102.     AFFILIATION PROCEDURES

102.1   Affiliate Membership requires an application to be submitted by every Affiliate, full or associate, annually for review and approval.

By application for affiliation with FYSA, each applicant hereby agrees:

1.      The affiliate will maintain a BOD, or governing authority, that is independent from any other sports organization.

2.      The affiliate will maintain its own bank accounts (i.e., Checking and savings) or has direct control over its finances. Except were evidence is provided that the sponsoring entity by ordinance, statute, charter, or policy prohibits the applicant from having direct control over its finances (i.e. governmental sponsored organizations).  The applicant shall attach to the application evidence to support the request for waiver of this requirement.

3.      It is the intent of the organization by application that if granted affiliation, the member will register 100% of all players, coaches, administrators and volunteers (who will have direct interface with its players) each year with FYSA.

102.2   INITIAL AFFILIATION - Full Affiliate

            Affiliation must be for the good of soccer in the District, Region and State of Florida.  All new full affiliates must affiliate within the district where they physically reside, or in the district in which the majority of its players reside and/or physically play the majority of their home games.  In addition, no new affiliation may be granted if the new affiliate’s home field is within a fifteen (15) mile radius of an existing FYSA affiliate, unless the new affiliate obtains the support of all existing FYSA affiliates within the specified radius.        

102.3  The completed affiliation application packet, items 1-6, shall be submitted to FYSA’s State Office not later than thirty (30) days prior a scheduled meeting of the EC/BOD.    FYSA will verify that the application is complete and all necessary supporting documentation is present.  For any affiliation application not completed by thirty (30) days prior to the date of a scheduled EC/BOD meeting, all documentation and/or fees will be returned to the applicant for re-filing at a later date.  FYSA will then forward a copy of all documentation regarding the new affiliation to the Vice President of Administration and Communication, all RVPs, and the DC for the district in which the new affiliation will reside.  FYSA will notify all affiliates within the district affected, by means deemed appropriate, of the application and request that any objections to the application be submitted no later than seven (7) days prior to the next scheduled meeting of the EC/BOD.  FYSA’s Vice President of Administration and Communication shall only present the completed applications at the next BOD or EC meeting.

            The complete packet will consist of:

1.      Completed affiliation application form.

2.      Affiliate fee. New affiliates will pay an affiliation fee for the first two (2) years in the amount of $1500.00/year to be utilized as follows: Affiliation fee of $135.00, prepaid registration fees in the amount of $1365.00 (Any unused registration fees not utilized in the first two years will be carried forward to the third year affiliation.  At the end of the third year, all unused registration fees will revert to FYSA’s general fund.)  

A.     A waiver to Rule 102.3 (2) (the additional $1365.00/yr.) may be granted if it is in the best interest of FYSA. 

B.     A written request for waiver must be submitted with the application for affiliation.  This request for waiver must be approved by the local DC, the RVP, and the BOD of FYSA.  The decision of the BOD is final, binding and not appealable by any of the parties.

3.      Playing field availability; written proof of playing field availability         

4.      Letter from a league in which your affiliate’s teams will be scheduled.

5.      Letter from the local DRA indicating FSR’s capability to serve your club.           

6.      Must furnish to FYSA a copy of the affiliates bylaws and rules

 102.4    A.  Any new affiliate must sponsor an entry level (Grade 8) referee course within their first 12 (twelve) months of affiliation and must submit in writing to FYSA the course number, the date and the place of the course after the completion of the course.  Failure to do this will result in non-renewal of their affiliation.

              B.  A new affiliate, once approved, will be placed on three-year probation.  At the end of the three years, the affiliate must submit a letter with their affiliation form requesting full membership.  The request for full membership is neither automatic nor guaranteed.