WHC By-Laws - World Handball Council

THE WORLD HANDBALL COUNCIL BY-LAWS

1 Name

1.1 The organization shall be called “The World Handball Council”, hereinafter referred to as “the Council”

2 Objects - The objects of the Council are:

A To promote worldwide the growth and general welfare of the game of handball.
B To serve as the international authority for the game of handball.
C To determine the international rules of the game of handball, including court and equipment specifications.
D To promote (by delegation to members) a World Championship of Handball in disciplines approved from time to time by the Council.
E To mediate and settle disputes between members.
F To sanction tours by official teams from member countries.

G To foster friendly competition and to eliminate unfair and unsporting practices including use of drugs or other illegal activities to enhance performance.
H To serve the interests of its members and implement decisions agreed on by the members.
I To foster gender equality and equal opportunity for all.
J To receive, acquire, and hold gifts or legacies and solicit donations and sponsorships.
K To acquire, hold, own, improve and maintain and sell, lease, or otherwise encumber, and to dispose of any real and personal property for the purposes of the Council.

3 Interpretation

A The expression “handball” shall refer to court handball both indoors and outdoor.
B Except as otherwise provided for in these by-laws, the term “General Meeting” shall be deemed to apply to both Regular and Extraordinary General Meetings.
C All references to gender shall include both the masculine and feminine unless the context requires otherwise.
D Words importing the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa.
E All references to members shall include member countries.
F “Board” means the Board of Directors for the time being of the Council

4 Powers - The Council shall have the following powers:

A To prescribe, make and adopt such rules, regulations and do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the objects of the Council or to conduct its business
B To prescribe from time to time the fees to be paid by members.
C To expel, suspend, fine or otherwise discipline any member or expel, suspend or discipline for cause any officer.
D To delegate such of its powers to Council Officers from time to time as it may deem fit. E To use the funds as it deems fit in the interests of the Council.
F To award the holding of a World Championship event to a member country or territory. G Delegate responsibility for location and scheduling of the World Championship to a host country. Provide assistance as required.

5 Membership

5.1 Membership in the Council is restricted to the duly elected principal authority for the administration, organization and playing of handball in the country or territory the authority represents.
5.2 Membership may be granted to an applicant that provides the Council with

A The by-laws or other equivalent governing document of the association.
B A list of the names and addresses of its Executive and Board of Directors.
C A copy of its last financial report demonstrating its solvency.
D Payment of an annual membership fee.
E Associate membership may be granted to a duly elected organization that administers a specific discipline of the sport in a country or territory or a group in the process of establishing a national body to administer and organize handball in a country or territory.

6 Representatives

6.1 Every full member shall designate in writing to the sec/treas. the name and address of two individuals who shall serve as its representatives to the Council.
6.2 Both representatives shall be designated to sit on the Board of Directors of the Council.
6.3 The fore mentioned designations shall continue in effect until notification in writing is received by the sec/treas. terminating the appointments and designating a replacement, No officer of the Council shall be eligible to serve as a representative.
6.4 Every associate member shall designate in writing to the sec./treas. the name and address of one individual who shall serve as an associate member’s representative to the Council.
6.5 All representatives shall be entitled to attend General and Extraordinary General Meetings.
6.6 In the event that a representative is unable to attend a General or Extraordinary General Meeting the member that appointed him or in a case of emergency, the Representative himself may appoint an alternate to attend the meeting in his place. Such authorization and appointment thereunder shall be made in a form satisfactory to the President. An alternate shall have the same powers as the person appointing him
6.7 At no time may an individual serve as a Representative of more than one member or as an alternate of more than one member. No individual may serve simultaneously as a Representative and an Alternate.
6.8 An alternate must hold a proxy to vote on the representatives behalf.

