Bylaws of the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee

Southeastern Association of the Amateur Athletic Union

ARTICLE I – Name, Objectives, Territory, Jurisdiction, Indemnification

Name – The name of this organization shall be the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee of the Southeastern Association of the Amateur Athletic Union, hereinafter referred to as the ABBC.

Objectives – The ABBC shall be a volunteer, non-profit organization which will promote the sport of basketball by providing opportunities through practice and play in a safe and controlled environment and which will uphold the rules and bylaws of the Amateur Athletic Union of the USA, Inc., the National AAU Boys’ Basketball Committee and the Southeastern Association of the AAU and the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee. ABBC shall also facilitate the recognition of outstanding athletes in the sport of boys’ basketball who exhibit leadership, high moral character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.

Territory – The territory of the ABBC shall be the State of Alabama.

Jurisdiction – The ABBC has jurisdiction over all AAU Boys’ Basketball sports activities in its assigned territory or representing its assigned territory. This shall include all clubs, teams, athletes, coaches, and volunteers who participate in Alabama Boys’ Basketball.

Indemnification – ABBC does hereby save and hold harmless and indemnify the officers and directors of the ABBC to the fullest extent allowed by law while acting reasonable within the scope of their capacity as an officer or director. This indemnification shall be considered to act secondarily and in excess to any overage offered to any officer or director under any valid collective insurance policy from any source.

ARTICLE II – Membership

Members – The membership of the ABBC consists of all approved clubs. Approved clubs are organizations promoting amateur Boys’ Basketball, who are in good standing with the ABBC and the SEAAU, who have paid their club dues and fees.

Qualification and Application – Membership is open to any upon the completion of the membership application form, and payment of the annual membership fee as determined by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States. In all cases, membership must be approved by the Registration Chairperson of the SEAAU, and the ABBC. Denials may be appealed to the Registration Committee of the SEAAU. Acceptance binds the club to abide by the AAU Code, all AAU policies, the Bylaws of the ABBC and the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the SEAAU whether or not the club has athlete registrations. Representatives of clubs must be listed on the club registration form. Representative(s) must be at least 18 years of age and must be of good standing in the SEAAU to serve on the Alabama AAU Boys’ Basketball Committee as shall be determined by the committee. Only one representative from each club may vote and each club will have only one vote in the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee meeting. The club may withdraw by written notice, signed by the chief executive officer or secretary of the appointing club, any or all of its representatives and substitute a new slate of representatives. This must be done in writing to the Secretary of the SEAAU. There will be no proxy voting.

Violations – Subject to the provisions of Article 210.1.8 of the AAU code, any violation of the AAU code, the SEAAU Bylaws, or the ABBC Bylaws by a club, coach, athlete, or volunteer renders such member liable to suspension by ABBC, until the next annual or special meeting and to expulsion by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. A club may be held responsible for infractions of the rules of the AAU, committed by an athlete who is competing as a representative of such organization, or by a coach who is coaching as a representative of such organization.

ARTICLE III – Officers

The officers of Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee shall be a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer. No individual may hold more than one office at the same time within ABBC. Only members of the ABBC sports committee are eligible to hold office.

Terms of office – All officers and members of the Executive Board shall serve for a term of four years or until a successor is chosen. The duties of the officers are hereafter set forth, and shall include such others as may be designated by the Sports Committee and the Executive Board.

Chairperson – The Chair calls meetings on the dates of the SEAAU Board of Managers meetings and on other dates as deemed necessary, presides at all meetings, appoints committees as required and performs such other duties as pertain to the office of Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be elected by a majority of those voting at the annual meeting of the ABBC.

Vice Chairperson – The Vice Chairperson shall carry out assignments of the Chairperson and has the power to act in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice Chair is appointed by the Chairperson.

Secretary – Appointed by the Chairperson, the Secretary keeps the records and minutes of the Sports Committee, and the Executive Board, and performs such other duties as may be prescribed by the bylaws.

