BYLAWS
OF
BETHEL PARK HIGH SCHOOL
HOCKEY BOOSTERS CLUB
Adopted by
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
March 27,1989
Amended April 20,1997
Amended December 18, 2003
SECTION I
Bethel Park High School Hockey Booster Club
Ten Core Values
ACCESSIBILTY Known avenues to the Board who are available, approachable, and open to Club members.
Accountability Responsibility to the Club members for decisions and a willingness to provide the rationale for decisions.
Communication Open, two-way exchange of information, knowledge, and perspectives between the Board and Club members.
Consistency Interactions marked by regularity and continuity.
Fairness Objectivity and freedom from undue favor toward any side.
Honesty Commitment to fairness, trustworthiness, and straightforwardness.
Openness Ready accessibility and a willingness to listen, consider, and respond to the views of Club members.
Respect Consideration of and sensitivity to the concerns of Club members.
Responsiveness Timely and thoughtful consideration of and response to the needs of Club members.
Sincerity Openness, frankness and truthfu1ness in all communications.
SECTION II
DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND TEAM REPRESENTATIVES
The constitution identifies 14 Standing Committees. The function of each committee is addressed below. Some functions may be performed by single individuals or by actual committees as determined by the Board. In some cases a “committee of one” may serve in the capacity stated. Some committees may not be established if deemed appropriate by the Board.
A. Constitution
The Committee shall review the Constitution as often as necessary. All requests for changes in the constitution from the membership shall be referred to the Committee, and they are to bring the requested matters before a membership meeting. This Committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past President or other Board member as selected by the President.
B. Publicity
The Committee shall prepare items of general interest for publication, arrange for photographs of team actions, and promote the Hockey Boosters Club. This Committee shall be chaired by an active member of the Hockey Boosters Club as appointed by the Board. Individual team publicity items initiated by the team itself will be cleared by the Publicity committee before publication. Articles initiated by the local news media may run without committee involvement.
C. Banquet
The Committee shall make all arrangements for the annual banquet. This Committee shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Hockey Boosters Club.
D. Finance
The Committee shall prepare a budget, and arrange for the collection of the required dues. The Committee shall also collect, when applicable, such other income that may become due to the Hockey Boosters Club from other sources. The Committee shall promptly turn over to the Treasurer all funds collected on behalf of the Hockey Boosters Club. This Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer of the Hockey Boosters Club. Expenses in excess of $100 will be approved by the Board in advance. Emergency expenditures over $100 will be cleared with the President prior to incurring the expense. The President will inform the Board of any such expenditure at his/her earliest convenience. Requests for reimbursement of expenses must be accompanied by the “Request for Reimbursement” form and applicable receipts.
E. Auditing
The Committee shall audit the financial records at the close of each year (by June 30). This Committee shall be appointed by the Vice President.
F. Registrar
The Registrar is responsible for registering all players and coaches in USA Hockey and the PIHL. Roster changes throughout the season will be handled by the Registrar. The Registrar will be appointed by the Board.
G. Representative to the Bethel Park Board of School Directors
Act as the Hockey Boosters Club liaison with the Board of School Directors on all matters of interest to the Club. The representative will be selected by the Board.
H. Equipment
The Committee shall acquire equipment for the teams and also determine if equipment discounts are available to Bethel Park Hockey players. The Equipment committee will procure equipment and supplies as required to outfit the hockey teams. Competitive bids will be solicited as appropriate to obtain the best pricing available for hockey supplies and equipment. Jersey repairs will be undertaken at the conclusion of each season. New jersey acquisitions will be handled by the Equipment Committee. The committee chair will be selected by the Board.
I. Awards
The Committee, chaired by the Secretary shall make all arrangements for the awards presented to the athletes at the annual banquet.
J. Grievance
The Committee shall be chaired by the Vice President and composed of one other club officer (selected by the President) and the team representative from each team. All grievances, concerning the Club and/or teams, are to be submitted in writing.
K. Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall serve as an expert on rules and procedural matters in conducting Club business. The Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed as applicable. The Parliamentarian shall be an active member of the Hockey Boosters Club and be appointed by the Board.
L. Fund Raising
This Committee shall coordinate all fund raising activities and develop new fund raising ideas. The Committee shall be chaired by any active member of the Hockey Boosters Club, under the direct supervision of the Treasurer. Individual team fund raising ideas must be approved by this committee and the Board and the approach for collecting money by the teams for fund raising needs to be coordinated with this committee. The suitability and appropriateness of the fundraiser will be determined by this committee and the Board. Collected money (from the fundraiser) should be turned over to the Boosters Club in a timely manner (to be determined before the fundraiser begins) and not be held by individuals.
M. Director of Coaching
The Director of Coaching shall be a member in good standing of the Bethel Park Hockey Boosters Club appointed by the Executive Board for a two‑year term. (S)he shall be a voting member of the Executive Board on all matters as they relate to the development of a coaching philosophy and selection and/or termination of any coach(es) at any time. (S)he is to act as a liaison making reports and recommendations between the coaches and Executive Board. The Director of Coaching will meet with the head coaches of each team on a monthly basis (or at a frequency determined by the Executive Board) to ensure the coaches are working on the long term goals of the Boosters Club to develop successful players. The Director of Coaching shall chair any committee commission to select new coaches.
