Spirit Association Constitution

I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the Spirit Association; it is a member organization of the New Mexico Activities Association. The term Spirit encompasses all cheer, drill/dance squad members.

II. Objectives
The purpose of the association shall be to:
A. Formulate and develop policies and procedures to promote and recognize the efforts of spirit squads in New Mexico.
B. Sponsor an annual State Spirit Competition for one varsity cheer and drill/dance squad per high school on the same weekend as the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
C. Encourage support of the NMAA objective, “To provide leadership in interscholastic athletics and activities, promote equitable participation and character development.”
D. Promote the Pursuing Victory with Honor objectives.

III. General
A. The head drill/dance coach and head cheerleader coach from each participating school must complete an NMAA sanctioned district rules clinic. Non-compliance will result in a $100.00 fine to the respective school.
B. All transfer and residency regulations as per 8.2.2, 8.2.5 and 8.2.6 of the NMAA Handbook shall apply to all spirit squad members.
C. All cheer and dance/drill coaches, at all levels (K-12), must posses a coaching license issued through the New Mexico Public Education Department and be registered with the NMAA.

IV. Fiscal The NMAA shall govern all fiscal matters of the Spirit Association.

V. Spirit Specific Committee
A. This committee is established to gain input from practitioners in the field relative to the governance/conduct of spirit teams and individuals.
B. The committee’s mission is to communicate with spirit coaches in their region and to represent them in the development of proposals which will be submitted through the proper chain of command.
C. The committee consists of representative coaches from the Spirit Association. The committee make-up shall equally represent both cheer and dance/drill coaches from all regions and classifications statewide.
D. The committee meets at least twice yearly at a central location. An NMAA
Administrator is assigned as facilitator/moderator.
E. Committee members must be active spirit coaches. Committee is subject to change every two years.
F. Members of the State Spirit Competition management team will serve as non-voting members of the committee.
Revised 08/08/2008
G. The Spirit Specific Committee shall be responsible to the Executive Director of the NMAA as representatives of the state cheerleading and drill/dance team coaches and shall assist in establishing policies for the Spirit Association.
H. The Spirit Specific Committee may make necessary changes to the constitution. These changes will be considered temporary until they are ratified through referenda.
I. The Spirit Specific Committee, subject to recommendation of the Executive Director, may appoint temporary sub-committees as the need arises. Members of these sub-committees must be active spirit coaches.
J. The Spirit Specific Committee, upon results of a vote of the Spirit Association membership, shall have the authority to set registration fees for the State Spirit Competition, if registration fees are applicable.
K. Failure to attend meetings and/or perform duties is cause for removal.
L. A member of the NMAA Spirit Management Team will be appointed to the NMAA Activity Council.

VI. Responsibilities to the NMAA
A. The Spirit Association shall abide by NMAA regulations for State, Interstate and International contests and activities.
B. The NMAA handbook has governing authority over this constitution.
C. A copy of this constitution shall be on file in the NMAA office and shall be placed on the NMAA website.

VII. Voting Members
A. The voting members of each team shall be the school designated varsity drill/dance coach and cheerleader coach.
B. Each school shall have one voting member per team.

VIII. Procedures for Amendments to this Constitution
Procedures for changes/amendments to the Spirit Association Constitution shall be presented to the Spirit Specific Committee and follow the proper chain of command.

IX. Appeals
A. Any decision of the NMAA Administrator by which a student and/or school is aggrieved shall be appealed to the NMAA Appeals Review Committee.
B. The process for appeals can be found in Section 13 of the NMAA Handbook.

X. Sportsmanship/Safety
A. Report any infractions to the school administration and the NMAA. Second infraction will result in the squad being banned from the State Spirit Competition. Schools involved will receive notification of any violations.
B. Bad behavior, and or poor sportsmanship at the State Spirit Competition, may keep school from competing at the State Spirit Competition the following year..