Treasurer – The Treasurer, appointed by the Chairperson:

Receives all moneys of the committee and pays all bills of the committee.
Whenever required by the Sports Committee or Executive Committee, turns over to the committee, all moneys, account, books, papers, vouchers and records, including bank and check books, pertaining to the office, and turns over the same to a successor when elected. The Treasurer is bonded (at the expense of the Committee) for an amount to be designated by the Executive Board, but not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00),

Vacancies – In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson will fill that position until the next Sports Committee meeting. If a vacancy occurs in any appointed position, the Chair shall make a new appointment.

Executive Board – The Executive Board of the ABBC shall consist of the chairperson, the vice chairperson, the secretary, the treasurer, the state tournament directors plus any additional members appointed by the Chair. The Executive Board shall conduct the business of the ABBC in accordance with all the rules and regulations of the AAU, the Southeastern Association, and the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee, the Executive Board shall audit and examine the accounts of the Treasurer, and make a report to the ABBC annually. The Board will also at other times, when requested by the ABBC, make an examination of the accounts of the Treasurer, and report to the ABBC thereon, at its annual meeting and may in such cases require the Treasurer to turn over to it all moneys, accounts, books, papers, vouchers, and records pertaining to the office. In addition, the Board shall prepare an annual budget and submit it to the ABBC for approval.

ARTICLE IV – Meetings

Annual and Fall – The annual meeting date shall be determined by the Southeastern Board of Managers but the Chairperson of ABBC shall determine the time. The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving annual reports, and conducting any other business that may arise. The fall meeting date shall be determined by a vote at the annual meeting. The fall meeting shall be for the purpose of bidding tournaments, setting tournament dates and deadlines, receiving reports and any other business that may arise.

Quorum – A quorum shall consist of at least five clubs in good standing.

Rules – The rules as contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee meetings except in all cases where they are inconsistent with the bylaws of the SEAAU, the bylaws of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, and/or any special rules of order the ABBC may adopt. In these cases, the latter shall prevail.

ARTICLE V – Standing Committees

Review/Appeals Committee – The Executive Board shall also act as the ABBC Board of Review.

Duties - The Review Committee is responsible for investigating, reviewing and holding, when necessary, hearings concerning formal complaints of violations of any part of the code or the SEAAU and ABBC bylaws, that are issued to it by any member of the Sports Committee. Disciplinary procedures to be followed concerning any formal compliant and related hearing are outlined in the SEAAU Bylaws.
Required Bond – In order for any appeal to be filed with ABBC, a bond of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) must be presented. This bond will be held by the Treasurer of ABBC to defray any and all costs incurred by ABBC during the appeal. If the appeal is upheld, then the bond would be returned and expenses for the hearing would be paid by ABBC. If the appeal is rejected, ABBC would keep the bond.
Appeals – The club or individual filing the appeal has the right to continue the appeal to the Review Committee of the Southeastern Association of the AAU. (See the SEAAU Bylaws and the AAU Code Book.)

ARTICLE VI – Athlete Eligibility

Eligibility to participate in the Alabama Boys’ Basketball AAU program shall be in compliance with all national rules on boys’ basketball eligibility. All athletes must be current members of the AAU and must have appropriate proof of age as defined in the AAU Code. The age determining date for AAU boys’ basketball shall be September 1^st. An athlete’s age on September 1^st at 12:00 midnight determines his age group for that calendar year.

ARTICLE VII – Competition Rules

All tournament directors shall conduct their tournaments in accordance with all rules and procedures as established by the Amateur Athletic Union, the National Boys’ Basketball Committee, the SEAAU, and the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee. Rules of play shall be the Alabama High School Association Basketball Rules (as administered during the previous high school season). In all cases where the Alabama High School Association’s Basketball Rules and the rules of the AAU National Boys’ Basketball Committee disagree, the rules of the AAU National Boys’ Basketball Committee shall prevail. (Please refer to the current AAU Boys’ Basketball Handbook www.aauboysbasketball.org )

ARTICLE VIII – Association Championships

The ABBC holds annually such championships as deemed best by the Sports Committee. The ABBC is in charge of the respective Alabama championships. Qualifying teams from such competition shall have the right to advance to National Championships.

