GCAC CONSTITUTION (2023-2024)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this association shall be the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of this Conference to promote interscholastic girls’ athletics and maintain high ideals of sportsmanship and a friendly understanding among member schools.

ARTICLE III – QUALIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Membership shall include those schools which have been approved and listed in Addendum A.

Section 2 – Membership shall be limited to Catholic high schools which have girls’ teams in varsity Volleyball and Basketball. (5/95)

Section 3 – Conference schools must be a member of the Illinois High School Association and must abide by the rules and regulations of the Association and the Conference. (5/95)

Section 4 – If member schools sponsor interscholastic sports teams and/or a specific team level that the Conference recognizes, such schools will pay all GCAC sports fees for those sports teams/levels and participatefully in all Conference-sponsored contests and tournaments.   If a school cannot maintain a specific level, they must notify the conference treasurer, assignor, and sports coordinator. (6/15)

Section 5 – The Athletic Director of each member school shall be in attendance at all General Conference  meetings.  Each member school shall be entitled to one vote that shall be cast by such member representative.  A majority of the voting members casting ballots constitutes a quorum.  Athletic Directors of at-large member schools will attend all meetings but will be non-voting members. (6/15)

Section 6 – Application to the Conference will follow this formal procedure.  A letter requesting Conference information for membership will be sent to both the President of the Conference and the Principal who is a member of the Executive Board.

1. A formal application will be sent to the prospective member school by the Principals on the Executive Board.
2. Copies of the application will be returned to the President of the Conference and the Principal on the  Executive Board
3. The Athletic Directors will review all applications at the next regularly scheduled General meeting and make recommendations to the Principals’ Executive Board.
4. The member school Principals will vote to elect a new member school to the Conference by ballot.  Election shall be by a favorable two-thirds majority vote of the voting schools casting ballots.
5. Prospective member schools will be notified of their status for the following school year. (4/02)

Section 7 – New members’ fees shall include general membership dues plus the stipulated sports entry fees for every sport in which the school plans to participate.  The above-named fees are due by the first of August. (6/23)

Section 9 – The stipulated annual dues are payable by January 15^th and shall be sent to the Conference Treasurer.

Section 10 – A school will not be permitted to participate in any Conference activities until all financial obligations, past and present, have been met.

Section 11 – All member schools shall be responsible for necessary increases in fees as approved by the Executive Board and voted on by the Athletic Directors and Principals. (6/23)

Section 12 – Withdrawal from the Conference by a member school must be submitted in writing, one year in advance. The written request must be sent to the Conference President by May 1^st.  (Example:  Withdrawing 20-21, the written notification must be received by May 1, 2018). (10/17)

ARTICLE IV - CANCELLATION OF SPORTS

Section 1 – A school canceling a sport season after official declaration to participate is made shall bear financial responsibility for all sports fees.

Section 2 – A school canceling a sport season after the season has begun shall bear all financial responsibility for canceled contracts.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Section 1 – The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board will meet monthly during the school year. 

Section 2 – Special meetings of the Conference and/or the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board may be called by the President.  (6/15)

Section 3 – Pre-season meetings may be held for volleyball, cross country, golf, tennis, basketball, bowling, track, soccer, and softball, if deemed necessary. (10/17) 

Section 4 – Mandatory meetings will be held for volleyball, tennis, basketball, soccer, track, lacrosse and softball for the purpose of seeding conference tournaments, if necessary, and for all-conference and athlete of the year selections. (6/23)

ARTICLE VI – ORGANIZATION 

Section 1 – There will be two (2) divisions (Red and White) in tennis, volleyball, cross country basketball, soccer, lacrosse, track and softball as listed in Addendum B. (6/23)

Section 2 – Divisions shall be determined by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board with due consideration being given to true parity.  New member schools shall be assigned to a Division by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board and approved by the Principals. (5/95) 

Section 3 – Movement from one sports division to another will be based on a petitioning procedure designed by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board and approved by the Principals, and listed in Addendum C. (10/95)

ARTICLE VII – CONFERENCE OFFICERS

Section 1 – The officers of the Conference shall be a President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2 – Any person who is currently serving as an officer of the Conference and has served as a Conference Athletic Director for a minimum of ten (10) years but is no longer employed by a member school of the Conference may continue with the approval of the Executive Board to serve in that capacity until the next election.  At that time, if he/she chooses, he/she will be eligible for re-election.  (9/13)

Section 3 – The officers shall be elected by the member representatives at the April meeting - President and Corresponding Secretary in even-numbered years, Vice President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary in odd-numbered years - and shall serve a term of two (2) years.  They shall be eligible for re-election.

Section 4 – The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected to that office.  The elected candidate shall assume office by June 1^st.

Section 5 – Interim office vacancies through resignations or any other cause shall be filled by the President’s appointment with the approval of the majority of the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board with due consideration given to unsuccessful candidates of previous elections.  The Vice President assumes the duties of the office of the President should the President’s office become vacant.  If deemed necessary, the new President may then appoint a new Vice President with the approval of the majority of the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board with due consideration given to unsuccessful candidates of previous elections.  The terms of the appointed members shall cease at normal expiration of the term.

