HUMBLE ATASCOCITA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION

HUMBLE, TEXAS

 

BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I - MEETING AND VOTING

 

SECTION 1 - The membership of the League shall hold an annual meeting at such place and time as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Notice of the time and place of such annual meeting shall be given to the membership of the League not less than five days prior to the date of the meeting.

 

SECTION 2 - Special meetings of the League membership may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  Notice of the time and place of special meetings of the League membership shall be given to the membership of the League not less than five days prior to the date of the meeting.

 

SECTION 3 - At the annual meeting or any special meeting of the League, every eligible member present shall be entitled to vote. There shall be no proxy voting. A polarity of those present and eligible to vote shall be required for election. A majority of those present and eligible to vote shall be required for questions brought to a vote.

 

SECTION 4 - The presence of a number of members sufficient to constitute a quorum shall be necessary for the transaction of business at any annual or special meeting.  For the purpose of this section, the minimum number of members present shall be a number equal to two-thirds of the number of currently registered players. Each member present shall be entitled to one vote.

 

SECTION 5 - An eligible member of the Association is a parent, legal guardian, or conservator of a participant, a manager, coach, or advertised sponsor.

 

ARTICLE II - ELECTION OF OFFICERS / BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 1 - The election of all Officers/Board of Directors shall be governed by Article I of these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 2 - The term of office for all officers and each member of the Board of Directors shall be two years, beginning on August 1 of the year elected. Terms of office for the President, Secretary/Treasurer, Player Agent, Equipment/Uniforms Director, Umpire–In-Chief/Scheduler/Webmaster will expire in odd numbered years.  Terms of the remaining officers and directors will expire in even numbered years.

 

SECTION 3 - Every eligible member, as defined in Article 1, Section 5, of the association in good standing is eligible to run for election of the Board of Directors. All officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be eligible for reelection.  However, anyone having resigned or been removed from a Board Position within three years of the date the election is to be held must obtain prior approval from the Board to be eligible for election.

 

SECTION 4 - In the event of death, resignation, or inability to perform the duties of office for any reason of any officer or member of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall appoint a new member, with approval of the majority of the remaining Directors present at any regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose, and such new member shall serve in that capacity until the end of the current term.

SECTION 5 - Any Officer of the Board, including the President may be removed by a 2/3 vote of all members of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 6 - To be eligible to serve as President, an individual must have served at least two years on the Humble Atascocita Baseball Association (“HABA”) Board of Directors, in any capacity, And presently be on the HABA Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE III - BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEETINGS

 

SECTION 1 - The Board of Directors shall include the President, Vice President, Secretary and/or Treasurer, Player Agent, Umpire-In-Chief/Scheduler/Webmaster, Equipment/Uniforms Director, Field Maintenance/Tournament Director and Special Event Director.  The special needs league director will serve as a de facto member of the HABA Board of Directors, with no Board voting rights or duty to attend meetings of the HABA Board of Directors or other Board duties.

 

SECTION 2 - Meetings may be called by the President or upon written request of at least three members of the Board of Directors

 

SECTION 3 - Notice of all meetings shall be given at least two days in advance thereof to all members of the Board of Directors unless waiver of notice is received.

 

SECTION 4 - Two - thirds of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, and a majority of those present shall govern, except as is otherwise specifically provided.

 

SECTION 5 - Any Board member missing two consecutive meetings or having excessive absences, without prior approval from the President, is subject to removal from the Board. Valid excuses shall be illness, work, death in the family, or any legitimate excuse deemed acceptable by the President

 

ARTICLE IV - FUND RAISING

 

SECTION 1 - All fund raising activities undertaken for the benefit of the League shall be subject to the approval and supervision of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2 - All financial matters, with respect to fund raising activities, shall be the responsibility of the League Treasurer and the League Vice President. No funds or accounts may be established on behalf of the League, or any team, this includes all HABA sponsored teams, except by authority of the Treasurer and League President and Vice President with the Board's approval.

 

ARTICLE V - FINANCIAL POLICY

 

SECTION 1 - The Board of Directors shall administer league finances, and shall cause all monies belonging to the league to be placed in a common league treasury. The Board shall direct expenditures in such a manner as will give no individual or team an advantage over another.

