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The purpose of the WALOA is to recruit, train, and retain qualified officials for US Lacrosse (USL), PNCLL, WSBLA, WYLA sanctioned regular season and post-season events. This shall be accomplished by developing:

A registration process that is thorough, accurate, and prompt.

A core of knowledgeable sports rules clinicians who are dedicated to interscholastic coaches, officials, participants and to the game itself.

A process to recruit, train, and retain competent officials.

A Board of Directors who are leaders and who are responsive to the needs of PNCLL, WSBLA, WYLA, and USL-WA.

ARTICLE III
OBJECT

Section 1. WALOA shall further the best interest of athletics:

A. By aiding officials, coaches and players in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the playing rules of lacrosse through scheduling officiating clinics, workshops, and/or classes.
B. By promoting uniformity in the mechanics and interpretation of rules of the game.
C. By encouraging observance of the spirit and letter of playing rules and ethical codes on all occasions, and
D. By maintaining a central registry of all officials.

E. The rulebook used for competition is the NCAA for PNCLL and NFHS for WSBLA and WYLA.

Section 2. WALOA will aid in maintaining a positive working environment for all officials, PNCLL, WSBLA, and WYLA members.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any persons desiring membership in the WALOA must present his or her application to the WALOA office with the stipulated fee as well as a completed Criminal History Background Check Form.

Section 2. Qualifications for Certified Membership:

A. Current registration with WALOA, and
B. Membership in US Lacrosse as an official.
C. An acceptable Criminal History Background Check Form on file in the WALOA office.
D. Officials must annually attend a sanctioned USL Rules Clinic, and
E. Must annually pass the current USL approved test in that sport with a score of 70% or higher.

ARTICLE V
WALOA EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP - The executive authority of this Association shall be vested in an Executive Board consisting of five elected members. In addition, appointed members will be added to the Board as desired.

Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE - Each member shall be elected for a term of three years, and terms may be extended.

Section 3. QUALIFICATIONS - An Executive Board member shall be a certified member of WALOA.

Section 4. PROCEDURE FOR ELECTION - The WALOA Executive Board members shall be elected at an annual WALOA meeting. Each certified member will be entitled to one vote. Elected WALOA Executive Board members shall take office immediately following their election.

Section 5. OFFICERS - At the spring meeting of the WALOA Executive Board, the members shall elect one of their members to serve as Chairman and one as Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as the WALOA liaison to the USL Executive Board. The Chairman will hold a seat on the WSBLA Board.

Section 6. PROCEDURES FOR VACANCIES - In case of a vacancy in the membership of the WALOA Executive Board, the remaining members shall fill the unexpired term of such member by appointment.

Section 7. PRESIDING OFFICER - The Chairman of the Association shall preside at the meetings of the WALOA Executive Board.

Section 8. MEETINGS - The WALOA Executive Board shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or on a petition of three members of the WALOA Executive Board, but not less than a minimum of once a year. Conference calls are considered as meetings if a quorum is present.

Section 9. RULES FOR MEETINGS - All meetings of the WALOA Executive Board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, amended for conference calls as needed.

Section 10. QUORUM - Three members of the WALOA Executive Board shall be considered a quorum and the majority vote of those present shall prevail.

Section 11. FLOOR PRIVILEGES - Any member of the Association may have the privilege of the floor at WALOA Executive Board meetings.

Section 12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WALOA BOARD - The WALOA Executive Board shall have the following responsibilities:

A. Direct general management of funds and business of the Association;

B. Hear and decide all protests and questions not specifically defined by the Constitution and By-Laws;

C. Act as an appeal body for PNCLL, WSBLA and WYLA.

D. Establish yearly calendar of events.

E. Take disciplinary action against WALOA members or PNCLL, WYLA, WSBLA members which violate rules or regulations.

F. Propose changes of rules and regulations, create new rules or regulations, adopt, amend, reject or refer changes to the USL Executive Board and MDOC.

G. To assist in the communication necessary between the WALOA office and PNCLL, WYLA, and WSBLA to assure compliance with established administrative policies and procedures.