N. N. Alumni Relations
The Alumni Relations Committee will be chaired by the Varsity Team Representative and (s)he will be responsible for planning the Celebrity game and other alumni events (e.g., alumni vs alumni game around the Christmas holiday). (S)he will promote alumni participation in the activities of the Boosters Club and encourage alumni to get involved both personally and financially. The honoring and/or recognizing of alumni will be coordinated by the Alumni relations Committee.
DUTIES OF TEAM REPRESENTATIVES
One team representative shall be selected for each team. Volunteers and/or nominations may be submitted by the teams’ parents for consideration by the Board. From the list of volunteers and nominations, the Board shall select a team representative from each team. These individuals shall perform any duties and disseminate any information given to them by the Executive Board and bring back to the Board information from their respective teams. These individuals shall be voting members of the Boosters Club and will serve on standing committees as identified above or as determined by the Executive Board. Additional duties of the Team Representatives are as follows: Varsity Team Rep-Celebrity Game and Alumni Relations; JV Rep-Admissions and Pizza Hut (and other appropriate) fund raising opportunities; Freshman- Merchandise.
SECTION III
TEAM SELECTION, AWARDS, AND ELIGIBILITY
A. Team Selection
Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman Team memberships will be determined by the coaching staff and in accordance with whatever provisions are established by the governing body for this sport whether it be the PIHL, WPIAL, or PIAA.
B. Awards
Varsity team athletes will receive Bethel Park High School Letters based upon the requirements established by the coach with the approval of the Executive Board. Awards presented to Junior Varsity and Freshman members will be determined by the Executive Board, Coaches, and Team Representatives, but will not include Bethel Park High School Letters.
C. All Star Games
Athletes in the hockey program presently are permitted to participate in high school All Star Games sponsored by the PIHL.
D. D. Player Eligibility Requirements
Players must meet the playing eligibility requirements of the PIHL, USA Hockey, and other appropriate (as determined by the Boosters Club) hockey governing bodies to play for Bethel Park Hockey. A player will be ineligible for practices and games if their account is in arrears by two or more payments unless the Board approves an alternative payment plan.
E. Academic Eligibility Requirements
The Bethel Park Hockey Boosters, acting as the governing body, presently require that athletes maintain a 1.75 Quality Point Average in a curriculum defined and approved by the principal as a full‑time curriculum. Eligibility shall be cumulative from the beginning of a grading period. In cases where an athlete's cumulative work from the beginning of the grading period does not, meet the standards provided for in this section(s), (s)he shall be ineligible for a two week period from the date of notification.
Minimally, an athlete must be passing at least four (4) full‑credit subjects, or the equivalent. In addition, any athlete who has two (s) failing grades in any subject, even if (s)he is passing at least four (4) full‑credit subjects, will be ineligible for one week as described above. At the end of each nine‑week grading period during hockey season, any athlete, not obtaining a minimum QPA of 1.75, will automatically be suspended from all practices and games for a two‑week period. The suspended player is required to have a form signed by his/her teachers once each week (normally a Friday) indicating whether he/she is passing or failing each course. If there are two or more failures on the form or if the player fails the same subject two weeks in a row, the player must sit out an additional week. These forms must be completed every week until the next report cards come out and the forms must be turned into the Vice President weekly. Failure to turn in the forms will be regarded as the player is failing, and the suspension will extended by an additional week.
F. Attendance
The athlete cannot practice or compete on a day in which (s)he is absent (legally or illegally) or suspended (in school or out) from school. Field trips and similar school‑related functions are not considered an absence. On any given day, the athlete must be in attendance for a minimum of one‑half (1/2) of his/her school day, example, nine (9) period day must attend five (5) periods; six (6) period day must attend three (3) periods, etc. with any decimal (.5) being rounded up. Students attending technical school are considered full nine (9) period days. Athletes who violate this rule will be suspended from the next competition following the discovery of the violation.
An athlete who has been absent from school during a semester for a total of twenty (20) or more school days (half days, early dismissals, suspensions, etc., all count), shall be ineligible to participate in any athletic contest until (s)he has been in attendance for a total of sixty (60) school days following the 20th day of absence. Where there is a consecutive absence of five (5) or more school days, due to confining illness, injury, death in the immediate family, court subpoena, or quarantine, the five (5) or more consecutive days may be deducted from the total and if the new total is less than twenty (20), the athlete remains eligible. When the twenty (20) or more days of absence occur in the second semester, the count of sixty (60) days attendance may carry over to the next school year making the athlete ineligible for at least a part of the fall sports season. Attendance at summer school does not count towards the sixty (60) days required.
G. Class Cuts
The focus of school is learning. An athlete belongs in class. Any athlete guilty of cutting class, during the sports season will be subjected to the following:
1st Cut: Counseling by the coach.
2nd Cut: Suspended for the next game; continue to practice.