7 Meetings./Voting

7.1 A General Meeting of the Council shall be held in conjunction with each World Championship.
7.2 The Sec./Treas. shall give notice by mail or electronic means to each member as to the place, date and time of the General Meeting not less than 30 days prior to the date of such meeting. An Agenda for the meeting together with any notes, comments or supporting documents shall be provided not less than 15 days prior to such meeting.
7.3 Any officer or member shall be entitled to have included on the agenda any matters they wish to raise or any motion or proposal they wish to make. To be placed on the Agenda such matters together with an explanatory statement to be received by the Sec/Treas. At least 15 days prior to the meeting. A motion not on the agenda may be submitted to a vote only with the unanimous consent of those present at the meeting.
7.4 The Agenda for the General Meeting shall include all matters, proposals and motions submitted according to section 3 of this article as well as the following

A President’s Report.
B Financial Statement of the Council.
C Secretary/Treasurer’s Report.
D Election of Officers.
E Other business

7.5 At any time during the period between two General Meetings the President upon specific written requests from at least two members, and /or the officers may at his discretion call an Extraordinary General Meeting that can be conducted by conference call or other electronic means. The Sec/Treas. shall notify each member by mail or electronic means, not less than 30 days prior to such a meeting. The Agenda and any comments on the content of the meeting shall accompany such notice.
7.6 A quorum at a General or Extraordinary General Meeting shall consist of two thirds of the officers and representatives, deemed present and entitled to vote.

8 Voting

8.1 The adoption of any Resolution to alter or rescind the by-laws, or to change the rules governing World Championships, or to expel a member or officer shall require a two thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The adoption of any other resolution will require a simple majority of votes cast.
8.2 Unless otherwise provided for or requested, votes shall be cast viva voce, and shall be counted by the President and verified by the Sec./Treas. On matters other than those outlined in 8.1.
8.3 Full members shall be entitled to two votes and an associate member one vote. 8.3 A member in arrears of any membership fees, fines or other charges owed to the Council shall not be entitled to exercise any of its voting rights.
8.4 A representative of a member shall be allowed to hold a proxy for one other member.
8.5 In the event of a tie the President may cast an additional vote.

9 Action Without Meeting

9.1 Any member or the officers may propose a motion for action without a meeting. Such motions shall be submitted to the Sec/Treas. in writing. After consideration by the officers, the Sec./Treas. shall, within 21 days, forward copies of the motion to each member. To be recorded the responding vote of the member must be received in writing by the Sec./Treas. no later than 14 days after the date of the notice.
9.2 No later than 30 days after the date of the notice, the Sec./Treas. shall advise the members in writing of the outcome of the vote on a motion circulated for action without a meeting.
9.3 Any motion presented for action without a meeting that is not adopted shall be placed on the agenda for the next General Meeting.

10. Council Officers & Board of Directors.

10.1 The officers of the council shall be:

1. The President.
2. The Vice-President.
3. The Secretary/Treasurer.
4. The Immediate Past President for a 2 year period after his term as President.

10.2 The President, Vice President and Sec./Treas. shall be elected as provided herein at a General Meeting of the Council. The President and Vice President must be from different member countries. The Sec./Treas. may be from any member country. None of the officers may be a representative of a member. Election of officers will take place at each General Meeting held in conjunction with a World Championship. All elections shall be for a term that will expire at the next World Championship following the election. No person shall hold more than one office of the Council at any given time.
10.3 The officers shall not serve in the same office for more than two terms in succession. 10.4 Each officer shall have one vote. In the case of a tie the President may cast a deciding vote.
10.5 The President shall be ex-officio a member of all committees. He shall when present preside at all meetings of the Council. In his absence the Vice-President shall preside at such meetings and in the absence of both a chairman may be elected by the meeting to preside there at. The President is empowered to permit observers to attend, address, but not to vote at General Meetings.
10.6 At the request of the President, or in his absence or disability, the Vice- President shall perform all of the duties of the President, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Members or the President..
10.7 In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Vice-President shall become President and serve until the next election of officers. The members, by action without meeting, shall elect a Vice- President in his stead, after nominations for the office have been called for by the Sec./Treas. and notified to members.
10.8 In the event of the death, resignation or removal of any other elected officer the members by action without meeting shall elect a replacement after nominations for the office have been called for by the Sec./Treas. and notified to members.
10.9 The Sec./Treas. shall be responsible for all monies and securities of the Council and shall deposit all monies in timely fashion in the name of the council in a Bank or Trust Company designated by the Council. He shall, at all reasonable times, exhibit his books of account and records to any member, and shall cause a statement of the Council’s financial position to be given to members at each General Meeting. He shall receive and provide receipts for monies due and payable to the Council and shall disburse the monies of the Council as directed by the Board of Directors. He shall reimburse the officers for all approved costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
10.10 The Sec./Treas. shall be responsible for taking and circulating to members the minutes of all meetings of the Council or officers within a period of 30 days of the meeting.
10.11 Any officer may be removed at any General Meeting of the Council by a duly adopted resolution.
10.12 The Board of Directors of the Council shall consist of the Executive officers, two representatives of each full member and one representative of associate members.

