RULES OF CONSTITUTION
Issued 1st September 2000ABBREVIATIONS
For convenience the following abbreviations are used in these Rules:—
AGM Annual General Meeting
EGM Extraordinary General Meeting
ESA English Subbuteo Table Football Association
ESA English Subbuteo Association
FISTF Federation of International Sports Table Football
The Committee The ESA Committee.
1 TITLE
The name of the Association is the
“ENGLISH SUBBUTEO ASSOCIATION”.
This replaces English Sports Table Football Association after the 2010 AGM, and English Subbuteo Table Football Association after the 2012 AGM.
2 AIMS
The aims of the ESA are:—
2.1 To promote the sport of Table Football in England.
2.2 To organise Table Football competitions in England.
2.3 To make playing equipment available to members of the ESA.
2.4 To create a greater acceptance and understanding of Table Football, employing any suitable media.
2.5 To keep members fully informed of Association events and news.
2.6 To ensure that the ESA is an equal opportunity body and that there is no discrimination or bias shown to any person by the ESA or its members for any reason.
3 MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership is open to any person mainly resident in England, and any person not mainly resident in England but deemed eligible by the Committee.
3.2 Application for membership must be made on the official form.
3.3 All members must obey the Rules of the ESA
4 COMPETITIONS
The ESA shall run such competitions as may from time to time be determined but shall run at least one annual competition to provide a National Champion/Champions, the number of which shall be determined by the Committee.
5 OFFICERS
5.1 The affairs of the ESA are managed by a Committee Consisting of, Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, and such other posts as shall from time to time be decided by the committee and approved by a general meeting. These Committee posts are electable at each AGM:— No person can hold more than one of these posts unless a post remains vacant and in this case efforts should be made to fill any vacant post at the earliest opportunity.
5.2 If a Committee member resigns the remaining Committee members will appoint a suitable replacement who will hold the vacant post until the next AGM.
6 AFFILIATIONS
6.1 The ESA shall be affiliated to FISTF.
6.2 Table Football Clubs and Leagues in England may be affiliated to the ESA, subject to the following conditions:—
6.2.1 The ESA will correspond with only one person in the Club or League, being the Club or League Secretary/Organizer.
6.2.2 Names, addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth of all officers and members of the Club or League, and any additions or changes to them must be notified to the ESA.
6.2.3 The Club Secretary must be at least 16 years of age. There is no restriction on the age of a League Secretary.
6.2.4 The Club or League must admit anyone who applies for membership who is resident in the general area of the Club or League and has not been expelled or suspended by the Club, League or the ESA, for reasons of misconduct.
6.2.5 The Club or League is responsible for distributing all ESA literature to its members.
6.2.7 For breach of these Rules a Club or League may be fined, suspended or expelled from the ESA. Any fine, suspension or expulsion may only be made by the Disciplinary Committee.
7. REGIONS (not currently applicable)
7.1 For organizational purposes the ESA may be divided into regions, the number of which shall be determined by the Committee from time to time.
7.2 A Regional Secretary will be appointed for each region by the Committee.
7.3 Any member aged 16 or over may apply Committee for any vacant Regional Secretary post. Applications must be sent to the ESA General Secretary.
7.4 The Regional Secretary must, at the earliest opportunity, form a Committee of at least three members to organise the affairs of their region. Their names and addresses, telephone numbers and any change to them must be forwarded to the ESA.
8. SUBSCRIPTION FEES
8.1 Subscription Fees are fixed annually by the Committee and ratified at the AGM, by a simple majority of those members present.
8.2 Subscription fees are payable in a lump sum by the 1st September.
8.3 Any member not paying the annual subscription by November 30th will have their membership terminated but may re-subscribe at a later date.
8.4 Players not joined by 30th November will not be eligible to play for England that season.
9 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
9.1 A member or affiliated Club or League may be brought before the Disciplinary Committee and may be requested to resign from the ESA for:—
9.1.1 Contravention of the Rules of the ESA.
9.1.2 Acts of violence against any member of the ESA or a competitor or spectator at any competition organised by the ESA, or vandalism of any premises rented by the ESA.
9.1.3 Theft from any person connected to the ESA or theft of any kind at the venue of an ESA sanctioned event or meeting.
9.1.4 Serious misconduct at any ESA sanctioned event or meeting or while representing the ESA at any time.
9.2 The Committee has the power to expel any member failing to resign within one month of being requested to do so by the Disciplinary Committee, unless an appeal has been made, in which case the Committee will defer its action until the result of the appeal is known.