Entries and Fees –

The entry form and entry fee shall be mailed to the Chairperson and must be received by the established deadline for any team to be entered in the tournament.
No entry form or blank shall be distributed until approved by the Chairperson.
No tournament game may be scheduled earlier than the first date listed on the entry form for that age division.
A team may play in any, but only one, sub-state.
The ABBC shall determine the entry fee for state tournaments.
Team rosters and birth records shall be mailed directly to the ALAAU office for verification. These are due one week prior to the first game in the age group.
All athletes and coaches must be registered members of the SEAAU. Contact the SEAAU Registration Chair for information and fees or register online at www.aauboysbasketball.org.
All rosters must list at least two adults (coach, asst. coach, etc.).
Rosters must have a minimum of eight players.

ARTICLE IX – Sub-state and State Tournament Site Selection

Tournament Bids – Bids to host sub-states or state qualifying tournaments must be in writing and must be received by the Chairperson at least ten (10) days prior to the fall meeting. Bids should list all possible playing sites with their addresses. Bids should list the specific age groups and tournaments that are included in the bid. Bids should also include whether or not the playing floors are the minimum high school size and whether or not the gyms are air-conditioned.

Eligibility to Bid – Only active SEAAU clubs may submit bids to host tournaments. No club shall be allowed to host an association sub-state or state qualifying tournament unless said club has entered a team in competition in boys’ basketball association tournaments for the past three years and has been represented at the preceding annual meeting and fall meeting. The club must agree to abide by and enforce all association rules and regulations involving said tournament and the ABBC.

Bid Fees – Tournament bid fees for sub-state and state tournaments are one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per age group. These fees are charged only to those organizations receiving approval of their bids. Any Division II age group is considered separate and is an additional age group.

Site Selection – The sites shall be selected by a majority of the voting members present at the mid-year meeting. If no bids are received in a timely fashion by the Chairperson, then bids from the floor shall be accepted and voted on by those members present. If no bids are received from the floor, then the site selection will be determined by the Executive Board.

Requirements of Host Organization – The host organization must do the following:

Provide water and drinking cups on each bench.
Provide game ball and practice balls (unless expressly stated that no practice balls will be provided).
Assign competent scorers and timers.
Keep gyms clean, safe, and secure at all times.
Dressing room facilities for participating teams (minimum of 1, preferably 4).
Name an adult (at least 21 years of age) tournament director who is a three-year active participant with AAU.
Provide a concession stand, with the host club or its agents receiving 100 percent of the revenue.
Assign a competent individual to collect AAU tournament admission, with the host or its agents receiving 100 percent of the revenue.
Conduct an awards ceremony at the conclusion of the state tournament, including the presentation of trophies to the top four teams and AAU medals to the top three teams.
Assign and pay officials who are (a) registered with ASSAA or (b) residents of Alabama and are registered with a higher-level referees organization, e.g., college or professional.
Forward necessary copies of rosters, scoresheets, and tournament results to the State AAU Chairperson.
Attempt to secure reduced lodging rates for participating teams.
Provide brackets and seedings in accordance with association rules and policies and notify teams of game times at least one week prior to the beginning of competition.

Requirements of Executive Board – The Executive Board must do the following:

Receive all entries and fees.
Approve the tournament brackets and seedings.
Send evaluation forms to each participating team in the various association tournaments.

ARTICLE X – Fees and Dues

Club Memberships – Every group member pays annually to the SEAAU Registration Chair, dues as established by the Board of Managers for the coming year, which shall not exceed the maximum established by the National AAU.

Athlete Registrations – Each athlete member pays to the SEAAU Registration Committee, an annual registration fee established by the National AAU.

Coach Registrations – Each coach pays to the SEAAU Registration Committee, an annual registration fee established by the National AAU (Exception is made if the coach holds and AAU Life Membership). A coach must hold a current membership or a life membership in order to sit in the bench area.

Sanction Fees – The Registration Committee will collect a fee as established by the AAU for the granting of a sanction for the conducting of a competition, exhibition, or demonstration. Fees will not exceed those established by the Union.

Failure to pay – The failure of a member to pay such dues or fees within the time prescribed shall prevent representation and vote by the delinquent member to any meeting of the SEAAU or the ABBC. Continued failure to pay such dues or fees is cause for termination of membership.

Receipts and income derived from all sources must be used for paying the costs of the ABBC administrative or promotional expenses, for the promotion of amateur Boys’ Basketball, or for the general welfare of the ABBC as a whole.

