La Jolla Youth Baseball
(A Not-For-Profit Association)
ARTICLE I: Association Purpose and Philosophy
1. This association is designed to be the administrative body for recreational youth baseball leagues in La Jolla. It is designed to help young people develop into better adults through participation in organized, supervised recreation. It is designed to assist youngsters to learn to play and enjoy the game of baseball.
2. La Jolla Youth Baseball is not designed for a few highly skilled athletes but for as many players in the community as possible, who are sincerely interested in the game. It is desirable to make every attempt to include every player who registers, in order to give them an opportunity to determine their fondness for the game and to give them the chance to learn the basic skills the game requires.
3. It should be the policy of the association so to conduct its activities that the physical and moral welfare of the young people for whose benefit it is organized should remain paramount, and all matters of policy shall be determined on that basis.
4. In order to secure suitable and adequate financial backing to carry out the purpose of the association it shall be the policy of the association to permit only such sponsorship as is consistent with the purpose for which the association is organized and to select sponsors who are interested in the league solely or principally as a means of contributing to the welfare of the young people.
5. Player eligibility shall be determined by residence of the player within the geographic area of La Jolla Youth Baseball or have legitimate close ties with the La Jolla community. Preference will be given to players residing within the league's boundaries.
ARTICLE II: Members
1. Members of La Jolla Youth Baseball shall include the board of directors, current league officers, and current team managers, immediate past league presidents, and prior board members who have served within the past three (3) years. Team managers shall be considered current until new managers for the next season are selected.
2. Meetings of Members:
(a) The annual meeting of members shall be held on such date as shall be fixed by the board of directors, usually early in the month of June. Special meetings of members may be held on such date or dates as may be fixed by the board of directors. Members of the association and other interested parties may attend association meetings.
(b) Annual or special meetings of members may be called by the board of directors, In the event that the board of directors receives a petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the members calling for a special meeting of members, the board, upon receipt and verification of the notice, shall call for the appropriate meeting.
(c) Written notice stating the place, day, and hour of the meeting shall be given for all meetings. Such notice shall state the person or persons calling the meeting. Notice for an annual meeting shall state that the meeting is being called for the election of board of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Notices of special meeting shall state the purpose of purposes for which the meeting is being called. At any special meeting, only the business stated in the notice of meeting may be transacted thereat. Notice of meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.
(d) At every meeting of members, there shall be present a list or record of members. Such list shall be evidence of the right of the persons to vote at such meeting, and all persons who appear on such list or record may vote at such meeting.
3. At each annual meeting of members, the board of directors shall present an annual report. Such report shall be filed with the records of the association and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of such annual meeting of members.
4. Meetings of the members shall be presided over by the following officers, in order of seniority: the Chairman of the Board; Vice Chairman of the Board; Secretary; and, Treasurer. When the secretary is not available, the Chairman may appoint a secretary of the meeting.
The order of business at all meetings of members shall be as follows:
Roll call
Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting
Report of any standing committees
League officers' reports
Old business
New business
5. No member may authorize another person to act for him by proxy.
ARTICLE III: The Board of Directors
1. The board of directors shall be composed of seven (7) members at large and five (5) league presidents. Only members at large shall be entitled to vote at board meetings. The board of directors may select from amongst their membership a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer. A meeting of the board of directors may be called at any time by the chairman or by any two board members.
2. New at large members of the board shall be selected by vote of all qualified association members at an annual meeting or by mail ballot. Should the number of at large board members fall below six (6) due to death or resignation or removal, a new board member may be selected to complete the term of said member by a majority vote of the board of directors.
3. The term for at large board members shall be three (3) years and staggered so that either one or two new board members are selected each year. An at large member is eligible for an indefinite number of new terms if so elected.
4. Individuals eligible for nomination for at large board membership shall have demonstrated their interest and knowledge of La Jolla Youth Baseball by having served as a league president for at least one term or as team manager or official coach (as listed in the association records), or team mother for at least three (3) years and to have demonstrated a philosophy consistent with that of the philosophy described in Article I.
5. Nominations for at large board members may be made by any member of La Jolla Youth Baseball. Eligible nominees shall be voted on by secret ballot at the annual meeting of association members or by a mail ballot. The nominee(s) receiving the highest number of votes will be selected for the available position(s).
6. If fewer nominations are made than positions available, the existing board may appoint board members to fill the available positions by a majority vote.
7. A board member may be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the association members.
8. The board of directors shall have the authority to suspend, discharge, or otherwise discipline any member, manager, coach, player, league official, umpire, or other person whose conduct is considered detrimental to the best interest of the league. This requires a majority vote of the board of directors.
