Trussville Youth Football League, Inc

A Non-Profit Corporation

Bylaws

Article I Name and Association Colors

Section 1. The name of the association shall be the TRUSSVILLE YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC (“TYFL”). 

Section 2. 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization

Section 3. The colors of this organization shall be gray, red, and white (to maintain continuity with the local school athletic program colors). 

Article II Government

Section 1. The governing body of this organization shall be the Board of Directors. Consisting of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer, Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, Registrar, Director of Team Moms, Sponsorship Director, Purchasing Agent, and Equipment Manager. The number of members of the Board of Directors may be increased or decreased, if necessary, by implementation of the procedure in Article XI Amendments. 

Section 2. The Board shall have at least one regular open meeting per month at a location agreed upon between the members of the Board and the City of Trussville Park and Recreation department or as designated in the lease agreement with the City of Trussville. A designated representative from Park and Recreation department must be present at this meeting. 

Section 3. Only members of the Board, as defined in Section 1 of this Article, shall have voting rights. Each Board member shall have one vote, except for the President, who will vote only in the case of a tie. Motions shall be determined by a simple majority of the Board Members present at the duly scheduled meeting. At open meetings, members not on the Board may present suggestions, questions, etc. to the Board for the Board’s consideration and/or action (See Article XI Membership, for definition of membership).

Section 4. No individual shall commit the TYFL to any agreement or participation binding the Association without prior approval of the Board. 

Article III Purpose

Section 1. The purpose of this association shall be to promote football for the youth of the area for the pleasure and benefits derived thereof. 

Section 2. This organization is a member of the Jefferson/Shelby Youth Football League (JSYFL) and is subject to all applicable rules and regulations of the League. 

Article IV Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings. He shall be responsible for the operation and administration of the TYFL. The President will represent the TYFL in the dealings with the City of Trussville and the Park and Recreation Board or shall appoint a representative if needed. He shall attend all the Park and Recreation Board meetings or appoint a representative to do so. He shall relate all pertinent information back to the Board. The President shall also oversee any financial assistance needs that may arise during the season. 

Section 3. The First Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, preside at meetings. In the event the President cannot perform his/her duties, the First Vice President shall assume the duties and authority of the President. The First Vice President shall be responsible to the President for the purpose of ensuring that the duties of the Athletic Director and the Director of the Team Moms are accomplished. The First Vice President is also in charge of all field maintenance and field preparation. 

Section 4. The Second Vice President shall assist the First Vice President in responsibility for field maintenance and field preparation and other duties as directed by the Board. The Second Vice President will assume responsibility for conducting an annual parent survey administered in October and reviewed in November board meeting. In the event the First Vice President cannot perform his/her duties, the Second Vice President will assume the duties of the First Vice President. 

Section 5. The Secretary shall: Maintain an accurate record of all Board meetings and general membership meetings. The Secretary will record all business transacted at each meeting, specifically, the name of the person making a motion, the fact that a second was obtained and the disposition of the motion. This person will also manage correspondence and perform other such duties as may be directed by the President and/or the Board. This person will be responsible for securing all meeting places and notify Board members of these meetings. Provide a copy of the Bylaws, minutes, lists of standing committees, special committees existing at the time and any other documents and correspondence required or asked that would be pertinent to the conduct of business at the meeting. This person acts as a custodian of all records except those specifically assigned to others by the Bylaws of TYFL. This person is also responsible for prompt delivery of all records to his/her successor. 

Section 6. The Treasurer shall: Disburse all monies of the TYFL as prescribed in the Bylaws or as authorized by the action of the Board of Directors. This person will provide a detailed financial statement to the Board at each meeting. This may be written or oral as directed by the President and/or Board of Directors. S/he will work in conjunction with the Purchasing Agent. The Treasurer will be responsible for receiving all monies of the TYFL as prescribed in the Bylaws or as authorized by the action of the Board of Directors. This person will prepare a financial statement in writing once a year and present the same at Registration for the upcoming year, and said statement shall become permanent record of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will work in conjunction with the Registrar. For the protection of the Treasurer, all monies shall be accounted for and verified by Assistant Treasurer on the day of collection. Assistant Treasurer will be accountable for all deposit reports/slips for the previous week. Treasurer will be responsible for the collection of insufficient funds, in which a certified letter needs to be sent and after ten days if there is no response the matter needs to be turned over to the President. S/he will assist their successor in preparing the audit.

Both the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer should work in conjunction with each other for the betterment of the TYFL.

For the protection of the Treasurer and TYFL, the Treasurer should be bonded; the accounts should be examined by an independent auditor in accordance with the lease agreement with the City of Trussville. This audit shall occur no later than December 31 of the current year.

