CONSTITUTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
THE INTERNATIONAL TABLE HOCKEY FEDERATION

(last amended in May 2021)

Part 1: GENERAL REGULATIONS

Art. 1: Name and form

1.1                 The International Table Hockey Federation is an international non-government
organization uniting the associations of table hockey players.
The abbreviation ITHF is used for naming the organization in this document.

1.2                 The members of the ITHF are the table hockey associations from all over the world.

1.3                 Table hockey as taken by the ITHF means the table hockey game produced by STIGA co.

Art. 2: Aims of the ITHF

2.1                 To promote table hockey internationally and to take whatever measures are necessary to this end.

2.2                 To represent the interests of its members at the international level with regard to the authorities, other sport associations, the mass media and the public, in so far that itis not left up to the members.

2.3                 To promote sporting contact between all table hockey players in the world and to organize World Championships and other world tournaments.

2.4                 To monitor and ensure keeping of the existing system-specific rules, to develop a set of standard rules, and to draw up an international sporting calendar.

2.5                 To fight doping with all means standing to requirement, to accept the WADA-Code together with their members in form of the framework guidelines of the ITHF and to stand up for the fact that any use of doping substances and thus the use of forbidden, performance-increasing means of any kind in the sport is prevented.

2.6                 To conduct and administer the official table hockey world ranking.

Art. 3: Headquarters and Duration

3.1                 The Headquarters of the ITHF is Zapadni 3, 323 00 Plzen, the Czech Republic.

3.2                 The duration of the ITHF is unlimited.

Art. 4: Principles

4.1                 The ITHF stands for freedom in sport, its voluntary nature, and the community of sport. Members and table hockey players cannot be forced, either by rules or in any other way, to play a different system of table hockey to their chosen one.

4.2                 The ITHF makes no distinction of race or religion and is politically neutral.

4.3                 The ITHF is a non-profit organization.

Part 2: MEMBERSHIP

Art. 5: Membership

5.1                 The member of the ITHF can only be national associations of STIGA tablehockey

5.2                 EC can give the observer status to other associations

Art. 6: Admission regulations for active members                 

6.1                 The admission of active members ensues by written application to the ITHF-Office, containing a legally binding signature.
The By-Laws, Charter or Articles of Incorporation of the association have to be enclosed.

6.2.1               The following conditions must be fulfilled to get the active member status:

6.2.1.1            To either be officially registered by the national authorities as an organization connected with table hockey, or else have a clearly defined system for democratic decision-making and/or periodic democratic elections of a decision-maker

6.2.1.2            To have at least 15 adult members (players) from the nation. If clubs are the members of the national association then the number of members of these clubs is considered

6.2.1.3            To organize at least 5 tournaments within the national region with at least 10 players (each tournament) every year. These tournaments have to be open for all table hockey players

6.2.1.4            To be open for any table hockey players from the home nation and to support table hockey development in the whole country.

6.3                 The members who don’t fulfill the conditions described at 6.2.1 will get the observer status.

6.4                 By joining the ITHF an active member accepts the constitution, rules and other decisions made by the ITHF.

6.5                 The newly admitted active members have all rights resulting from the constitution immediately after their admission through the Delegates’ Conference.

Art. 7: Right of appeal of active members

7.1                 An appeal against refusal of admission or an imposed sanction can be submitted to the Legal Committee within 60 (sixty) days of the announcement.

Art. 8: Termination of active membership

8.1                 The membership of an active member expires with resignation, exclusion or disbanding of the national association.

8.2                 The resignation of an active member must be passed by its highest executive body. The protocol must be sent in a registered letter to the ITHF-Office within 3 (three) months, informing about the decision.

8.3                 If an active member violates the interests of the Federation, damages its reputation, either internally or externally, or disregards or violates the constitution and rules, sanctions can be taken against the active member concerned by the ITHF Executive Committee. The Delegates Conference takes the final decision about the exclusion.

