PANAMERICAN TEAM HANDBALL FEDERATION BYLAWS Article I The Panamerican Team Handball Federation is the organization that groups all Federations or Associations of the Americas, which must belong and be approved by their respective National Olympic Committees. Those Federations or Associations not recognized by their own NOC’s will have up to 12 months to get their official approval. The Panamerican Team Handball Federation is the only and supreme authority of the sport of handball in the American Continent, and such is recognized by the International Handball Federation. Article II The Federation’s headquarters country may be changed according to what established by the Executive Committee elected, giving preference to the country residence of the Secretary General. Article III The internal organization of the Federation resides in the following organs: I. II.

General Assembly Executive Committee

Article IV The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Federation and is composed by the Presidents of each member country or the officially appointed delegates by the National Federation or Association of each member country duly qualified and able to vote by a notarized act. Congresses in which they must choose PATHF authorities established in the eighth article, must be made 120 days before the celebration of the Congress of the IHF. This regulation took effect in Congress and should be held starting in 2004. 1

Article V The Ordinary General Assembly will meet every two years in the place and date agreed to in the previous assembly, and has to be convoked 60 days in advance. A minimum of 50% of its active members plus one country will constitute the official quorum, provided the meeting has been called and organized in accordance with these Statutes. Each member will have one vote. Article VI All delegates to the General Assembly must be recognized members of the Federations or Associations they represent and must be duly accredited by means of a letter of power signed and sealed by the National Olympic Committee. Additional, all delegates must be residents of the country of their respective Federations or Associations. Article VII The President has the power to convoke an Extraordinary Assembly, with previous approval of the Executive Committee, or at the request of at least 50% of the Delegates. Article VIII The General Assembly will: a) Elect the President, Vice president, Vice president of Competitions Secretary and Treasurer, for a four – year period, but they can be reelected b) Examine, approve or reject any report submitted by the President on behalf of the Executive Committee c) Examine, approve or reject any report submitted by the Treasurer d) Examine, approve or reject any report submitted by the Directors e) Select sites for the Continental and Regional Championships f) Study and approve or reject, in each case, reports submitted by its members g) Approve or reject applications for memberships provisionally approved by the Executive Committee. Suspend or expel any Federation or Association member 2

h) i) j) k) l)

Name Honorary Members Fix annual quotas for members Revise and modify these Statutes Decide the dates in which any resolution approved becomes valid Name the Federation’s representative in the IHF council or any position in the IHF according with their Bylaws m) Dissolve (disband) the Federation n) Appoint account inspectors (2) that must pronounce on economic account of the Federation. The duration of the period intervening between each congress (2 years) and must choose between members of neighboring countries that permit economic removal to the Federation. The Treasury shall send the documentation to one of the members elected by mail certificate. Inspectors will have account within 90 days to issue its report to be sent to all member federations and will pronounce a letter written to the Chair of the Federation. If these observations must be communicated to the Treasurer, who is accountable, will have a period of 30 days to make the corresponding explanations. Made a count of the reports issued by the member associations, this may be approved or rejected. In the rare event that this last occurred, the record must be raised to the next General Assembly to determine the respective sanction and may consider: -Repositioning of funds misused -Suspension of your capacity as leader -Expulsion in case a fraudulent management Article IX The General Assembly will discuss matters included in the agenda, but any Federation or Association wishing to include any subject in the agenda must submit same 30 days prior to the date of the meeting to the Secretary General. Any subject suggested after 30 days period or during the General Assembly must get the approval of the two-thirds of the members present. The General Assembly could modify the Statutes if approved by 75% of the members present. Article X The convoke to the General Assembly, it must be notified in writing 60 days in advance, together with the agenda for the same meeting. 3

Article XI The President will preside over any and all Assembly’s. In his absence the Vice President will preside. Article XII The vote will be open in all matters. The elections of those pertaining to the Executive Committee and the IHF Representative, which will be taken one-by-one in each position and those with the largest votes will be elected. In case of ties a second vote will be taken. If the tie persists, the outgoing President will decide with a quality vote. The candidates will be nominate by the delegates of the General Assembly. In case of more than two candidates for a position and none of them receives a majority vote, a second vote will be taken but only the two candidates with the highest number of votes will participate. The Regional Vice Presidents will be elected among the member countries of each region. In case of a tie and without a winner after three votes, those with the majority votes will divide the Vice Presidency in two terms, drawing this last to decide who takes the first term. The President is the representative of the Panamerican Team Handball Federation before the IHF and will be the Vice President for America in the IHF. In his absence the Executive Committee will name his replacement among its members. Article XIII Each country can participate in the General Assembly with two delegates, but will have only one vote. The delegate or delegates shall be certified by their National Federation.

