Constitution

NAME

1. The Association shall be called 'The Scottish Schools' FootballAssociation'.

OBJECT

2. The object of the Association shall be to foster the mental,moral and physical development and improvement of pupils through themedium of Association Football and to help charitable funds andpurposes.

MEMBERSHIP

3. Any local association desiring membership shall apply, throughthe General Secretary, to the Council of the Association which, subjectto the approval of the Annual General Meeting, shall have power toaccept or reject such application. As a condition of membership, eachlocal association shall satisfy the Council that it is a properlyconstituted association promoting football according to the ScottishFootball Association rules, as modified by Rule 2 of the Cup and ShieldCompetition Rules or by such other rule or rules as are acceptable tothe Council, and incorporating into its constitution and/or rules thefirst paragraph of Rule 1 of the Cup and Shield Competition Rules.

In addition to affiliating to the local association, each schoolmust also affiliate directly to the Scottish Schools' F.A. in order to:(a) compete in the Scottish Shield Competition(s) and/or National5-a-side Competition(s), (b) compete in the National Soccer SevensCompetition(s), (c) enable pupils to participate in any otherCompetition organised by this Association and (d) enable pupils toparticipate in trials leading to the selection of the National Squads(Secondary). The Council shall have power however to confer associatemembership on any school which, for reasons acceptable to the Council,is not a member of a local association. Such membership shall entitleindividual schools to (a), (b), (c), and (d) above (as appropriate).Such schools shall be bound by the Constitution to the extent that thearticles are applicable, and by the Cup and Shield Competition Rules.They shall have no right to representation at General Meetings or on theCouncil of the Association.

Membership of The Scottish Schools' Football Association confersregistered membership of The Scottish Football Association.

Schools in membership of local Associations affiliated to thisAssociation are not permitted to become members of any other NationalSchools' Football Association or Schools' Football Federation.

LOCAL CONTROL

4. Local associations shall organise fixtures in the areas for whichthey are responsible and must agree to abide by the Cup and Shieldcompetition Rules of the Association and by the decisions of Council orof any committee thereof in respect of matches under the direct controland jurisdiction of the Association. For breach of the Rules ornon-compliance with any decision of Council or of any committee thereof,the Council shall have power to suspend or expel any local associationfrom membership.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - REPRESENTATION

5. For the purpose of appointing delegates to General Meetings,neighbouring affiliated associations shall be grouped into the followinggeographical areas:-

North : Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland,Western Isles,

East : Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth & Kinross,

South East : East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian,Scottish Borders,

West : Argyll & Bute, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde,Renfrewshire,

Central : Clackmannan, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, Stirling,Dunbartonshire,

South West : Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire,South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire.

Each area shall have the power to appoint delegates to attendGeneral Meetings of the Association as follows:

If the number of Associations in any area exceeds the number ofdelegates thus allotted, permission may be granted to appoint the extradelegate or delegates required to bring the number of delegates up tothe number of Associations in the area.

6. Delegates to General Meetings and members of the Council must be:

(a) teachers who are football representatives at local or Nationallevel; or

(b) teachers who are football officials at local or National level;or

(c) retired teachers who are football officials at local or Nationallevel.

In the case of (a) & (b), the schools in which they are employedmust be affiliated to local associations in membership of the ScottishSchools' Football Association.

For the purpose of attending General Meetings of the Associationmembers of Council shall be included in the numbers of delegatesallocated to their geographical areas. Nevertheless, those members ofthe Council who have not been appointed as delegates by theirgeographical areas may attend the Annual General Meeting at which theyare retiring but shall have no voting power unless a delegate's card isallocated to them by their local association.

OFFICE-BEARERS

7. The following officials shall be elected annually at the AnnualGeneral Meeting of the Association: President, Vice-President, GeneralSecretary, Treasurer and Four Assistant General Secretaries.

Nominations for President and Vice-President must be in the hands ofthe General Secretary not later than the last Saturday of May prior tothe meeting.

The holders of the other official posts are eligible for re-electionunless notice has been given to the contrary, in which case timeousintimation shall be made by the General Secretary to local associations.These office-bearers, together with the immediate Past President and,unless otherwise eligible, the SSFA Representative on the Council of theScottish Football Association, shall be known hereafter as thePresident's Committee. Members of The President's Committee shall havefull voting powers at General Meetings and at meetings of Council, andex officio on all committees of Council; they shall not be regarded asdelegates for or representatives of their respective local associationsor geographical areas.

At all meetings the Chairman shall have a deliberative and castingvote.

The President and Vice-President shall be eligible for re-election,but shall not hold the same office for more than two consecutive years.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - DATE AND BUSINESS

8. The Annual General meeting of the Association shall be held in June each year on a date and at a venue to be determined by the President's Committee. The business of themeeting shall be as follows:

(a) to consider the Secretary's Report and also the Treasurer'sReport and Statement of Accounts.

(b) to review the work of the Council during the past year.

(c) to appoint office-bearers of the Association in accordance withArticle 7.

(d) to appoint members of Council for the forthcoming season inaccordance with Article 9(b).

(e) to appoint an auditor for the ensuing year.