9.3 If any affiliated Club or League is expelled from the ESA its members may be given the right to apply for individual membership at the discretion of the Committee.
9.4 Any member or affiliated Club or League expelled by the ESA will be disqualified from applying for membership for a period of time to be decided by the Committee.
10. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The AGM will be held at a time and place to be decided by the Committee and details, including an Agenda, must be circulated to members at least 4 weeks in advance.
10.1 The business of the AGM is to:—
10.1.1 Receive and approve a report on the activities of the past year from the Committee.
10.1.2 Receive and pass the Financial Statement from the Treasurer.
10.1.3 Elect the ESA Committee.
10.1.4 Ratify the individual, Club and League affiliation fees for the coming season, as fixed by the Committee.
10.1.5 Transact any other business on the agenda.
10.2 Proposals, which must be seconded, must be sent to the General Secretary at least 8 weeks prior to the meeting and will be included on the agenda.
10.3 Minutes of the AGM will be taken and circulated to all members, as soon as possible, in the next ESA mail-out.
11 ATTENDANCE OF NON MEMBERS AT MEETINGS
Non members may be invited to attend meetings as speakers or observers but are not entitled to vote.
12 NOMINATION OF OFFICERS
Nominations for the Officers and Committee members must be proposed and seconded by two full members of the ESA.
13 VOTING
13.1 At general meetings all full members of the ESA are entitled to one vote. Only individual members and members of affiliated Clubs are full members of the ESA, League members are not entitled to a vote.
13.2 Voting shall be by a show of hands unless a ballot is deemed advisable by the Chairman.
13.3 Except in Committee the Chairman can only vote in the event of equality of voting.
13.4 All proposals shall be passed by a simple majority unless otherwise specified in these Rules of Constitution.
14 RULE CHANGES
No amendment or alteration to the Rules of Constitution can be made except at a general meeting by a two thirds majority of the members present.
15 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The Committee has the power to call an EGM, and must do so within 60 days of receiving notice in writing signed by not less than 25 members. The business to be transacted must appear on the agenda and no other business can be discussed.
16 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Committee must meet at least twice a year. At least three Committee members must be present. These meetings can be held at tournaments as long as everyone is aware that the meeting will be held.
17 SUB-COMMITTEES
17.1 Ad hoc sub—committees
17.1.1 The Committee has the power to appoint an ad hoc sub—committee for any purpose connected with the affairs of the ESA whenever their advice or assistance may appear desirable.
17.1.2 A sub-committee shall elect their own Chairman.
17.2 Disciplinary sub—committee
17.2.1 As and when the need arises a Disciplinary Committee shall be formed, made up of at least 3 members, one of whom shall be the Chairman, General Secretary or Treasurer.
17.2.2 The Disciplinary Committee has the power to impose a fine or request the resignation of any member or affiliated Club or League brought before it but only in accordance with the ESA Disciplinary policy
17.2.3 A complainant cannot be a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
17.2.4 Any member or affiliated Club or League brought before the Disciplinary Committee has the right to:-
17.2.4.1 A personal hearing and/or a representative to act on their behalf.
17.2.4.2 Appeal, in writing to the ESA General Secretary within seven days, against any decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. The appeal will be heard by the Appeals sub-committee.
17.3 Appeals sub—committee
17.3.1 The Appeals Sub—Committee must be convened by the Committee within one month of receiving an appeal.
17.3.2 The Appeals Sub—Committee must not contain either the complainant or any member of the Disciplinary Committee.
17.3.3 The Appeals Sub—Committee will consist of 3 members.
17.3.4 Voting is by simple majority. Abstention voting is not allowed.
17.3.5 The Appeals Sub—Committee has the power to:—.
17.3.5.1 Revoke any decision of the Disciplinary Committee.
17.3.5.2 The decision is final.
17.3.5.3 Replace a request to resign with a fine.
17.3.5.4 Reduce or increase the amount of any fine
18 ASSOCIATION FUNDS
18.1 The financial year of the ESA is from 1st September to 31st August
18.2 All money belonging to the ESA shall be paid immediately on receipt by the Treasurer, or any of the other officers, into a bank account in the name of the English Subbuteo Table Football Association.
18.3 The ESA may hold any other accounts that the Committee considers necessary for the management of its finds.
18.4 All funds must be held with the bank(s) named by the Committee.
18.5 Details of all deposits made by any other officer than the Treasurer must be notified by that officer, in writing, to the Treasurer.
