International Floorball Federation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATUTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

CB PROPOSAL OF CHANGES

 

 

The CB proposals of changes in the Statutes are when it concerns new text marked in red, bold text and when it concerns text to be removed the text is stricken through. Please note also that the CB proposes a general change of wording concerning the Congress to be changed to General Assembly.

 

 

 

To be decided by the IFF General Assembly in Zürich in Switzerland on 21.05 2004

 

 

To be made valid from 21.05 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I        GENERAL GUIDELINES

 

ARTICLE   1          TITLE AND CONSTITUTION

 

The International Floorball Federation (IFF) is an association consisting of the National Associations that are recognized by it as controlling association floorball in their respective countries.

 

ARTICLE   2          OBJECTS

 

The objects of the IFF are the promotion, development and organization of Floorball world-wide.

 

ARTICLE   3          LEGAL SEAT

 

The location of the legal seat of IFF shall be determined by a resolution of the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE   4          NEUTRALITY

 

The IFF shall take steps as shall be deemed necessary or advisable to prevent any discrimination against a country or an individual for reasons of race, religion or politics.

 

ARTICLE   5          DOPING ABUSE

 

The IFF Juridical Regulations WADA Anti-Doping Code are is in charge in case of doping abuse in IFF activities.

 

ARTICLE   6          REPRESENTATION

 

The IFF represents International Floorball activities for public authorities, media and other nations exclusively.

 

ARTICLE   7          PUBLICATIONS

 

7.1     To inform its members regarding official publications and invitations, the IFF can form its           own publications/medium.

 

7.2     Details shall be governed by an IFF regulation.

 

ARTICLE   8          FEDERATION’S- / FINANCIAL-YEAR

 

The federation’s-year and the financial-year last from the 1st of January to the 31st of December.

II        MEMBERSHIP

 

ARTICLE    9          MEMBERSHIP OF IFF WITHIN OTHER FEDERATION

 

9.1     The aim of IFF is to co-operate within the international sports community and to gain membership of suitable international federations, including GAISF and the IOC.

 

9.2     In differences of statutes, IFF Statutes take precedence.

 

ARTICLE  10          MEMBERSHIP WITHIN THE IFF

 

10.1   The membership can be recognized to all National Floorball Associations (one per nation),           that aim to promote and preserve Floorball and organize national championships.

 

10.2   The members of the IFF may not join any other International Floorball Organization.

 

ARTICLE  11          TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

 

The IFF differentiates between ordinary members, provisional members and honorary members.

 

ARTICLE 12          APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

 

12.1   An Association applying for membership shall address a written request (all documents in English) to this effect to the IFF. The application shall contain name and address of the headquarters of the Association, names and addresses of the board members of the Association, Statutes and other Regulations of the Association, minutes from the foundation, and if possible, registration documents from their National authorities and an approval from the National Sports Confederation.

 

12.2   A new member will first acquire provisional membership of the IFF before to become an           ordinary member.

 

ARTICLE 13          ACQUISITION OF PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

13.1   The Association can be a section of another Sports Federation that is a member of the     National Sports Confederation.

 

13.2   If the statutes and regulations correspond to the statutes of the IFF and the conditions for           membership are fulfilled, the application will be notified to the ordinary members.

 

13.3   The provisional membership is granted by the CB. The CB shall take a decision on the           objections that the ordinary members file within 30 days after the notification of the           application.

 

13.4   The provisional membership has to be recalled by the CB every four years. Otherwise it           gets           lost.

Provisional membership may only be granted for four years.
After a maximum of 4 years from becoming a provisional member the Association will, automatically, become an ordinary member, after a decision at the IFF General Assembly.
II        MEMBERSHIP

 

ARTICLE 14          ACQUISITION OF ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP

 

14.1   The Association shall be a self ruled Floorball Association or a self ruled floorball section in another Association.

 

14.2   The Association should shall consist of at least 10 Clubs.

 

14.3   The Association shall be the Organizer of National Floorball Championships.

 

14.4   The Association shall be member of the National Sports Confederation (Exception: if there are justifiable reasons).

 

14.5   After a maximum of 4 years from becoming a provisional member the Association will,

           automatically, become an ordinary member, after a decision at the IFF General

           Assembly. An application for ordinary membership has to shall be handed in to the IFF

           according to article 12, paragraph 1.