(f) to appoint Life-Members and/or Honorary Patrons and/or HonoraryVice Presidents as and when it is deemed appropriate and in accordancewith Article 12.

(g) to admit local associations to membership.

(h) to transact any other competent business.

The General Secretary shall give seven days' notice to all localassociations in membership of the place, day and hour of the meeting,and accompanying such notice shall be an Abstract of Accounts, dulyaudited, and also the Agenda of business to be transacted at the saidmeeting. Notice of any business to be submitted at the Annual GeneralMeeting must reach the General Secretary not later than the lastSaturday of May prior to the meeting.

COUNCIL - CONSTITUTION, POWERS AND MEETINGS

9. The business of the Association shall be conducted by a Councilconsisting of the following:

(a) The Office-Bearers of the Association and the followingrepresentation from the areas as defined in 5.

(b) 4 representatives from North

6 representatives from East

4 representatives from South East

6 representatives from West

6 representatives from Central

6 representatives from South West

In the event of vacancies or particular circumstances, President'sCommittee will have the power to co-opt.

A minimum of three meetings of the Council shall be held during theperiod between Annual General Meetings.

At the first meeting of the new Council, it shall be incumbent uponthe Council to appoint National Coaches who shall automatically serve onthe Selection and Coaching Committee (see below).

The General Secretary shall give seven days' notice to all CouncilMembers of the place, date and hour of Council Meetings, except in casesof urgency. A quorum shall consist of ten members.

DUTIES OF COUNCIL - CONSTITUTION AND POWERS

10. Council, by means of a committee structure, shall administersupervise and control

THE COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

all matches and fixtures for the award of the National Trophies(Senior, under 15 and under 12), the Scottish Championship Shields(Senior, under 16, under 15, under 14 and under 13) and any othercompetitions as decreed by Council,

THE SELECTION & COACHING COMMITTEE

(a) all International matches and trials therefor for therepresentative Squads at the appropriate age groups

(b) the formulation and implementation of a National Coaching Planfor the Association,

THE PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

liaison with all forms of the mass media, the compilation andproduction of the Year-Book, the compilation and production of theNewsletter and any other publications as and when appropriate,

THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

future development.

Council shall also have powers to appoint persons other than Councilmembers to such Standing Committees. Members of Council shall serve ontheir own Area Disciplinary Committees plus at least one StandingCommittee from Competitions or Selection and Coaching.

DUTIES - PRESIDENT’S COMMITTEE

11. The President's Committee, as defined in Article 7, shall havethe following powers:

(a) to interpret and implement recommendations and decisions of theCouncil and of General Meetings

(b) to supervise the arrangements proposed by each of the StandingCommittees of Council referred to in Article 10

(c) to convene special meetings of the Council, when necessary

(d) to supervise generally the finances of the Association and toadvise the Treasurer regarding the payment of accounts and thedisbursement of funds of the Association

(e) to consider, in accordance with Article 13, any appeal made by aschool against a decision of its local association or by a school orlocal association against a decision of an Area Disciplinary Committeeestablished in terms of paragraph (g) of this Article.

(f) to exercise, generally, disciplinary powers by way of suspensionor by any other appropriate means, over schools and local associationsofficials of or representatives accredited to, or players participatingin matches promoted by the latter or by this Association, subject alwaysto the right of the school, local association, official orrepresentative in question to appeal in writing to the Scottish FootballAssociation within seven days of receiving notification of thedecision, penalty or disciplinary measure imposed

(g) to appoint Area Disciplinary Committees for the purpose ofdealing expeditiously with players representatives or officials reportedby referees or other competent persons, as having been guilty ofoffences, breaches of rule(s) and/or the Laws of the Game, misdemeanorsor any other forms of improper conduct in matches played under thedirect control and management of the Scottish Schools' FootballAssociation and to supervise the work of such committees

(h) to give guidance in respect of appropriate penalties to localassociations in matters referred to in (g) above and arising out ofmatches played under their jurisdiction

(i) to deliberate upon any complaint regarding the conduct of amember of the Association who is employed by or attached to a club inmembership of the SFA or any other National FA. Such complaint must bemade in writing to the General Secretary. The President's Committeeshall have powers to take disciplinary action if deemed appropriate insuch a case.

12.

Life Membership

shall be from time to time conferred onschoolteachers who have spent a lifetime working for the betterment ofSchools' Football in Scotland. They shall be entitled to:

a) Receive a commemorative award

b) Attend General Meetings and Council Meetings in a non-votingcapacity, unless delegated by a local association

c) be on the 'mailing list' for such items as Handbooks,Newsletters, etc.

d) be invited to each Home International

e) Receive, where possible, invitations to Receptions (if numberspermit)

f) Wear SSFA 'uniform' etc.

Honorary Patronship shall be from time to time conferred on personswho, by virtue of their personal contributions to and enthusiasm forSchools' Football, despite not being members of the teaching profession,are deserving of recognition. Such persons shall be entitled to a), c),d), e), f) above.

Honorary Vice Presidency shall be from time to time conferred onformer members of the Association who have served at the highest levelfor more than 25 years.