18.6 All cheques must be signed by two officers named for that purpose by the Committee.
18.7 Committee approval must be given in all cases where expenditure on a specific item is in excess of an amount agreed by the Committee. (£100)
19 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
These Rules of Constitution will be supported by the following document which does not form a part of the rules of Constitution and may be changed by the Committee when necessary:—
ESA Disciplinary Policy
20 WINDING UP
If at a General Meeting a specific resolution to wind up the affairs of the ESA has been duly proposed and passed, enough of the assets of the ESA must be realised as are required to discharge all liabilities, and the remaining assets must be made over to FISTF. No winding up resolution can be passed unless carried by at least 90% of the members present.
21 INTERPRETATION
In the event of any ambiguity in these Rules of Constitution the Chairman’s interpretation is final.
PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS
1 MINIMUM ATTENDANCE
At least twelve members, including Committee members, must be present at all general meetings. If within half-an-hour of the time appointed for the meeting to start twelve members are not present, the meeting shall be dissolved, unless otherwise decided by the Committee.
2 ORDER OF BUSINESS
An Agenda will be prepared by the Chairman and General Secretary, and will be read by the Chairman at the opening of each meeting.
3 MINUTES
The General Secretary will read the minutes of the previous meeting. No discussion on the minutes is allowed except in regard to their accuracy. After agreement of the minutes, they are to be signed by the Chairman. Members may then ask questions on matters arising from them. Questions are allowed for purposes of information only, and no debate on the policy outlined in the minutes is allowed.
4 SELECTION OF SPEAKERS
Every member must stand when speaking and must speak only to the Chairman. When more than one member rises to speak, the first to rise is given precedence, the decision resting with the Chairman, but the member who rose immediately after the first one has the right to speak next.
5 CHAIRMAN’S RULING
If the Chairman rises to call a member to order, or for any other purpose, the member speaking must resume their seat, and no other member may rise until the Chair is resumed. The ruling of the Chairman on any question under the Standing Orders, or on points of order or explanation, is final, unless challenged by not less than four members, and unless two-thirds of the members present vote to the contrary.
6 INTERRUPTION
If any member interrupts another while they are addressing the meeting, uses abusive or profane language, or causes disturbances at any of the meetings, and refuses to obey the Chairman when ca]led to order, they Will be named by the Chairman. They will then be expelled from the room and may not enter again until an apology satisfactory to the meeting has been made.
7 SPEECHES
No member is allowed to speak more than once upon any subject other than in Committee, or on a point of order, or explanation, except the mover of the Original Proposal
8 PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS
The first proposal on any particular subject is known as the Original Proposal, and all succeeding proposals on that subject are called Amendments. Every Proposal or Amendment must be moved and seconded by members actually present at the meeting before they can be discussed and, whenever possible, should be set down in writing. It is permissible for a member to make a speech first and conclude with a proposal, as long as the proposal has been submitted in advance of the meeting in accordance with Rule 10.2. When an amendment is moved to an original proposal no further amendments may be discussed until the first amendment is disposed of (notice of any further amendments must be given before the first amendment is voted on).
9 SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSAL
If an amendment is carried it displaces the Original Proposal and itself becomes the Substantive Proposal. Any further amendment relating to any portion of the Substantive Proposal may be moved, provided it is consistent with the business and has not been covered by an amendment or proposal which has been previously rejected. After the vote on each succeeding amendment has been taken, the final proposal is put to the vote and if carried then becomes a resolution of the meeting.
10 RIGHT OF REPLY
The mover of the Original Proposal, if no amendment is moved, has the right of reply at the close of the debate on their proposal. When an amendment is moved they may speak and at the close of the debate on the amendment may reply to the discussion, but may not introduce any new matter. The question will then be put to the vote immediately, and under no circumstances will any further discussion be allowed once the proposal has been put to the vote from the Chair. The mover of an amendment is not entitled to reply.
11 WITHDRAWALS OR ADDITIONS
No proposal or amendment, which has been accepted by the Chair, may be withdrawn without the unanimous consent of the meeting.
12 VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS
Voting shall be by show of hands, except where a ballot is deemed necessary by the Chairman, in which case two scrutinizers, will be appointed by the Chairman. The Chairman may not vote on any question, unless there is an equal number of votes, when they shall have a casting vote.
13 VOTING IN COMMITTEE
Where a difference of opinion on a proposition at a meeting of any Committee occurs, a vote shall be taken, and the names of those voting for and against, and of those abstaining from voting, should be stated in the minutes.
14 RESCINDING A RESOLUTION
A resolution may not be rescinded or amended at the meeting at which it is passed.
A resolution involving important issues of finance or policy may not be rescinded at any
meeting unless every member eligible to attend the meeting has been duly notified and given the
opportunity of being present.
