By-Laws

1. Intention for new RVS schools to participate in the RVSA must be made in writing to the sports coordinator by June 1 prior to the competitive year. Intention of schools to remove themselves from RVSA programs must also be put in writing to the sports coordinator at the annual Sports Parameters meeting. Member schools that leave the RVSA in team sports, and then wish to return, must inform the sports coordinator by June 1 prior to the competitive year.
2. Schools outside the boundaries of the RVSD may submit an application for affiliation with the RVSA by writing to the superintendent of schools via the sports coordinator.
3. Rights and privileges of Member Schools
   1. Each member school has the right to participate in each sport as offered by the RVSA.
   2. Each member school has one vote at each Sports Parameters meeting as defined in Article II.
   3. Each member school has one vote per team at Coaches’ Organizational meetings, at which coaches make recommendations regarding each sport (to be ratified by the principals at Sports Parameters meetings)

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1. Roles and Responsibilities of the RVSA Governing Body (the Executive):
   1. School administrators are the administrators of each RVS school. They discuss issues and notices of motion with their school coaches and have one vote per school at Sports Parameters meetings. School administrators enforce the constitution, by-laws and policies of the RVSA. They rule on sport-related issues and recommendations of coaches.
   2. The superintendent designate is an RVS staff assigned by the superintendent of schools to oversee the RVSA and the extra-curricular sports program. He/she acts as chairperson of the RVSA and votes only to break ties at Sports Parameters meetings. This person rules on eligibility issues and protests as they arise. He/she supervises the sports coordinator.
   3. The sports coordinator is an RVS staff hired to operate the RVSA and organize the sponsored sports. He/she brings information to the Sports Parameters meetings, advises on issues and takes minutes. This is a non-voting position at RVSA meetings. This person performs the duties outlined in the job description.
   4. Sports commissioners are certified teachers, Rocky View employees and community volunteers as nominated by school administrators on the basis of one per sport in which there is divisional competition. Commissioners hold the position for a minimum of two years. Commissioners advise school administrators on sport technical issues of his/her respective sport. This is a non-voting position at RVSA meetings. This position performs duties outlined in the job description. Commissioners receive and honorarium in the amount determined by the RVSA governing body.
   5. Athletic directors/coaching representatives are teachers/coaches from each member school that may attend Sports Parameters meetings to discuss issues and introduce the perspectives of the coaches he/she represents. This is a non-voting position.
2. Sports Sponsored by the RVSA and the RVS
   1. High School
      1. Junior Varsity and Varsity Volleyball
      2. Football
      3. Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball
      4. Badminton
      5. Track & Field
      6. Soccer
      7. Golf
      8. Curling
      9. Cheerleading
   2. Middle School
      1. Jr. A and B Volleyball
      2. Jr. A and B Basketball
      3. Track & Field
      4. Badminton
      5. Grade 6
      6. Volleyball
      7. Soccer
      8. Basketball

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1. The Executive means the Executive of the RVSA and consists of the following:
   1. Two high school and one middle school administrators who are elected by the membership for a one-year term at the Sports Parameters meeting. One school administrator is elected by the Executive to assume the role of chair of the Executive.
   2. One high school and one middle school sport commissioner who is elected by the membership for a one-year term at the Sports Parameters meeting.
   3. The sports coordinator.
   4. Sports commissioners at each level are to be “on call” should their input be required when making rulings.
2. The Executive meets on an as-needed basis as requested by the sports coordinator. They rule on eligibility, code of conduct, finance and fees, policy infractions, and other issues as they arise.
3. All decisions made by the Executive may be appealed to the superintendent of schools.

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1. The RVSA holds two annual Sports Parameters meetings with school administrators: one for schools with grades nine to 12 and the other for schools with grades six to eight. These meetings establish definite parameters under which each sport operates.
   1. Annual Sports Parameters meetings are held by the middle of June each year.
   2. Meetings may be held in conjunction with a Levels meeting any time throughout the year.
   3. At least one school administrator or one coach/athletic director at the appropriate meeting must represent each RVSD member school.
   4. The commissioner of each sport may attend these meetings to advise the attendees on sport technical issues and recommendations.
   5. Failure to have representation at the appropriate meeting may result in that school being disqualified from participating in the RVSA.
2. Coaches’ Organizational meetings are scheduled during the course of the school year to plan a program within the established parameters set by the RVSA governing body.
   1. Coaches wishing to change regulations and rules governing their sport must do so through the sports coordinator by a notice of motion. The notice of motion must be submitted to the sports coordinator three weeks prior to the Sports Parameters meeting.
   2. School administrators are expected to discuss all notices of motion with their coaches prior to attending the Sports Parameters meeting. They also cast a vote on behalf of their schools.
   3. Schools must have a representative attend any meeting called by the sports coordinator. Failure to attend may result in the school being disqualified from participating in that activity.