Section 13. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND PROTESTS - If any one of the WALOA Executive Board members is directly involved in a protest as in Section 13 (B) above, the Board member shall be immediately disqualified from those proceedings. The Chairman may appoint a person to take the place of such member while deciding that case.

Section 14. DUTIES OF THE WALOA CHAIRMAN - The WALOA Chairman's duties shall include the following:

A. Disburse funds of the Association upon the order of the WALOA Executive Board.

B. Prepare an annual budget in cooperation with USL and WSBLA for WALOA Executive Board action.

C. Prepare an annual financial report in cooperation with USL and WSBLA to be approved by the WALOA membership.

D. Supervise Association business.

E. Interpret the rules and regulations of the Association as approved by the WALOA Executive Board;

F. Any other duties as assigned by the WALOA Executive Board.

G. The WALOA Chairman has the authority to make decisions on all issues not directly addressed by the WALOA Constitution and By-Laws, or that deals with a unique situation that in the WALOA Chairman's opinion needs to be rectified immediately. Any such decision will be reviewed by the Executive Board during the next regularly scheduled meeting.

ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT

Section 1. The WALOA Executive Board shall select a WALOA Chairman who shall be responsible for the management and operation of the WALOA.

Section 2. The Executive Board, as defined in Article V, shall be responsible for executing the express wishes of the membership in all matters pertaining exclusively to the WALOA. In all other matters the Executive Board is to act in an advisory capacity to the USL Washington Chapter and PNCLL, WYLA, and WSBLA.

ARTICLE VII
GRIEVANCE / MISCONDUCT / DUE PROCESS

Section 1.

WSBLA – WALOA Grievance Process

1. Code of Conduct/Ethics.

The WALOA shall use the NFHS Officials Code of Ethics that shall be applicable to all WALOA members. The WSBLA shall use the NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics that shall be applicable to all individuals that represent WSBLA institutions in relation to boy’s/men’s lacrosse games, and this code of conduct shall be reasonably acceptable to the WALOA.

2. Game Assignments of Officials

The WSBLA and the WALOA agree that the DAA (District Assigning Authority) shall have the final assigning authority and/or rescinding of assignments for all WSBLA games. The WSBLA and the WALOA further acknowledge and agree, that it is inappropriate and unacceptable for any DAA to make and/or rescind assignments of WSBLA games based upon requests made by coaches.

3. Grievance Process

Any Grievance made by individual officials or coaches with respect to conduct shall be presented to the WALOA Conflict Resolution Chairman in writing within 24 hours of the game/incident, and must be responded to by the WALOA Conflict Resolution Chairman within 48 hours after receiving the grievance. The WALOA Conflict Resolution Chair shall initially review the grievance with the DAA and attempt to resolve the grievance informally with the aggrieved official or coach. If the aggrieved official or coach does not accept an informal resolution of the grievance, the Grievance shall be promptly forwarded to the WSBLA-WALOA Ethics Review Board for final resolution.

4. Resolution of Issues Relating to Sportsmanship and Professionalism: Ethic Review Board.

The WALOA shall designate an individual member of the WALOA to serve as the WALOA Conflict Resolution Chair (the “Conflict Resolution Chair”). The WALOA and the WSBLA shall establish an Ethics Review Board, consisting of the WALOA Conflict Resolution Chair, the WSBLA President, or the President’s designee, and the Men’s Division Director of US Lacrosse Region 11 (the “MDOC”). All Grievances of unprofessional conduct relating to officials or coaches, administrators, or other institutional representatives (collectively, “Grievances”) shall be promptly reviewed by the Ethics Review Board. The Ethics Review Board shall make final decisions with respect to all Grievances. All final decisions of the Ethics Review Board with respect to officials shall be communicated promptly to the WALOA Chairman and the official or officials that are the subject of any Grievance, and the WALOA Chairman shall implement the decision of the Ethics Review Board with respect to any such official. All decisions of the Ethics Review Board with respect to a coach or coaches that are the subject of the Grievance shall be communicated promptly to the WSBLA President, and the WSBLA President shall implement the decision of the Ethics Review Board with respect to any such coach.

