The name of the organisation shall be the West Devon Youth Cricket League (referred to in this document as either “the League” or “the WDYCL”). A sponsors name can be prefixed
Aims
To actively govern and promote the playing and development of the game of cricket at youth level in West Devon
To encourage the upholding of the traditions and standing of the game of cricket in accordance with both the Laws of Cricket and the “spirit of cricket” the game.
To be open in carrying out the League’s business and in taking account of the views of organisations and individuals that wish to contribute to youth cricket in West Devon.
To uphold and operate a policy of non-discrimination. Accordingly, membership shall be open only to clubs paying the appropriate affiliation fee and whose Membership shall be open to all, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, colour, creed, ethnic origin, social status, and sexual orientation
Objectives
Membership of the League. The voting composition of the League shall consist of a representative from each of the clubs.
General requirement. Any Club seeking to become a member of the League shall apply in writing prior to the Annual General Meeting and paying the appropriate affiliation fee confirm that it agrees to be bound by the Rules, Codes, Directions and behavioural standards promulgated by both the League and ECB from time to time.
Failure to pay the appropriate Affiliation Fee. Failure to pay the appropriate affiliation fee shall disqualify from being affiliated to the League from a date one month after that fee became payable, and from that date the relevant Club or other body shall be ineligible for any of the benefits of affiliation to the League or to benefit from any of the services which the League provides.
Appointments by, and working arrangements of the League
Officers of the Board. The League shall appoint and be administered by a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Fixture Secretary, Registration and Result Secretaries for each age group and a Child Welfare Officer. These appointments need not necessarily be made from within the League membership and shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Any nomination for an Officer of the League shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting at which the appointment is to be made. All nominations shall be supported both by a Proposer and a Seconder
Each officer of the League, at committee meetings, will have one vote, except that the Chairman will be empowered to exercise a second and casting vote where otherwise there is an equality of votes cast for any proposition.
The League shall meet at least twice a year, and in addition hold an Annual General Meeting. All clubs must be represented at meetings.
The League shall be empowered to hold such further meetings as it shall from time to time consider necessary for properly conducting the business of the League.
Notice of no less than seven days of all League Meetings and the Annual General Meeting will be given to each League member in writing.
The quorum for League meetings will be 75% of the total membership of the League. This shall include at least two Officers as specified in Clause 5.1 above.
The League may establish such other Committees as it from time to time thinks fit, and may delegate to them such functions as it decides.
Urgent Action. In all cases of urgency and the need for urgency precludes action through a formal meeting of the League, the Honorary Secretary (acting in consultation with the Chairman) shall be empowered to exercise the powers of the League (including that of appointing members to an ad hoc Committee or the Appeals Committee for the purposes of dealing with a specific case). In all cases where the Honorary Secretary exercises powers in these circumstances a formal report of the action taken and the circumstances in which it was taken, shall be submitted by the Honorary Secretary to the next meeting of the League.
The Annual General Meeting of the League. This shall be held between 1 September and 31 December in every year. The requirement for Notice of Meetings is specified in Clause 5.6.
The Business to be transacted at the Annual General Meeting shall be specified on the Agenda and shall include: the receipt of a report on the membership of the League for the next ensuing year; the election of Officers; the receipt and approval of the Accounts of the League for the preceding year; the approval of Affiliation Fees for the next following year.
The separate age group divisions and cup competitions shall be governed by their own rules and playing conditions. These rules and conditions shall be subject to addition, change and amendment at the Annual General Meeting. All propositions should be submitted, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary of the League by the 15th of September.
Entry into each division shall be submitted in writing, on the prescribed form, to the Honorary Secretary prior to the commencement of the first meeting following the Annual General Meeting (League Entry Meeting)). No late entry, under any circumstances, will be accepted. Each club must nominate a different contact for each age group.
Fixtures will be circulated by the Honorary Fixture Secretary following the League Entry Meeting (clause 5.13). Clubs will determine the dates of fixtures within the prescribed format. The Honorary Fixture Secretary to be advised in writing of the agreed dates within seven days of the second meeting following the Annual General Meeting (Fixtures Meeting).
Withdrawal should a team be withdrawn from a division the club will be responsible for the teams annual affiliation fee
Cup Draw The age group cup draws will be made at the Fixtures Meeting.
