Inter County Football League

BYLAWS  

Article I Name

1. The name of this organization shall be known as the Inter County Football League hereby referred to as “ICFL” or “League”.

Article II Purpose

1. The purpose of the Inter County Football League is to inspire youth to practice the ideals of health, citizenship, and character. To bring them closer together through means of common interest in sportsmanship, fair play, and fellowship. To promote the game elements of safety, progressive development curriculum, and intelligent supervision, and to keep alive the welfare of participants first, foremost, and entirely free of adult desire for glory.
2. To foster, develop and promote youth football for youth Grades K – 6th.
3. To bring into closer relation the home, the community, and the schools involved so that our youth can pursue being the best they can be.

Article III League

1. A Board of Directors consisting of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and a representative from each participating organization, shall govern the LEAGUE.
2. The following organizations will make up the LEAGUE “Charter” teams:

                        Boyertown                  “Bears”

                        Coventry                     “Wildcats”

                        Spring-Ford                 “Rams”

                        Upper Perkiomen        “Tribe”

1. A Charter member cannot be replaced or removed from the League unless they demonstrate an unwillingness to follow the rules set forth by the League.  In order for a Charter member to be removed, the seventy-five percent (75%) Charter members must unanimously agree to remove the accused member from the League and it must be because of rules violations.  The said member may only be removed by the above procedure and only after serving a minimum of one year in a probation status. NOTE: This rule cannot be changed by any vote after it is adopted.
2. Teams who are accepted into this league are added when and only when there is a majority approval by all voting members of the league.
3. Applying teams shall be responsible for their own assets and liabilities. All member teams shall be independent of each other.
4. Each member organization shall receive no more than one vote.
5. Each member representative or its alternate shall attend all LEAGUE meetings.  In his or her absence, the alternate may cast the vote in their place with prior notice to the LEAGUE President.  Board members may NOT be considered a representative.
6. No Member organization is permitted to charge a visiting ICFL team admission to any regular season ICFL game.   
7. Unscheduled Bowl games are not governed by the ICFL By-laws. 

Article IV Meeting

1. There shall be a MONTHLY meeting during the months of January to November. No meetings will be held in December.
2. A majority of the membership of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, and a quorum shall be required to hold a duly constituted meeting of the Board. A majority is described as one more than half the members.
3. A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at the discretion of the President or upon the request of three Directors.
4. All regular scheduled Board meetings shall last no longer than one and a half hours.
5. Each Organization must send a representative to EVERY monthly meeting.   Two consecutive missed meetings or three in a season; the organization will be placed on one year probation.

Article V Voting Rights and Election Procedures

Voting at Meetings

1.     All member organizations are voting members and entitled to one (1) vote on any issue at the Board meetings except the President who will cast a deciding vote when the vote is deadlocked.

2.     All matters concerning the LEAGUE policy shall be decided by a vote of the member organizations. No motion shall be carried without a favorable vote of a simple majority of the member organizations present. No proxy votes will be accepted.

3.     Expulsion of a Board member shall require a three fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Board of Directors.

4.     No organization shall have more than one vote on any single issue or election.

Election Procedures

1.     Each LEAGUE member organization is entitled to one (1) vote for each of the following elected positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary

2.     Candidates shall be elected by a simple majority vote of voting members present at the meeting, provided there is a quorum as stated in the by-laws.

3.     A member organization’s candidate for President, Vice President, and Secretary must be a league member for greater than one year to be nominated.

4.     Prior to the election nominations for all elected positions will be accepted from the floor.

5.     Each elected candidate shall then serve a two (2) year term with the option of being re-elected once.

Article VI Executive Board

The Executive Board shall be made up of the President, Vice-President, and the Secretary. Each shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the March meeting and shall serve a two-year term.

The President shall:

1.     Supervise all officers and Board members and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.

2.     Cast a deciding vote on all issues which the Board of Directors finds themselves deadlocked.

3.     Assure that the provisions of these by-laws are adhered to at all times.

4.     Work with the Vice-President and Secretary to recommend by-law changes to be voted on in accordance with the by-laws. 

The Vice-President shall:

1.     Assume the duties of the President during his absence.

2.     Assume the office of the President in the event of President’s resignation, absence, or inability to serve.

The Secretary shall:

1.     Keep records of all proceedings of the Board of Directors.

2.     Conduct all official correspondence on behalf of the LEAGUE.

3.     Notify representatives of meeting dates, times and locations.

4.     Maintain up-to-date list of representatives and alternates consisting at minimal names, emails, and phone numbers.

5.     Collect and maintain team rosters.

Article VII Scheduling

One Representative will be selected from each organization. Responsible for scheduling and re-scheduling of all games for the season.

