Ice Hockey Home Page

 

Mount Holyoke College Ice Hockey Club Constitution

 

Mission statement: To further the interest and education of women’s ice hockey at Mount Holyoke College, to foster team spirit and provide a comfortable and supportive environment in which to learn the game. 

 

Article I: The Hockey Season

 

A.        The ice hockey season is defined as one academic year, spanning both the fall and spring semesters.       

 

Article II: E- Board

 

A.        The purpose of the E-board meetings is to act as a forum for discussion of current issues related to ice hockey, discussion of future events, and to update the chair as to what the E-board members are working on.  While the chair will take into consideration the views of the E-board, the chair will have final decision-making power. 

B.         The club will be directed and run by the E-board

C.        The E-board will meet monthly in season (minimum) and in the month before the season starts, with the possibility of additional meetings as called for by the chair.

D.        The meetings will be run by the chair.

E.         The E-board will consist of the chair, the game-practice coordinator, the ombudsperson, the captains and the treasurer.

F.         E-board members must be players on the team unless this is waived by a ¾ vote from the team, and as long as the person elected attends team events including practices and games.  This excludes captains and the chair, who must be players.

G.        Any player who is not on the E-board may attend meetings, but is not required to do so unless requested to come by the chair.  They will not have an E-board vote. 

H.        If an E-board member should miss more than one E-board meeting a semester without an excuse, they can be voted off the E-board by 3/4 vote.

I.          If an E-board is not conducting her responsibilities she may be asked to step-down by 3/4 vote of the E-board.

 

Article III: Roles of the Elected Positions

 

A.        Chair:  This position will be held by one person.  The chair is responsible for the following duties: directing and running all monthly and emergency meetings, handling health forms and medical clearances, determining the allocation of equipment to players, final clearance of games with game-practice coordinator, acting as coach at games in the absence of the designated coach, attending club sports meetings and acting as a liaison with Kendall and student programs, working with the coach and handling concerns/problems that may arise, as well as all executive decisions, which are final.  The chair will maintain a statistic sheet of every team played during the course of the season and take general game notes.  The chair will be responsible for keeping track of team community hours and attendance.

B.            Practice and Game Coordinator:  This position will be held by one person.  The practice-game coordinator is responsible for setting up practice times and all other communications with the ice ink, including canceling practices (as decided on by the chair). She will also be responsible for communicating with the treasurer to insure prompt payment to the ice rink.  Practice-game coordinator will also be responsible for reservation and cancellation of vans for practices and games.  She will be in charge of coordinating van drivers.  The practice-game coordinator will be responsible for scheduling games both away and at home, prior to the season when possible, networking with other game coordinators, scheduling refs, and letting the team know the schedule in advance.  The practice-game coordinator will work closely with the chair to come up with a schedule that works best for the team.  

D.            Equipment Manager: The equipment manager (can be held by one or two people) is responsible for handing out and collecting equipment at the discretion of the chair, deciding on the safety of old equipment, recommending to the board the purchasing of new equipment, 2 inventories in which a list is kept of where the equipment has been distributed, one before equipment handout and one after equipment return and providing for the storage of the equipment over the summer. 

E.            Treasurer:  The treasurer (one person) is responsible for maintaining the books and making sure that the club’s money is being spent in a fiscally responsible manner.  The treasurer is also responsible for coordinating the budget with the ways and means committee of the SGA, passing treasurer audits and attending treasurer training, as well as working with the chair to come up with a budget for the following year.  The treasurer is responsible for coordinating fundraising efforts.  It is also the treasurer’s duty to fill out and ensure deliver of ice rink payments.

F.            Captains:  The position of captains will be held by two people.  The captains are responsible for fostering team spirit and unity,  will provide team leadership and be a liaison between the needs of the team, the chair and coach.  The captains are responsible for all practices, unless there is a coach in which case the coach runs practices and will coordinate with captains and the chair.  The captains, along with the chair and coach, are responsible for game line-ups.  The captains will run all pre-game warm ups.  On the ice, the captains are in charge of making sure that the game is played in a fair, sportsman-like manner, and that the team presents itself in a way that is representative of the college. 

G.            Ombudsperson:  The ombudsperson (one person) acts as a liaison between the team, the chair, the captains, and the coach; they mediate any conflict that may arise between team members or within the team itself.  She will attend training as is available.  If a player does not feel comfortable with the ombudsperson, they should speak to the chair.  Confidentiality and trustworthiness are a must for this position. 

