St Peters Athlone - Constitution

Important Notice.

“In line with the recommendation in the ST PETERS F.C. Codeof Conduct, the promoters of any event request that any person wishing to engage in any video, zoom or close range photography should register their details with the organisers. It is not advisable that children are photographed or filmed without their permission and/or the

permission of their parent/guardian”.

The Club shall be called St. Peter’s F.C., (Hereinafter referred to as the Club) and it shall seek affiliation to and be bound by the rules of the Football Association of Ireland and the rules of the club’s Divisional Association and/or National Association.

The object of the Club shall be to arrange football matches and training for each of the playing members of the Club.

The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner.

The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of the Football Association of Ireland through the relevant Divisional or National Association.

The Club will abide by the Football Association of Ireland’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.

Player, Member, Juvenile Player Member, Committee Member, Non-Player Member
The Club may request all members to complete an application form for membership which shall contain a clause whereby the applicant shall consent for the purpose of the Data Protection Act, to the Club holding and processing the data on the form for the purposes of the Club.

Members in each category shall pay Membership fees as fixed at each Annual General Meeting. The Club in General Meeting may also require Members to contribute to the funds of the Club by way of a special levy.

All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club. They will also be required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club’s ethical framework and the bye-laws as to discipline set out therein.

Members shall be admitted by the Executive Committee. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, occupation or gender.

The Secretary shall keep a Membership Register. In the event of a member’s resignation or explulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership register.

The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer, Secretary, Asst. Secretary, plus up to 6 other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting. The Officers of the Club who shall be honorary (non-paid) shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. All Committee members must be members of the Club.

Committee Members shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than one Officer position at any time.

The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club.

Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence the Vice Chairperson.

The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be 50% of the elected Committee.

Minutes of the Club Committee meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.

Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than 7 days notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall meet at least once a month.

An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members.

The Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

The Annual General Meeting fulfils the basic purposes of electing officers and other members of the Executive Committee, of reviewing the Accounts and of considering other matters of importance to the Club membership. It also considers changes to the Constitution.

The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting in the month of June each year as per FAI rules.

Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM
Receive reports from the Chairperson and Secretary
Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts
Elect the Executive Committee
Appoint an Auditor to certify the Club’s accounts
Fix the subscription for the ensuing year
Consider changes to the Constitution
Deal with other relevant business.

Nominations for election of members as Club Officers shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 21 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 21 days before the Meeting.

A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the majority of the Committee. 10% of the Club Members may also call such a meeting. The meeting must take place within 21 days of the Secretary receiving notice of the request. Only business specified in the requisition or contained in the agenda issued by the Club Secretary shall be transacted at an SGM.

The Secretary shall send to each member at their last know address written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions proposed, at least 14 days before the Meeting.

The Chairperson or in their absence a member selected by the Club Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

The financial year shall run from January to December each year.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club
The Accounts shall be certified by a certified Auditor elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
An independent Auditor is essential to protect the interests of the Club’s members. The Auditor shall not be a club member.
All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of two other nominated office-bearers.
All members of the Club shall be jointly responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club.

At its first meeting following each AGM, the Club Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report on the activities of the team.

The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve or develop the Club’s facilities or to carry out the objects of the Association to which it is affiliated. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club.

If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting or in the absence of such a resolution (or that the extent to which it cannot be given effect) to the Association to which the Club is affiliated.

In order to provide for a positive youth soccer environment, St.Peters FC will take the following steps to recruit new players and insure player development.
Provide high calibre and age appropriate coaching to improve player skills
Players will be encouraged to try new skills and learn about the sport of soccer
Insure practices and games are fun and educational for all players
Encourage coaches to offer reasonable playing opportunities for all players
Younger players will be particularly encouraged to try all or many soccer positions
Players will be required to be properly equipped
Players will be encouraged to have full water bottles and discouraged in sharing water bottles
Coaches are encouraged to acknowledge their players’ participation and efforts.
Players will have as many or more practices than games so players can learn and practice new skills
Players will be encouraged to learn soccer as a team sport in which coordinated play is superior to individual achievement
Offer registration fee assistance to players that may otherwise not be able to participate due to registration costs
Communicate with other local programs to encourage additional soccer opportunities (i.e. skills camps and recreation programs)

Aims to enable all players to realise and maximise their full potential as footballers and as people through coaching, training and practice that inculcate true standards of discipline, technique and manner whilst maintaining fun, enjoyment and a love of sport.