Section 6 – The duties of the President shall be: (1/02)

• to organize the agenda and preside at all General and Athletic Directors’ Executive Board meetings;
• to exercise general supervision over the affairs and activities of the Conference;
• to serve as official Conference representative to the IHSA;
• to appoint committees and chairpersons as necessary;
• to hire assignment chairpersons with approval of the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board;
• to organize the administration of Conference special recognition awards (sportsmanship, hall of fame, athlete of the year);
• to work with other officers in regard to the coordination and supervision of all post-season tournaments.
• to ensure that assignors submit any proposal for any fee increase no later than November 1^st prior to the year they are seeking the increase. 

Section 7 – The duties of the Vice President shall be: (6/23)

• to attend the Principals’ Executive meetings and other meetings in the president’s absence;
• to work with the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board in refining the procedure for selection into the GCAC Hall of Fame;
• to meet with Conference assignment chairpersons as needed to evaluate/improve the Conference officiating in volleyball, basketball and softball;
• to assist with any other administrative tasks as requested by the president;
• to work with the other officers in regard to the coordination and supervision of all post-season tournaments.
• to assume the duties of the office of the president should it become vacant.

Section 8 – The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be: (1/02)

• to receive, conduct and dispose of all correspondence as directed;
• to preserve all documents committed to the care of the office and effect the transmission of said documents from term to term;
• to notify members of the time and dates of meetings;
• to revise/update Conference forms as the need arises;
• to work with the other officers in assisting with the coordination and supervision of all post-season tournaments.

Section 9 – The duties of Recording Secretary shall be: (1/02)

• maintain a historical record of all Conference activities;
• to order and distribute all Conference awards;
• to oversee the administration of the All-Conference and All-Academic selections, distribution of awards
• to work with the other officers in assisting with the coordination and supervision of all post-season tournaments.

Section 10 - The duties of the Treasurer shall be: (1/02)

• to receive all Conference funds and maintain checking and saving accounts for the Conference;
• to make authorized disbursements;
• to present financial reports at each General meeting and appropriate Principals’ meetings;
• to work with the other officers in assisting with the coordination and supervision of all post-season tournaments. 

ARTICLE VIII – DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES – ADs                                     

Section 1 – The GCAC will be divided into three divisions, as listed in Addendum D.  Each geographical division shall have a designated representative, who shall be assigned a one (1) year term on a rotating basis of alphabetical position within the geographical divisions. (6/23)

Section 2 – The duties of the Designated Representative shall be:

• to serve as the Divisional representative on the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board;
• to attend all Athletic Directors’ Executive Board meetings or secure a replacement in the event of an emergency; (6/15)

Section 3 – Member schools holding an elected office on the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board are exempt from the office of geographical Divisional Chairperson for that current year. (10/95) 

ARTICLE IX – EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1 – The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board is comprised of the five Conference officers and the Designated Representative from each geographical Division. (6/15)

Section 2 – The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board shall act on all matters of business not delegated to the Conference officers in accordance with the guidelines listed in the Constitution. (6/15)

ARTICLE X – PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Section 1 – There shall be a Principal on the Executive Board who shall be an administrator at a member school.  The Principal shall have an active interest in athletics and volunteer to serve in this capacity.  The general membership of the Principals shall approve this appointment.  The Principal shall serve on a volunteer basis as long as they wish to continue in this capacity. (6/23)

Section 2 – The Principal shall:

• attend all Athletic Directors’ Executive Board Meetings as well as all General Athletic Directors’ Meetings.
• advise the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board in matters pertaining to the governance of the conference.
• disseminate information to all of the member school principals.
• Call for a vote of principals on all amendments and policies recommended by the Athletic Directors. (9/12)

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – All proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws must be presented, type-written, to the Conference President two weeks prior to an Athletic Directors’ Executive Board meeting.  The proposed change is to be submitted by the Principal or Athletic Director of any member school, with the Principal’s endorsing signature, following the IHSA format for proposals, stating pros and cons. (1/01)

Section 2 – Changes to the Sports Guidelines can be administered by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board with approval from the Principals.  (6/15)

Section 3 - Proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board and, if endorsed, will be presented for a vote at the General Athletic Directors’ meeting for recommendation to the Principals’. (1/01)

Section 4 – Recommendations for amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws will be determined by a two-thirds majority of the vote at the General Athletic Directors’ meeting.  Such recommendations will be made to the Principals’.  Amendments will be passed by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting member Principals and will become effective the following season.

Section 5 – Once passed, a period of two years must elapse before an amendment or proposal may be revised.  Before that time, if deemed necessary by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board, a revision may be considered with an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the member Principals.

ARTICLE XII – PROTEST PROCEDURE  

Section 1 – All charges of ineligibility, unethical conduct or violation of Conference rulings shall be submitted in written form to the Principal on the Executive Board (6/23) and the Conference President. (9/10)  A written copy shall also be sent to the Principal of the school against which the violation is charged.  The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board shall consider such investigation and hold hearings as they deem fair before ruling on such matters.