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Article XIV The Executive Committee will be the Federation’s administrative board, and will be composed by: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i)

President Vice President Secretary General Treasurer Vice President South American Region Vice President North American Region Vice President Central American and Caribbean Region Vice President of Competitions Continental Representative of the IHF

Every candidate for Executive Committee must meet the following eligibility requirements. a) Be active in your bona fide member National Federation b) Have the support of their National Federation to fill the position you seek. c) Shall have knowledge of at least one of the official languages of the PATHF D) Point (b) shall not apply to the office of Federation treasurer being required for the position to have a professional title of administrative accounting profession and can be placed any bona fide member of any of the Federations members of the Pan American Team Handball Federation Article XV The Executive Committee will have the following duties: a) Fulfill and make sure that all decisions of the General Assembly are fulfilled b) Organize the internal affairs of the Federations c) Study and approve the Federation’s budgets d) Examine reports and suggestions submitted by the member Associations or Federations, and submit the same to the Federation’s General Assembly e) Take into consideration any matter of general interest to the member Associations or Federations that these, or any other, should not decide because of being foreign to their way of thinking or doing things 5

f) Provisionally accept petitions for membership, submitting the same to the General Assembly for final approval g) Determine the site of the Federation’s Headquarters or central office h) Name the Technical Directors of the following Commissions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Organization and Championships Commission Rules and Referees Commission Methodology and Training Commission Juridical Commission Marketing Commission

Article XVI Commissions The Commissions will be the technical corps that will support the effort of development, competition and public of the PATHF. The Commission should have an elected President. The members will be elected by the Executive Committee. The maximum number in each commission will be: COC – 5 members

1- North 2- Central 2- South

Commission of Methodology

3- members

Commission of Development

3- members

Commission of Rules and Referees

3- members

Juridical Commission

3- members

If a President of a Commission resigns before his term concludes, the Executive Committee will elect a new President until the next Congress. The Executive Committee should elect the members of the Commission for a period of four years. The election will be based in the proposed candidates by the affiliated Federations. 6

The candidates for members of a Commission should be nominated through written certification by his National Federation. Each Commission can have only one representative per country. If a member of a Commission resigns before his term ends, the Executive Committee should assign a substitute by recommendation of the President of the commission. Commission of Competition Organization – should realize the following duties: - Organize and supervise the classificatory Panamerican Championship for the World Championship - Organize and supervise classificatory Panamerican Championships for Olympic or Panamerican Games - Organize and supervise classificatory Panamerican Championships of Clubs for world Championships or Cups of the IHF - Organize and supervise international matches - Prepare the continental competition calendar - Designate the officers who will have the administration, supervision and control of the Pan American tournament, having to consider the economy in relation to geographical displacement of these in relation to where the tournament will take place Commission of Rules and Referees – should realize the following duties: - Compose the game rules, also their explanatory notes - Organize and coordinate Continental seminars in the area of rules an referees - Select, instruct and supervise the international and continental referees - Recognize and give training to the instructors in the area of specialization - Will publish a list of referees of the Panamerican Team Handball Federation

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Commission of Methodology - Organize and coordinate seminars in his area specialization - Will prepare didactical material and will give training through advance courses to the trainers of the continent - Will recognize and will train his instructors Commission of Development – should realize the following duties: - Produce didactical, illustrative and advertising material. - Will contribute to design the plan of public relation and media of the PATHF. - Will prepare a catalog of literature, photos and videos of the PATHF, creating a library if necessary - Will promote the Beach Handball - Will promote the Mini Handball - Will organize courses for administrators of the affiliated federations - Will recognize and train the instructors to give courses of his area of specialty Juridical Commission – should realize the following duties: - Will realize periodic studies about the current Bylaws and Regulations of the PATHF and will recommend to the Executive Committee possible amendments - Will manage all controversy referred to the Executive Committee Article XVII The Federation will cooperate each year, by means of the Executive Committee, with the Regional Federations (North, South America and Central American and the Caribbean) and the IHF in the Panamerican Championship. Any country can ask to be awarded the sites of these tournaments, provided they comply with any rules and regulations that apply. When more than one country applies for a site, the General Assembly will decide.