 

SECTION 2 - No person who is a member of the League, and or sits on the Board of Directors, or who is employed by, or who is in any way connected with the League, shall receive any personal financial benefit therefrom beyond the reasonable value of services and carrying out the purpose for which the League has been organized. Further, no person who is a member of the League, and or sits on the Board of Directors, or who is employed by, or who is any way connected with the League, shall be the recipient of any type of loan from the League.

 

SECTION 3 - The contribution of funds to individuals or teams, without the Board's approval, shall be prohibited. This policy is to discourage favoritism among teams and to endeavor to equalize the benefits of the League.

 

SECTION 4 - The Board of Directors shall institute a policy relative to the preparation and acceptance of an annual budget, periodic, and annual presentations of financial reports, including HABA sponsored teams, and an annual audit of the books of the League

 

SECTION 5 - The fiscal year of the association shall end July 31.

 

ARTICLE VI • DUTIES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS / OFFICERS

 

SECTION 1 - The President, as Chief Executive Officer of the League, shall supervise. the League's affairs and activities, shall make an annual report thereon to the members, shall preside at all meetings of the League, shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall appoint all committees, shall assist in monitoring all financial transactions of the league and shall be ex officio member of all committees.

 

SECTION 2 - The Vice - President shall assist the President in the performance of the President's duties, shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, assist in monitoring all financial transactions of the league. Other responsibilities include obtaining candidates for managerial positions in all leagues, conduct manager meetings, preside at manager selection, perform Board Member on Duty requirements and other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 3 - The Secretary shall give notice of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors, give notice of the annual and all special meetings of the League membership, keep a permanent record of all meetings, shall be custodian of all official records and/or documents of the League, including all voting activity, administer the League's insurance needs, attend Board Member on Duty requirements, and other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 4 - The Treasurer shall be responsible for all finances of the League, keep accurate accounting records, be responsible for filing tax returns, make a report on the financial condition of the League to the Board of Directors at each monthly scheduled Board meeting, make available a detailed financial report to the membership of the League at the end of the fiscal year, shall serve as Chairman of any Financial or Budget Committee, attend Board Meetings, registration, tryouts, and any other special events or meetings, perform Board Member on Duty requirements and other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 5 - The Player Agent shall attend all registrations (Fall & Spring) of player candidates, supervise tryout and draft sessions, keep a list of players not assigned to a team available as replacement players, attend board meetings, attend all regular and post season drafts, attend manager meetings and any special events or meetings, perform Board Member on Duty requirements and other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 6 - The Equipment Director shall be responsible for the purchase, repair, replacement, inventory, distribution, and collection of all equipment, obtaining bids, and equipment with HABA Board approval of all such purchases, keeping an inventory and accurate records, providing a budget and a report to the Board of Directors. Other duties include but are not limited to attend board meetings, manager meetings, prepare a budget, keep an inventory of equipment, attend any other special events or meetings, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 7 - The Umpire - in - Chief/Scheduler shall be responsible for the setup of training of umpires, scheduling umpires, scheduling all regular and post season games, coordinate with the Tournament Director, shall serve as the Chairman of the Decisions Committee, be responsible for necessary precautions to insure the safety of participants and spectators at all league functions, organize emergency procedures in case of serious injury, attend all manager meetings, under the direction and with permission of the HABA Board of Director, attend board meetings and any other special events or meetings, perform Board Member on Duty requirements and other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 8 - The Field Maintenance Director shall be responsible for the upkeep of all game including fertilizing, trimming and mowing. He/she shall exclusively determine whether the playing fields are suitable for play or practice. He/she shall coordinate facility care with the officials of Lindsay Lyons Sports Complex. He shall order and purchase any necessary items related to maintaining the fields and maintenance of all equipment, subject to HABA Board approval of all purchases. Other duties include but are not limited to attend board meetings, manager meetings, prepare a budget, keep an inventory of equipment, attend any other special events or meetings, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 9 - The Concessions Director shall be responsible for managing the operation of the concession stands at Lindsay-Lyons Sports Complex, and subject to HABA Board approval, staffing the concession stands, maintaining, under the Treasurer's supervision, adequate financial controls over concessions operations, setting menus and pricing,  inventor and maintenance, provide a detailed monthly financial report, attend board meetings, attend any other special events or meetings of the Board of Directors, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 10 - The Special Events Director shall be responsible for coordinating Fun Day, Trophy Day (end of season ceremonies), pictures and all post season tournaments held at Lindsay Lyons Sports Complex, shall coordinate with the Tournament Director, present to the Board a financial report after each activity, attend Board meetings, Team Mom meetings, attend any other special events or meetings of the Board of Directors, perform Board Member on Duty requirements and any other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 11 - The Tournament Director shall be responsible for coordinating tournaments hosted by HABA. The Director will also attend special meetings, prepare financial reports, assist with scheduling, hold special manager meetings, attend board meetings and any other special events or meetings of the Board of Directors, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 12 – The Special Needs League Director will serve as a de facto member of the HABA Board of Directors and shall be responsible for the coordination and implementation  of any special needs league authorized by HABA Board of Directors. Such league shall be designated for mentally and physically challenged players to participate in organized  baseball.  Any requests for this league will be subject to HABA Board approval.