 

14.6   Ordinary membership is granted by the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 15          MEMBERS RIGHTS

 

15.1          Provisional members are entitled to:

 

a)          Participate at the General Assembly without voting status, but with the right to make proposals motions.

 

b)          Participate in National Team tournaments and games, except for IFF championships.

 

c)       Allow their Club Teams to participate in games and tournaments sanctioned by the IFF,           according to the Competition Regulations.

 

15.2   Ordinary members are entitled to:

 

a)       Full Co-management of all IFF activities within the limits of the competence given by the           Statutes. All official members have the equal rights within the IFF.

 

b)          Participate at the General Assembly with voting status and with the right to make proposals motions.

 

c)       If a new regulation that has been published is opposed (within 30 days notice), a 1/10 1/5 of

          the members can claim the approval of it by the General Assembly.

 

d)          Participate in Continental and World Championships organized by the IFF with their   National Team.

 

e)          Participate with their various National Teams in Championships if they are invited by the IFF

          the requirements are fulfilled.

 

f)       Allow their Club Teams to participate in games and tournaments sanctioned by the IFF,           according to the IFF Competition Regulations.

 

ARTICLE 16          MEMBERS DUTIES

 

16.1          Provisional members are obliged to:

 

a)       Be aware of the statues, regulations, decisions and other directions of the IFF and its bodies           and to brief their own members on them.

 

b)      Omit any activities that could be detrimental to the interests and the status of Floorball in           general and the IFF in particular.

 

c)       Aim to become an ordinary member within four years from becoming a provisional member.

 

d)      Pay the membership fee Fulfil the requirements of the Financial Regulations.

II        MEMBERSHIP

 

ARTICLE 16          CONTINUATION

 

16.2   Ordinary members are obliged to:

 

a)       Be aware of the statues, regulations, decisions and other directions of the IFF and its bodies           and to brief their own members on them.

 

b)      Omit any activities that could be detrimental to the interest and the status of Floorball in           general and the IFF in particular.

 

c)       Welcome the representatives of the IFF.

 

d)      Pay the membership fee Fulfil the requirements of the Financial Regulations.

 

ARTICLE 17          LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP

 

17.1   The membership expires by:   - resignation (withdrawal)

                                                         - exclusion

                                                         - dissolution

 

17.2   The expiration of membership does not dispense from member's duties during the membership           time.

 

17.3   The members lose their member's rights after the expiration of membership. In particular           they have no legitimate claim to the fortune of the IFF.

 

ARTICLE 18          RESIGNATION

 

The withdrawal from the IFF has to be sent to the official address of the IFF within 90 days notice to the end of the Federation’s year.

 

ARTICLE 19          DISSOLUTION

 

In the case of dissolution of a National Association the membership expires at the day of the decision of dissolution.

 

ARTICLE 20          REACQUISITION OF MEMBERSHIP

 

In the case of a reapplication of a former member (National Association) it has to meet in addition to the conditions particularised in article 13 all arrears of duties.

 

ARTICLE 21          HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

 

21.1   The General Assembly may grant the title of Honorary President or Honorary Member to any           individual person who has rendered meritorious service to the IFF. The CB shall submit the           name of any such person to the General Assembly for approval.

 

21.2   Honorary Members have to be invited to the General Assembly and are entitled to take part in the discussions if being asked.

 

21.3   Honorary Members have no membership fees to pay and have no legitimate claim to the           fortune of the IFF.

III        FINANCES

 

ARTICLE 22          REVENUES

 

The revenues of the IFF consist, amongst others, of: - membership fees

                                                                                      - duties

                                                                                       - tolls

                                                                                      - sanction fees

                                                                                      - subventions, donations, gifts

                                                                                      - returns of trade and agreements

 

ARTICLE 23          MEMBERSHIP FEE

 

23.1   The membership fee consists of two parts: a basic fee and a fee based on the number of clubs

          players in the National Association.

 

23.2   An ordinary member pays full fee and a provisional member pays only the club based fee.

          After four years as a provisional member an ordinary members full fee shall be paid regardless

          of having applied for ordinary membership or not

          An ordinary member pays an ordinary members basic fee, and the player based fee. A

           provisional member pays a provisional members basic fee and the player based fee.