9. The existing board members shall continue in office and perform their duties through the All Star season and shall call a board meeting shortly after the conclusion of the All Star season. The new board shall take office at an appropriate point during that meeting.
ARTICLE IV: Duties of the Board Members
1. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of board of directors and shall serve as the chief executive officer of the league, shall be an ex officio member of all standing and special committees and shall perform such other duties as are normally associated with the office of president.
2. The vice chairman shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the president and shall otherwise assist the chairman in the performance of the president's duties.
3. The secretary shall have custody of the constitution and bylaws and all of the records of the league and shall keep an accurate record of the meetings and other activities of the league and the board of directors; shall be responsible for all correspondence on behalf of the league, and shall transmit all records and correspondence to any person elected or succeeding him or her in that office.
4. The treasurer or his or her designated agent shall receive and disperse all funds with the approval of the board of directors; shall keep an accurate account of all funds received and dispersed by the league; shall submit a financial report at all regular meetings and at such other time as may be requested by the president; shall compile an annual report of league finances; shall provide the books of the league and such other documentation as requested for an annual audit; and, shall transmit all financial records to any person elected to succeed him or her in that office.
ARTICLE V: League structure
1. La Jolla Youth Baseball shall be structured into the following leagues:
Shetland League for ages five and six (5&6);
Pinto League for ages seven and eight (7&8);
Mustang League for ages nine and ten (9&10);
Bronco League for ages eleven and twelve (11&12); and
Pony League for ages thirteen and fourteen (13&14).
Unless specified by the board of directors La Jolla Pony Baseball Association shall follow the playing guidelines established by Pony Baseball, Inc.
2. Each league shall be headed by a league president. The term of league president shall be one year. There is no limit to the number of terms that an individual may serve as league president. The board of directors shall appoint new league presidents after appropriate input has been received from current league presidents and team managers within that league. A league president can be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of association members or by a majority vote of the board of directors.
3. Up to two vice presidents for each league may be named each year by the league president subject to the approval of the board of directors. League vice presidents shall assist in the management of the league and shall report to the league president. League vice presidents are not precluded from managing a league team. It is not recommended that league presidents manage league teams.
4. Duties of league officers:
(a) The president shall oversee the management of the league.
(b) The vice president shall assist in the management of the league.
(c) League presidents and vice presidents shall implement the format and policy for player selection and placement (draft) as set forth by the board of directors.
(d) League presidents and vice presidents shall implement the format and policy for player evaluations as set forth by the board of directors.
5. Each league manager and league coach shall sign a code of ethics and conduct pledge.
6. A letter shall be provided to each parent or guardian prior to commencement of league play discussing acceptable fan conduct.
7. The president of each league may discipline a player and shall, upon evidence of misconduct of any player, notify the manager of the team of which the player is a member, and the parents of any such player of his or her decision. The player and his parents or guardian may appeal such decision to the board of directors.
8. Special committees may be appointed by the president of each league or by the board of directors for such special purposes as deemed necessary. Committee duties and responsibilities are to be outlined at the time of appointment.
ARTICLE VI: All Star Teams
1. With the exception of the Shetland League, each League will assemble at least one All Star team ("A" Team). If there are more than 60 players participating in any given League the League will select a second All Star team ("B" team). If a sufficient number of players are participating, the Pony Division President may elect to send separate 13 and 14-year-old teams to tournaments. In the event that a League President wishes to form more than TWO All Star teams, such action must be submitted to the Board of Directors for prior approval.
Number of Players
2. Each All Star team roster will have a minimum of twelve players and a maximum of thirteen players. The exact number of players shall be at the discretion of the All Star team manager. La Jolla Youth Baseball strongly encourages full participation for All Star team members. Accordingly, All Star team managers are urged to see that every All Star player is given an opportunity to play in each All Star game.
Selection of All Star Team Manager
And Coaches
3. The A Team All Star team manager will be selected by a vote of the league managers. In the event of a tie vote, the League President will cast the deciding vote. Selection of the A Team Manager will take place prior to the selection of All Star teams. The League President will select a B Team manager after the formation of the A Team.
All Star team managers will have the responsibility of selecting their own individual coaches. Each All Star team will have one manager, one coach and one business manager per Pony rules (one extra coach is permitted in Pinto). League Presidents will not be eligible for consideration to act as an All Star manager. In addition, no League president may serve as an official or unofficial All Star coach.
All individuals selected to act as All Star team managers and coaches will serve in this capacity at the sole discretion of the La Jolla Youth Baseball Board of Directors. The identity of the proposed managers and coaches must be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval prior to their appointment.
