1 General Points

1.1 The Team shall be called London Blitz Junior American Football Team, referred to hereafter as The Team.

1.2 The Team is a member of the London Blitz American Football Club, referred to hereafter as The Club.

1.3 The Team is a member of the British American Football Association (BAFA) and will abide by the rules of that association.

1.4 The home of The Club shall be at Finsbury Park Stadium, or any other suitable venue.

1.5 The Team shall be financially independent from The Club.

1.6 There shall be close co-operation between The Team and other teams within The Club to ensure economic use of funds and resources.

2 Aims of the Team

The Team aims to provide young people with the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to play American Football, support the local community when called upon, receive appropriate training, support and to participate in an organised competitive league, other competitions and friendly games.

3 Membership

3.1 Membership of The Team is open to anybody between the ages of 7 and  under 19 at the end of the previous year, willing to learn to play American Football, or with an interest in supporting or coaching American Football.

3.2 Membership commences on the signing of the player agreement and league registration form.

3.3 Players under 18 must have their player agreement and league registration form countersigned by a parent or legal guardian.

3.4 All Members of The Team are deemed to be members of The Club and shall be entitled to partake in any club activity.

3.5 All playing members of The Team shall have the responsibilities laid out in the Player Agreement (sample attached).

3.6 Membership may be refused, suspended or terminated by The Team Management and an explanation offered in writing if required by the party concerned.

3.7 Anybody whose membership is so refused, suspended or terminated may appeal to The Club Management Committee.

3.8 The Team or Club Management may stipulate the duration of any suspension, within its own term of office. In cases of refusal of or termination of membership any re-application should be reassessed by each newly elected Management Committee.

3.9 All memberships expire at the end of March.

4 Team Management

4.1 The Team Manager and Head Coach are appointed by The Club Management Committee.

4.2 The Team Manager is responsible for appointing co-opted members of The Team management.

4.3 The Head Coach is responsible for appointing assistant coaches.

4.4 The authorities of The Team shall be:

a) The Annual General Meeting of The Club.

b) The Extra-ordinary General Meeting of The Club.

c) The Management Committee of The Club.

d) The Manager and Head Coach of The Team.

e) The Operations Committee of The Team

f) The Honorary Auditors of The Club.

5 Child Protection

5.1 All managers, coaches and volunteers of The Team shall comply with the requirements of the BAFA child protection policy.

5.2 The Club Management Committee shall appoint one of its members to act as The Club Child Protection Officer.

5.3 The Club Child Protection Officer shall take no part in coaching The Team.

5.4 The Club Child Protection Officer shall investigate any reported incident and report back to The Club Management Committee to take any necessary action. A copy of the report and details of any action taken shall be sent to the League Child Protection Officer.

5.5 Wherever practical, players under 18 shall not be required to use the same changing rooms as players of 18 and over.

5.6 During residential training camps, players under 19 shall not be roomed with players of 19 and over.

6 Rules of The Team

6.1 The Club Management Committee may pass any number of rules concerning the behaviour of members during group activities as long as these are not contrary to The Constitution. Such rules apply to all members of The Club.

6.2 In addition, special rules for members of The Team may be agreed by The Team management, subject to ratification by The Team Operation Committee or/and The Club Management Committee .

7 Finance

7.1 The Team's finances are controlled by The Team Management and The Team Operation Committee and verified by the Treasurer of The Club.

7.2 The financial year shall run from September to November.

7.3 Income shall be derived from membership fees, grants, and donations.

7.4 Expenditure of over twenty-five pounds must agree in advance by The Team Manager and Head Coach.

8 Suspension of The Team or Dissolution Club

8.1 Operations of The Team may be suspended by The Club Management Committee in the event of there being insufficient management, coaching staff or players to make The Team viable.

8.2 The Club Management Committee shall be responsible for managing The Team assets until The Team becomes viable once again.

8.3 Should The Club be dissolved, any assets of The Team remaining after all accounts have been settled shall be offered to BAFA to help in the formation of another London-based Youth American Football team. This task is the responsibility of the Honorary Auditors of The Club.

Updated Sep 2013