SHROPSHIRE SCHOOLS’ AND COLLEGES’ FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
1) THE ASSOCIATION
This Association shall be called the ‘Shropshire Schools’ and Colleges’ Football Association’ (SSCFA) and shall be affiliated to the English Schools’ Football Association.
2) OBJECT
The object of the association shall be the mental, moral, physical and educational development of schoolchildren in Shropshire through the medium of association football. The core values of which shall be to encourage participation and to seek equality of opportunity.
3) MEMBERSHIP
All individual schools participating in SSCFA (or affiliated District) competitions will be deemed, by virtue of their participation, to be affiliated directly to the SSCFA. All member Schools’ Football District Associations must be affiliated to SSCFA.
- a) FULL MEMBERSHIP of the association shall be open to properly constituted District Schools Football Associations within Shropshire. A properly constituted Association is one which satisfies the conditions laid down by the English Schools Football Association and is a member of that body.
- b) FULL MEMBERSHIP of the Association shall be open to schools and colleges offering full-time education to students under the age of nineteen (at midnight 31st August/1st September at the start of the season), within Shropshire.
- c) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP may be considered by Council for bordering associations (who may subsequently be invited to affiliate as associate members) if there are no like-for-like opportunities available via their own county schools’ association. As such, they may be invited to take part in all inter-association competitions. Associated Members may not nominate players for representative sides of the SSCFA
- d) The Association shall affiliate to the ESFA.
4) AFFILIATION FEES
Affiliations (i) and competition entry fees (ii) shall be decided by the Executive Committee, as and when necessary. These will be payable by (i) district associations (ii) individual schools/colleges.
5) EQUALITY
This Association is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. The Association respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
The Association is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse. All members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The Association will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously
6) COUNCIL
The Officers of the Association shall be: the President; Chairperson; Vice Chairperson; Office Manager/Secretary; Treasurer; Secondary Competitions Secretary; Primary Competitions Coordinator, Post-16 Competitions Coordinator, Disability Football Officer; Child Welfare Officer, Football Development Officer; a representative of the boys representative squad management team and a representative of the girls representative squad management. In the case that any positions cannot be filled, they shall remain vacant until such a time when a suitable volunteer can be found.
All officers shall present themselves for re-election each year, should they wish to do so. This election of Officers shall take place annually at the Annual General Meeting.
An Executive Committee consisting of the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Office Manager/Secretary, Football Development Officer and Treasurer will be competent to deal with matters of an emergency nature. They shall also have the power to co-opt onto this committee from the wider council and other appropriate organisations should they deem it appropriate and necessary. The executive committee must meet at least twice per year to arrange the affairs of the association and to examine its accounts which must be externally audited.
7) FINANCES
The treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the Association.
The financial year of the Association will run from 1st July and end on 30th June.
All monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Association.
An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
Any cheques drawn against Association funds should hold the signatures of the treasurer plus up to two other officers.
All members of the Association shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Association.
8) ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Election of Officers shall take place at the Annual General Meeting, which shall be held before the last Friday in June. Nominations and voting shall take place at the AGM, where candidates for office must be nominated (who will be responsible for ensuring that the nominee wishes to stand for office) and seconded. Where no new nomination is received, the sitting officer shall be deemed to be elected unopposed. One of the officers of Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association, must also be nominated, seconded and voted upon who will, by permission of the Chairman of Shropshire FA, be co-opted to the Shropshire FA Development Committee.
9) LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life membership of the Association may, by resolution passed at a General Meeting, be conferred on any member from the teaching profession who has rendered long and outstanding service to the Association. A Vice-Presidency of the Association may, by similar resolution, be conferred on any member of the teaching profession who has rendered meritorious service to the Association. An Honorary Vice-Presidency of the Association may, by similar resolution, be conferred on any person outside the teaching profession who has rendered equally meritorious service to the Association.
10) EXPULSION FROM THE ASSOCIATION
Expulsion from the association (of staff, council members and life members) may be necessary in cases where behaviour(s) fails to uphold the positive reputation of the association and, in particular, the objects of the association. Should this arise, a letter clearly outlining the concerns of Council shall be sent to the person concerned who will be given the opportunity to resign their position. In cases where a resignation is not forthcoming, the person concerned shall be invited to a specially convened meeting where they will be invited to offer an explanation/defence to the Executive Committee (or other co-opted persons as appropriate) who will notify the person in question of the decision in writing within five working days.
11) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the last Friday in June each year and any member of an (i) Affiliated Association or (ii) affiliated school/college in Full Membership of this Association may attend with the power to vote. Associate Members may vote only on matters relating to Inter-Association Competitions, or other matters which directly concern Associate Membership.
At the AGM, the report of the Council for the previous season will be received for acceptance; the election of Officers will take place; and motions for any change or addition to the Constitution and/or Competition rules will be decided upon by means of a vote amongst members present. A financial statement will also be presented due to the timing of the financial year appropriate to the core business of the association with the full audited accounts being made available to membership via email and association website.
Motions for discussion at the AGM must be received by Office Manager/Secretary by a minimum of six weeks prior to the published date of the AGM and shall be distributed by the Office Manager/Secretary with notification of the date of the AGM. Motions for consideration must be proposed by one association/member school/college and seconded by another association/school/college in full membership. Associate members may propose or second motions to do with Inter-Association Competitions or other matters directly affecting such membership.
In cases where the Chairman decides that urgent action needs to be undertaken in the interests of protecting the integrity and reputation of the association he/she has the power to take action or to call a Special General Meeting.
12) SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The Chairperson shall convene a Special General Meeting at any time should it be deemed necessary and desirable by the Executive Committee. Such meetings shall be held with 28 days of the Secretary receiving the requisition.
13) CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT
The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
14) VOTING
Whenever voting is required, each affiliated association, school and college in full membership is entitled to one vote per item which must come from a single nominated person per organisation. In instances where schools provide post-16 provision or are of an all-through nature, they are permitted to one vote per educational phase (primary, secondary, post-16) for matters that affect their phase of education. Each member of the Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association Council shall also be permitted one vote. In instances where voting is drawn, the deciding vote lies with the Chairperson of the association.
For any motion to be ratified, a minimum of five votes must be cast from persons/associations/schools present at the meeting (five members form a quorum).
At Council Meetings and Executive Committee Meetings, five members shall form a quorum.
15) PROGRAMME
The Council shall have the power to arrange inter-county matches, inter-association and inter-school competitions.
The Association shall have the first claim upon any boy or girl selected for an inter-county match arranged by Council. Only matches exempt are those controlled by the ESFA.
After inter-county matches, games arranged by the association for its own competitions will take precedence over all other competitions except ESFA competitions.
Affiliated Local Associations and their affiliated schools, together with schools that affiliate directly to the Shropshire Schools’ and Colleges’ FA by virtue of their participation in SSCFA competitions, shall compete only in competitions approved by the Executive Committee. Permission to participate in competitions organised externally to SSCFA must be placed in writing and lodged with the Office Manager/Secretary prior to entering the said competition.
16) SAFEGUARDING
SSCFA recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is determined to meet its obligations to ensure that those schools and organisations providing football opportunities for children and young people do so, to the highest possible standard of care. The Association shall adopt, fully adhere to and conform to all the ESFA/FA child welfare policies, procedures and guidelines.
17) THE ENVIRONMENT
Every child /young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.
18) OVER-ARCHING RULES and EXPECTATIONS
- i) All competition rules will be updated and published prior to the start of any competition for that season.
- ii) All affiliated district associations and affiliated Schools and colleges must abide by the rules of the Shropshire Schools’ and Colleges’ Football Association.
iii) Players, officials, spectators and all affiliated district associations and schools/colleges are required to observe and enforce the rules, regulations and byelaws of the Football Association.
- iv) All local associations and affiliated schools and colleges by virtue of their participation in SSCFA competitions shall make their players available for county selection.
19) DISPUTES and APPEALS
All matters relating to competitions, disputes, discipline etc. shall be dealt with by Council.
If the appellant feels it appropriate to appeal the final decision of Council, the appeal must be made in writing to the Office Manager/Secretary within 48 hours of receiving Council’s decision. This must include full details of the incident and the reason for the appeal escalation along with all information and evidence that the appellant wishes to be considered. It must also be accompanied by payment of £10 (refundable if the appeal is successful). The final and binding decision of the appeals committee will be communicated with the all involved within seven days of receiving the appeal fee. If a personal hearing is preferred, the appeal will be heard within 14 days (but preferably within 7 days where circumstances allow) and the administration fee will rise to £50 (refundable if the appeal is successful). In either case, the Executive Committee will be charged with appointing a three person panel that may be made up of life members of SSCFA, council members of other schools’ football associations, representatives from Shropshire FA, representatives of the English Schools’ FA or other suitably qualified persons dependent upon availability.
21) Declaration
This constitution was approved by the AGM of Thursday 16th September 2021 and shall remain in force until amendments are made at future AGM/SGM.