The Code of Conduct, Playing & General Regulations and Underpinning Principles shall apply to all divisions. These items shall be subject to addition, change and amendment at the Annual General Meeting. All propositions should be submitted, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary of the League by the 15th of September
The League shall be empowered to establish such other Committees as it shall judge to be desirable in the interests of the efficient discharge of the functions of the League.
The League shall be empowered to invite such other persons as it deems appropriate to attend its meetings and deliberations.
Minutes of all meetings of the League and of such Committees as it shall established from time to time shall be produced by the Honorary Secretary expeditiously after all such meetings and made available to all members.
The Honorary Treasurer will keep proper records of all accounts, transactions, assets and liabilities that give a clear and accurate view of the financial affairs of the League.
It shall be within the responsibilities of the League (and in the absence of a decision of the League, of the Honorary Treasurer) to address the need for appropriate insurance policies to protect the interests of the League. It shall be the responsibility of the Honorary Treasurer to ensure that all requisite insurance premiums are paid and kept fully up to date at all times.
The League’s financial year shall commence on 1 October in one year and end on the 30 September in the following year.
The accounts for each year will be reported to the Annual General Meeting of the League within three months of the end of the financial year, and shall be made available to all affiliated members on request. The accounts shall be circulated to Members of the League in advance of each Annual General Meeting.
The Honorary Treasurer shall make arrangements for the annual accounts to be appropriately checked before submission to the Annual General Meeting.
Affiliation Fees
All Affiliated Members of the League shall pay an annual Affiliation Fee for each team entered which shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting of the League for the relevant year starting on the following 1 January.
The League is empowered to pay any appropriate subscription to any relevant regional or national organisation.
Discipline
General conduct. All Members of the League and of all clubs affiliated to the League shall be expected to conduct themselves both on and off the field of play in such a way as to avoid bringing themselves, the League, or the game of cricket into disrepute. The League shall be empowered to investigate any complaints made by or against a Member of the League, any Club or affiliated to the League. The parties involved in any complaint shall be given the right to attend and appear before a Committee (other than the Appeals Committee) whose decision shall then be binding on all parties, subject only to the right of appeal to the Appeals Committee. The ECB Code of Practice to be applied in respect of any such investigations.
The League shall be empowered to discipline any Member of the League, any Club or any member of any Club which is affiliated to the League who fails to abide by the general requirements of good conduct. Any decision to discipline any party shall include the right to exclude any Club, organisation or individual from continued affiliation with the League, but without otherwise limiting the power of sanction or penalty.
Appeals Committee. The League shall establish an Appeals Committee. This Committee shall meet when required and shall normally be chaired by the Chairman unless he or she is not available. In that circumstance the League shall appoint another suitable person to take the Chair of Committee for that meeting. The Appeals Committee shall if practicable be comprised of three Members of the League. Additionally, if for the purposes of any specific appeal and for ensuring fairness to the parties involved the League considers that an external independent Chairman or other member(s) should be appointed then the League shall be empowered to make such an appointment for the purposes and to pay any costs thereby incurred by the League. Otherwise all costs of any appeals shall be borne by the parties themselves. If exceptional costs are incurred by the League in dealing with an appeal, the Appeals Committee shall have power to require, and may therefore order, either party to the appeal to pay those costs.
The Appeals Committee shall never include within its membership for the purposes of hearing any specific appeal any person who has had any earlier involvement whatever in respect of the matter which is the subject of that specific appeal.
The Appeals Committee shall establish formal written procedures for the conduct of any Hearings. This procedure shall have proper regard to all the principles of natural justice. A copy of the procedure shall be made available to all parties involved in any appeal hearing in advance.
The adjudication on any appeal shall be given only after a formal Hearing to which each party is invited and is given the opportunity to present their case. A minimum of fourteen days notice of the holding of any Hearing shall be given in writing to all parties. The written note of the procedures which will be followed by the Appeals Committee at the Hearing shall be issued to all parties with the Notice of the Hearing, together with a description of the provisions in this Section of this Constitution. A written notice of the decision of the Appeals Committee shall be issued to all parties within fourteen days of the conclusion of the Hearing.
Dissolution of the League
In the event that the League either ceases to exist or a decision is taken that it be dissolved for any reason such assets and monies as the League shall then have after the settlement of all its liabilities shall be distributed in such manner as the Devon Cricket Board shall advise but with the specific interests of benefiting the continued fostering and development of youth cricket within the County of Devon.
Amended 23rd October 2008