 

23.3   The amounts of the fees are settled by the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 24          LIABILITY

 

The IFF is liable for its engagements exclusively and only with its own assets. It is excluded to have a recourse to the National Associations.

IV        LEGISLATIVE- / EXECUTIVE- BODIES

 

ARTICLE 25          TERMS

 

The bodies of the IFF are:

 

A)      The General Assembly

B)      The Central Board (CB)

C)      The Auditing

D)      The Disciplinary Committee (DC)

E)      The Appeal Committee (AC)

 

A       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

ARTICLE 26          ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

26.1   The General Assembly is the supreme body of the IFF. An Ordinary General Assembly shall be held, every two years, in April – May June even years.

 

26.2   The General Assembly shall be announced by the CB at latest 90 days in advance. The summons to the General Assembly together with the agenda, the CB reports, the financial report, budget, nominations and if there are motions and proposals of the National Associations shall be sent to the National Associations at latest 30 days in advance.

 

ARTICLE 27          EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

27.1   The CB or a 1/5 but at least two of the affiliated National ordinary member Associations can claim the summoning of an Extraordinary General Assembly.

 

27.2   The Extraordinary General Assembly shall be held within 100 days since the service of the claim. The procedure shall be equal to the one of the Ordinary General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 28          NOMINATIONS, MOTIONS AND PROPOSALS

 

28.1          Candidates for election to any office in the IFF shall be nominated to the official address of   the IFF at latest 60 days in advance of the General Assembly.

 

28.2   All proposals and motions of the member Associations shall be sent in to the official address       of the IFF at latest 60 days in advance of the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 29          CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly elects the chairman of the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 30          AGENDA AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

30.1   The functions and competence of the General Assembly are:

 

a)      Opening of the General Assembly

b)      Approval of present Associations and the voting roll.

c)           Approval of the Agenda

d)      Approval of the protocol of the last General Assembly in the case of article 33 paragraph 3

e)          Admission or expulsion of ordinary member Associations

f)       Approval of the CB reports

g)      Approval of the financial report and the auditors report

h)      Decision on freedom of responsibility for the CB

i)       Decision on membership fee

IV        LEGISLATIVE- / EXECUTIVE- BODIES

 

ARTICLE 30          CONTINUATION

 

j)       Approval of the budget and working plan for the next two years

k)      Elections:          - IFF President

                             - six to nine CB members for two years

- chairman of the Disciplinary Committee

- two members and two substitutes of the Disciplinary Committee

- chairman of the Appeal Committee

- two members and two substitutes of the Appeal Committee

l)          Appointment of a chartered auditor and a substitute

m)          Examinations and decisions on proposals and motions of the members

n)      Approval of Regulations within the meaning of article 15 paragraph 2 littera c)

o)      Decision on all affairs being reserved for the General Assembly by the statutes or by law

p)          Appointment to be honorary member

q)          Modification of the statutes

o)          Dissolution of the IFF

p)          Admission or expulsion of official member Associations – moved to before CB reports

r)       Decision on the meeting place for the next General Assembly

 

ARTICLE 31          VOTING STATUS

 

31.1   Each member Association is allowed to participate with two persons (delegates legitimated   by the National Association) at the General Assembly.

 

31.2   Each ordinary member Association that has fulfilled their obligation's to IFF is entitled to one vote at the General Assembly. The CB proposes the voting roll and distributes it together with the documents of the General Assembly latest 30 days before the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 32          ELECTIONS AND DECISIONS

 

32.1   Elections and decisions are voted by open ballot unless one of the present official ordinary members           apply for a secret ballot.

 

32.2   Elections and decisions shall be taken by simple majority of the present votes (without           abstentions).

 

32.3   When the voting concerns elections, the person or those persons with the most votes shall be considered elected. The voting parties can vote for as many candidates as there are vacancies.

 

ARTICLE 33          PROTOCOL (MINUTES)

 

33.1   The protocol shall be sent to the member Associations within 30 days from when the General Assembly has been held.

 

33.2   The protocol is supposed considered to be approved by the ordinary member Associations

          unless there shall be sent in a substantiated objection in writing is sent to the CB of the IFF

          within 30 days notice since the service.

 

33.3   In the case of an objection the next General Assembly decides on the approval respectively the           corrigenda or the completions of the protocol.

