MCOA Bear Constitution
and By-Laws		 MCOA Bear
Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Softball Volleyball Wrestling
MID COAST OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 410136; Melbourne, Florida; 32941-0136

Constitution and By-Laws
Revised as of September 24, 2007
Article I - Name and location
  1. This association shall be known as the Mid Coast Officials Association (MCOA).
  2. The mailing address shall be located in Brevard County, Florida.
Article II - Aim and purpose
  1. In view of the inter-relationships between interscholastic athletic activities and school personnel, sports officials, athletes, the press and patrons, it shall be the aim and purpose of this association:
    1. To maintain a membership of experienced and capable sports officials.
    2. To maintain a high standard of ethics, encouragement of fair play and sportsmanship, and closer cooperation and better understanding among officials, athletic directors, coaches, players, press and spectators, all as prescribed by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and National Federation of High School Athletic Association (NFHS ).
Article III - Membership
  1. Each member shall be registered with the FHSAA each year and shall be in good standing with said association. Each member shall be covered by NFIOA liability insurance or a policy of equal coverage.
  2. Each member shall be registered with the MCOA each year and shall be in good standing with said association. Application for membership to MCOA shall be made to the secretary of MCOA either by direct contact or through the sports commissioner. All memberships expire June 30 each year.
  3. Good standing shall be defined as being current with any dues and fines for both the MCOA and the individual sport. The definition of current is to have paid all dues, fees or fines prior to your first assignment in the first sport you work in a given year. If a member is not current they shall be "not in good standing" and shall not be eligible to participate in normal MCOA or sport activities such as working contests or voting in elections.
  4. Each member shall abide by the Code of Ethics for Athletic Officials as published in the NFHS booklets.
  5. Each member is responsible for upholding the traditions of good sportsmanship and remembering their responsibility in all situations.
  6. Conditions for membership in this association are universally applicable. They are:
    1. Compliance with all rules and regulations of National, State and local associations.
    2. Continued payment of dues, fees, and fines.
    3. Good moral character.
Article IV - Officers and duties
  1. General officers of this association shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and WEB Master/Arbiter Administrator.
    1. President: Shall preside at all general meetings of the association. Shall conduct the meeting in a business-like manner according to the Roberts Rules of Order Revised. In addition, will execute all rules and regulations pertaining to the organization of business of the association. Shall have the power to sign checks. Shall have the power to enforce any action necessary for the good of the association which is not covered or assigned by the constitution.
    2. Vice President: Shall assist the President in all matters pertaining to the association and shall assume the duties of the President when absent. Shall serve as Parliamentarian at all general meetings.
    3. Secretary: Shall keep a written record of all general meetings and of all executive council meetings. Shall handle all correspondence relative to the association, order all supplies and publications, and keep and make available to each member, once each year, a constitution.
    4. Treasurer: Shall establish and maintain a checking account in the name of the association, being responsible for all financial affairs of the association. Shall be responsible for the preparation, either in person or by outside agency, of all tax materials for MCOA. Shall submit a budget for the approval of the executive council at the August meeting, and at the end of the year meeting in May. Shall submit a quarterly financial report to the President. Shall register all fines and notify in writing each appropriate sports commissioner or secretary.
    5. WEB Master/Arbiter Administrator: Shall maintain the official MCOA WEB site and provide access to all sports. Shall monitor the site to insure the integrity of a public WEB site. Shall administer the MCOA Arbiter license and assist Sport Commissioners as needed.
  2. Executive Council of the association shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, WEB Master/Arbiter Administrator, and Sport Commissioner of each sport.
    1. The Executive Council shall conduct business for the association within the constraints of the constitution and by-laws.
    2. All recommendations concerning policy must be accepted by a majority vote of the council before being presented to the membership for ratification. A quorum must be present in order for any business to take place.
  3. Board of Appeals: The Board of Appeals shall consist of the General Officers of this Association.
    1. The Board of Appeals shall hear and decide upon all controversies that are presented to the Board in writing from each sports grievance committee.
    2. The Board of Appeals will also investigate any incident reported to the MCOA, in writing, involving a members conduct. If the investigation finds the conduct is not in accordance with this constitution, or the Code of Ethics of the NFHS, or the rules of the FHSAA, the board, by majority vote may reprimand, fine, or suspend the member.
    3. The member has the right to appeal the Board's decision to the Executive Council. The Executive Council's decision will be final.
