CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF WAKEFIELD HOCKEY CLUB

1. NAME & ADDRESS

The name of the Club shall be ‘Wakefield Hockey Club’ hereinafter referred to as ‘The Club’.
The Club premises shall be situated at Wakefield Sports Club (College Grove) Limited, Eastmoor Road, Wakefield WF1 3RR or until as such time as the members may vote at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting to move to another address.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 The aims of the Club are:-

To promote, develop and encourage all hockey (outdoor, indoor, mixed) for adult and junior members.
To organise and provide player and umpire coaching for all ages and levels.
To promote the club locally, regionally and nationally by setting the highest standards both on and off the pitch.
To provide good communications to past and present players, umpires, officials and members.

2.2 The objectives of the Club are to provide suitable amenities for the playing and development of hockey and to make available facilities for the social benefit and entertainment of its members.

3. CONSTITUTION

The Club may comprise a Men’s Section, a Woman’s Section, a Junior Section and a Mixed Section.
Each member of the Club shall, subject to these rules and bye-laws for the time being in force, be entitled to use and enjoy, in common with other members of the Club, the Club premises and facilities therein, but shall not by reason of his/her membership be under financial liability except for the payment of his/her annual subscription and/or such levies as may be imposed.

4. MANAGEMENT

4.1 The affairs of the Club, except in those matters reserved under rules of the Club in General Meeting, shall be managed by the Management and Section Committees.

4.2 Management Committee.

The powers of the management committee include:
The overall management of the Club, including establishing and implementation of policies as deemed necessary to further the aims and objectives of the Club.
The maintenance and development of assets and resources.
The disposal and management of the central funds of the Club.
The making, variation and revocation of bye-laws of the Club (not consistent with these rules) for the regulation of the internal affairs of the Club and the conduct of its members.
The filling of any vacancy that may arise during its term of office.
The appointment of representative(s) on Wakefield Sports Club (College Grove) Ltd’s Board of Directors.
The appointment of any sub-committee that it deems necessary, to fulfil a specific purpose.
The control of Press and Public relations of the Club.
To receive seasonal budgets and interim financial reports from the Club treasurer and each Section annually.

Composition of the Management Committee.

The Management Committee shall consist of the Club President, The Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary of the Club, The Chairpersons, General Secretaries and Treasurers of each section, The Director of Coaching, The Club Grounds Representative, The Club Press and Publicity Officer, The Club Social Representative and a Representative of the Past Presidents, Vice Presidents and Life members, The Club Welfare Officer and a representative of any appointed sub committee in 4.2 (g) above.

Section Committees

The powers of the Section Committees include:
(a) The control and management of the funds for each section.
(b) The filling of any vacancy that may arise during its term of office.
(c) The election of a Selection Committee.
(d) The election of a Financial & General Purposes Committee, (if deemed necessary).
(e) The control of the fixtures of the Section.
(f) The appointment of any sub-committee that it deems necessary to fulfil a specific purpose.

4.5 Composition of Section Committees.

Each of the Sections shall have a Section Committee, which shall comprise a Chair, General Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary, Social Secretary, Selection Committee Representative and Captains together with a maximum of four other members of the Section. The President and Management Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all Section Committees.

4.6 Minutes and Bank Statements

Minutes of each section’s meeting must be forwarded to the President and Management Chairperson after each meeting. Monthly Bank statements must be forwarded to the Management Chairperson or their nominee.

5. ELECTION OF THE MANAGEMENT & SECTION COMMITTEES

5.1 The election of the Management Committee shall be as follows:-

(a) The Club President, The Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary of the Club, The Director of Coaching, The Club Grounds Committee Representative, The Club Press and Publicity Officer, The Club Social Committee Representative and a representative for the PPs, VPs, and Life Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club and shall hold office for one year.
(b) The other members of the Management Committee shall be elected by the Sections at their Annual General Meetings.

5.2 The officers and members of each Section Committee shall be elected at the Section’s Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for one year.

6. MEETINGS

6.1 Management and Section Committee Meetings shall be held upon notice given to all committee members:-

(a) At regular intervals but at least 3 times per year.
(b) When considered necessary by the General Secretary

Upon the request, in writing, of not less than three Committee Members. On such a request being received, the General Secretary shall call a meeting within fourteen days.

7. QUORUM

7.1 Not less than five members shall form a quorum at any Management or Section Committee meeting.

8. VOTING

8.1 Voting at a Management or Section Committee meeting shall be by show of hands, or by ballot of those present at the request of any member of the committees and the vote of the majority shall decide the point under discussion. Each members of the Management and Section Committee shall have one vote. In the case of an equal number of votes on any subject the Chair of the meeting will have the casting vote which shall be final. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.

9. MEMBERSHIP

General Committee meetings will include the agenda item:-
Application for Membership.
Membership applications shall :-
Be reviewed and approved by the relevant Section Committee.
Be reviewed and approved by the Management Committee.
Upon payment of the relevant subscription issue a Membership Card.
The Section General Committee shall have the power to refuse to elect persons to membership without assigning any reason thereto.

10. Subscriptions and Match Fees.

The Annual Subscriptions and Match Fees shall be determined by the Section Committees and approved by the Management Committee. Individual subscriptions and/or match fees may be reduced at the discretion of the Section Committee.
A late payment levy will be decided annually by each Section Committee and approved by the Management Committee.

11. DEFINITION OF MEMBERS

11.1 EXISTING MEMBERS

Existing members are defined as persons from the previous season who are renewing subscriptions for the current season. The first instalment of the subscription shall be paid by October 1st each year. Unless a member has an agreement to pay his/her subscription by bank standing order, then part of the subscription shall be paid by October 31st and the balance of the subscription shall be paid by December 31st.