Article VIII Player Eligibility

1.     The following grade and levels make up the Inter County Football League.

Division	Grade	Protected Age
Flag	K- 1st	Can NOT turn 8 on/before 12/31 of season
2nd Grade	2nd	Can NOT turn 9 on/before 12/31 of season
3rd Grade	2nd- 3rd	Can NOT turn 10 on/before 12/31 of season
4th Grade	4th	Can NOT turn 11 on/before 12/31 of season
5th Grade	4th- 5th	Can NOT turn 12 on/before 12/31 of season
6th Grade	6th	Can NOT turn 13 on/before 12/31 of season

 

2.     All LEAGUE teams initial roster will be due at the August meeting. List of names, grade level, date of birth, and the school they attend. Final rosters must also include jersey number. Final roster will be due the Monday before the first game of the season.

3.     Each Member organization will be responsible for producing a League approved photo ID card.  Each card must have all league required information completed. Name, Date of Birth and School District.

4.     Any player who moves out of his/her school district shall be allowed to complete his/her career in the organization where they were originally registered if he/she desires to do so. 

Article IX Coach Eligibility

5.     The league reps shall supply a copy of their certificate of insurance to the secretary for filing at the August meeting.  The minimum amount of coverage shall be no less then (1) Million Dollars of commercial general liability insurance.

6.     Each coach is required to have a LEAGUE required background check via a League approved service (NCSI)

7.     Coaches are to attend mandatory coaches meeting prior to start of the season

8.     Each member organization must supply the results of the NCSI check to the LEAGUE, for every head and assistant coach, by July 31 of the season.  Failure to provide renders the coach ineligible to participate from the sideline on game day

9.     Every coach is required to have USA Football’s Coaches Certifications and be certified within the past twelve months through one of the following:

• • • USA Football Tackle Certification Course·
    • USA Football Tackle Recertification Quiz
    • USA Football U6, U8, U10, or U12 Courses

Article X Territories

1. All district boundaries will consist of the boundaries of that team’s school district.  Any new participant must adhere to these boundaries.
2. Players in school districts not having a LEAGUE football program will be allowed to participate in any League; however, players who attend parochial school must play in the school district of their primary residence.

Article XI Scheduling

1. Game scheduling will be completed no later than the August meeting and given to league representatives.

 Article XII Organization

1. Each league member shall register a representative and one alternate with the league secretary at the February meeting.  Each program will have one vote for league business, whether cast by the representative, or by the alternate.  In the event of a tie, the President shall cast the deciding vote.
2. The Executive board shall exist as defined in Article V Section of the LEAGUE.

Article XIII Current Membership

1.     Any organization interested in making applications to the LEAGUE must adhere to the following procedures:

a.   A letter must be submitted to the League Secretary stating a desire to join.

b.     The organization applying must attend a predetermined meeting to present their organizations qualifications.

 Article XIV Acceptance to LEAGUE

1.     After reviewing any applicant qualifications to be added to the LEAGUE, acceptance shall be determined by a majority vote.

2.     Once an organization has been accepted into the League, it may participate with all privileges of general membership.  In order to be an Executive Board member, the organization must be a participating member of the LEAGUE for more than one year.

3.     At the end of each season, all “non Charter” teams may be evaluated and the Board of Directors may place full privilege teams not adhering to the LEAGUE by-laws on probation.  The Executive Board shall decide the probation period.

4.     During the period of probation, a representative from the organization on probation may not hold an elected office on the LEAGUE Board, and voting rights will be revoked.

Article XV League Fees

1. Each member organization shall be responsible for Assigner fees and the costs of the officials for all games played on their home field.  The terms of the payment to officials shall be referred to in the League/Officials Agreement.

Article XVI ICFL Rules

1. PIAA rules will apply at all times during LEAGUE practices and games. This will include but is not limited to weather policies, rules of the game, fan management, and dealings with the referees and coaches’ conduct. Special LEAGUE rules, as specified below, supersede PIAA rules.
2. Offensive team chooses type of ball while on offense. The following are accepted as game balls during LEAGUE competition:

             Flag                            Wilson K2                   Nike FT0234               Under Armor 498

             2nd and 3rd               Wilson K2                   Nike FT0234               Under Armor 498

             4th and 5th                Wilson TDJ                 Nike FT0233               Under Armor 497

             6th                             Wilson TDY                 Nike FT0232               Under Armor 496