Art. 9: Honorary members

9.1                 On the suggestion of the Executive Committee or on application of an active member, the Delegates Conference can appoint genuine persons, who have deserved well of the world-wide table hockey sport, as honorary members.

9.2                 Honorary members have no voting rights.
Otherwise they are treated equal to active members.

Part 3: ORGANISATION

Art. 10: The Delegates Conference (DC)

10.1                DC is the highest decision-making authority of the ITHF. It determines all questions and issues of a fundamental nature in world-wide international table hockey sport, where this right is not reserved for the members. DC lays down the guidelines for the running of the Federation.

10.2                DC is authorized among other things to carry out the following:

10.2.1             Election of Executive Committee members.

10.2.2             Election of members of Legal Committee.

10.2.3             Relieving Executive Committee members of duties.

10.2.4             Passing a resolution on the appointment or dissolving of special committees.

10.2.5             Passing of a resolution on motions put forward by the Executive Committee or other committees or their members.

10.2.6             Changes in rules

10.2.7             Exclusion of members

10.2.8             Dissolution of the Federation

10.3                Every member of the Executive Committee of ITHF is elected directly by the the Delegates Conference.

Art. 11: Structure and voting rights

11.1                At DC every active member federation is having one vote

11.2                Each active member at all times must fulfil the conditions set at the point 6.2.1. If any active member does not fulfil these conditions the Executive Committee of ITHF can suspend the voting rights of this active member until the conditions are fulfilled again.

11.3                Proof of voting rights:
The right to vote of the delegates should preferably be confirmed in writing by the national association of the active member concerned.

Art. 12: Quorum and passing of resolutions

12.1                A Delegates’ Conference, which has been convened in accordance with the rules, always has a quorum.

12.2                Voting

12.2.1             Resolutions passed by the Delegates’ Conference are affected by simple majority, with the exception of such instances as are listed in the rules.
A tied vote will result in rejection of resolution.

12.2.2             Elections of ITHF bodies are affected by simple majority.

12.2.2.1          The Delegates Conference elects 5 people to the Executive Committee: the President, the Secretary General, the Continental Manager for North America and two EC Members.
Every ITHF member federation has one vote in every voting round.
The candidate with the highest number of votes is elected to the seat.
If there is more than one candidate with the highest number of votes a new voting round will be organized with the candidates with the highest number of votes.
This continues until there is only two candidates with the same number of votes.
If two candidates get the same number of votes in two consecutive voting rounds a draw will be organized to decide the election.
This draw will take place to the next international championship or next WTHT Super Series.

12.3                Protocol

12.3.1             Minutes must be taken of the resolutions passed at the Delegates Conference, and signed by The Executive Committee members
The minutes must be distributed to all members not later than 60 (sixty) days after the conference.

12.3.2             The minutes are regarded as approved, if within 60 (sixty) days after distribution no written objections have been raised.
Objections raised will be discussed at the next meeting.
Until then the minutes are considered approved only in the points where no objections were raised.

12.4                In the event of questions and matters arising that have to be cleared up without delay, a written vote per e-post is possible.
This carries same force as a resolution passed by the Delegates’ Conference.
This type of voting can also be used in other bodies of ITHF.
(Votes not received on time will be interpreted as endorsement).

Art. 13: Ordinary and Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference

13.1                The Ordinary Delegates Conference is organized between 1^st of March and 31^st of May in uneven years.

13.2                The Executive Committee or at least one third of the active members can arrange or call for an Extraordinary Delegates Conference to be convened, as long as there are appropriate and urgent reasons for this.

Art. 14: The act of convening

14.1                In order for an Ordinary Delegates Conference to be convened, all members must be informed in writing (or e-writing) and the agenda made known at least 20 (twenty) days before the date of the conference.
The Executive Committee member responsible for this convenes the conference.
The exact venue and time of the conference can be announced at a later date.

