Table of Contents

Article 1 - Name1............................................................................................................................. 1

Article II - Purpose............................................................................................................................ 1

Article III – Territory......................................................................................................................... 1

Article IV – Affiliation........................................................................................................................ 1

Article V – Government..................................................................................................................... 1

Article VI – Membership................................................................................................................... 2

Article VII – Executive Board of Directors......................................................................................... 3

Article VIII – Officers........................................................................................................................ 3

Article IX – Annual Meeting.............................................................................................................. 5

Article X – Monthly Council Meetings................................................................................................ 5

Article XI – Amendments.................................................................................................................. 5

Article XII – By-Laws....................................................................................................................... 5

Article XIII – Dissolution................................................................................................................... 5

By-Laws

Table of Contents

Article 1 – Affiliation.......................................................................................................................... 6

Article II – Meetings.......................................................................................................................... 6

Article III – Finances......................................................................................................................... 7

Article IV – Playing Season............................................................................................................... 8

Article V – Team Promotion & Regulation......................................................................................... 8

Article VI – Membership................................................................................................................... 9

Article VII – Player Registration....................................................................................................... 10

Article VIII – Game Officials........................................................................................................... 12

Article IX – Rules of the Games....................................................................................................... 13

Article X – Discipline and Protests................................................................................................... 15

Article XI – Penalties, Debts and Assessments................................................................................. 18

Article XII – Laws of the Game....................................................................................................... 18

Article XIII – Amendments.............................................................................................................. 19

Constitution

Article 1 – Name

This organization shall be known as the Greater Atlanta Women’s Soccer Association, here-after referred to as GAWSA.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to provide control, regulation, promotion, and development of recreational and competitive soccer for women’s teams headquartered in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Article III – Territory

The territory of this organization shall be the metropolitan Atlanta area in the state of Georgia.

Article IV – Affiliation

This organization shall be a affiliate of, and comply with the authority of, the Georgia Amateur Soccer Association (GASA) of the Georgia State Soccer Association (GSSA), recognizing the authority of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

Article V – Government

Section 1

This organization shall be governed by its Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Play and Regulations, except when these are superceded by GASA, GSSA, and/or USSF.

Section 2 – Definitions

The following definitions will define certain terms used through this constitution.

FIFA – Federation Internationale de Football Association.
USSF – United States Soccer Federation; United States affiliate to FIFA.
USASA – United States Amateur Soccer Association; Affiliate to USSF.
GSSA – Georgia State Soccer Association; State Affiliate to USASA.
GASA – Georgia Amateur Soccer Association; Adult affiliate to GSSA.
Organization – The teams, players, coaches, and/or mangers of GAWSA; Team and player affiliates to GASA.
Council – Body of one representative from each team in the organization and the Executive Board.
Executive Board – Elected officials from the Council; President, Vice President, Treasurer/Registrar, Secretary, and Scheduler.

Section 2

The Council shall be made up of one delegate from each team in good standing with this organization, plus the elected members of the Executive Board. This shall be considered the voting membership.

Section 3

The authority of this organization shall be vested in the Executive Board, except where so indicated in the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules and Regulations of this organization.

Section 4

The Executive Board shall be made up of the President, Vice President, Scheduler, Secretary, and Treasurer/Registrar, who shall be elected by the voting membership from the council. A person may hold more than one office, if and only if, there are less than five member teams in this organization.

Article VI – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

A. Membership shall be open to any woman who:

1. Must be at least 18 years old and out high school on December 31 of the current seasonal year. (Registered youth players must have their youth coach’s permission and properly executed youth/senior forms.)

2. Has paid all current fees set by GSSA, GASA, USSF, and this organization;

3. Has submitted all required forms properly executed; and

4. Is a registered player on a properly constituted and affiliated team headquartered in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area in the State of Georgia.

B. Team membership shall be open to any properly constituted team which:

1. Has at least 11 players, but not more than 18 active players;

2. Has a home field located in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area or has been approved by the Executive Board;

3. Has submitted written directions for the location of their home field;

4. Has submitted a map for location of their home field;

5. Has submitted a complete list of players with their complete, current address, and phone number;

6. Designates one person who shall be their delegate to the Council; this delegate shall:

a. Have the authority to vote at all Council meetings;

b. be responsible for insuring that the team, including each individual player, coach, manager, and/or club official is fully aware of, and recognizes, this organizations administrative jurisdiction as defined in the Constitution & By-Laws;

c. Be responsible for submitting all required information for each player, coach, manager, club official, and/or team to this organization as designated by this organization’s Constitution and By-Laws;

C. Club Team membership shall be open to any team fulfilling the team requirements and the additional requirements as set forth in the By-Laws under Article VII – Player Registration, Club System.

D. Associate Membership shall be required of any person, who is the coach, manager, and/or club official of a properly constituted team in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area, but who is not a player on such a team. Such persons shall strictly adhere to and be subject to this organization’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Article VII – Executive Board

Section 1

The Executive Board shall:

1. Transact all business of this organization.

2. Delegate, for any endeavor, its authority to such person or persons whom it may from time to time designate.

3. Enforce the rules of this organization and those of the GASA, GSSA, USASA, and the USSF.

4. Call a general meeting of the Council for the purpose of an annual election of officers of the Organization and shall fill any vacancy in those positions which may occur during and current term in the manner herein provided.

5. Appoint a delegate and an alternate to the Council of the GSSA.

6. Have the authority to arrange games of any nature whatsoever in its own name, and to that end, it may marshal and demand the support of every team and/or club of this Organization and/or its personnel.

7. Have the authority to suspend, expel, and/or impose penalties upon any team or club and/or person under its jurisdiction guilty of violation or breach of the rules of this Organization.

8. Have the authority to settle all disputes between two or more teams or clubs in this Organization.

9. Have the authority to investigate and correct and demand to be corrected, conditions which are detrimental to the operation or reputation of the Organization.

10. Have the authority to act on any matters of controversy subject to appeals of the Organization’s Discipline and Pretest Committee and the GASA and/or the USASA and/or the USSF.