NORTHWESTERN YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE
BY-LAWS
(Amended 5/15/2023)
(MISSION STATEMENT)
To provide a safe environment, and develop sportsmanship, fundamental soccer skills, physical fitness, and citizenship in the elementary age children that attend Northwestern School Corporation, live in Northwestern School District and/or live in Howard County, IN, so that their interest in soccer will continue after they leave the Northwestern Youth Soccer League.
ARTICLE I
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1
The fiscal year of the Northwestern Youth Soccer League shall begin the first day of August and close on the last day of July of the succeeding year.
ARTICLE II
OFFICERS
Section 1
The officers will consist of a President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2
A. Election of officers will be held during the October meeting.
B. New officers will take office the 1st of November.
C. Any person nominated election night must be present and verbally accept the nomination before their name can be on the slate of officers (subject to the discretion of the Board).
D. League Officers will be nominated and approved by majority vote. A secret paper ballot must be used when more than one candidate is running for a given office. Voters must be present at the meeting.
E. In the event an officer steps down during the elected term, nominations and election of replacement will be conducted at the next regularly scheduled meeting following the provisions of paragraphs C and D of this section.
Section 3
Voting Privileges – Voting is restricted to league officers (defined in Section 1 above)
ARTICLE III
FEES AND REGISTRATION
Section 1
Registration fees will be evaluated at the March meeting of the league.
Section 2
Registration will be determined in March and held mid-April-Early July each year.
ARTICLE IV
EXPENSES
Section 1
All checks must have at least one signature as a requirement before any purchase can be made. All checks will be signed by the Treasurer.
Section 2
Treasurer must submit a financial statement to the NYO at their November meeting.
ARTICLE V
AGE REQUIREMENTS
Section 1
A) U-6 Division: The recommended starting age is four (4). A player cannot have reached age six (6), prior to August 1st.
B) U-8 Division: The recommended starting age is six (6) A player must be 5 prior to August 1st OR cannot have reached age eight (8), prior to August 1st. While participating in the U8 division, players who are age 6 (by August 1st) or older, may not return to a younger age division (U6 age division).
C) U-10 Division: The recommended starting age is eight (8). A player cannot have reached age ten (10) prior to August 1st. Younger players can participate if: 1) they have played at least one (1) year in U-8, 2) the player is seven (7) prior to August 1st, AND 3) the player has the necessary skill set as determined by the coaches and the NYO Soccer Board. If the player is not approved, they will return to the U-8 division. While participating in the U10 division, players who are age 8 (by August 1st) or older, may not return to a younger age division, (U8 or U6 age divisions).
D) U-12 Division: The recommended starting age is ten (10). A player cannot have reached age twelve (12) prior to August 1st and/or entering 7th grade or above for the current school year. Younger players can participate if: 1) they have played at least one (1) year in U-10, 2) the player is nine (9) prior to August 1st AND 3) the player has the necessary skill set as determined by the coaches and the NYO Soccer Board. If the player is not approved, they will return to the U-10 division. A player currently in sixth grade that does not exceed the age of thirteen (13) by August 1st, may request to play and must have NYO Soccer Board approval. While participating in the U12 division, players who are age 10 (by August 1st) or older, may not return to a younger age division (U10, U8 or U6 age divisions).
Section 2
All age-appropriate youth who reside within Howard County, IN are eligible to play with NYO Soccer.
ARTICLE VI
DEFINITION OF TEAMS/PLAYERS
Section 1
A team will consist of at least (5) but no more than 15 players, and a head coach.
Section 2
All players must have meaningful minutes of playing time in both regular season games and tournament games.
Section 3
If a student/player misses’ school due to illness, then the student may return to NYO Soccer when they return to school activities. If the student/player misses’ school due to suspension, then the student may return to NYO Soccer when school administration releases them back to school activities.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGER/COACHES GUIDELINES
Section 1
A) All head coaches will be furnished with a copy of the age division rules and a copy of the by-laws.
B) Coaches are to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship and well-mannered behavior. Any complaint will be directed in writing to a League Officer. The League Officers will review the complaint, and take action in accordance with NYO By-Laws.
C) League coaches are subject to the coaching provisions of the NYO By-Laws in regard to conduct. A copy of the NYO bylaws will be provided to each coach before the season starts. A copy of the by-laws may also be found on the NYO Soccer website www.nyosoccer.com
D) All NYO Soccer League Coaches (Head and Assistant), must read, acknowledge, agree and sign, the coaches/spectator letter of conduct, found on www.nyosoccer.com when registering to volunteer, prior to coaching with NYO Soccer. Coaches are aware of the disciplinary actions if they fail to abide by this Code of Conduct. The coaches/spectator Code of Conduct may also be found on the NYO Soccer website under site links at the bottom of the page www.nyosoccer.com.
E) All coaches and assistants much be approved by the Northwestern School Corporation through the required background checks before any practices and/or games take place. They must also complete any training courses required by NYO and/or Northwestern School Corporation.
Section 2
U10 and U12 age divisions- Coaches will be responsible for tallying/recording score and submitting it to the NYO Soccer League Secretary after each game.
