Cullman Bearcat Youth Football & Cheer Association
Cullman Bearcats Youth Association By-Laws
I. Interests, Objectives and Goals
A. To acquaint our youth with the sports of football and cheerleading.
B. To bring area youth close together through the means of a common interest.
C. To inspire youth to practice ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected through guidance from coaches, sponsors and adult participation.
D. To inspire adults (parents and relatives) to participate in youth activities to strengthen family ties and community development.
E. To inspire youth to grow mentally and physically as a person, team, group, family and as an association.
F. To provide basic fundamentals and skills needed by youth at an early age for future endeavors.
II. Executive Board and Responsibilities
A. Non-profit and self-supporting organization.
B. Election of officers will be held at year end banquet with board positions being two year terms.
C. Officers include:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. 1st Vice President – Football
4. 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading
5. Secretary
6. Treasurer
D. Executive Board has full power and authority to make decisions concerning organization without organizations approval.
E. Executive Board must meet at least once every 60 days or less during the off-season and once every three weeks during the regular season.
F. Board members have the power to appoint someone to the board when a member resigns or is dismissed.
G. Executive Board members cannot be held responsible by any member of the organization concerning health and welfare of the youth involved; although every precaution should be taken to ensure safety first.
H. Executive Board will be the ruling body with elected President as executor.
I. Majority vote required for board decisions.
J. Once said person holds position on the Board he or she cannot run for another position.
III. Executive Board and Job Descriptions
A. President
1. In charge of the organization.
2. Executor of all board decisions.
3. Has power to authorize purchases up to $500 without board approval for matters concerning the organization.
4. Directs and oversees all board functions and responsible for relating information to the organization.
5. Must have a child in the organization.
B. Vice President
1. Assumes position of President in his/her absence.
2. Oversees 1st Vice-President-Football and 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
C. 1st Vice President-Football
1. Assumes position of Vice President in his/her absence.
2. Oversees all football teams.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
D. 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading
1. Assumes position of Vice President in absence of 1st Vice-President.
2. Oversees all cheerleading squads.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
E. Secretary
1. Responsible for keeping current records on all board functions and decisions
2. Assumes position of Vice President and/or 1st Vice President and/or 2nd Vice President in his/her absence.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
F. Treasurer
1. Responsible for keeping records of all organization monies.
2. Handles all purchasing transactions and contributions.
3. Responsible for setting up accounts at various businesses for equipment and/or supplies needed by the organization.
4. Has power to approve purchases by other organization members.
5. Must have a child in the organization.
IV. Coaches and Sponsors
A. Three elected or appointed coaches and sponsors – Fireplug, Wee-Wee and Pee-Wee.
B. Each is solely in charge of their own teams without board interference; although board can interfere when the welfare of a child or liability to the organization may be at stake.
C. Coaches and sponsors will be responsible for ensuring that each child is properly equipped and dressed.
D. Absolutely no one is allowed to participate on sidelines or among cheerleading squads unless authorized by coaches or sponsors as designated helpers.
E. Coaches and sponsors will conduct themselves as responsible, respectful and mature adults at all times and show no prejudice.
F. Safety should be first priority at practice and games.
G. Head coaches and head sponsors will appoint assistants.
H. For the safety and well-being of our children, all coaches and sponsors will be subjected to background check and/or drug test should the Executive Board deem it necessary.
I. Responsible for keeping parents informed of any changes in practices, games and events.
J. Coaches and sponsors not presenting themselves in a mature and ethical manner can and will be banned from coaching or sponsoring for one year from date of the offense, per Executive Board decision.
V. Practice
A. All football players and cheerleaders are required to attend all practices; unexcused absences will result in disciplinary action taken by head coach or head sponsor which includes, but not limited to, sitting out the next game attended (must be present for the full game).
B. Coaches and sponsors are responsible for informing President and parent prior to game time of a child sitting out due to unexcused absence.
C. Excused absences include, but not limited to, illness, family emergency or school function. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform coach or sponsor of absence prior to practice.
D. Only officers, coaches and sponsors are permitted on practice field during practice time. If a parent or relative goes onto the field during practice unwarranted, they will be asked to leave the practice area. If it continues to happen, the parent or relative can, and will, be banned from all youth football/cheerleading activities for the remainder of the season, per Executive Board decision.
VI. Parent/Child Responsibilities
A. Show support for organization and teams.
B. Parents must have children at practices and games on time.
C. Strive to work hard as a team.
D. Ask for something to do to help out with the team and organization functions.
E. Parents and responsible for children’s equipment or for the cost to replace the equipment.
F. Parents must not leave children at any practice or game unattended. If you must leave, please leave someone responsible for your child.
G. Parents and children not presenting themselves in a mature, respectful and ethical manner can, and will, be banned from the association for one year from the date of the offense, per Executive Board decision.
VII. Donations/Fundraising
A. All monies donated or raised will be directly turned over to the Treasurer to be deposited in the Cullman Bearcats Youth Association account.
B. All fundraising must go through the President.
VIII.Age Limitations and Eligibility
A. You must play/cheer in the grade you are in unless you are over the age limit per county by-laws.
B. Mascots need to be in preschool or kindergarten, but not old enough to cheer on fireplug squad.
C. No more than two mascots per cheering squad.
***All Cullman County By-Laws Apply***
Printed Mar 2006 CG
Updated Apr 2007 CG
Updated Oct 2007 CG
Updated Jul 2009 JB
Updated Jun 2010 JE
A. To acquaint our youth with the sports of football and cheerleading.
B. To bring area youth close together through the means of a common interest.
C. To inspire youth to practice ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected through guidance from coaches, sponsors and adult participation.