SECTION 13 – The Social Media Director will promote HABA league and events via social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and email. They will update HABA website as needed. The Director will also attend special meetings, prepare financial reports, assist with scheduling, hold special manager meetings, attend board meetings and any other special events or meetings of the Board of Directors, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 14 - The Practice Director shall be responsible for the upkeep of all practice fields including fertilizing, trimming and mowing. He/she shall exclusively determine whether the practice fields are suitable for practice. He/she shall coordinate facility care with the officials of Waste Management. He/she shall order and purchase any necessary items related to maintaining the fields and maintenance of all equipment, subject to HABA Board approval of all purchases. Other duties include but are not limited to attend board meetings, manager meetings, prepare a budget, keep an inventory of equipment, attend any other special events or meetings, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

SECTION 15 - The Uniform Director shall be responsible for the obtaining bids, purchase, replacement, inventory, and distribution of all Uniforms. He/She will keep track of all inventory and accurate records, providing a budget and a report to the Board of Directors. Other duties include but are not limited to attend board meetings, manager meetings, prepare a budget, keep an inventory of equipment, attend any other special events or meetings, Board Member on Duty requirements and perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

SECTION 1 - Special committees may be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, for such special purposes as deemed necessary.

 

ARTICLE VIII - DUES

SECTION 1 - There shall be no dues or assessments for membership in the association, except for fees charged for participation. The amount of such fees shall be set annually by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IX - LOCAL LEAGUE RULES

 

SECTION 1 - The Board of Directors shall adopt the local playing rules of the League.

 

SECTION 2 - The local playing rules will be distributed to the managers prior to the draft.

 

SECTION 3 - No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be allowed at any HABA function, at

Lyndsay-Lyons Sports Complex or Waste Management Practice Facilities.

 

SECTION 4 - No pets, rollerblades, skates, skateboards, bicycles or scooters shall be allowed within the confines of an HABA designated playing area.

 

ARTICLE X - SELECTION OF MANAGERS / COACHES

 

SECTION 1 - Prior to each playing season, The Board of Directors will accept applications from volunteer adult leaders wishing to serve as Team Managers. The Board of Directors will provide Manager Application Forms for this purpose.

 

SECTION 2 - The Board of Directors shall review applications and select managers for all teams Managerial applications include the following information:

 

1.         Coaching knowledge and experience.

2          General baseball knowledge and experience.

3.         General character and conduct, especially past conduct within the League.

4.         Past performance within the League, especially in carrying out manager responsibilities

as defined by The Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 3 - Managers will be allowed to select such coaches and assistant coaches as they deem necessary to conduct team affairs. Such coaches and assistants shall be subject to the same standards of conduct and eligibility as managers.  Managers shall provide the league with the name, address and phone number of all coaches and assistants.