  4. Sports Commissioner: There shall be a sports commissioner for each sport. The commissioner shall preside at all meetings of their particular sport, conducting each meeting in a business-like manner according to Roberts Rules of Order Revised (with the exception of election process - see Article V, Item 2). Shall make all contest assignments. The Sport Commissioner shall make any rules or guidelines, particular to their sport, that are needed to administer the sport during the year. The Sport Commissioner shall ensure compliance with all applicable rules for their sport including, but not limited to, NFHS, FHSAA, MCOA, and individual sport. Shall handle all disciplinary matters for their sport including reprimands, fines, or suspension for members. Shall appoint all committee members to serve as outlined in Article VI. Shall appoint a secretary, if needed, to assist. If a secretary is not used, the Commissioner shall perform the secretarial duties.
  5. Sports Secretary: There shall be a sports secretary, if needed, for each sport. The secretary is responsible for taking attendance at meetings. Shall correspond with the FHSAA for normal sport business. The secretary shall investigate all applications for membership of the particular sport using whatever agencies needed. Shall aid the commissioner in booking activities. At the beginning of the sports year shall provide the MCOA secretary and treasurer a complete list of members including the members name, address, FHSAA number, dues and booking fees collected, fines paid and not paid. At the end of the season, a record of itemized expenses shall be forwarded to the treasurer. The sport secretary shall submit the election results to the MCOA secretary in writing. The secretary shall have the authority to act in the commissioners stead when authorized to do so by the commissioner or if the commissioner is incapacitated by illness or injury.
Article V - Elections
  1. General officers shall be elected by a plurality vote of the members present at the General Membership meeting in May or June. All terms expire June 30 each year.
  2. Sports commissioner shall be elected by a plurality vote of that sport’s members present at an election meeting no later than two weeks after the State championship game for that sport. Nominations for Sports Commissioner shall be closed 2 weeks prior to the scheduled election meeting. Members shall be notified of meeting date, time, location and nominees. Should there only be one nominee (including incumbent) identified by the deadline, the election meeting shall be canceled and the single nominee elected by acclimation. All terms expire June 30 each year except for football which shall run from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
  3. Sports commissioners may not serve as General officers.
  4. Eligibility: Any member in good standing is eligible to run for any office.
    1. Candidates for Treasurer and WEB Master/Arbiter Administrator shall submit their name and qualifications to the President or Vice President at least 30 days before the General Membership election meeting. Based on those qualifications, the General Officers will determine which candidates to present to the membership.
  5. In case an officer resigns or membership is terminated, a replacement will be selected as follows.
    1. If the office of the President is vacated, the Vice President will assume this office.
    2. All other vacancies will be filled by an appointment of the executive council until an election can be held to fill the vacancy.
  6. Members may hold only one office: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, WEB Master/Arbiter Administrator or Sports Commissioner.
Article VI - Committees
  1. Committees shall be as described in the most recent FHSAA Officials Guidebook. The sports commissioner shall appoint members of their sport, who are in good standing, to those committees.
  2. Grievance Procedure: Officials who have grievances because of penalties may appeal using the following process.
    1. First to the sports commissioner.
    2. If unresolved, in writing to any member of that sport’s grievance committee.
    3. If unresolved, by forwarding the written complaint to the Executive council. The decision of the Executive council is final.
Article VII - Meetings
  1. General membership meetings shall be held two times a year. One meeting will be held in September and one will be held in May or June. The actual date will be determined by the Executive Council.
  2. Executive council meetings shall be held four times a year, once in each quarter. They may be called into special sessions by the President.
  3. Sports meetings shall be held before, during, and at the end of the season. The number of meetings shall be determined by the commissioner, meet FHSAA guidelines, and be sufficient to prepare members for the season.
  4. Absences:
    1. The President shall excuse any member requesting permission, in advance, from a general membership or executive council meeting. Any unexcused absences shall be handled, as the President deems necessary.
    2. The sports commissioner shall determine what is an excused absence and methods for making up absences of sports meetings.
Article VIII - Assigning
  1. All booking assignments shall be made by the sports commissioner. Once approved by the assignment committee per FHSAA Guidebook , a copy of the full MCOA assignment schedule must be made available to each member of the particular sport, the Treasurer and all appropriate contractual representatives.
  2. Any member may request permission to be excused for a particular night.
  3. Sports dues shall be paid prior to receiving any assignment for that season. No commissioner shall charge his or her members a booking/assigning fee as long as the MCOA is receiving administrative fees from the schools under contract.
  4. Any complaints regarding assignments shall be referred to the sports commissioner. If no resolution is reached, the written complaint shall be forwarded to any member of the grievance committee.