Such award is on the recommendation of President's Committee andCouncil and shall be an appointment for life. Such persons shall beentitled to a), b), c), d), e), f) above. In addition they shall beentitled to:

g) Attend President's Committee meetings at invitation of thePresident

h) Serve on sub committee(s), ad hoc Committee(s) or otherwiserepresent the Association as is deemed appropriate by the President'sCommittee

APPEALS AGAINST LOCAL ASSOCIATION DECISIONS

13. Local associations and schools must notify the General Secretaryimmediately of any form of disciplinary action, including suspensions,together with the nature and particulars of the offence for which suchaction was taken.

Any penalty imposed may be revoked, varied or confirmed by thePresident’s Committee. In such cases, an aggrieved school may exerciseits right to appeal in writing, within three days of receiving notice ofthe decision of its local association to the President's Committee.Such an appeal must be sent via the General Secretary, and must beaccompanied by a fee of £30 which may be forfeited at the discretion ofthe Committee. In all appeals, the party against whom the decision isgiven may be held liable for all or part of the expense involved inconvening the meeting, subject to the discretion of the President'sCommittee. Thereafter, if still dissatisfied, the aggrieved school mayappeal to the Scottish Football Association.

Local associations have a similar right of appeal, as outlined inArticle 11(f), to the Scottish Football Association against decisions ofthe Council or any of the aforementioned committees thereof.

FUNDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

14. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the President's Committeefor administering the funds of the Association. All membership fees andsubscriptions, income from matches and other revenue shall be forwardedto him. He shall keep a detailed account of all the financialtransactions of the Association and shall submit a Financial Statementto the Council and to the President’s Committee thereof when required.All accounts and claims must be authorised by the President's Committeebefore payment is made.

The Treasurer shall pay to the members of the Secretariat an agreedsum as a petty cash float which they shall administer to defray theroutine expenses incurred during the operation of their various remits.

On application, special grants may be paid to sub-committees orrecognised bodies for particular purposes as authorised by the Councilor the President’s Committee thereof.

The Treasurer of the Association shall close the accounts of theAssociation annually on the last day of May. Thereafter he shall preparea Financial Statement which, after being submitted to the President'sCommittee and duly audited, shall be submitted for approval to theAnnual General Meeting of the Association.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

15. The Council or the President's Committee thereof shall havepower to convene a Special General Meeting of the Association, whennecessary, and, on a requisition signed by one-third of the localassociations, the office-bearers must convene such a meeting withintwenty-one days of the lodging of the requisition. The requisition muststate clearly and specifically the business for which the meeting iscalled. The quorum for such a meeting shall be twenty-four.

At least seven days' notice of a Special General Meeting must begiven and the agenda for the meeting must accompany the notice conveningit.

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

16. Alterations to and amendments of the Constitution can only bemade at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. Notice of anyproposed change must reach the General Secretary of the Association notlater than the last Saturday of May prior to the meeting.

The retiring Council or President's Committee thereof shall havepower to propose alterations and amendments. For such alterations andamendments to become effective, they must receive at least 60% of thevotes cast by the delegates.

ADMISSION FEE & PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL INTER-ASSOCIATIONCOMPETITIONS

17. Not later than the last Saturday in May, each local associationshall forward to the General Secretary of the Association:

(i) the prescribed membership form, duly completed, accompanied bythe affiliation fee as decided by the previous Annual General Meeting.(ii) the entry fee, where applicable, for the Senior Trophy and/or theunder 15 Trophy and/or the under 12 Trophy as decided by the previousAnnual General Meeting.

ADMISSION FEE & PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL INTER-SCHOOLCOMPETITIONS

18. Not later than the second Saturday in June, each school, playingunder the jurisdiction of a local association in membership, oradmitted to Associate Membership of the Association, which desires tocompete in:

(i) The Shield Competitions

(ii) The 7-a-side Competitions

shall inform the General Secretary to that effect by completing theappropriate pro-forma by which the following information is transmitted:

(a) official name of school, address, telephone number and fax.number

(b) names of staff, or leaders approved by the head teacher, whohold S.F.A. coaching qualifications.

(c) name, designation, address and private telephone number of theschool representative

(d) school's official playing colours

(e) advice as to which competition(s) the school wishes to enter

The pro-forma must be accompanied by (i) the Affiliation fee to theScottish Schools' Football Association as decided by the previous AnnualGeneral Meeting, and (ii) the Entry Fee(s) for each competitionentered, as decided by the previous Annual General Meeting.

Any school desiring to become an Associate Member must apply notlater than the second Saturday in June to the General Secretary, settingforth the reasons for desiring such membership, and enclosing theAffiliation Fee and Entry Fee(s) for competing in the appropriatecompetitions.

In the event of the application being refused, all fees will berefunded.

RESIDUARY POWERS

19. Any matter relating to the affairs of the Association notcovered by these Articles or relating to the interpretation of sameshall be referred to the President's Committee.

DISSOLUTION

20. If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association thereremains after the satisfaction of all the Association’s debts andliabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given ortransferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects(that is aims and activities) similar to the objects of the Association,such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members ofthe Association passed at a General Meeting at or before the time of thedissolution, and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provisionthen to some charitable objects.