 6.4.2. Athletic Directors will be elected at the base conference level for a three year term. Elections will take place following the third year alignment review. 6.4.3. Election of the principal representative to the Athletic Board will take place at the April meeting of the WLHS Principals Conference. 6.4.4. Any principal or athletic director of a LAA school shall be eligible for election to the LAA Athletic Board.
6.4.5. Nominations for the LAA Athletic Board will be sought during February and March of each year. 6.5. Terms of Office for the Athletic Board 7. ATHLETIC CONFERENCES 6.5.1. Athletic Board members shall hold office for a period of three years. 6.5.2. Formal responsibility for executing the duties of the office shall begin immediately following the spring meeting of the LAA. 6.5.3. An Athletic Board member may succeed himself/herself in office. Athletic Board members may serve no more than two consecutive terms in office. 6.5.4. If a vacancy occurs on the Athletic Board with regard to the Principal Representative, the Executive Committee of the WLHS Principals Conference will appoint a replacement to serve out the elected term. If the vacancy occurs with any other member (AD), the conference where the vacancy occurs will appoint a replacement to serve out the elected term. 7.1. Conference Formation 7.1.1. The Athletic Board will be responsible for aligning LAA schools into base conferences. 7.1.2. Conference alignment will be reviewed every three years by the Athletic Board. 7.1.3. Schools can be added to or removed from base conferences by the Athletic Board with the approval of the Principals Conference. 7.1.4. In regard to conference size and the number of conferences, emphasis will be placed on school enrollments, location, rivalries, and the number of schools offering specific programs. Such decisions will be made by the Athletic Board, with input from the LAA schools and approved by the Principals Conference. 7.1.5. Satellite conferences may be formed to ensure a full schedule of games for all schools in the LAA. (Satellite conferences are formed by combining teams from two or more base conferences). 7.1.6. Co- op teams shall be allowed within the LAA at the discretion of the individual conferences and with approval of the LAA Board. 7.1.7. Each base conference will have representation on the Athletic Board through an elected official. 7.1.8. The LAA will establish guidelines for each sport offered at the conference level. 7.2. Conference Officers 7.2.1. Each base conference will elect one athletic director to serve on the Athletic Board. 7.2.2. Each base conference should also elect a conference president, vice- president, and secretary. 7.2.3. Elected officials will represent the conference at the conference level. 7.3. Election of Officers 7.3.1. Athletic Board representatives and conference officers will be elected following the base conference alignment process.
7.3.2. If a vacancy occurs during the elected term, the conference AD s will meet to elect a representative to finish out the term. 7.4. Terms of Office 7.4.1. The base conference representative to the Athletic Board will serve a three- year term. 7.4.2. Conference officers will be elected for a three- year term. 7.5. Duties of Officers 8. MEETING/REPRESENTATION 9. DUES 7.5.1. The President shall preside at all conference meetings. He shall ensure that the conference meets on a regular basis and that the functions of the conference are carried out. 7.5.2. The Vice- President shall act in absence of the President if the President is unable to carry out his duties. 7.5.3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all conference meetings. The conference secretary shall keep record of game results and conference standings. 8.1. Regular meetings should be held at the Association and conference levels. 8.1.1. The LAA will have an annual meeting each spring. 8.1.2. Conference meetings should be held in the summer, the fall, and spring. 8.2. Schools should work together to handle concerns and other difficult issues. 8.2.1. Concerns should be initially addressed at the conference level. 8.2.2. If needed, the concern should be brought to the LAA Board by the conference representative. 8.2.3. Schools may go directly to the LAA Board if their concerns and issues have not been fairly brought by their conference representative. 9.1. Annual dues for each participating school will be reviewed and set by the Athletic Board. 9.2. Dues will be used to pay for awards. 10. SPORTS REGULATIONS 10.1. Rules for any respective sport will be the current season rules as established by the national federation and/or state- issued rule books wherever they pertain to particular situations. Specific LAA modifications shall be observed by members as they are established and/or amended by majority vote at the LAA meeting. 10.2. League members shall strive to secure the best possible facilities, officials, and equipment within their means for the operation of the sports program. 10.3. Eligibility 10.3.1. A student shall be ineligible for competition within the LAA as a member of a team consisting of grades 6, 7, and 8 if he/she reaches his/her birthday before August 1 of any given year (6 th grade 13, 7 th grade 14, 8 th grade - 15).
11. AWARDS 10.4. First Aid 10.5. Officials 10.3.2. A student is eligible for competition within the LAA if he/she is carried on the attendance rolls of a competing school as a full- time student. 10.4.1. Each member shall make the best possible provisions for emergencies by being prepared for any injuries which might occur as a result of competition. 10.4.2. All coaches should attempt to have a first aid kit and the knowledge as how to use it if needed. 10.4.3. Each coach should review basic first aid procedures on a regular basis so as to be prepared in the event an athlete is injured. 10.5.1. Whenever possible, registered officials should be present and regulate game play. 10.5.2. If certified officials cannot be acquired, the teams involved should get the best possible adult to officiate. 10.6. All additions shall be submitted to the Conference Officers for review. 11.1. The LAA Athletic Board (Treasurer) shall be responsible for overseeing the purchase of all awards for the Association sports throughout the year. 11.2. The LAA Board Treasurer will be responsible for reimbursing host schools for their athletic conference tournament/meet (both A and B level) trophy/ribbon/plaque costs. This reimbursement is not to exceed $75 for a volleyball or basketball tournament of $150 for a track meet. Host schools will be responsible for costs incurred above these limits. Reimbursements will apply only to conference tournaments and meets, not invitationals. Host schools are responsible for the procurement of trophies/awards as well as the submission of the bill to the LAA Treasurer. Awards/trophies will not be procured by or distributed by the LAA. 12. AMENDMENTS 12.1. Any proposed amendment(s) to the LAA Constitution shall be first discussed by the LAA Board. 12.2. Such proposed amendments should be presented in writing to the LAA Board for review. 12.3. Only LAA members may present such amendments. 12.4. The LAA member schools must approve the recommended amendments at the annual spring meeting. 12.5. The LAA Board will bring proposed amendments to the LAA Constitution to the WLHS Principals Conference for final approval. 12.6. A majority vote of the Principals Conference will be considered necessary for such an amendment to be passed and legally allow any changes to be made to the LAA guidelines.