Article IX - Dues, fees, and fines
  1. Each member of the association shall pay general membership dues established by the executive council.
  2. The sports commissioner shall determine the dues and booking fees to be assessed for each sport.
  3. In the event of a shortage of funds, the executive council shall assess each member of that sport a proportionate share of the shortage. As much as possible, each sport should pay its own way.
  4. Game fees, where applicable, will be those recommended by the FHSAA and agreed to by contract between the MCOA and local schools.
  5. Failure to pay dues, fees, and fines shall result in the withholding of assignments and possible disciplinary action by the sports commissioner.
Article X - Uniforms
  1. All uniforms requirements will be prescribed by the FHSAA.
  2. Jackets, if worn will be solid black in color except baseball or softball may wear conventional blue. Patches and insignia of any nature, except MCOA logo, FHSAA logo or U.S.A. flag, will not be worn on the jackets.
  3. The association may require additional requirements.
Article XI - Changes
  1. All changes or revisions to this constitution shall be submitted in writing, by a member in good standing, to the secretary of the association at least 30 days prior to the next general membership meeting. All proposed change or revision shall be posted on the WEB  along with notification of the general meeting. Only proposed changes or revisions sent to the members with notification of a general meeting, and only the proposed change or revision as written, shall be placed on the agenda for consideration. A majority vote of those members present shall determine passage.
Article XII - Miscellaneous
  1. Any matter not specifically covered by this constitution and by-laws shall be handled by the executive council.
Article XIII - Addendum - MCOA Rules and Guidelines & Operating Procedures
  1. The Rules and Guidelines and Operating Procedures shall be modified as needed by simple majority vote of the Executive Council.

MCOA Rules and Guidelines
  1. Sport Commissioners shall ensure compliance with all requirements of the contract between MCOA and the individual schools.
  2. Any official may scratch any school.
  3. Any official may know from which school they have been scratched.
  4. All contest assignments shall be made by the commissioner.
  5. No official may individually contract for any FHSAA contest.
  6. Sport commissioners shall determine their own sport’s "check-in" policy. In general the policy will include contact with all crew members at least 24 hours prior to the contest.
  7. Sport commissioners shall strive to assign officials to provide the best officiating service to all schools and or conference served.
  8. Except in case of necessity, no official shall be assigned to work consecutive varsity contests on a school’s schedule.
  9. Any official who cancels or changes from a contest without due cause or timely notification to the sports commissioner, after the assignment sheet has been published, shall be subject to a fine.
  10. Any official who violates the FHSAA or MCOA uniform requirements shall be subject to a fine.
  11. Officials should allow two weeks before advising the Sports Commissioner that a school has failed to pay them.
  12. Officials should cash contest checks within two weeks of receipt.
  13. Officials shall not publicly criticize any other official, nor shall any official publicly criticize coaches or players involved in any contest.
  14. When an official has an ejection of a player or coach, or any other problem during a contest, they shall contact the Sport Commissioner within 24 hours. The officials shall also follow FHSAA guidelines regarding contacting their office following ejection’s or other unsportsmanlike acts.
  15. All officials shall abide by any contract or agreement made by the Executive Council.
  16. Officials shall arrive at the contest site at least 30 minutes prior to game time.
  17. Officials assigned to a JV contest that is followed by a varsity contest should try to see at least half of the varsity contest.
  18. The Executive Council shall determine which, if any, General Officers will be a paid position. The Executive Council shall also determine the yearly fee to be paid the General Officers and Booking Commissioners.
  19. Fines - The following is a list of common infractions and their associated fines. The list is not meant to be all inclusive but only as a guide to the sport commissioner or Executive council.
    1. Two game fees plus mileage
      1. Missing a contest assignment.
    2. $10 and possible disciplinary action
      1. Failure to pay assessments within 10 days.
      2. Late arrival at scheduled assignment.
    3. $5
      1. Failure to wear proper uniform in good condition.
      2. Failure to attend MCOA or sport mandatory meetings.
      3. Reassignment fee for canceling game after schedule is published (emergencies excepted). This fine will be payable to the sport commissioner and shall be paid before another assignment may be worked.
    4. One Game Fee plus mileage
      1. Changing a contest with another official without permission of Sports Commissioner.
      2. Accepting an assignment from other than the Sports commissioner.
  20. There will be no products sold or displayed within the confines of any MCOA meeting (sport, general membership, or executive) or clinic unless invited to an individual sport meeting by that sport commissioner
  21. Officials using MCOA as “Primary” Association will be given “First Priority” for game assignments by Sports Commissioners.
  22. Officials shall not “turn back” an MCOA assigned contest to accept an assignment from another association.