3rd Cut: Suspended for the next two (2) games; continue to practice.
4th Cut: Suspended from all team activities for the remainder of the season, including any playoffs.
H. Misconduct
Misconduct includes inappropriate behavior while the athlete is involved in any way with a Bethel Park Hockey related event, including practice, games, and travel. Insubordination, impudence, insolence, or other examples of defiance toward coaches, officials, bus drivers, or others in authority, or those responsible for the athlete's safety are examples of misconduct. Such behavior will not be tolerated.
Specific punishments will not be listed since varying circumstances, the severity of the infraction, and the athlete's reaction to being corrected provide too many variables. Coaches in consultation with the Booster Club Board will handle individual instances in a manner that seems best suited to the situation, but athletes should note that appropriate responses by coaches or the Booster Club Board could range anywhere from a verbal reprimand to suspension or expulsion from the team.
I. Dress Code
As an athlete traveling to different schools, (s)he represents the community and schools of Bethel Park. The athlete's appearance reflects on all of us and, as such, there are certain standards of dress that will be required of him/her. We expect the athlete to wear clothes that are clean and and appropriate. Coaches (in consultation with the Booster Club Board) have the right to set standards that are more specific and more stringent than the requirements outlined above and are expected to send home an athlete who shows up in inappropriate clothing.
J. Tobacco Products
The use of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, etc.) is not consistent with the goals and philosophy of athletics. Any athlete found guilty of using tobacco products during his/her sports season will be subjected to the following:
1st Offense: Counseling by the coach.
2nd Offense: Suspended for the next game; continue to practice.
3rd Offense: Suspended for the next two (2) games; continue to practice.
4th Offense: Suspended from all team activities for the remainder of the season, including any playoffs.
K. Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs are defined as (1) any alcoholic or malt beverage; (2) any controlled substance (as defined in the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance Drug Device and Cosmetic Act but not including any substance accepted or exempted from the Act by the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any drug as defined in the aforementioned Act for which the athlete either has a prescription from a licensed physician or has permission from the Health Office of the School district to have the drug on the school district property). Anabolic steroids are included in the list of controlled substances.
Use is defined as ingesting, injecting, or otherwise causing a drug to reach the bloodstream or digestive tract.
Possession is defined as any possession which is unlawful under the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance Drug Device and Cosmetic Act and case law interpreting the Act.
Distribution means to give possession of a drug to another person whether or not for compensation.
Any athlete found guilty of distribution of a drug (as defined above) shall be suspended from participation in any and all sports activities for a minimum of one calendar year. Reinstatement shall be the exclusive right of the Booster Club Board. The obligation for petitioning the Board for a hearing on reinstatement shall rest with the suspended athlete.
Any athlete found guilty of use or possession of a drug (as defined above) on School district property, at a Bethel Park Hockey game or practice, or at any event sponsored by BP Hockey or the School District or attended by any of Bethel Park Schools clubs or teams, shall be subject to the following disciplinary actions:
1st Violation ‑ A two‑week suspension where, for the first week, the athlete will be banned from all team functions. For the second week, the athlete will practice, but will not participate in any contest or scrimmage. Further, the athlete must successfully complete the School District Insight Program. The athlete will remain suspended from participation in any contest or scrimmage until the Insight Program has been successfully completed.
2nd Violation ‑ Suspension from all sports programs for the remainder of the school year. The athlete must complete a chemical dependency evaluation and successfully follow the recommendations of the agency before being allowed to participate in any sports program the following school year.
3rd Violation ‑ Suspension from all sports programs for the remainder of the athlete's high school career. If the athlete successfully completes a drug and alcohol treatment program, (s)he may petition the School Board/Booster Club for a hearing to vote on reinstatement. However, the minimum suspension from all sports activities for the 3rd violation shall be one calendar year.
4th Violation ‑ Expulsion from participation in any and all sports and other extra-curricular activities for the remainder of the athlete's high school career with no options for appeal.
L. Appeals and Due Process
If an athlete feels (s)he has been unfairly judged or unjustly punished in accordance with Section III of the Bylaws, (s)he has the right to appeal through the following procedure:
Within three (3) school days of the incident, notify the Vice President, in writing, of the athlete's wish to appeal and explain why (s)he feels there has been an injustice. If, upon investigation, the Vice President determines that the appeal has no basis and is, in fact, a straightforward application of the regulations and consequence of Section III provisions, the appeal will be denied. The Vice President will make his decision known in writing within three (3) school days of receipt of the written appeal.
If the Vice President finds that there may be some basis for the appeal, he will convene a Board within three (3) school days of receipt of the written appeal.
The Board will be composed of the President, immediate Past President, and the applicable Team Rep. The coach involved may attend the hearing but will not have a vote. The Vice President will chair the hearing but will not be a voting member. The athlete and his/her parents will be welcome to testify and present other evidence at the hearing,
At the conclusion of all testimony, the Board will retire to privately discuss and vote on the appeal. The vote will be by secret ballot with the Vice President tabulating the ballots in front of the Board. The decision shall be put in writing and a copy mailed to the home of the athlete.
