South African Schools Water Polo Association Constitution

South African Schools Water Polo Association Constitution

1. Name & Colours

1.1 The name of the Association shall be: Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA).

1.2 The colours of the ASSOCIATION shall be BLUE and White with the Swim SA emblem.


2. Objectives

The objectives of the SWPSA shall be:

2.1 to promote Water Polo in all its aspects, in all schools in the RSA;

2.2 to promote Inter-Provincial Schools Water Polo competitions;

2.3 to arrange an Annual Inter Provincial Water Polo Tournament (The SWPSA Tournament);

2.4 to ensure that the rules of Water Polo as defined and amended by FINA are observed at all Water Polo tournaments, save that an organising committee may shorten the periods of play;

2.5 to elect Honorary Life Members and to make such awards as the SWPSA in a General Meeting may agree;

2.6 to negotiate for and accept sponsorship in respect of any of the activities of the SWPSA and to control such sponsorships.

3. Membership

Membership shall be open to:

3.1 The Provincial Schools Committees of: Gauteng; KZN; Northern Tigers; Eastern Province; Border; Western Province, Boland and the Free State (A Province need not necessarily be a statutory Province)

3.2 any person by virtue of service to the SA is elected to Honorary Life Membership of the SWPSA by an eighty percent majority at an Annual General Meeting.

4. Officials

The officials of the SWPSA shall be:

4.1 a Chairman who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting held at the Annual Inter-Provincial Tournament. The Chairman shall hold office from the close of the Inter-Provincial Tournament at which he is elected until the close of the next Inter-Provincial Tournament;

4.2 a Secretary shall be appointed for the purpose of distribution of all correspondence to the members. This position is a non voting position.

4.3 a Treasurer shall be appointed to control all financial matters of the SWPSA. The treasurer shall prepare and present a statement reflecting all financial transactions of the SWPSA for the calendar year. This shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting. This position is a non voting position.

4.4 SWPSAT (Technical0 Committee Members shall form part of a Technical Committee who shall run the general business of the SWPSA during the year. This Technical Committee shall make recommendation to appoint managers and coaches to representative teams in conjunction with Swim South Africa every Province shall have representation of a minimum of 1 member on this committee provided he/she is nominated and seconded at that respective Provinces AGM.

5. Annual General Meeting

5.1 an Annual General Meeting of the SWPSA (AGM) shall be held annually immediately before the South African Schools Tournament;

5.2 the business of the AGM shall include:

5.2.1 the consideration and confirmation of the Minutes of the previous AGM, Chairman’s, Secretary’s and Treasurers Reports;
5.2.2 the election of the Chairperson
5.2.3 the amendment, if any, of this Constitution;
5.2.4 the election of The Convenor of Selectors (Boys & Girls)
5.2.5 the election of SWPSAT Members
5.2.6 the election of Honorary Life Members if any;
5.2.7 the awarding of Meritorious Service to any person deserving of such;
5.2.8 the determination of the venue for the next following Tournament based on the bidding process and subject to a Province being able to host it;
5.2.9 discussion and deliberation on any matters of a general nature.

5.3 The Secretary shall advise all Members of the proposed date of the AGM not less than 45 days prior thereto and draw the attention of Members to article 5.4;

5.4 There shall be notice in writing to the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the AGM of:
5.4.1 nominations for Chairman;
5.4.2 any notice of intention to amend this Constitution;
5.4.3 nominations for Convenor of Selectors for Boys and Girls;
5.4.4 nominations for SWPSAT Committee Members;
5.4.5 nominations for Honorary Life Membership and Meritorious Service awards 5.4.6 applications for the hosting of the next following SA Schools Tournament;
5.4.7 if applicable, the application by any Province to enter an additional side in the next following SA Schools Tournament approximately one year after the AGM as referred to in article 10.4;
5.4.8 if applicable, the application by any Province to relegate any one of that Provinces teams to a lower section, as referred to in Article 10.5;
5.4.9 if applicable, the consideration of the promotion/relegation of any team/s referred to in article 10.6. The Chairman hereof or any Province may propose this motion.

5.5 Not less than 14 days prior to the AGM
the Secretary shall circulate a Notice of Meeting to all Members which shall include:
5.5.1 the date, time and venue of the AGM;
5.5.2 the Agenda of the AGM;
5.5.3 the nominations/applications/notices referred to in Article 5.4; and be accompanied by, if necessary, the Minutes of the previous AGM referred to in Article 5.12.

5.6 Each Member Province represented at the AGM shall be entitled to one vote;
5.6.1 neither the Chairman nor the Secretary not any Honorary Life Member shall have a deliberative vote but in the event of an equality of votes then the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

5.7 The Secretary shall cause the Minutes of the AGM to be prepared and forwarded to all members and to the new secretary by the 31st January the following year.

5.8 The quorum at an AGM shall be 1/3 of voting membership.

6. SWPSA Tournament

6.1 A Tournament shall be held annually during a month agreed upon at the AGM held immediately prior to the previous Tournament;

7. SA Schools Teams

7.1 The Convenor of Selectors in 5.4.3 shall coordinate and chair the selection committee.

7.2 At the conclusion of the Tournaments the Selectors shall choose and announce:
7.2.1 u19A Team SA Schools = A Team for Boys and Girls;
7.2.2 u19B Team SA Schools = B Team for Boys and Girls;
7.2.3 Awarded Player of the Tournament
7.2.4 Awarded Best Forward
7.2.5. Awarded Best Defender
7.2.6. Awarded Best Goalkeepers

7.3 The Manager; Coach and Members of the SA Schools A Teams shall be awarded SA Schools Colours.

8. Tournament Venues:
Tournament Director
8.1 Provinces or Associations affiliated to Provinces which are members may apply to host the SA Schools= Tournament which application shall be made in accordance with Article 5.4.