 

 

Article IV: Coach

 

A.        The coach must be held accountable to the team and shall act in a way that is representative of the college.

B.         In charge of running practices and games if present.

C.            Coaches must accept input from the chair, captains, and ombudsperson. Concerns and complaints about the coach or practice shall go through the ombudsperson or the chair only. 

D.        The coach will be voted in or out of the position by a 2/3 vote by the entire team.

E.            Searching for a new coach will be the responsibility of the entire E-board. 

 

 

Article V: Practices       

 

A.        On-ice practices will be held twice a week or as designated by the chair.  Off-ice practice will be held a minimum of once a week or as designated by the chair.

B.         The coach will be responsible for running practice if present, otherwise that responsibility shall fall to the captains.

  

 

Article VI: Games

 

A.                 In the absence of the coach, the chair will be responsible for ensuring that someone is on the bench to call lines at all times. 

B.                  Line-ups will be made by the chair, captains and coach.  In the case of disagreement the coach, if present, will have the final say.  If a coach is not present, a 2/3 vote of the captains and chair will prevail.

C.                  Locker room discussion and strategy is the responsibility of the coach.  If a coach is not present, it is the job of the chair and captains.  They will take into consideration the view of the team at all times.

D.        The chair will be responsible for deciding who is eligable to play in each game.

 

Article VII: Membership and Player Responsibilities

 

A.                 In order to be a member of the club, players must be Mount Holyoke students or Five-College students without a home team, in good standing with their respective college.

 

B.         Players are responsible for acting in a way that is reflective of Mount Holyoke College.

 

C.        Players are not required to have experience before becoming a member of the club

 

D.        In order to be eligible to play in a game, players must attend both on-ice practices the week prior to the game. 

 

E.         Players are required to provide their own skates, helmet and stick, unless they cannot afford to do so, in that case that equipment may be provided for them, if equipment and funding is available. 

           

 

F.         Players are responsible for participating in team activities.  This includes a responsibility of 6 hours a semester of team “community service.” 

 

1. Team community service may include, but is not limited to, driving vans to games and practices, participating in fundraising activities and other activities that are designated by chair.

 

G.        If a player conducts herself in a manner that is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike and continues to act in a way that is detrimental to the well-being of the team, it is the responsibility of the omsbudperson to bring the problem to the E-board.  The E-board can then, by 2/3 vote ask the player to leave the team.

 

Article VIII: Team Equipment

 

A.            Equipment will be handed out in the following order:  1.  Returning players who have attended every practice.  2. New players who have attended every practice. 

 

B.         After the above players have received equipment, the chair will be responsible for deciding who receives the remaining equipment. 

 

C.        If a player has missed three (3) on-ice practices a semester without being excused they will forfeit their equipment. 

*Excused means letting the chair know at least 2 hours before practice, or as decided upon by the chair.

 

D.        Any and all equipment that is purchased with team funds will remain the property of the Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey Club.

 

Article IX: Elections

 

A.            Elections will be held at the end of the season, no later than three weeks after the last practice and prior to the upcoming fall semester. 

 

B.            Elections will be closed ballot or via e-mail under extreme circumstances as decided upon by the chair.

1. All votes are to be kept confidential under all circumstances.

2. A record of ballots shall be kept by the chair and made public upon request up to two weeks following the election, after that time ballots will be destroyed.

 

C.        Anyone who has completed 2 seasons on the team is eligible to run for chair and captain.  Anyone who has completed a season is eligible to run for any other position.

 

E.            Elections will be run in a fair and impartial manner by the chair.

 

F.         If positions go unfilled the newly elected chair will assume that responsibility.  There will be another general election in the fall to fill the position.  If still unfilled, the chair will assume the responsibility of that position until filled.

 

G.        In the case of a resignation during the season the person who resigned shall immediately surrender all records of the position to the chair.  The chair will then hold another election for that position as soon as possible.

 

H.            Electee’s must get more votes than abstentia’s in order to assume office.  The chair will make this clear before the elections are held. 

 

I.          If a member is abroad and eligible for a position they may be nominated, however, per SGA, they are not allowed to otherwise participate in the election.

 

J.          A player is not eligible to participate in the election if she has missed three (3) unexcused on-ice practices in the semester.

 

Article X: Constitution

 

A.            Amendments to the constitution can be made by a 3/4 majority of quorum.  Votes of this nature will be announced by the chair prior to voting, and the vote will be officiated by the chair.

1. Quorum shall be defined as 50% plus one of the active members of the team.  If quorum at meeting is not met, e-mail voting may be used to reach quorum.