Kinnelon Youth Hockey Association Bylaws

Revised October 2024

Article 1-Program

1.1 Identity. Kinnelon Youth Hockey Association (KYHA) also known as Kinnelon Youth Hockey is a youth sports program dedicated to the community members of Kinnelon, NJ and surrounding communities.

1.2 Operation. The program shall operate on an annual basis and participate in a local recreational or “house” league sanctioned by the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) or another duly recognized affiliate of USA Hockey. The program may also enter some or all of its teams into local or regional tournaments or leagues. Teams will be allowed to schedule “out of conference” games with teams that are affiliated with USA Hockey registered leagues.

Article 2- objectives

2.1 Objectives. To provide interested beginner and experienced youth ice hockey players the environment and opportunity to participate in and contribute to the tradition of ice hockey excellence and sportsmanship established in Kinnelon NJ by:

-teaching age-appropriate individual and team  ice hockey skills with an emphasis on learning and playing the game the right way.

-playing games at a recreational level of competition.

Article 3-Governance

3.1 Governance. The KYHA program shall be governed by an Advisory Committee appointed. Members will be appointed by the committee. The Advisory Committee, shall be responsible for managing all aspect of the program including but not limited to:

-Player and team registrations

-League and/or tournament registrations

-Selection of properly certified coaches

-Scheduling and purchasing ice time

-General budgeting and fundraising

-Program supplies )e.g., game jerseys, socks, pucks, goaltender equipment, etc.).

3.2 Advisory Committee Composition. The Advisory Committee shall be comprised of at least three (3) and no more than nine (9) members, each of whom serves a term of two (2) years that begins at the Annual September meeting. Each member must be at least eighteen (18) years of age by August 1st of the upcoming season to serve on the Advisory Committee.

3.3 Voting Rights. Each member of the Advisory Committee holds a voting right equal to that of the other members No individual member of the Advisory Committee shal hold authority over other members of the Advisory Commmittee.

3.4 Officers. Officers of the Advisory Committee shall minimally include a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Hockey Directory, Head of Fundraising and an elected Trustee.Other officers or roles may be defined as needed at the discretion of the Advisory Committee. Descriptions for each office or role shall be written and maintained by the KYHA.

3.5 The President. At every other, in accordance to the current term, annual meeting of the Association in September, a President shall be nominated and voted upon by the advisory committee. A simple majority by the presiding advisory committee. The President shall preside at all advisory committee meetings. The President shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association.The President shall sign or countersign all certificates, contracts, and all other instruments, including checks as may be properly authorized by the advisory committee. The President shall make an annual report to the members of the association at the September Annual meeting. The PResident shall be and ex-officio member of all committees and editor-in-chief of any Association publications. The PResident shall, furthermore, perform all such other dur=ties as are indecent to this office or are properly required of the President by association.

3.6 The Vice President. The Vice President shall exercise such functions as may be required. The Vice President shall also perform all duties assigned by the President.

3.7 The Treasurer. The Treasurer will have custody of all monies received by the Association and shall deposit the same in the name of the Kinnelon Youth Hockey Association in such depository as may be designated by the advisory committee by resolution properly entered into. The Treasurer shall pay all bills upon warrant signed by proper parties and approved by the Treasurer and the President. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and shall render to the President and advisory committee at the regular meetings of the advisory committee, whenever they may require an account of transactions executed as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Kinnelon Youth Hockey Association. The Treasurer shall submit for approval by the membership at the September meeting, a budget of receipts and expenditures for the year and shall further report, at the following September and <arch meetings, the financial status of the Association relative to the adopted budget. The Treasurer shall sign or countersign such instruments as require the Treasurer’s signature, and more particularly, all checks and such other obligations as may be properly authorized.

3.8 The Secretary. The Secretary shall issue notices for all meetings of the Association and shall attend the same and act as the Clerk thereof. Furthermore, the Secretary shall report the proceedings at the meetings of the advisory committee. The Secretary shall have charge of the seal and corporate books of the Kinnelon Youth Hockey Association. The Secretary shall sign with the President such instruments as require the Secretary's signature and shall make such reports and perform such other duties as are instant to this office or are properly required of the Secretary by the advisory committee. 

3.9 The Elected Trustee. The Elected Trustee will serve on the advisor committee and will act as the advisory voting member for non-advisory committee association members. 

3.10 The Hockey Director. 

3.11 The Head of Fundraising. 

3.12 Removal. Officers shall have the power to remove any committee member of a committee or cause, subject to the right of said accused member to have a hearing before said Advisory committee.

