Lance Rasmussen
September 21st, 2007, 05:30 PM
"But my league had this rule since the great depression. It's grandfathered in".... or "That rule was legal 10 years ago!"
We hear this or similar responses when asked how to configure BLS for a specific bylaw.
It's very important to understand that when your league certifies / sanctions under USBC or CTF, your league (and members) are choosing the follow the rules for the season you are certifying / sanctioning in.
It is very important for the league officers to, before the league meetings, take a GOOD look at the rules for that year and verify that there hasn't been any changes that conflict with the league bylaws.
So if last year USBC said XXXX and the membership (national) voted on a rule change for this year to make it different or illegal.... you must change your bylaws.
What if your league started and you find out you have a conflicting rule?? Do you keep it and change it next year? Do you have to change it now?
Yes. You should get the board together and change the bylaw by either removing it or changing it to not conflict. You cannot vote to keep the illegal rule in.
There are many rules and areas where USBC and CTF have designated that the league rules should be XXXX unless the league votes another rule.
There are also many rules and areas where USBC and CTF have designated rules, but only allow the leagues to make certain modifications (see previous post regarding vacancies).
And there are many rules and areas where USBC and CTF do not give the league any option to "override what national rules are".
The whole purpose of rules is to somewhat standardize how leagues and tournaments play. You can have some rules that give uniqueness to a league. But you still need that common thread.
We hear this or similar responses when asked how to configure BLS for a specific bylaw.
It's very important to understand that when your league certifies / sanctions under USBC or CTF, your league (and members) are choosing the follow the rules for the season you are certifying / sanctioning in.
It is very important for the league officers to, before the league meetings, take a GOOD look at the rules for that year and verify that there hasn't been any changes that conflict with the league bylaws.
So if last year USBC said XXXX and the membership (national) voted on a rule change for this year to make it different or illegal.... you must change your bylaws.
What if your league started and you find out you have a conflicting rule?? Do you keep it and change it next year? Do you have to change it now?
Yes. You should get the board together and change the bylaw by either removing it or changing it to not conflict. You cannot vote to keep the illegal rule in.
There are many rules and areas where USBC and CTF have designated that the league rules should be XXXX unless the league votes another rule.
There are also many rules and areas where USBC and CTF have designated rules, but only allow the leagues to make certain modifications (see previous post regarding vacancies).
And there are many rules and areas where USBC and CTF do not give the league any option to "override what national rules are".
The whole purpose of rules is to somewhat standardize how leagues and tournaments play. You can have some rules that give uniqueness to a league. But you still need that common thread.