TNL Constitution

October 2016

TONBRIDGE NETBALL LEAGUE

CONSTITUTION
NAME
The league shall be called the Tonbridge Netball League.
OBJECT
To promote the interests of netball in the local area.
MEMBERSHIP
1. The League shall consist of the officers and the members
2. In accepting membership a person agrees to abide by the constitution of the league,
the Rules and the rulings of the League Officers
3. Members will be enrolled in the following categories:
a. Club member
b. Life member
Definitions:
a. Club members: All players (female game only), umpires or other club officials
as notified to the league.
b. Life Members: May be offered by the League to a person who has given
outstanding service to the league.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
1. All playing members and umpires must be affiliated to England Netball, including the
appropriate region and county fees as set out by EN.
2. League fees will be set for each Summer and Winter League, based on the cost of the
courts and the number of teams in each league.
3. Teams will be notified of the charges towards the end of each season.
4. The Officers of the League will keep all costs to a minimum, and present accounts at
the AGM each year.
OFFICERS
The Officers shall be:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Summer Match Secretary
Winter Match Secretary
Publicity Secretary
Tournament Secretary
Umpiring Secretary
Coaching Secretary

Page 1

TNL Constitution

October 2016

1. These officers shall serve for a period of 12 months, being elected annually at the
League AGM. All officers must retire annually but shall be eligible for
reappointment.
2. Any member of the League may put themselves forward for election at the AGM, by
responding in writing to the AGM pack, and being seconded by another member.
3. In the event that more than one person puts themselves forward for the same role,
then each shall be given 5 minutes to address the AGM, before leaving the room and a
vote, via show of hands, with one vote per team, is taken.
COMMITTEE
1. The League shall be managed by the Committee consisting of the Officers elected at
the Annual General Meeting.. Committee members shall be required to attend all
meetings. Vacancies arising for any cause, during the year, shall be filled by cooption
at the Committee's discretion.
2. A quorum shall consist of five members
3. All meetings of the Committee shall be minuted.
4. No Committee member who is also a member of a club shall vote on a matter directly
concerning his/her club.
5. If a complaint is received regarding an Officer of the Committee, then that Officer
shall be asked to leave the Committee meeting in order for the complaint to be
considered.
6. All decisions of the Committee shall be binding and, where necessary, the persons
concerned will be notified in writing.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The AGM shall be held during October each year and 14 days notice shall be
given to Club Secretaries and Life Members.
Members of all Teams and Clubs shall be eligible to attend, but only one member
from each team shall have a vote. Officers have a vote, but Life Members do not.
The Agenda of the AGM shall include:
i.
Minutes of previous AGM
ii.
Secretarys Reports.
Nominations for Officers shall be submitted to the Secretary 7 days prior to the
meeting
Nominees shall be proposed and seconded and shall have indicated their
willingness to stand.
In the event of insufficient nominations being received before the AGM,
nominations may be received from the floor, each nominee being proposed and
indicating his/her willingness to stand.
Each team must send a representative to the AGM, who must stay until the end of
the meeting, to be eligible for entry into the Summer league

CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION OR RULES

1.
2.

Changes of the Constitution or the League Rules may be made only at the
AGM or Special Meetings.
Proposals for changes shall be notified to the Secretary in writing together with
the names of the proposer and seconder not less than 7 days before the
Meeting.

Page 2

TNL Constitution

3.

October 2016

The Constitution or the League Rules shall not be altered or amended except by a
two-thirds majority at the AGM or Special Meeting.

SPECIAL MEETINGS
1. A Special Meeting will be called by the Secretary at the written request of at least
two thirds of the registered teams.
2. The Committee may arrange a Special Meeting if they deem it necessary
3. At least 7 (seven) days notice, together with an Agenda for the Special Meeting, shall
be sent to the Secretaries of all Clubs and Life Members.

Page 3

TNL Constitution

October 2016

DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS

The league strives to make netball a safe and enjoyable game for all to play. In order to
enable this to take place, the League has introduced a complaints and disciplinary
procedure to guide players, umpires, coaches, members of the committee and visitors.
1. Any dispute between Teams or complaints concerning Teams, individual players,
umpires or team supporters shall be referred in writing (either by email or paper) to the
Secretary and brought before the Committee whose decision is final. Formal
complaints received by the Committee will be communicated to those involved and
sanction may be levied, as follows:
a. Informal warning,
b. Formal warning
c. Reprimand as decided by the Committee which may include suspension.
In the event of gross misconduct, the Committee has the authority to suspend with
immediate effect.
2. Complaints must be submitted, in writing, either via email or post to the Secretary.
3. The committee will discuss the problem at the next planned meeting, or if
considered necessary, will call an extraordinary meeting. All the facts will be
observed and discussed in a fair and unbiased manner by a quorum, if not the
whole committee and a decision reached.
4. The Committee shall have the power to take disciplinary action against any member
and shall have the authority to terminate the membership of any member guilty of
conduct deemed to be detrimental to the League
5. There shall be a right of appeal to the Committee against any decision made by an
Officer of the League
6. The appeal shall normally be considered within 14 days of it being received by the
secretary.
7. The use of Social Media technology to bring the game into disrepute or make an
inappropriate comment about a fellow player, coach, official, volunteer or the
Committee will incur a penalty ranging from a warning, loss of points and a fine, to
suspension and expulsion from the league, determined by the seriousness of the
offence and by the decision of the Committee. This applies to individual members,
teams and clubs.
Any matters not successfully resolved at League level will be referred to the England
Disciplinary Charter

LIABILITY
The League will accept no responsibility for any accident or injury to players,
umpires, coaches, spectators or anyone else attending the venue, during games
organised by the League. Everyone attends at their own risk!

Last Updated: October 2016

Page 4