Section 7. The Athletic Director will be responsible for the football program. He will be one of the League representatives to the JSFYL and shall relay all pertinent information back to the Board. He shall be Chair of a committee to recruit and select coaches. The committee will consist of the following TYFL Board members: 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Assistant Athletic Director. The committee will determine the process by which coaches are selected. The committee will submit written or oral recommendations to the Board for approval. He will be responsible for having the coaches and practices monitored, with the approval of the Board. The Athletic Director shall recommend football policies, uniforms, and practice schedules. The athletic Director shall present written recommendations to the Board for approval. He is required to give five (5) days’ notice to the President if he will be unable to attend League meetings except in cases of short notice due to emergency/unforeseen events. 

Section 8. The Assistant Athletic Director shall be responsible for the preparation of the football field and equipment prior to home games. He shall be responsible for ensuring that the duties of the Equipment Manager are accomplished. He is responsible for duties as directed by the Athletic Director. The Assistant Athletic Director shall function as a representative from the Board to the parents of the football players and be responsible for all email communication. If the Athletic Director cannot perform his/her duties, the Assistant Athletic Director shall assume the duties of the Athletic Director. 

Section 9. The Director of Team Moms will hold team mom meetings during the football season as needed. She is responsible for all homecoming activities, end-of-year festivities and team pictures. The Director of Team Moms will also function as Cheerleader liaison and work to coordinate mutually beneficial activities between TYFL and Trussville Youth Cheerleading Association (TYCA) by engaging with TYCA Director as needed. 

Section 10. The Sponsorship Director shall secure sponsors for the team and TYFL and develop projects for fundraising for the association. Each team is required to raise a minimum of $1500. 

Section 11. The Purchasing Agent will be responsible for the purchase of all items use in the program including equipment, field maintenance, building maintenance items and the concession stand items as needed. The Purchasing Agent will make purchases by the Direction of the Board and will work in conjunction with the Treasurer of Accounts Payable and others as needed. 

Section 12. The Registrar will be responsible for each player’s registration form being filled out properly and verification of team eligibility. S/he will be responsible for maintaining accurate team rosters. S/he will be responsible for making sure that players’ records are delivered by August 1st or at least within two weeks of players’ registration. S/he will work in conjunction with the Assistant Treasurer to collect 50% of registration fees at registration and the remainder by May 31st. 

Section 13. The Equipment Manager will be responsible for management and maintenance of all equipment. This includes keeping a record of which player has what equipment. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that all equipment is returned to the park at the end of the season. S/he will also be responsible for making sure that all equipment is thoroughly inspected and re-certified every other year. 

Section 14. All board decisions will be majority (51%) of members present except removal and amendments. 

Section 15. In cases warranting emergency meetings all Board members should be present. If unable to attend they must be contacted by the President to vote on issues. 

Article V Elections

Section 1. The members of the Board shall be elected annually. Each coach, board member and assistant coach will be eligible to cast one vote. Each household may cast two votes. A maximum of one (1) vote per voter is allowed. You must be present to vote. Election dates will be posted, and written nominations must be submitted to a Board member at least one week prior to elections. The President and Athletic Director board positions may only be filled by someone who has served a minimum of 1 year on the TYFL board. 

Section 2. Individuals elected shall take office December 1st of the election year. The office term shall run for one year unless interrupted or terminated. 

Section 3. No member of the Board shall be barred from succeeding himself/herself in a position if the membership so elects that individual except for the President and Treasurer who serve no more than three (3) consecutive terms. 

Section 4. Any vacancy occurring on the Board during the term of office shall be filled by the vote of the majority of the Board in a regularly scheduled meeting. The term of the newly elected officer shall expire as the terms of the other members of that Board.

Section 5. Elections will be held on the day of the last regular home game, or home practice, whichever is most convenient for all members. Ballots will be by secret ballot and will be counted by an outside committee. The names will be checked as each member votes. A disinterested third party, approved by the Board, will be asked to staff the ballot box. 

Financial Article VI 

TYFL is a non-profit corporation as defined by Section 501(c) (3) of the internal revenue code and applicable state tax code. It will be operated in such a way that all monies earned are returned to the organization in better facilities, equipment and general expenses to run the organization. All regulations necessary to remain a 501 (c) (3) corporation will be strictly followed. 

Article VII Committees 

Section 1. The Board may designate such committees as they deem necessary and proper for the conducting of the functions of the TYFL, by a majority vote of Board members present at a duly assembled meeting. 