ARTICLE XI – Disciplinary Procedures

Set forth, the Review Committee, after a proper hearing, may censure, suspend for a definite or indefinite period of time, or expel any member of the association, including any athlete or coach, official, member of any committee, delegate, or any person participating in any capacity whatsoever in the affairs of the ABBC or the AAU, who has violated the AAU, the ABBC Bylaws, or the SEAAU bylaws.

The procedures to be taken in reference to such a suspension or expulsion shall be as follows:

The person charged shall be notified, in writing (sent to his or her last known address by either certified mail or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service) of the charges against him or her in detail, or of the circumstances which are believed to require answers, explanation or clarification. In the case of a registered athlete, the notice shall be sent to the address last on file with the Review Committee. The written statement of charges shall also set out the penalties which may ensue if such charges are proved; the statement shall contain a date at which time a hearing will be conducted with the request that the person charged shall appear before the committee with the right to have counsel of his own choice to represent them at the hearing not less than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days after the date of the mailing of such notification with the demand that the person charged shall answer, in writing, to the Chairperson, all the charges set forth in such written statement, with such answers to be delivered to the Chairperson by either certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, no later than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing. The statement shall also set forth the right of appellate review if the decision is rendered at the time of the hearing, or within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.

When compliance with regular procedures would not be likely to produce a timely decision to do justice to the affected parties, the Review Committee, is authorized, upon such notice, as the circumstance may dictate, to the parties concerned to hear and decide a matter relating to a scheduled amateur athletic competition. The individual or club charged may be suspended from participation in any activities of the AAU after such notice and hearing. The hearing may be conducted at the site of the athletic competition or by telephone conference, if necessary. In any event, a hearing held under such circumstances shall be conducted as to fully protect the rights of due process of the individual or club charged. The notice to be given to the individual or club charged must be in writing, and shall in every instance contain the notice requirements set forth 409.2.1 of the code.

Unless original jurisdiction of the matter is assumed by the Board of Director (of the National AAU) the decisions of the ABBC Review Committee shall be final in all cases, subject only to appeal to the Board of Review of the SEAAU, then to the Board of Managers of the SEAAU and thereafter to the Board of Review of the AAU. An appeal to the Board of Managers must be taken within ten (10) days after mailing of written notice to the parties concerned of the decision of the committee. A petition to the Board of Review must be filed with the Secretary of the Union within sixty (60) days after mailing of written notice of the decision of the Board of Managers. Any person representing a real party in interest or any member of the National Review Committee may appeal. Upon timely petition to the Chair of the Law and Legislation committee of the Union, and upon a showing of good cause therefore, the time for appeal from the decision of either the Review Committee or the Board of Mangers may be extended. The right to appeal to the Board of Managers of the SEAAU may be waived by the party appealing the decision of the Review Committee of the SEAAU and the party may elect to appeal directly to the Board of Review of the AAU. A petition to the Board of Review must be filed with the Secretary of the Union within sixty (60) days after mailing of written notice of the decisions of the Review Committee of the SEAAU.

Evidence on hearing – In all hearings, whether before the Review Committee or the Board of Managers, the rules of evidence usually applicable to administrative hearings shall prevail.

Suspensions – All suspensions will be printed in the minutes of the Annual or Fall meeting following the suspension and continue to be printed for the duration of the suspension.

ARTICLE XII – Miscellaneous

Removal – An elected officer may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Alabama Boys’ Basketball Committee. At least fifteen (15) days’ written notice must be given to every member of the Sports Committee before any vote may be taken

Amendments to Bylaws – Any provision of these bylaws may be amended at the fall meeting of the Sports Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members voting. The committee may review proposed amendments at the annual meeting.

Dissolution – Upon dissolution, the net assets of the ABBC will not insure to the benefit of any private shareholder, individual or corporation, but will be distributed to the SEAAU, to be used exclusively for the promotion of Amateur Athletics.

Compliance with National AAU Boys’ Basketball Rules and the AAU Code – The boys’ basketball rules in these bylaws are patterned after and intended to be in compliance with any national rules governing the same. Should there be a conflict of rules, the national rules shall prevail.