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ST PETERS CLUB CODE OF ETHICS FOR MANAGERS AND COACHES
Managers / Coaches in children’s sport should strive to create a positive environment for the players in their care. They have an overall responsibility to take the steps necessary to ensure that positive and healthy experiences are provided.
Sports managers / coaches should:
· Be Competent and qualified
· Be positive, enthusiastic and cheerful
· Reinforce the principles of fair play
· Give feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner
· Encourage an active healthy lifestyle
· Involve parents / guardians as much as possible
· Recognize that they themselves are human and will not get it right all the time!
The Manager / Coach should maintain the highest standard of personal conduct and support the principles of fair play. Coaches are given a position of trust by parents and players, and are therefore expected to show the highest standards of behaviour while in the company of under age players.
The coach must consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of the club, the game of soccer and of coaching – to other players, coaches, officials, spectators, and the general public. Personal appearance is a matter of individual taste but the coach has an obligation to project an image of health, cleanliness and functional efficiency.
Coaches should not drink alcohol so soon before coaching that their judgment may be impaired and the smell of alcohol will still be on their breath when working with players. Under no circumstances should young players be in the proximity of alcohol, irrespective of the occasion.
As persons responsible for the well-being of young people it is inappropriate to smoke in their presence. Remember that young people need a coach whom they can respect. Be aware of the effect you have on growing children. Lead by example.
Create a safe and enjoyable environment in which to train and play, players should be kept under control at all times and show respect for any equipment or facilities that may be made available for their use.
Be aware of any medical condition that any of your players might suffer from, i.e. asthma etc.
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Never criticize the referee or assistant referee during or after a match in front of players or spectators. Ensure that all your players know that bullying by mangers/coaches or by fellow players whether verbal or physical will not be tolerated.
Those working with young people should be aware that certain situations or friendly actions could be misinterpreted by the player or by outsiders. This could lead to allegations of impropriety. When working with young players you should do so in an open environment. Where ever possible there should be at least two adults present in changing rooms at all time.
Confidentiality must be maintained throughout all stages of dealing with any complaint. Only those who need to know about a complaint should be given information.

Although your communication principles should never change, the style you use to communicate should change to meet the needs of the situation.
The style you use when discussing a problem with a player may be friendly, angry, comforting or threatening. In a quiet one-to one conversation (preferably with a co-manager present) you can be far more direct than if the player is with the entire team. You must be careful not to say anything that will make the player look bad in the eyes of team-mates. The player will accept a negative statement about his performance made in private but will not forgive you for making that statement in front of other players. Not only that, but the other players may sympathize with the player in question and you will lose respect all around. If you have a problem with a player, handle it sensitively.
Even in private be careful of what you say and how you say it. Attack the problem, not the person. There is a big difference between saying “John, you are stupid” , and “John, that was a stupid thing to do”. The first statement attacks John personally.
The second attacks something John has done. He will never agree with the first statement but may agree with the second. You should make the player realize that you are there to help solve any problems.
In all confrontations stay focused on the problem. Don’t attack the person. A player who makes a mistake, or even two or three, is guilty of bad judgment. It doesn’t necessarily make him a bad player or a bad person.

Most people feel that after a confrontation there must be a winner and a loser, that one person’s opinions must prevail. However that is not true. A good communicator will try to create a win-win situation. This can be done as follows:
Clarify the problem
Allow the other person to state his or her views and thoughts
Listen to what the player says or does not say
Restate the player’s feelings and thoughts, making sure that both of you understand exactly how the player feels and thinks
Find the common grounds in your feelings and thoughts
Find alternate solutions to any remaining problems
Make a new agreement
PLAYERS NEED CONFIDENCE HUMILIATION DESTROYS CONFIDENCE

Remember, young people are involved in Soccer for their enjoyment, not yours.
Encourage your child always to play by the laws of the game. Teach young children that honest endeavour is as important as winning so that the result of each game is accepted without disappointment.
Help young people to work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship.
Please encourage our players and our teams and cheer them on. Set a good example by applauding good play on both sides. Never ridicule, humiliate, or shout at young players for making a mistake or losing a match. Do not place emphasis on winning at all costs.
Do not force an unwilling child to participate in the playing of soccer. If the child is to play, he/she will do so in good time through your encouragement. There are other aspects of soccer other than playing which are equally fulfilling.
Support all efforts to remove verbal, racial and physical abuse from soccer. As a spectator, do not use profane language or harass referees, coaches or players.
Do not publicly question the referee’s judgement and decisions. Recognize the value and importance of volunteer referees and coaches. They give of their time and resources to provide recreational activities for young people. Please don’t shout at, or
abuse referees. While you may not always agree with their decisions referees are an essential part of the game and no official game can proceed without them.
Encourage in your child’s an appreciation of mutual respect for team-mates and opponents.
We place great emphasis on providing a safe and secure environment for all our members.
All team managers will run an induction meeting for parents at the start of each season at which topics like correct eating habits, the need for practice, Code of Ethics etc. are discussed.
We actively encourage parents to attend all games and assist with aspects such as transport for away games, putting up and taking down nets, dealing with subs and klotto etc.
We ask the parents to respect the role of the appointed team managers and not to enter dressing rooms before or after games.
Please refrain from instructing players on what to do, as tactics, roles etc., have been decided in the dressing room or on the training pitch and can be disrupted by conflicting instructions no matter how well intended.
Please don’t put pressure on managers to make changes, substitutions etc.

· Bullying of any sort will not be tolerated.
· No bad language or racist remarks will be tolerated.
· Players must show respect for coaches and team-mates.
· Players should arrive on time for coaching and for games.
· Players must maintain a high level of respect for their club, fellow players and opponents. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
· Play with control and do not lose your temper.
· Players should be respectful towards referees and other match/league officials and should never question a decision of a match official.
· Players should at all times abide by the laws of the game.
· At the final whistle applaud and thank your opponents and the referee for the match.
· Always remember that you owe a duty of care to your opponents.
· Tackle hard but fairly, do not intend to hurt your opponents.
· Win with humility – lose with dignity.