Section 2. The President of the Board may appoint committee members and designate the Chair from the membership or non-membership of the Board or TYFL.

Section 3. The President shall have a sitting position on all committees.

Article VIII

Any action which obligates the organization must have written or verbal (by voting) approval of the Board.

Article IX Membership

Section 1. The membership of this organization shall consist of the parents of the registered football players in the TYFL. 

Section 2. Interested people contributing to TYFL and sponsors may be considered for membership. All coaches will receive complimentary membership. 

Section 3. Members will have one vote each at the election meeting. 

Article X Removal 

Section 1. Any member of the Board may be removed from office by a majority of the Board members, in a meeting duly assembled, whenever, in the judgement of the Board the best interest of TYFL, will be served. 

Section 2. Any Board member may be removed from the Board for repeated failure attend meetings, for failure to actively participate in the activities of TYFL, or for other good and just causes whenever, in the judgement of the majority of the Board, the best interest of TYFL will be served. In general, any board member that misses two consecutive board meetings will be reviewed for dismissal from the board. Moreover, any executive board member, secretary and treasurer who does not attend at least 50% of the board meetings will be reviewed for dismissal from the board. 

Article XI Amendments

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meetings of the Board of TYFL by affirmation of a one-half (1/2) vote of the full board. 

Section 2. Proposals to amend these bylaws shall be represented in writing, specifying the portion, which is proposed to be amended, and the specific new wording, which is proposed to the board at least 20 days prior to any Board meeting, which shall consider the proposed amendment. 

Article XII General 

Section 1. In the case of dissolution, the affairs of the TYFL will be concluded, and the assets of the Corporation shall be distributed as requested by the laws of the State of Alabama. 

Section 2. Any Board member who has witnessed personally or been informed by one or more parents of an incident involving a Coach’s mistreatment of a player is hereby allowed to ask the coach to dismiss practice until all sides can be heard and received by the members of the Board. 

Section 3. Head coaches shall be permitted to serve as members of the TYFL Board but will not be allowed to serve in an executive capacity. Assistant coaches shall be permitted to serve as members of the TYFL Board. Any coach serving upon the TYFL Board shall act in the best interest for the TYFL as a whole. Any coach that uses his/her position for purposes of their team alone will be reprimanded and continued abuse of their position will result in dismissal from the TYFL Board as permitted in Article X Section 2 of the Bylaws of the TYFL, Inc.

Athletic Policy 1

A representative from each team may be designated as a non-voting Board member. 

Athletic Policy 2 Mouth Pieces

Players will be required to have mouthpieces that are attached to the helmets. Players are not authorized to use mouthpieces that have the face mask strap cut off. This rule applies to all players in all positions. No exceptions are allowed. Coaches will ensure that all players have correct mouthpieces prior to each practice/game. 

Athletic Policy 3 Practice on Open House Night

There will be no practice or games on nights when a majority of the players of a given team have open house at school. Players that are not in the majority will not be penalized for attending their Open House. The TYFL and Trussville Parks and Recreation strongly support all players and parents attending Open House night at their respective school(s). 

Athletic Policy 4

All teams will be organized into squads. It is recommended that these squads be offensive line, defensive line, backs/linebackers, and end/corners/receivers. Coaches may organize and adjust this scheme to fit their needs. Coaches will assess each player based on physical abilities, skills, experience, and attitude and assign each player to a given squad. This assignment should be made no later than the second week of practice. Players may be transferred from squad to squad as an exception and not a rul. Coaches will be assigned to each squad and given primary responsibility for it. When numbers of coaches do not permit this, a coach will be assigned to more than one squad. It is expected that 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teams be taught middle school and high school program terminology to benefit the transition from youth to middle and high school football. When the number of players that register reaches thirty players, a “soft cap” will be put into place until a minimum of forty players is reached. At 40 registered players, a split into two teams will be considered with a mandatory split at 51 players. All attending players will be evaluated for draft purposes into the National and American Leagues, in accordance with JSYFL guidelines. Parents can request American League play, and it is noted that the incumbent coach is not automatically granted National league head coaching position. 

Athletic Policy 5

Returning coaches must apply each year to be considered as a candidate for a head coaching position by the TYFL coaching selection committee. Background checks must be completed by any member of the coaching staff prior to being allowed on the field with given players.

Additional detailed information regarding weight requirements, playing time, game rules, and other relevant matters can be found within the Jefferson Shelby Youth Football League bylaws here: https://o.b5z.net/i/u/6043092/f/19_JSYF_Bylaws-adopted_5-31-19.pdf

Updated February 2025 by TYFL Board