By-Laws

Article I 

Name 

Section 1: This organization shall be named and known as Amherst Youth Cheer (AYC) and be composed of an executive board and general members located in Amherst, Ohio. 

Article II

Purpose 

Section 1: AYC is a non-profit corporation and shall operate exclusively for education and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future tax code. 

Section 2: The purpose of AYC shall be to provide a youth cheerleading experience for athletes in grades kindergarten through 6th grade who reside in the Amherst Exempted Village School District. 

Section 3: Our program is designed to teach athletes cheerleading, improve team-building skills, build self-confidence, and promote fitness. 

Section 4: To cheer for both recreational football and basketball for the city of Amherst and engage in community activities. 

Section 5: To teach the fundamentals and basic techniques of recreational cheerleading (jumps, sideline chants, and dance) and incorporate those elements into sideline cheer and dance routines. 

Article III

Membership

Section 1: Membership in the AYC will be composed of adults including parents and/or guardians of the cheerleaders that participate in the program that calendar year or have a child who has participated in the program. 

Section 2: The “year” for the purposes of membership shall begin at the start of football season and end at the completion of basketball season the following year. 

Section 3: Cause for Removal – For cause, the Board shall have the power to discipline any Member or Athlete as follows: 

  • Board review session including individual(s) directly impacted by disciplinary action. 
  • At this review session, the party(s) involved will have the opportunity to be heard.
  • The board voted to follow. Board vote must include a MINIMUM (3) active Board members. 

Article IV

Governorship 

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall be the chief policy-making and executive arm of the AYC They have the responsibility of carrying out the purpose of the association. 

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall be composed of the following four voting officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. 

Section 3: The Board of Directors is to assure that open and positive communication exists between itself and the AYC and cheerleading families. 

Section 4: No one can serve in more than one capacity on the board.

Section 5: Board members must be present to vote. 

Section 6: A minimum of one regular meeting per quarter of the association or more frequently as deemed necessary by the board. Membership must be given 24 notice of the meeting via social media and/or email. 

Section 7: A simple majority vote of board members shall be required to pass any motion. In the case of a tie, the President’s vote shall be counted as two votes. 

Section 8: The Board of Directors will approve all fundraising activities.

Section 9: The Board of Directors will review and approve the annual budget presented by the Treasurer at the second quarterly meeting. 

Section 10: The Board of Directors shall: 

  • Have the authority to deny participation, suspend, discharge, or discipline a member, coach, or cheerleader whose conduct is in violation of the AYC Code of Conduct and/or Coaching Expectations and considered detrimental to the best interests of AYC. 
  • Establish the organization structure, defining all Board positions, responsibilities, and duties. 
  • Arbitrate any differences of opinion that may arise. 
  • Determine registration fees and requirements. 
  • Determine community activities in which AYC will participate. 
  • Enforce and interpret the By-laws set forth. 
  • Establish temporary rules and regulations for specific cases not provided elsewhere, but deemed necessary. 
  • Have the right to fill any vacancies among officers, subject to board approval. 
  • Have the right to fill all coaching staff where indicated as an Association requirement. 

Article V

Election of Officers 

Section 1: Nominations for officers will be accepted from members in the first quarterly meeting. 

Section 2: Annual elections for officers of the Board shall take place during the second quarterly meeting.

Section 3: To be eligible to vote, members must be in good standing. Each family having an athlete(s) who has participated in the current season (either basketball or football cheer) is eligible for one vote. 

Section 4: Elections will be done by a written ballot at the second quarterly meeting.

Section 5: The term of the office shall be one year. 

Section 6: Board members may rerun for their position after the one-year term. 

Section 7: The office of the President must be filled at all times. In the event the President can no longer fulfill the duties, the Vice-President shall assume the duties and responsibilities. 