 

ARTICLE XI - LEAGUE OFFICIALS

 

SECTION 1 - All appointed managers within each league shall meet as soon as possible after appointment. The Vice-President of HABA will schedule a time and place for such meetings. The purpose of this meeting will be to review existing league rules, and to elect individual League Representatives to facilitate smooth operation of each individual league.

 

SECTION 2 - Individual League Representatives shall be elected by managers from their respective leagues, and expected to monitor operation of his/her league, directed by their counterparts, the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE XII - PLAYER DISTRIBUTION

 

SECTION 1 - All players will participate in the tryout and draft system established for the various age groups within the league.  In order to be eligible for the draft, a prospective player must participate in HABA designated league tryouts.  All players registering on time, attending the HABA designated tryouts, and are otherwise qualified to participate in the league, will be assigned to a team.  Players are not allowed to play up or down in age groups.  August 1 - July 31 is defined as a baseball year.  Baseball playing age is determined by a child’s age as of April 30 of the baseball year (i.e., August 1, 2016 is the start of  the 2017 baseball year, thus a player’s baseball age would be the player’s age as of April 30, 2017).

 

SECTION 2 - Any player not eligible for the draft and not assigned to a team by virtue of Section 10 shall automatically enter the player pool and will be assigned to a team in accordance with Section 8.

 

SECTION 3 - For the 8U - 14U age groups, the leagues may be divided into Division I and Division II, provided that a sufficient number of players register to justify two divisions. The decision with regard to the sufficiency of the number of registered players as mentioned herein shall rest exclusively with the Board of Directors. No player will be assigned to Division 1, except through the draft. In order to be eligible for the draft, a prospective player must participate in tryouts. If special circumstances exist making it impossible for a player to participate in tryouts, The Board of Directors may, upon request of the player, and with the consent of a majority of the coaches in the division, award him/her a special exemption from this rule and declare him/her eligible for draft. Such exemptions will be granted only in extreme circumstances.

 

SECTION 4 - Team rosters will be in accordance with guidelines established by The Board of Directors. An attempt will be made to keep rosters to a 12 player limit. This is at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on availability of players per league.

 

SECTION 5 - Managers will be the only coaches/parents allowed in the draft, unless approved by the Player Agent..

 

SECTION 6 - If there are an insufficient number of managers for the number of players eligible to be drafted, the remaining number of teams will be drafted by HABA Board Members using the tryout notes from the coaches who attended tryouts.  The HABA Board members drafting such teams will hold a team meeting as soon as reasonably possible after the draft, but in no event later than 5 days after the draft, to solicit volunteers to coach the team.

 

SECTION 7 - Managers shall determine first round drafting sequence by random drawing at the beginning of the draft sessions.  Managers shall draw in alphabetical order of team name. After the first round, drafting order in each round will be the reverse of the order in the previous round.

 

SECTION 8 - The Player Agent will notify managers at the time of the draft of the exact number of players to be selected. The Player Agent will allow each manager to draft an equal number of players in predetermined sequence until there are fewer remaining eligible players than drafting teams. The Player Agent will then randomly select a number of players from the pool of non-tryouts. These players shall be selected by drawing in continuing draft sequence.

 

SECTION 9 - If a manager has one or more children eligible for his/her age group, the older player will be drafted in the round in which they are eligible and any others starting in the next available round.

 

SECTION 10 - Players candidates who are siblings playing in the same age group shall be assigned to the same team unless previously requested otherwise in writing by parent or guardian. When one of the siblings is drafted, the remaining sibling(s) will be drafted in the next available round(s).

 

SECTION 11 - Player trades are only permitted within the same drafting age groups.. All trades must be completed within 24 hours of the beginning of the draft session. Players who are ineligible for the draft are NOT tradable. NO EXCEPTIONS.  All exchanges of players shall be made with the approval of the Player Agent, who must be notified before a trade may become effective.

 

SECTION 12 - Any team losing a player for any reason must notify the Player Agent of such immediately.  A replacement will be provided from a player pool, if one exists.