(a) The League and the Athletic Director / Club Chairperson shall implement the decision of the Ethics Review Board. In the event that any WSBLA member institution that is the subject of a Grievance fails to implement the decision of the Ethics Review Board and such failure continues for a period of fifteen (15) days after the delivery of written notice of such failure by the Conflict Resolution Chair to the WSBLA member institution, the WALOA shall withhold officiating services from such WSBLA member institution until the decision of the Ethic Review Board has been implemented.

(b) The initial chairperson of the Ethics Review Board shall be the Region 11 MDOC, who shall serve for one (1) year. Thereafter, the WSBLA member of the Ethics Review Board shall serve as the chairperson of the Ethics Review Board for one (1) year, and then the Conflict Resolution Chair of the WALOA shall serve as chairperson of the Ethics Review Board for one (1) year. This rotation shall continue from year to year until changed by mutual agreement of the WALOA and the WSBLA.

4. Resolution of Issues not Specifically Addressed by Agreement.

The WSBLA and the WALOA recognize that issues not specifically addressed by this Agreement may arise during the term of this Agreement, including issues relating to officiating mechanics and other procedures applicable to the conduct of officials or coaches as well as issues and procedures that relate to WSBLA institutions. In order to provide an appropriate forum for the discussion and resolution of such issues, the WSBLA and the WALOA shall establish an Oversight Committee (the “Oversight Committee”), consisting of the DAA, the WSBLA President, the WALOA President, the WSBLA Vice President of Competition and the Men’s Division Director of US Lacrosse Region 11. The Oversight Committee shall review, discuss and attempt to resolve any such issue, and the decision of the Oversight Committee shall be binding on the WALOA and the WSBLA provided that any such decision is reasonable, made in good faith and consistent with good practices in connection with the provision of officiating services in the best interest of the game of men’s lacrosse.

Section 2. MISCONDUCT - Misconduct can be charged for but is not limited to the following:

1. Using abusive language.

2. Degrading fellow WALOA members.

3. Providing unwarranted, derogatory news media releases and/or interviews.

4. Using distasteful gestures.

5. Using mood-altering substances the day of the game that could substantially impair judgment (i.e. alcohol, drugs, or even certain prescription drugs).

6. Undercutting the established WALOA officials contest fees.

7. Failing to show up for a contest assignment previously accepted.

8. Violating any section of the WALOA Constitution and By-Laws, or NFHS Code of Ethics.

9. Intentionally deviating from enforcement of WALOA approved rules.

10. Failing to wear the proper WALOA uniform.

11. Being charged with a felony criminal act or a misdemeanor act involving use or distribution of mind or body altering drugs, theft or acts involving moral turpitude (Emergency suspension before the hearing is permissible if serious charges warrant it).

12. Being convicted of a criminal act.

13. Obligating themselves to any person affiliated with any contest they might be assigned to officiate.

Section 5

ARTICLE VIII
WALOA ASSEMBLY AND ANNUAL REPORT

Section 1. WALOA Assembly and the WALOA Executive Board

A. The WALOA Assembly is a legislative body having the authority and jurisdiction to consider any and all questions that may arise in the interest of activity relations among member Associations.

B. The primary function of the WALOA Assembly is to propose and act on membership-initiated changes to the WALOA Constitution as well as to set the general policies for the WALOA.

Section 2. Voting at the WALOA Assembly

A. Each individual member shall be entitled to one vote. Votes may be emailed to the Chairman within ten days prior to the meeting.

Section 3. The Executive Board Chairman or designee shall preside at the WALOA Assembly.

Section 4. The WALOA Chairman, in cooperation with the WSBLA Board shall prepare an annual financial report to be submitted at the time of the WALOA Assembly for the current fiscal year.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution of this organization shall be made as follows:

A. By a majority vote of the official WALOA members present at any regularly called meeting of the WALOA Assembly provided a quorum of three-fifths (3/5) of the official voting members are present and provided the members have received a copy of the proposed amendment from the WALOA Chairman at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting.

B. Emergency amendments may be submitted to the Assembly the day of the meeting for discussion and vote. In order to be considered as an emergency amendment it must be approved by the Executive Board, signed by the WALOA Chairman, and voted to be brought to the floor by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in attendance.

Section 2. The effective date of each amendment shall be the fall sports season of the following year unless stipulated within the amendment.