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1. For the purpose of general meetings at the high school level, five administrators constitute a quorum.
2. For the purpose of general meetings at the middle school level, seven administrators constitute a quorum.

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A majority vote passes all motions.

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1. Amendments to the constitution must be made by the RVSA governing body and are subject to the approval of the RVSD Board of Trustees.
   1. Intent to amend the constitution of the RVSA must be made by a notice of motion.
   2. Notices of motion to amend the constitution must be sent to the sports coordinator three weeks in advance of the RVSA Sports Parameters meeting. The sports coordinator must advise all RVSA members two weeks before the meeting on any proposed amendments.
2. Amendments to the by-laws must be made by the RVSA governing body.
   1. Intent to amend the by-laws of the RVSA must be made by notice of motion.
   2. Notices of motion to amend the by-laws must be sent to the sports coordinator three weeks in advance of the RVSA Sports Parameters meeting. The sports coordinator must advise all RVSA members two weeks before the meeting on any proposed amendments.
   3. Amendments to handbook policies, exclusive to specific sports may be made as recommendations from the coaches at the Coaches’ Organizational meeting. These amendments are subject to ratification of the RVSA governing body.

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The activities of the RVSA are governed by the RVSA constitution, by-laws and policies.

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The fiscal year is from September 1 to August 31 of the following year.

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1. All fees are set by the sports coordinator, approved by the RVSA and intended solely to cover the operational cost of the RVSA.
2. Fees levied to schools are for entrance into single athletic categories.
3. An annual grant is made to the RVSA from the RVS to cover the costs of divisional championship events.
4. Member schools may charge participating students a reasonable user fee to help defray the costs of the sports program.
5. For high schools, one half of the school’s total fees shall be paid on or before October 1, with the balance due on or before April 15 or each school year. Middle schools are required to pay a $1,000 deposit and will then be invoiced for their participation at the end of the school year. Schools withdrawing from any program after they have sent in their commitment form may not be refunded their fee for the sport. The sports coordinator must receive commitment forms by September 15.
6. Any RVSA funds accrued at the end of the school year are retained by the RVSA and used in the next year to help offset the costs of the program.
7. The sports coordinator must submit a financial report to the superintendent designate for review semi-annually. Records may be requested from a member school or RVS official at any time.
8. An honorarium, in the amount determined by the RVSA governing body, is paid to each sports commissioner for the duties performed each year.

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Refer to High School and Middle School Eligibility Policies.

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New sports to be sponsored by the RVSA are adopted according to the following procedure.

1. A notice of motion requesting a review must come to the governing body at a Sports Parameters meeting. To be approved for interim participation, it must:
   1. Have three high schools or five middle schools interested and able to field teams. Or have a minimum of 30 athletes in three schools for individual sports.
   2. Have a sport governing body with official rules and trained officials.
   3. Meet safety standards determined by the RVSA governing body.
   4. Have a commissioner, appointed by the RVSA governing body.
2. Once approved for interim participation, individual schools must operate the sport for one season with unofficial status, by running a league and/or championship event. Costs incurred for the pilot season, i.e. field maintenance, supervision, and awards, are the responsibility of the league.
3. After completion of one pilot year, the RVSA reviews the sport’s status. If it is successful, the sport is given RVSA status, entitling it to financial support from the RVS, support from the sports coordinator and RVSA awards.

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1. Coaches and principals should make every attempt to resolve all issues at the inter-school level before moving to the following procedures.
2. In the event that the issue cannot be resolved between individuals and the schools concerned, the following procedures are followed:
   1. The coach of the sport in questions, in consultation with the principal, presents, in writing, full details of the issue to the sports coordinator within two school days of the issue in question.
   2. The sports coordinator makes a decision on the issue within two school days.
3. The sports coordinator’s decision may be appealed to the RVSA governing body by the coach and his/her principal. The appeal procedure must be initiated within two school days of the sports coordinator’s decision. The appeal must be made in writing and faxed to the superintendent designate.
4. Upon receiving the appeal letter, the RVSA governing body must make a decision on the appeal within five school days. The RVSD superintendent of schools must be notified of the decision by the next school day.
5. If the issue cannot be resolved by the RVSA governing body, the coach and his/her principal may appeal to the superintendent of schools within one school day of the decision. The superintendent of schools makes a decision within three school days of the appeal. This is the final decision regarding the issue.

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As per Section II of the Policy DLC in the RVS Administrative Handbook, RVS employees and community coaches are compensated for extra-curricular expenses. Form AP 102/2000 is used for these claims.

The following table explains how to cover coaches' expenses:

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