8.2 The host Province as determined at an AGM shall appoint a Tournament Director who shall:
8.2.1 hold office from the date of appointment until after the conclusion of the Tournament organised by him;
8.2.2 be responsible for organising the said Tournament;
8.2.3 be subject to the control of the host Province;
8.2.4 keep all Provinces and the Chairman of the ASSOCIATION informed with regard to all arrangements, accommodation, specific tournament dates, etc:
8.2.5 arrange a venue for the AGM.
8.2.6 ensure that all Secretaries and time-keeping functions in terms of the rules of Water Polo are properly performed;
8.2.7 determine the format for the provisions of goal judges with right to demand that Provinces supply same;
8.2.8 generally ensure the smooth running of the tournament;
8.2.9 report to the SWPSAT Chairman
8.2.9.1 any breach of the Article of this Constitution
8.2.9.2 any conduct which in his opinion adversely effects the Tournament or which tends to bring the tournament officials, or players into disrepute.

9. Tournament Finance
9.1 The host Province may levy a fee for teams entering the Tournament as required
9.2 The host Province shall benefit from any profits accrued with the exception of surplus team entries.

10 Tournament Sections

10.1 The Tournament shall be divided into two sections- an A Section and a B Section (if required), catering for both boys and girls at Under 19, Under16, Under 14 and Under 13 level.

10.2 Initially the teams competing in the A Section shall be every Province. Provinces wishing to enter more teams must do so in writing to the SWPSA Technical Committee 6 months prior to the tournament. Any Province wishing not to play in the A Section need to inform the SWPSA Technical Committee 6 months prior to the tournament.

10.3 All other teams shall compete in the B Section of that age group or such other sections as may be agreed upon in terms of Article 10.1.

10.4 Any Province that has 2 teams in that section may apply for the relegation of the B team to a lower section.

10.5 No player may play for more than one team at any tournament.

10.6 No player may represent teams from different Provinces.

11. Tournament Rules

11.1 Referees All teams participating in the SA Schools Tournaments shall have as part of their team management, a responsible and competent referee. Waterpolo Referees South Africa shall be requested to supply referees at our cost Should there still be insufficient referees a responsible and competent referee be supplied

11.2 Code of Conduct for Coaches All coaches shall fall under the code of conduct as set out by the Education Department for Educators.

11.3 Initiation No team may engage in any form of initiation of players. Players found guilty of such an offense shall be immediately suspended and they shall face a disciplinary hearing.

11.4 INJURIES This SWPSA shall not be held responsible for any injuries sustained during the tournament.

11.5 Under 19 shall exclude POST MATRIC pupils and any pupils already in possession of a grade 12 NSC

12. Discipline

12.1 Provincial officials and team managers shall at all times be responsible for all behaviour of all members of their respective Provinces.

12.2 In the event that any member of any Provincial group is guilty of any behaviour likely to bring the SWPSA into disrepute, then the Members of the SWPSA at an AGM or Special General Meeting (SGM) may, having heard that person’s version of the alleged behaviour:
12.2.1 terminate that persons right to further attend and/or participate in that Tournament; and
12.2.2 refuse to permit that person to attend and/or participate in any future Tournament.
12.2.3 In the case of a member Province, terminate the Membership of that Province or suspend its Membership for so long as the Members deem fit.

12.3 In the event that a player is guilty of misconduct while participating in a Match in a Tournament then such a player shall dealt with in accordance with FINA rules:
12.3.1 answer if he so wishes the averments set forth in the referees written report relating to the misconduct and any averments of any of the disciplinary committee who observed the incident giving rise to the hearing;
12.3.3 be liable to;
12.3.3.1 disciplinary measures as set out in the FINA handbook;
12.3.3.2 if deemed necessary be subject to further disciplinary measures as the committee deems fit.

12.4 The disciplinary enquiry referred to in 12.3.1, shall be held as soon as possible after the game in which the incident occurred and in any event before the player is due to play his next game.

13. Special General Meetings

13.1 A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be held at the request in writing of two- of the Members or during the currency of a Tournament at the request of the Chairman, or Tournament Director.

13.2 Notice of and the matter/s to be discussed at the SGM shall be given/disclosed to the members:
13.2.1 in writing not less than 14 days before the SGM;
13.2.2 in the case of a SGM to be held during the currency of a tournament, verbally, to ALL the members; provided that if such notice is not practicably possible, then such verbal notice must be given to at least 75% in number of the Provinces represented at the Tournament AND the Province likely to be affected by the motion to be considered.

13.3 No business may be discussed at a SGM other than the business included in the notice, or verbally stipulated.

13.4 At any SGM representatives from two thirds of the member provinces shall be at least 5 representatives from the affiliated members.

13.5 The provisions of article 5.11 and 5.12 shall apply to SGM mutatis mutandis.

14. GENERAL MATTERS

14.1 THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANY OFFICIAL AT ANY SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT SHOULD THAT OFFICIAL AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOC BRING THE GAME OR THE TOURNAMENT INTO DISTRIPUTE.

14.2 These articles were adopted by the SWPSA in the General Meeting 2007.