 

ARTICLE XIII - LEAGUE DECISIONS COMMITTEE

 

SECTION 1 - The League President shall appoint a Decisions Committee, consisting of 3 League representatives, Board members, or Managers to receive and resolve all protests lodged during the playing of league games. The Umpire-in- Chief will chair the committee. The Decisions Committee will handle only game protest, leaving other matters in the hands of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2 - In order for a protest to be considered by the Decisions Committee, the objecting manager must, at the time the play occurs, notify the head umpire, the opposing manager and the official scorer that the game is being played under protest.  Further, the protest which must state the rule being protested  and must be submitted in writing to the League President, Secretary, or Umpire-in-Chief within 48 hours of the completion of the game. The Decisions Committee will render a decision within 48 hours of the receipt of the protest. A protest fee in the form of cashier's check or money order made payable to

Humble Atascocita Baseball Association, in the amount of $100.00, must accompany the protest. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned. If the protest is denied, the aforementioned funds  will become league property, and will be deposited in the league treasury.  JUDGMENT CALLS MAY NOT BE PROTESTED.

 

ARTICLE XIV - DIVISION /LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

 

SECTION 1 - For the purpose of this Article, the 8U - 14U age groups may be considered as having separate leagues for Division I and Division II, if necessary.

 

SECTION 2 - League champions, as determined by the team standings at the end of regular season play, will be given awards.

 

In the event of ties in determining regular season standings, ties will be broken in the following order.

1) Head to head records

2) Runs allowed

3) Run differential

4) Coin flip

 

SECTION 3 – League Tournament Championships will be held only if time and weather permit and will be determined by the means of all teams participating in tournament play at the end of the season. The tournament format will be determined before the end of regular season play.  Awards will be presented to the first and second place teams.

 

SECTION 4 - The Board of Directors will determine if a League Tournament Championship is possible by operation of Section 3

 

ARTICLE XVIII - TOURNAMENT PLAY

 

SECTION 1 - Each League Team is eligible to participate in tournaments hosted by HABA, as well as other organizations.  Each team is responsible for team and individual expenses associated with Tournament Play.  The League Team Manager must use only the league players rostered on the League Manager's team during the current season.

 

ARTICLE XIX - DISCIPLINARY ACTION

 

SECTION 1 - The Board of Directors, or a committee, appointed by the Board, shall have the authority to suspend, discharge, or otherwise discipline any player, manager, coach, umpire, league official, parent, or other person whose conduct is in violation of the Rules and Regulations adopted by the League, these Bylaws, and/or at such time as it is considered to be in the League's best interests

 

SECTION 2 - Persons dismissed, barred, or suspended for longer than a one game period shall have the right to request an appeal hearing before the Board of Directors. Written requests for appeals must be delivered to a Board member or duty officer within 24 hours of notification of disciplinary action. Upon receipt of such request, a hearing will be scheduled within 48 hours.

 

SECTION 3 - In the event of disciplinary procedure involving a player, or other person under the age of 18, that person's manager and/or parent shall be invited to attend the hearing with the person concerned.

 

SECTION 4 - The Board of Directors may impose any of the following penalties which, in their opinion, appears to match the severity of the offense:

WARNING - The offending person is to be advised verbally within 24 hours and in writing via email within 5 working days of the offense and further advise that the repetition of the offense will result in a more severe penalty.

SUSPENSION - The offending person is to be advised verbally within 24 hours and in writing via email within 5 working days that he or she has been suspended from all League activity for a specific number of games or days.

DISMISSAL - The offending person is to be advised verbally within 24 hours and in writing via email within 5 working days  that he or she has been dismissed from the League for the remainder of the current season.

BARRED - The offending person is to be advised verbally within 24 hours and in writing via email within 5 working days  that he or she has been barred from present and future participation from the League permanently or for a specific number of years.

 

SECTION 5 - The penalties for a person being ejected from a game will be:

1st OFFENSE - He or she will get automatic one game suspension from their next game, and will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Section 4.

2nd OFFENSE- He or she will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Section 4.

 

ARTICLE XX - ROBERTS RULES

 

SECTION 1 - The rules contained in the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the League meeting' and meetings of the Board of Directors and League Committees in all cases in which they are applicable and consistent with these By Laws and any special rules of order that the League may adopt.

 

ARTICLE XXI – AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 1 - These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the member of the Board of Directors present at any duly constituted meeting.