Section 2 – Matters not directly covered by the Constitution and By-Laws shall be referred to the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board for a final decision.

Section 3 – If a protest is upheld, the school shall be penalized accordingly.  However,

nothing in the protest procedure shall interfere with the orderly progress of a tournament.

Section 4 – Failure to comply with the protest ruling will result in one (1) year probation with the possibility of expulsion from the Conference.

ARTICLE XIII – APPEALS BOARD

Section 1 – The Appeals Board shall consist of the Principal’s President(s), one Principal from each Division, and five officers of the Conference.  The Appeals Board will rule on all protests not covered by the Constitution and By-Laws. (6/15)

Section 2 – In the event a student, parent/guardian, school or individual against whom, or in favor of whom, a decision or ruling has been rendered by the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board wishes to request a hearing, they shall file such request for such hearing in writing, within ten (10) days of the day the decision was rendered through the Principal of the member school involved, with the Appeals Board.  If no such appeal is filed within ten (10) days, the Executive Board’s decision shall be final.

Section 3 – The Appeals Board shall review the action of the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board.  At such review, all interested parties may appear and make comment on the decision and ruling with the Board, and present any facts for consideration.  After the hearing, the Appeals Board upon due deliberation may take such action as it determines to be appropriate.  A decision by the Appeals Board shall be final as to the controversy submitted to it.

Section 4 – If any member school whose Principal or official representative is a member of the Appeals Board is involved in any controversy or matter pending before the Appeals Board for determination, the Principals’ Board shall appoint a disinterested Principal from that member’s Division to take the place of such member while the case is being decided.

ARTICLE XIV – BY-LAWS AND SPORTS GUIDELINES

Section 1 – Additional regulations governing this Conference shall be incorporated in the By-Laws and Sports Guidelines, both of which become part of the Articles of Agreement of the Conference.

Section 2 – The President of the Conference, in concurrence with the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board and the Executive Boards Principals, should have the authority to make a decision under extenuating circumstances that may be in conflict with the Constitution but in the best interest of the athletes, schools and Conference.

Adopted:  January 7, 1976.  Revised:  May 4, 1976.  Revised:  September 9, 1976.  Revised: September 14,1978.  Revised:  October 9, 1979.  Revised:  September 20, 1981.  Revised:  May 10, 1983.  Revised:  May 19, 1986.  Revised:  June 5, 1987.  Revised:  September 1988.  Revised:  March 6, 1992.  Revised:  May 4, 1993.  Revised:  May 1995, October 1995, May 1996, January 1999, January 2001, August 2003.  Revised:  September 2005.  Revised:  September 2008. Revised: September 2012. Revised: September 2013. Revised:  June 2015. Revised: June 2016. Revised: October 2017. Revised: September 2018, Revised: June 2023

ADDENDUM A

Membership shall include the following schools: Aurora Central Catholic, De La Salle, DePaul Prep, Fenwick, Immaculate Conception College Prep, Loyola Academy, Montini, Mother McAuley, Providence Catholic, Resurrection, Rosary, St. Francis de Sales, St. Francis(Wheaton), St. Ignatius College Prep, St. Laurence, Trinity. (6/23)

ADDENDUM B

For the following sports, there will be two divisions (Red and White). (6/23)

BASKETBALL

VOLLEYBALL

SOCCER

SOFTBALL

 TENNIS                                             

CROSS COUNTRY* Old Divisions

TRACK AND FIELD-OUTDOOR * Old Divisions

LACROSSE

ADDENDUM C

Petitioning Process for Movement within Sports Divisions

I. When

1. A petition for movement from one sports division to another may be made yearly.
2. A petition, signed by the school’s Principal, may be submitted to the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board any time after the end of the sport season but prior to the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board meeting that precedes the scheduling meeting for that specific sport.
3. Movement, if approved, would go into effect for the following season. For example, if the Board approves a school’s petition for their volleyball team to switch divisions after the 1996 season, the change would take place for the 1998 season.  However, if the move is approved before the scheduling meeting takes place in 1996, the change would take place for the 1997 season.

II. Who 

1. Individual schools may petition for their movement.
2. Divisions may recommend a school for movement.
3. Athletic Directors’ Executive Board reserves the right to move a member school from one division to another due to extenuating circumstances and provided the Divisional schedule allows for such movement.
4. In all cases, the Athletic Directors’ Executive Board will make recommendations to the Principals’ Board for a final decision.

III.  How

1. The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board will receive the following data submitted by the school being considered for movement.
2. Regular season results (prior two (2) years); overall win-loss sheets for all levels.
3. GCAC tournament results (prior two (2) years); seeding and finishing positions for all levels.
4. Team rosters (prior two (2) years) for all levels, including the athletes’ years in school.
5. The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board will review the above information and forward their recommendation to the Principals.
6. The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board must complete the process in a timely fashion so as to be able to make recommendations to the Principals.
7. When moving schools from one Division to another, the board must attempt to keep the size of each Division between six and ten schools. The Athletic Directors’ Executive Board must approve extenuating circumstances that create a division of less than six teams.

ADDENDUM D

Geographical Divisional Representatives – Athletic Directors