Selection of All Star Team Players
Memorial Day Tournament
4. At least three weeks prior to the Memorial Day tournament, each League President will schedule a meeting of all League managers. At the meeting, each manager will be given the opportunity to nominate as many players from his team as he wishes for Memorial Day tournament All Star team consideration. Each manager must nominate at least three players from his team for Memorial Day tournament All Star consideration.
(a) After nominations are completed, the managers shall discuss each of the Memorial Day tournament All-Star candidates as needed to help familiarize all league managers about the nominees.
(b) The first ten players on the A team will be selected by the league managers. (See Suggested All-Star Team Selection Procedures below.) The League Presidents, in conjunction with at least one Board Member, will verify the results of the selection process.
(c) The A All Star Manager will then make two or three additional selections. If the Manager does not wish to make selections, then the 11th, 12th and optional 13th player will be selected by the league managers.
The league managers will then select the first ten B team players. The B All Star Manager will then have the option to make two or three additional selections. If the Manager does not wish to make selections, then the 11th, 12th and optional 13th player will be selected by the league mangers.
Any division operating with more than 10 league teams may select players for each tournament team from any 10 teams within its operation, per Pony Baseball rule T-1 (B).
Each League should endeavor to have at least one All Star representative from each team in the division on either the A or B teams.
In the event of an injury to or the unavailability of a player selected to be on an All Star team, the manager may pick a player of his choosing from the list of All Star nominees. This player transfer may occur despite the fact that it may result in a player being transferred from one team to another.
Fourth of July Tournament
5. Following the Memorial Day tournament, selection of the A All Star Team manager will again be determined by vote of league managers. The League managers shall once again meet and consider the performance of the Memorial Day All Star team or teams. At the meeting, each manager will be given the opportunity to nominate as many players as he wishes from his team for Fourth of July All Star tournament team consideration. Each manager must nominate at least three players from his team for All Star consideration. All players nominated for the Fourth of July Tournaments must meet eligibility standards as established by PONY BASEBALL. The Fourth of July Tournament teams will be selected using the same procedures described under Memorial Day Tournament team selection. Any variation from the stated format for selection of All-Star team players may be done only with the prior approval of the La Jolla Youth Baseball Board of Directors.
Financial Commitment
6. All Star participation is a revenue neutral process for La Jolla Youth baseball. Financial participation made by the families of players funds All Star participation. All Star team managers shall determine how much each assessment will be for each tournament. The maximum assessment per player shall not exceed the sum of fifty dollars for the Memorial Day tournament. The maximum assessment per player shall not exceed the sum of one-hundred dollars per player for the Fourth of July tournament. The amounts assessed per player may be adjusted from time to time as economic considerations dictate. Any assessment in excess of the amounts stated must have prior approval of the Board of Directors.
Not to be included in the by laws, suggested All Star Team Selection Procedures
A list of nominees should be submitted to, and compiled by, the League President prior to the selection meeting for ease of distribution, discussion, and voting at the meeting.
The manager of the A team is to be elected by the league managers before voting begins.
Discussion should take place until the league managers are sufficiently familiar with the nominees, they will then choose the first ten players on the A team. Suggested mechanisms:
Each manager gives all nominees (or some reasonable subset of truly viable candidates) a rank between 1 and 10. The top ten total scores are the first ten on the A team. The A team manager then selects his additional 2 or 3 players. The next ten in the rankings are the first ten on the B team and the B team manager picks the next 2 or 3.
Each manger votes his top ten picks for the A team (no rank). The top ten players in total votes are the first ten on the A team and the A team manager then picks the next 2 or 3. Each manager then votes his top ten picks for the B team from the remaining candidates and the top ten in total votes are the first ten for the B team and the manager picks the remaining 2 or 3.
All of these proceedings can be conducted with written secret ballots as necessary. The procedures may need to be modified to accommodate the each tournament team from only 10 teams in the league rule.
ARTICLE VII: Robert's Rules
1. The rules contained in the most current edition of "Robert's Rules of Order" shall govern association meetings and meetings of the board of directors and league committees in all cases in which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII: Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the board of directors.
ARTICLE IX: Insurance
La Jolla Youth Baseball is required to certify that accident insurance coverage is provided for all players, coaches, and managers. In addition, liability insurance coverage and accident insurance coverage should be provided for volunteer workers. A legal liability policy will provide league officials protection against damages from law suits arising our of accidents or mishaps which may occur as a result of operations necessary or incidental to the conduct of La Jolla Youth Baseball activities.
BYLAWS
LA JOLLA YOUTH BASEBALL
(A Not-For-Profit Association)