11.2 NEW MEMBERS

New members are defined as person who have not been members of the Club during the previous season. Subscriptions for new members shall be paid to the relevant Section taking into account the time of the year that the person is applying for membership.

Associate Membership of Sections.

Any person who is over the age of 16 on September 1st each season and plays no more than 6 games shall pay a subscription to the relevant section and be known as an Associate member.

11.4 Non-Playing Membership.

Any person who is over the age of 16 on September 1st each season and who does not wish to play shall pay a subscription to the relevant section and be known as a Non-Playing Member.

12. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

12.1 The Section Committee shall have the power to terminate a member’s membership as a result of non-payment of subscription, or if it considers that a member’s conduct is contrary to the interests of the Club, in such cases the unexpired portion of this subscription may be refunded.

13. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP & VICE PRESIDENCY

13.1 Honorary Life Membership

The Section Committees shall have the powers to nominate for Honorary Life Membership of the Club in recognition of outstanding service to the Club. Those nominations shall be confirmed by the Management Committee and endorsed at the next Annual General Meeting of the Club

13.2 Vice Presidency

The Club Management Committee shall have the powers to nominate for Vice President of the Club in recognition of service to the Club, those nominations shall be endorsed at the next Annual General Meeting of the Club.
Vice Presidents shall be elected for a five year period, at the end of which they may be considered for re-election.

14. GENERAL MEETINGS

14.1 The annual General Meetings of the Sections shall be held as soon after the hockey season ends and at least within fifteen months of the last Annual General Meeting for the presentation of the Section Chairperson’s report, the Section Accounts, the election of Section Officers and Section Committees, and any other business. Twenty one days notice of which has been given in writing to the Section General Secretary.
Fourteen days notice of such meetings shall be given in writing by the Section General Secretary to each member of the Section.

14.2 The Club Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon as possible after the last of the Section Annual General Meetings and at least within fifteen months of the last Club Annual General Meeting, for the presentation of the Management Committee report, the Club Accounts, the election of Officers and any other business, twenty one days notice of which has been given in writing to the Club General Secretary,
Fourteen days notice of such meetings shall be given in writing by the Club General Secretary to each member of the Club.

15. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

Extraordinary General Meetings may be called:-

15.1 CLUB

(a) By the Management Committee at any time if they consider the circumstances render it desirable.
(b) By the Club General Secretary if summoned to do so in writing by not less than ten Club members specifying the object of the meeting.
The Club General Secretary shall, within fourteen days of receipt of such a notice, give fourteen days notice, in writing, of such a meeting to each member of the Club specifying the business to be transacted at the meeting.

15.2 SECTIONS

(a) By the Section General Committee at any time if they consider the circumstances render it desirable.
(b) By the Section General Secretary if summoned to do so in writing by not less than ten Section members specifying the object of the meeting.
The Section General Secretary shall, within fourteen days of receipt of such a notice, give fourteen days notice, in writing, of such a meeting to each member of the Club specifying the business to be transacted at the meeting.

16. Voting at General Meetings.

16.1 Voting at General Meetings (either Section or Club) shall be confined to the full members of the Club present at the meeting. Every member having only one vote upon any proposal put to a vote. Voting shall be by show of hands or, at the request of any member present, by ballot of those full members present. The vote of the majority shall decide the proposal under discussion. In the case of equality of votes the Chair of the meeting shall have the casting vote, which shall then be final. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
For the purpose of the Rule 17 hereof, except in the case of the Junior Section, full members shall be defined as all playing and non-playing members over the age of 16 on October 1st in the relevant year, who have, by the date of the meeting, paid in full or have commenced to pay in full by bank standing order their relevant subscriptions. In the case of the Junior Section General Meeting there shall be no restriction on age.

17. Quorum at any General Meeting.

17.1 Not less than 25% of the full membership shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.

18. ALTERATIONS OF RULES AND CONSTITUTION

The Rules and Constitution may only be altered at an Extraordinary General Meeting called in accordance with Rule 15 provided not less than two thirds of those attending agree.

19. Club Colours.

19.1 The Club kit shall comprise of a predominantly green shirt and red socks with shorts, skirts or skorts as approved by the Management Committee. All players in Club matches will only wear the kit agreed and approved by the Management Committee. The change kit colours shall be such as decided from time to time by the Management Committee.

20. Approved non-playing kit.

20.1 All Club clothing, including pre-match and post-match gear, training wear and water proofs must be first agreed by the Management Committee. The Club logo shall only be used on clothing with the prior written approval of the Management Committee.

21. Safety of Young People.

The Club adopts and follows the guidelines, recommendations and good practice as laid down by the English Hockey Association in regard to ensuring the Safety of Young People who are members of the Club or members of visiting teams whilst on Wakefield Sports Club (College Grove) Ltd premises.

22. Equal Opportunity & Open Access

The Club makes no distinction or differentiation on the basis of race, colour, gender, or sexual orientation in regard to access to, or membership of, the Club.

23. Dissolution.

The Club shall be dissolved upon the vote of at least a three fourths majority of the voting members present at an Extraordinary General Meeting called by the Club General Secretary in accordance with Rule 15.

24. Disposal of Property.

Upon the dissolution the property of the Club remaining after the satisfaction in full of all debts incurred by the Club prior to the dissolution shall be transferred to Wakefield Sports Club (College Grove) Ltd.

Accepted and passed at AGM held Wednesday 15th May, 2013

Signed
Brian Aldred (presiding at the meeting)
Chair of Management Committee Wakefield Hockey Club