IV        LEGISLATIVE- / EXECUTIVE- BODIES

 

B       THE CENTRAL BOARD

 

ARTICLE 34          FUNCTION AND BODIES

 

34.1   The Central Board (CB) is the executive body. It leads the IFF and represents it externally.

 

34.2   The Bodies of the Central Board are:

 

a)       President

b)          Executive Committee (ExCo)

c)       Rules and Competition Committee (RACC)

d)      Referee Committee (RC)

e)          Marketing and Information Committee (MIC)

f)          Education and Development Committee (EDC)

g)      Special Committees

 

ARTICLE 35          COMPOSITION

 

35.1   The CB, elected by the General Assembly, shall consist of a president and six to nine members.

No more than three one persons from the same Nation ordinary member Association can be elected as members of the CB.

          In case of a draw in a CB voting the President’s vote is decisive.

 

35.2   The term of office for the President and members of the CB shall be two four years. The

          retiring members and the President shall be eligible for re-election.

         

35.3   Vacancy ies during the term of office shall be co-opted by the CB with a replacer proposed upon proposal by a conference of the the national Associations chairmen being involved to the same function.

 

ARTICLE 36          ORGANIZATION

 

36.1   Within the members of the CB there shall be appointed a two Vice Presidents, a first and a second, and a Treasurer.

 

36.2   The procedure within the CB, the functions and competence of the CB members shall be      governed by rules of procedure and responsibility lists.

 

36.3   Details about the function and competence of the ExCo, the RACC, the RC, the MIC, the EDC, Special Committees and the office will be governed by the IFF Regulations.

 

ARTICLE 37          COMPETENCE

 

37.1   The CB shall be responsible for the management and administration of the IFF and shall take decisions on all matters that do not require a General Assembly decision. The CB may delegate some of its powers.

 

37.2   The CB shall appoint Chairmen of the committees and Chairmen of the Board of Arbitration.

 

37.3   The CB enacts the IFF Regulations after having consulted them with the member          Associations.

 

37.4   Each member of the CB is entitled in the limits of its particular function and in the execution          of CB decisions to represent the IFF in its own power. In all other cases they act as a           substitute for the IFF by two members.

 

37.5   The CB can install working groups (WG) for particular duties with adequate competence.

          The WG:s can also be composed by non CB members.

 

C       THE AUDITING

 

ARTICLE 38          EXAMINATION OF THE ACCOUNT / AUDITORS

 

The General Assembly shall appoint a firm of chartered accountants, one accountant and one substitute for a term of office of two years to examine the financial report of the IFF every year. The auditors’ reports shall be submitted to the General Assembly.

 

D       THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

 

ARTICLE 39                        DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

 

39.1   Sanctions are:

 

a)           Reprimand

b)      Warning

c)       Fine

d)           Disqualification from competitions

e)           Discharge from official position

f)            Suspension

g)       Expulsion

 

Sanctions may be imposed on member Associations, player and officials. In any case different sanctions can be combined. They are enforced throughout the IFF and notice thereof shall be given by registered letter.

 

39.2          Sanction within the power of the General Assembly

 

Fines excess the maximum pursuant to the Juridical Regulations can be imposed by the General Assembly.

Suspensions are imposed by the General Assembly.

In the case of emergency, the CB is empowered to impose suspension, notably in the case of non-payment of membership fees by the deadline fixed.

Suspension by the General Assembly is effective immediately; by the CB it is effective after notice.

 

39.3          Sanctions within the power of the Central Board      

 

Reprimand, warnings, disqualification of teams, players and/or coaches for up to 6 months and fines up to 5.000 CHF can be imposed by the CB.

All sanctions imposed by the CB shall be pursuant to the Juridical Regulations in force.

If the CB presume that a sanction might exceed its power the CB shall require that the Disciplinary Committee start prosecution. Even if a case resides inside the Central Boards power to impose a sanction, the Central Board remains able to require the Disciplinary Committee to handle the process.

 

 

 

 

 

IV        LEGISLATIVE- / EXECUTIVE- BODIES

 

ARTICLE 39       CONTINUATION

 

39.4          Sanctions within the power of Jury

 

The Jury of a competition may impose a temporary individual or team suspension.

All sanctions imposed by the Jury shall be pursuant to the Juridical Regulations in force.

It fixes the duration thereof, which may not exceed that of the competition itself.