Article VI

Duties of the Board of Directors

Section 1: The President shall: 

  • Serve as the Chief Executive Officer for a one-year term. 
  • Preside over all board meetings. 
  • Designate the Vice-President to preside over meetings in his/her absence.
  • See that all orders of the Board of Directors are carried out. 
  • Create committees as needs arise. 
  • In an emergency, act on behalf of the entire board. 
  • Coordinate and/or oversee registration, parent meetings, practices, pictures, game schedules, picture schedules, and community events. 
  • Oversee the selection of coaches with input from the board. 
  • Prepare for approval of board-suggested revision pertaining to the By-laws. j. Be responsible for maintaining the registration vehicle (AYC website registration).
  • Be responsible for reserving practice locations. 
  • Respond to emails 

Section 2: The Vice-President shall: 

  • Assist the President in the association matters. 
  • Act as President in the absence of the President. 
  • Hold a one-year term. 
  • Assist the President with coordination/overseeing registration, parent meetings, practices, pictures, game schedules, and community events and is the director of coaching. 
  • Update social media. 
  • Complete background checks on coaches prior to the start of each season.
  • Leads the yearly review of AYC By-Laws and amendments as needed. 

Section 3: The Secretary shall: 

  • Record and distribute minutes of each board/general meeting held.
  • Serve as the board’s vehicle to contact organization members.
  • Hold a one-year term. 
  • Be replaced by another member of the Board at the request of the President in the event of the secretary’s absence. 
  • Be responsible for establishing and maintaining email communication with the members. 
  • Be responsible for keeping attendance records for all Board and parent meetings. 
  • Assist the President with coordination/overseeing registration, parent meetings, practices, pictures, game schedules, and community events.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall: 

  • Maintain the AYC checking account and balance of said account monthly.
  • Hold a one-year term. 
  • Propose an annual budget for the year and present it to the Board of Directors for approval at the second quarterly meeting. 
  • Oversee expenditures. 
  • Inform the board, quarterly, of its financial status via a written report including copies of the treasurer’s report. 
  • Write checks and provide cash deposits for reimbursement when necessary. 
  • Assist the President with coordination/overseeing registration, parent meetings, practices, pictures, game schedules, and community events. 
  • Responsible for establishing and maintaining the organization’s insurance policy. 

Article VII

Cheerleading Guidelines

Section 1: AYC Code of Conduct and Coaches Expectations will be developed annually by the Board of Directors, approved by the majority vote, and distributed at the annual registration to all athletes. 

Article XIII

Squads 

Section 1: Squads will be based on the athlete’s current grade level at the time of registration. If registration occurs during the summer months, the grade level is that in which the athlete is entering in August. 

Section 2: Squads will be as follows:

  • Bitty – Athletes in kindergarten 
  • Mini – Athletes in 1st or 2nd grade 
  • JV – Athletes in 3rd or 4th grade 
  • Varsity – Athletes in 5th or 6th grade 

Section 3: Cheerleaders are not permitted to move up or down an age division. 

Section 4: Practices for cheerleading will begin in conjunction with the football and basketball programs. 

Article XIII

Uniforms and Equipment 

Section 1: The ordering of the uniforms will be the responsibility of the President and Vice President. 

Section 2: Uniforms are to be used for consecutive years as long as they are available per board discretion. 

Section 3: Uniforms are to be consistent for each squad level. 

Section 4: Coaches will be given a speaker owned by AYC and will be responsible for returning at the end of their coaching season. 

Article IX 

Registration

Section 1: Organized through amherstyouthcheer.com and amherstyouthcheer@gmail.com 

Section 2: Refunds will not be given after the registration period closes.

Article X

Amendments 

Section 1: The members of the AYC Board may, after discussion at two consecutive quarterly board meetings, by a majority vote of the board members present and voting, alter, amend, suspend, or annul the above By-Laws. 

Article XI

Duration/Dissolution

Section 1: The Amherst Youth Cheer (AYC) shall exist perpetually. 

Section 2: If by law or circumstance, AYC should cease to exist, all debts shall be satisfied, then all remaining money shall be split evenly among all Amherst EVSD cheerleading programs.