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Article XVIII All Panamerican Championships will be supervised by the PATHF and those qualifying tournaments for World Championship or Olympic Games, also by the IHF. Article XIX Spanish and English will be the official languages of the Federation, but in case doubt, Spanish will prevail. Article XX a) The Executive Committee will vote to the proposal sent by the president of the Federation to designate the supervisor of the Panamerican Tournaments, via e-mail. Those designated must report as provided in Article #16.8 b) Will see to it that the organization and development of the events will be carried out in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the IHF Article XXI For development of its activities the Federation will rely on the following incomes: a) Those proceeds from ordinary or extraordinary quotas and any other income b) Voluntary donations by their members c) Donations by Government agencies of any of the countries members of the Federations or Associations d) Those proceeds form tournaments held by the Panemerican Team Handball Federation e) In-kind donations from sponsors including those of beverages, sports equipment, canned goods, etc., for Panamerican tournaments, obtained by the PATHF f) Grants by the IHF g) Players transfers 9

Article XXII Ordinary quotas will be those fixed annually by the General Assembly. Extraordinary quotas will be those approved by the General Assembly for a special purpose. Article XXIII Those Federations or Associations signing the Federation’s Constitutional Act by way of their delegates duly accredited, automatically will be official members of the Federation. Article XXIV Those Federations or Associations applying for membership after the Constitutional Act is approved will have to comply with the following requisites: a) Application must include information pertaining to origin and internal organization b) A copy of its Rules and Regulations c) Prove that it is recognized by its country NOC or highest sport authority d) Express clearly and distinctly in writing to accept and respect the Statutes of the Federation e) Express clearly and distinctly in writing to apply for membership in any other Continental Federation which might be organized Article XXV Any Association or Federation fulfilling with the above requisites or that is affiliated to the International Handball Federation will be accepted as a member of the Panamerican Team Handball Federation. In the future, all American Federations of the American continent who wishes to become members of the IHF will only be accepted if they are affiliated to the Panamerican Team Handball Federation.

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Article XXVI In order to suspend a Federation or Association, the Executive Committee must establish a valid motive, and must have the approval of at least 66% of the members present at General Assembly. Cause for suspension: a) Disregard the Statutes of the Federation or the obligatory rules approved by the General Assembly b) Refuse to pay any extraordinary quotas fixed by the General Assembly c) Carry on activities contrary to the rules and regulation of the Federations d) Not paying the quotas within 60 days after being required to do so Article XXVII The PATHF Executive Committee can sanction or fine any national Association for violating the By laws of the PATHF or disregard them. All National Associations must be notified in writing of any sanction imposed on any of them. The executive Committee has the power to impose fines not exceeding 1,000 USD, and the Congress up to 10,000 USD. If a team abandons a tournament or cup championship or an international competition, such team will be responsible for damages and will be excluded from the international competition for one year. This sanction will not be carried out if the organizer is responsible for the suspension of the game, or if it happened because of an emergency. If the referees suspend the game, the team responsible or the organizers, must cover expenses and pay any leveled by the PATHF. National members of the Federation, their Regional Federation or Associations and clubs will not be permitted to have contact with the suspended Association members of a country. National Associations will not be allowed to form different groups within the PATHF without the written consent of the PATHF, requiring two thirds of the majority vote in the congress. 11

Sub associations or clubs within the territory of the National Association of the PATHF will not be permitted to become a member of another National Association without the written consent of its former Association. Article XXVIII In the event of a disagreement within a National Association, if the parties can not get together in the selection of an arbitrator, The PATHF counsel has the right to name one. The PATHF decision will be final and binding to all National Associations concerning the respective club or Regional Association, and will have to take the necessary steps to see that such decision is carried out. Disputes emerging during international events must be taken up in the first place by the Disciplinary Commission. A quota of 100 USD must be paid by filing the complaint. The decision taken by the Disciplinary Commission can be appealed to the Executive Committee with quota of 100 USD. The decision by the counsel will be final. The members of the Disciplinary Commission, The Executive Committee, and the counsel belonging to a National Association involved in the dispute can not be present during the voting process. If the appeal is successful, the quota will be returned to the appellant. Article XXIX Any member Association or Federation wishing to propose additions or amendments to these Statutes can do so, but such additions or amendments must be approved by 66% of the members present. Article XXX The dissolution of the Federation must be required by 50% of its affiliates and must be approved by the General Assembly with the vote of three-fourth of the delegates present at the Assembly. The petition must be filed with the Executive Committee six months in advance of the General Assembly schedule date. 12

Article XXXI In case the Federation is dissolved, the funds or debts outstanding will be divided among the member Federations or Associations. Article XXXII These statutes were approved during the congress held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the month of March 1997. Article XXXIII Saving Clause Failure of literal or complete compliance with the provision of the Constitutions of the PATHF with respect to dates and times of notice or sending or receipt of the same or errors in phraseology of notice of proposals, which in the judgment of the members at meetings held do not cause substantial injury to the rights of members at any meeting. This article should not normally be imposed to violate required notice for the meetings.

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