3.13 Recusal. A committee member is to be recused from voting and discussion of any particular issue in which that committee member has a personal, financial, and/or other interest not common to the general membership of the association that could result in an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

3.14 Resignations. An advisory committee member may resign at any time to said the advisory committee member’s continuance in office until a successor not only be elected and qualified but shall actually undertake the duties of this office.

3.15 Vacancies In the event an Advisory Committee member resigns as such, the Board shall elect a new Committee member from the remaining members to serve until the next regular meeting, at which time a new Committee member shall be elected in the manner prescribed in these BY-Laws. 

3.16 Meetings. The regular meetings of the Association shall be held in September of each year, of which the meeting held shall constitute the annual meeting. Whenever the annual meeting shall hereinafter be referred to it shall be deemed to mean the September meeting. The Advisory Committee shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities provided meetings occur at least every eight (8) weeks. Meetings will be held according to a standard procedure known as Robert’s Rules of order. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded.

3.17 Order of the March Meeting. 

1. Calling of the Roll
2. Reading and disposal of unapproved minutes
3. Report of the Treasurer
4. Report of the President as to the season’s plans.
5. Unfinished business
6. New Business

3.18 Order of the September Meeting.

1. Calling of the Roll
2. Reading and disposal of unapproved minus
3. Report of the President
4. Reports of other offices and committees
5. Unfinished business
6. New business
7. Election of the President
8. Election of Advisory Committee

3.19 Special Meetings. A special meeting may be called by the President at any time and shall be called forthwith upon the written request of any advisory committee members.

3.20 Restrictions. Members of the Advisory Committee, coaches, and other volunteers are prohibited from using any role within the program for private profit or any other benefit. 

3.21 Obligations. Members of the Advisory Committee are expected to volunteer their time to KYHA in various ways including but not limited to:

-Attending and actively participating in necessary meetings

4.3 Teams. Teams shall be formed according to player availability in a given season and age levels defined by USA Hockey or another duly recognized governing body for amateur you ice hockey as follows:

-6 and under (6U, “Mini Mite”)

-8 and under (8U, “Mite”)

-10 and under (10U, “Squirt”)

: -12 and under (12U, “Pee Wee”)

-14 and under (14U, “Bantam”)

-16 and under (16U, “Midget”)

Multiple teams at a particular level may be formed depending on the number of registered players. If the number of registered players at a particular level is insufficient, teams may combine and compete in an appropriate league based on age (e.g. Middle School League) 

If a sufficient number of female players at a particular level register to participate in KYHA, an all girls team may be formed and entered into a different league (e.g. an all-girls league), if available. 

All players must be registered with KYHA to play with any team, unless special conditions are made by the league following league policies

4.4 Paying “up”. The advisory Committee may recommend and/or consider requests for certain players to be placed on teams above their age level. In this specific regard, the ADvisory Committee shall act in the best interests of the program (i.e. maintaining teams and opportunities for all interested players equally) and abide by any rules and restrictions imposed by the league and/or tournaments (S) in which KYHA participates.

Article 5-RULES

5.1 Ice Hockey-Specific Rules. KYHA and all participating coaches,players, and teams shall be bound by the official rules and regulations of a cult recognized governing body for amateur hockey, if different from the AAHA or other affiliate of USA Hockey.

5.2 Program-Specific Rules. KYHA reserves the right to impose rules and/or regulations that are stricter than those of the specific ice-hockey rules established by the duly recognized governing body.

5.3 Documentation. Documentation relevant to the rules shall be maintained by the KYHA and be available to the public.

ARTICLE 6-AMENDMENTS

6.1 Amendments. Any section of aspect of these by-laws may be amended as follows:

1. Amendments to the by-lase (i.e. changes, additions, deletions) shall be made and adopted during the off-season (between April and August) unless exceptional circumstances warrant otherwise. 
2. An amendment may be proposed by any current participant in the program (i.e. coach, player, committee member, player’s immediate daily) in good standing and who resides in Kinnelon, Butler, Bloomingdale. Non-resident players have no rights to propose amendments or otherwise petition the program.
3. The Advisory Committee shall schedule a hearing within twenty-one  (21) days of being notified of a proposed amendment to the by-laws.
4. The Advisory Committee shall allocate the time reasonably necessary to consider the proposed amendment, allowing sufficient discussion and debate, and hold a vote.
5. The entire ADvisory Committee must vote on a proposed amendment to the by-laws. Ratification of any amendment requires a super majority defined as follows according to the size of the Advisory Committee (e.g. 2/3, 4/5, 5/6, 57, 6/8, 7/9). 
6. Ratified amendments shall be incorporated into the by-laws and the new by-laws published within 7 days.