11. Election of officers

11.1 Nominations for President, Vice-President or Sec./Treas. shall be submitted in writing by any member, to the Sec./Treas. no less than 15 days before a General Meeting at which an election of officers is to occur. The nominations shall be included in the agenda of the meeting. Nominations received after the 15-day notice period may be submitted at such meeting, if approved by the majority of the members present.
11.2 A member can withdraw its nomination at any time.
11.3 In the event that there is no nomination for an officer position, any member shall be entitled to nominate candidates at the meeting.
11.4 No nomination shall be accepted as valid unless accompanied by a statement signed by the nominee to the effect that he is willing to stand.
11.5 The election of officers shall be held at the end of the General Meeting. The election of the President shall be held first, followed by the election of the Vice-President and then the Secretary/Treasurer.
11.6 If there is only one candidate for a position then he shall be declared elected, otherwise all candidates shall be elected by votes cast in secret ballot. A scrutinizer shall not be a candidate or entitled to vote and the counts shall be certified correct by the Sec./Treas.

12 Meetings of Officers.

12.1 The officers and one member at large shall form an executive committee and meet from time to time upon the call of any of them and at such times and places as the President may determine and according to procedures determined by the committee. At such meetings they shall dispose of routine matters of the Council, prepare agendas for General Meetings, and any other duties assigned to them. Minutes shall be taken of such meetings. The member at large will be appointed by the members.
12.2 In the event an officer is unable to attend a meeting, the officer may appoint an alternate to attend in his place. Such authorization and appointment thereunder shall be made in a form satisfactory to the Sec./Treas. An alternate shall have the same powers as the officer who appointed him. At any meeting of the officers, a quorum shall be two and any matter decided at such meetings shall be by a majority of those present and entitled to vote. At meetings of the Officers, attending officers or alternates shall have one vote. In the case of a tie vote the President or in his absence the Vice-President will have an additional vote.

13 Remuneration.

13.1 The objects of the Council shall be carried out without pecuniary gain to its officers or members. If a representative of a member or an officer becomes an employee of the Council, that person cannot vote at any meeting and must resign from their position on the Council.
13.2 No dividends shall be declared or paid and any profits or other accretions to the Council shall be used in promoting its objects.
13.3 Upon dissolution and after paying all debts and liabilities, the remaining property or assets of the Council shall be distributed or disposed of to the members as determined by the Board of Directors.

14 Financial Year and Membership Fees.

14.1 The financial year of the Council shall be the calendar year.
14.2 Membership fees will be set at the General Meeting. Such fees are deemed to be due on January 1 each year and must be paid no later than June 30 of such year, and thereafter shall be deemed to be in arrears. All fees to be paid by Members on being admitted to Membership shall be deemed to be due within three months of the admission.
14.3 Lapsed Members wishing to reinstate shall pay the current year’s membership fee.
14.4 All membership fees shall be set and paid in United States dollars.

15 Offices.

15.1 The offices of the Council shall be located in the country of the Secretary/Treasurer for the time being. In the event of their being no Sec./Treas. the offices shall be located in the country nominated by the President.

16 Audit

16.1 The books, accounts, and records of the Sec./Treas. shall be reviewed by two members of the Council other than officers and appointed for that purpose at a General Meeting. A complete and proper statement of the standing of the books shall be presented at each General Meeting.
16.2 The books and records of the Council may be inspected by any member at any General Meeting as provided for herein, or at any time upon giving reasonable notice and arranging a time satisfactory to the officer or officers having charge of same.

17 Amendments

17.1 Any resolution amending or repealing in whole or in part, or having the effect of so amending or repealing in whole or in part these by-laws, the rules of the game, the rules governing World Championships, or to expel a member or an officer must be presented at a General Meeting of the Council or at an Extraordinary General Meeting called specifically for that purpose and in accordance with Section 8.1.

18 Dissolution

18.1 On dissolution of the council any remaining funds or other assets after settlement of outstanding obligations will be donated to member countries for the development of handball or donated to registered charity designated by the board of directors.

Detailed plans of 1-Wall, 4 Wall 40 x 20 and 60 x 30 Courts (Courtesy GAA Handball)

1-Wall Handball Court Dimensions

40 x 20 Handball Court Dimensions

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