If the Jury are of the opinion that a sanction should exceed duration of an competition, the Jury shall require that the Disciplinary Committee start prosecution.

 

39.5          Sanctions within the power of the Disciplinary Committee

 

The Disciplinary Committee has competence to impose sanctions on members or member nations in  

Associations according to the Juridical Regulations in force.

Individual members, IFF member organisations and IFF bodies can apply for prosecution. Member organisations and IFF bodies can require that the Disciplinary Committee start prosecution.

 

39.6          Expulsion

 

a)       Only a General Assembly or an Extraordinary General Assembly may expel an member Association, after granting it hearing.

 

b)      The grounds reasons for expulsion of an member Association are:

 

1.       Debts to the IFF or a Confederation, notably for delay in payment of three annual fees, admonition thereof having been issued three months before the General Assembly or an Extraordinary General Assembly.

 

2.       Clear, or repeated, breach of the IFF Statutes or Regulations, or serious misconduct.

 

3.       Loss of status as a National Floorball Association, on the basis of findings from inquiries made of the competent national authorities.

 

c)       Expulsion is determined by majority vote in the case of article 38 39.6 b), sub-paragraph 1. In the case or sub-paragraphs 2 or 3 a majority of 75% of the votes cast is required, with a least 40 % of the member Associations being present or represented.

 

d)      In the case of need players and officials may be expelled by the CB by a 75% majority vote, effective upon notice of the decision.

 

E       THE APPEAL COMMITTEE

 

ARTICLE 40                        APPEAL COMMITTEE

 

40.1          The following cases are object for appeal:

 

a)       Decision in protest case. Sanctions imposed by a Jury, however, are final as far as the duration of the competition to which they apply is concerned.

 

b)      Decisions made by the Central Board which claims to be contrary to statutes or regulations.

Sanctions imposed on individual members, clubs or national Associations, exceeding the limits according to Juridical Regulations in force.

 

Administrative regulations and deposit, which shall be accompanied the appeal, are according to

the Juridical Regulations in force.

 

IV        LEGISLATIVE- / EXECUTIVE- BODIES

 

ARTICLE 41          MEDIATION

 

41.1   In the case of litigation’s between member Associations, representatives, trainees, Teams,           Referees etc. the Board of Arbitration offers to mediate.

 

41.2   The Board of Arbitration tries to mediate by the application of one of the parties.

 

41.3   Possible appeals shall be sent to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) in Lausanne,

           Switzerland.

 

41.4   IFF as well as member associations, and clubs, members and players, commit themselves not to go to civil court with cases.
V        INDEMNITIES

 

ARTICLE 42          INDEMNITIES AND CHARGES

 

The indemnities and charges of any member of an IFF body or representatives of the IFF shall be governed by an IFF Regulation.

VI        CONCLUDING CLAUSES

 

ARTICLE 43          OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

 

The official language of the Federation is English. English is the standard language for the minutes, official correspondence and communications. Each National Association shall be responsible for its own translation.

 

ARTICLE 44          MODIFICATION OF THE STATUTES

 

The modification of the IFF Statutes shall become effective by the decision of a 2/3 majority of votes present at the General Assembly.

 

ARTICLE 45          DISSOLUTION OF THE IFF

 

45.1   The dissolution of the IFF shall become effective only by a 2/3 majority of all official member           Associations.

 

45.2   The dissolution must be repeated and granted by an extraordinary Dissolution Congress not           later than six month after the first dissolution decision.

 

45.3   In the case of dissolution all financial claims have to be settled by a special elected Liquidation Committee (LC) elected by the dissolution General Assembly. The delegates of the Dissolution Congress General Assembly shall decide about the use of the balance.

 

ARTICLE 46          ENACTING CLAUSE

 

These statutes were adopted by the IFF General Assembly in Zürich, in Switzerland on May 21st, 2004. They supersede those dated 24th of May 2002 and come into force immediately.

 

ARTICLE 47          TRANSITIONAL REGULATIONS

 

47.1   Facts that have accrued in advance of the enacting of these Statutes shall be           judged/interpreted     in accordance to the former Regulations.

 

47.2   Any decisions of the IFF Bodies shall stay to be effective as far as they are not contradictory           to these Statutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Floorball Federation

Box 1047, SE-171 21 Solna, Sweden

Tel. +46-8 27 32 50  Fax +46-8 82 22 14