Section 3
An individual may coach multiple teams in the Northwestern Youth Soccer League per year.
ARTICLE VIII
TEAM STANDINGS
Section 1
Team standings will be based on the team's won/loss record against the rest of the teams in the division. In the event of teams possessing identical won/loss records, refer to Section 2.
Section 2
Ties will be resolved by goals for, followed by goals against. If there is still a tie, head-to-head comparison will take place.
ARTICLE IX
CARE OF EQUIPMENT AND GROUNDS
Section 1
Any NYO Soccer league game postponed due to weather conditions will date precedent over any other practice.
Section 2
All practices and games must be held on Northwestern property. All games and practices will be held at the Northwestern Athletic Complex. NYO Soccer Fields are located on the old varsity soccer fields, which are just north of the varsity softball and baseball fields.
ARTICLE X
WEATHER DELAYS/CANCELATIONS AND GAME RESCHEDULES
Section 1
Any and all coaches of NYO Soccer will download the weather app “My Lightning Tracker” required by Athletic Director for Northwestern School Corporation. The app needs to be set to a 10-mile radius.
Section 2
Any lightning strike within a 10mile radius of NYO Soccer League Fields regardless if teams are practicing or games, must vacate the NYO Soccer Fields to individual vehicles. A 30-minute delay begins/restarts with each lightning strike within the 10-mile radius.
Section 3
Practices may be cancelled and rescheduled at the coach’s discretion due to lightning/weather delays within the guidelines (see above section 1 and section 2).
Section 4
Games may only be delayed and not exceed a total of 45minutes (i.e.- lightning strikes continuing on and off for 15minutes within a 10mile radius, would continue to delay the game, as each new lightning strike resets the 30minute clock, which would exceed the 45minutes), or if the game has to be delayed twice (at two separate times) in one game due weather.
Section 5
U10 Division- If the game has fully completed 3 of the 4 quarters (12min quarters) the game will not be rescheduled, and the score will be recorded as is. If the game has not yet completed 3 of the 4 quarters (12min quarters), the game will be rescheduled by the NYO Soccer Board, and the NYO Soccer president will contact coaches with the new rescheduled date & time.
U12 Division- If the game has completed 1 full half (30min halves) and more than 15 minutes of the second half, the game will not be rescheduled, and the score will be recorded as is. If the game has not yet completed 1 full half (30min halves) and less than 15 minutes into the second half, the game will be rescheduled by the NYO Soccer Board, and the NYO Soccer president will contact coaches with the new rescheduled date & time.
ARTICLE XI
TOURNAMENT
Section 1
In the event there is an end of season tournament, it will be held for the U10 and U12 age divisions. Teams would begin tournament play based on rankings from regular season (example: 1 bye, 2 bye, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5). There would be NO end of season tournament for U6 and U8 age divisions.
ARTICLE XII
AWARDS
Section 1
U6 and U8 divisions all players will receive end of season awards
Section 2
U10 and U12 only regular season champions and regular season runner ups will receive awards
Section 3
In the event that there is an end of season tournament, U10 and U12 only tournament champions and tournament runner ups will receive awards
ARTICLE XIII
REFEREES
Section 1
Scheduling of all paid referees will be the responsibility of the NYO Soccer League Treasurer.
Section 2
The U-8 and U-6 Divisions will utilize both coaches from each team to ref the game. U-10 Division will always attempt to utilize one paid center ref per game. U-12 Division will attempt to utilize one paid center ref and two paid side refs per game.
ARTICLE XIV
PROTESTS
Section 1
Only the head coach will be allowed on the playing field during the discussion of protests with the ref. Protests can only be for rules violation and not for judgment interpretations of the refs (i.e., fouls, corner kicks, throw ins etc.).
ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Section 1
Amendments to the By-Laws, can be made at the end of the season, to be held during the November meeting; Voting Privileges- Voting is restricted to league officers (as defined in Article II Section 1). Proposed amendments to the By-Laws should be submitted to the Secretary in writing (electronic or hardcopy) at the November meeting. The Secretary should distribute the proposed amendments to the NYO Soccer Board members as soon as practicable, but no later than two weeks prior to the end of the year meeting.
Section 2
Amendments: If, after the November board meeting and prior to the beginning of the next NYO Soccer season beginning, any additional by-law proposed amendments must be submitted to the NYO Soccer Secretary in writing (electronic or hardcopy). The Secretary should distribute the proposed amendments to the NYO Soccer Board members as soon as practicable. It is at the discretion of the NYO Soccer Board to revise and add any proposed amendments they deem necessary to add during this time frame. Any of the proposed amendments that the NYO Soccer Board does not add during this time, will be added to the November board minutes and discussed at/during the end of season November board meeting.
Section 3
Amendments: The Officers of the League will have the final decision in the interpretation of any By-Law or any questions not answered in the By-Laws.
Section 4
All By-Law amendments will take effect immediately following the November NYO Soccer Board meeting.
Section 5
By-Laws which are proposed and agreed upon by the NYO Soccer Board after the November board meeting and prior to beginning of the next NYO Soccer season will take effect immediately following the NYO Soccer Board’s decision during this time frame.