3. Any game cancellation shall be at the discretion of the home team.  The home team is responsible for notifying the LEAGUE representative from the visiting team and the Commissioner of Officials no less than 2 hours prior to the scheduled start of the first game via phone.  Weather delayed games can be rescheduled by the participating teams with final decision resting with the home team field availability and unless mutually agreed upon the day of the postponement.  The home team should give 48 hours’ notice.
4. The home team is also responsible for notifying the Commissioner of Officials of rescheduled games.  Failure to comply shall result in a forfeit loss.  In the event the home team does not reschedule the makeup game by the last day of the season, the home team shall forfeit the game unless agreed upon by both member organizations.
5. No teams may start practice of any organized form until the PIAA official starting date for each respective year.  If a program has an organized camp, it may be no longer than 3 days and no more than 18 hours total.  The programs shall notify the LEAGUE of all dates and times of any organized camp.
6. Each team must consist of a minimum of 15 Players unless pre-approved by the LEAGUE Board in advance
7. All teams are limited to three practices a week, per player, beginning with the first Monday after Labor Day or the official start of the School year.
8. No electronic communication equipment of any kind may be used at LEAGUE games.
9. Any team viewing another team’s game or practice must notify the league rep of the team being viewed.  Filming of other teams games is permitted as long as the head coach/league rep is given 24 hour’s notice of such filming, no filming of practice and or the sides lines shall be permitted.
10. Each team representative shall be at the August meeting and present evidence of his organization’s liability insurance coverage as defined in Article VIII Section 7 of the LEAGUE.
11. The HOME team will supply a 3-person chain crew, which will work on the HOME team sidelines and act in a manner consistent with being an official of the game.
12. Game Time: LEAGUE Grades 2nd through 6th grade levels will adhere to 10 minute quarters. PIAA Clock operations guidelines will be followed.

a.     There is 1 minute between quarters (just like a charged time-out)

b.     Team is not to exceed 45 seconds between plays.

c.     Half time is no longer than 10 minutes

d.     No Overtime, score remain tied

12. With the organization of the League, the focus is for the development of youth football fundamentals and skills. There will NOT be any playoff for championship except for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade. The official Standings will be kept on the LEAGUE website. They will list wins, losses, and ties ONLY. As such LEAGUE recommends each Player to play a minimum of 10 plays that originate from the line of scrimmage at the discretion of each individual organization.

14. Each Head Coach is required to bring a LEAGUE approved Roster and identification cards as certification of grade and age to each game. Players MUST be present for player verification to be eligible to participate in the contest. If a player arrives late, they are required to check in with and be verified by opposing coach BEFORE being eligible to enter the contest. Any contesting of a player’s grade or age must be brought to the attention of the head coach of the opposing team prior to the start of the game. Any head coach that fails to check ID cards will be suspended for the next game (2nd and 3rd grades) and the next game with loss of playoff points at the 4th, 5th and 6th grade levels.
15. Heat acclimation is to take place over 4 days of week 1 of offical LEAGUE sanctioned practices. Two days must be consecutive, and all four days must be completed. Practice in full pads (helmet, shoulder pads, pants) is not permitted until the first day of your second week of practice, even if acclimation requirements have been met.
16. Only 6 adults are allowed on the sidelines.

Article XVII Rules for Conduct

1. Referee Treatment: Verbal abuse, constant questioning of calls or loud unsportsmanlike conduct will NOT be tolerated. Head Coaches must be in control of spectators and assistant coaches throughout all LEAGUE games.
2. All coaches must read and sign a copy of the Coaches Code of Conduct. The signed copies will reside in the possession of that coach’s organization.

Article XVIII Equipment

1. PIAA safety equipment rules must be followed at all times.

Article XIX Amendments

1. Proposed changes to the by-laws must be presented in writing to all Members at consecutive meeting for discussion before being brought to a vote. A majority vote of members present at the next regular meeting is required to pass the amendment.

Article XX Indemnity

1. I have read, understood, and agree to all of the rules, regulations, terms, conditions and limitations listed in the Inter County Football League Bylaws and understand the consequences of not complying with these policies. In consideration of being a member of the LEAGUE, I, on behalf of the members and players from my organization, league or group, shall indemnify, defend and hold the LEAGUE, its departments, employees, volunteers and officials harmless from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, actions, cause of actions, cost and expenses, including, but not limited to, attorney fees arising out of the participation in the LEAGUE. Any one person or group participating in activities as part of the LEAGUE will do so at their own risk.

 

Spring-Ford Youth Football Signature on File Copy	Pottsgrove Youth Football Signature on File Copy
Boyertown Youth Football Signature on File Copy	North Penn Youth Football Signature on File Copy
Upper Perk Youth Football Signature on File Copy	Perk Valley Youth Football Signature on File Copy
Coventry Youth Football Signature on File Copy	Great Valley Youth Football Signature on File Copy
Pottstown Youth Football Signature on File Copy	Phoenixville Youth Football Signature on File Copy