D. To inspire adults (parents and relatives) to participate in youth activities to strengthen family ties and community development.
E. To inspire youth to grow mentally and physically as a person, team, group, family and as an association.
F. To provide basic fundamentals and skills needed by youth at an early age for future endeavors.
II. Executive Board and Responsibilities
A. Non-profit and self-supporting organization.
B. Election of officers will be held at year end banquet with board positions being two year terms.
C. Officers include:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. 1st Vice President – Football
4. 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading
5. Secretary
6. Treasurer
D. Executive Board has full power and authority to make decisions concerning organization without organizations approval.
E. Executive Board must meet at least once every 60 days or less during the off-season and once every three weeks during the regular season.
F. Board members have the power to appoint someone to the board when a member resigns or is dismissed.
G. Executive Board members cannot be held responsible by any member of the organization concerning health and welfare of the youth involved; although every precaution should be taken to ensure safety first.
H. Executive Board will be the ruling body with elected President as executor.
I. Majority vote required for board decisions.
J. Once said person holds position on the Board he or she cannot run for another position.
III. Executive Board and Job Descriptions
A. President
1. In charge of the organization.
2. Executor of all board decisions.
3. Has power to authorize purchases up to $500 without board approval for matters concerning the organization.
4. Directs and oversees all board functions and responsible for relating information to the organization.
5. Must have a child in the organization.
B. Vice President
1. Assumes position of President in his/her absence.
2. Oversees 1st Vice-President-Football and 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
C. 1st Vice President-Football
1. Assumes position of Vice President in his/her absence.
2. Oversees all football teams.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
D. 2nd Vice President-Cheerleading
1. Assumes position of Vice President in absence of 1st Vice-President.
2. Oversees all cheerleading squads.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
E. Secretary
1. Responsible for keeping current records on all board functions and decisions
2. Assumes position of Vice President and/or 1st Vice President and/or 2nd Vice President in his/her absence.
3. Must have a child in the organization.
F. Treasurer
1. Responsible for keeping records of all organization monies.
2. Handles all purchasing transactions and contributions.
3. Responsible for setting up accounts at various businesses for equipment and/or supplies needed by the organization.
4. Has power to approve purchases by other organization members.
5. Must have a child in the organization.
IV. Coaches and Sponsors
A. Three elected or appointed coaches and sponsors – Fireplug, Wee-Wee and Pee-Wee.
B. Each is solely in charge of their own teams without board interference; although board can interfere when the welfare of a child or liability to the organization may be at stake.
C. Coaches and sponsors will be responsible for ensuring that each child is properly equipped and dressed.
D. Absolutely no one is allowed to participate on sidelines or among cheerleading squads unless authorized by coaches or sponsors as designated helpers.
E. Coaches and sponsors will conduct themselves as responsible, respectful and mature adults at all times and show no prejudice.
F. Safety should be first priority at practice and games.
G. Head coaches and head sponsors will appoint assistants.
H. For the safety and well-being of our children, all coaches and sponsors will be subjected to background check and/or drug test should the Executive Board deem it necessary.
I. Responsible for keeping parents informed of any changes in practices, games and events.
J. Coaches and sponsors not presenting themselves in a mature and ethical manner can and will be banned from coaching or sponsoring for one year from date of the offense, per Executive Board decision.
V. Practice
A. All football players and cheerleaders are required to attend all practices; unexcused absences will result in disciplinary action taken by head coach or head sponsor which includes, but not limited to, sitting out the next game attended (must be present for the full game).
B. Coaches and sponsors are responsible for informing President and parent prior to game time of a child sitting out due to unexcused absence.
C. Excused absences include, but not limited to, illness, family emergency or school function. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform coach or sponsor of absence prior to practice.
D. Only officers, coaches and sponsors are permitted on practice field during practice time. If a parent or relative goes onto the field during practice unwarranted, they will be asked to leave the practice area. If it continues to happen, the parent or relative can, and will, be banned from all youth football/cheerleading activities for the remainder of the season, per Executive Board decision.
VI. Parent/Child Responsibilities
A. Show support for organization and teams.
B. Parents must have children at practices and games on time.
C. Strive to work hard as a team.
D. Ask for something to do to help out with the team and organization functions.
E. Parents and responsible for children’s equipment or for the cost to replace the equipment.
F. Parents must not leave children at any practice or game unattended. If you must leave, please leave someone responsible for your child.
G. Parents and children not presenting themselves in a mature, respectful and ethical manner can, and will, be banned from the association for one year from the date of the offense, per Executive Board decision.
VII. Donations/Fundraising
A. All monies donated or raised will be directly turned over to the Treasurer to be deposited in the Cullman Bearcats Youth Association account.
B. All fundraising must go through the President.
VIII.Age Limitations and Eligibility
A. You must play/cheer in the grade you are in unless you are over the age limit per county by-laws.
B. Mascots need to be in preschool or kindergarten, but not old enough to cheer on fireplug squad.
C. No more than two mascots per cheering squad.
***All Cullman County By-Laws Apply***
Printed Mar 2006 CG
Updated Apr 2007 CG
Updated Oct 2007 CG
Updated Jul 2009 JB
Updated Jun 2010 JE