14.2                An Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference can be convened at as little as 15 (fifteen) days notice.

Art. 15: Motions

15.1                Motions can be proposed for the Delegates’ Conference by the following:

15.1.1             The active members

15.1.2             The Executive Committee

15.1.3             The Legal Committee

15.1.4             The Special Committees

15.1.5             The honorary members

15.2                Motions must be submitted with an explanation to the ITHF-Office not later than 30 (thirty) days before the Delegates’ Conference is to be held.
The General Secretary distributes a compilation of the motions to all members at least 20 (twenty) days before DC
Motions submitted after the deadline are subject to priority and will only be placed on the agenda if there is a 2/3 (two third) majority of those present in favour.
These deadlines do not apply to motions proposed by The Executive Committee.

15.3                In the event of an Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference being convened, the deadline for putting forward motions is reduced to 14 (fourteen) days before the conference.

Art. 16: Quorum and the convening of the Executive Committee

16.1                The Executive Committee sits as required or at the request of 4 (four) of its members.

16.2                The Executive Committee has a quorum at all events.

16.3                The shortest period of time in which a meeting can be convened is 15 (fifteen) days.

16.4                A protocol about the decisions taken by presidency has to be produced, signed by a responsible member of presidency and delivered to all members of presidency not later than 60 (sixty) days after presidency session.

16.5                If the voting in the Executive Committee ends with a draw result then the vote of The President decides the voting.

16.6                The Executive Committee has the right to make decisions about all topics under special circumstances, such as cancelling tournaments, changing the ITHF WTHT, moving international championships etc.

Art. 17: Areas of responsibility and duties

17.1                The following areas of responsibility and duties, among others, are allocated to the Executive Committee:

17.1.1             The administration of the Federation.

17.1.2             The conclusion of all budget and financial matters.

17.1.3             The drawing-up of periodic reports and accounts.

17.1.4             The preparation for the Delegates Conference and drawing-up of the agenda.

17.1.5             The implementation of all the resolutions passed at the Delegates Conference.

17.1.6             The protection of the Federations interests internally and externally.

17.1.7             The provisional admission of new members, subject to a formal determination by the next Delegates Conference.

17.1.8             The drawing-up of the budget.

17.1.9             The preparing changes in the constitution and rules.

17.1.10           The supervision of activities of the special committees but not the Legal Committee.

17.1.11           The supervision of the ITHF's sports events.

17.1.12           The designation of organizers / venues for international competitions.

17.1.13           The imposing of the temporal limited and unlimited bans if there are violations against the prohibition of doping.

17.2                The Executive Committee draws up a programme of functions and duties for its members.

Art. 18: Bodies of ITHF, powers and duties

18.1                The Executive Committee (EC)

18.1.1             EC consists of 5 members aged minimum 18 years – all elected directly by the DC.

18.1.2             The mandate of EC lasts for the period of 2 years.

18.1.3             National associations are entitled to have a maximum of two delegates.

18.2                Legal Committee (LC)

18.2.1             LC consists of a chairman, 2 (two) committee members and 2 (two) substitutes

18.2.1.1          They must not be members of another body of ITHF

18.2.1.2          Members of LC are elected by DC for a period of 2 (two) years

18.2.1.3          Members of LC can unrestrictedly be re-elected.

18.3                LC arbitrates in, and resolves all disputes between

18.3.1             The active members.

18.3.2             An active member and ITHF.

Art. 19: Legal validity

19.1                The statutory body of ITHF is The Executive Committee.

All members act in the name of The Executive Committee.

Part 4: FINAL CLAUSES

Art. 20: Changes in Constitution

20.1                Changes in the ITHF Constitution can only be passed by resolutions of the Delegates Conference.
A two-third majority of those entitled to vote is necessary.

Art. 21: Forfeiture of the Federation

21.1                The ITHF can forfeiture:

21.1.1             by amalgamation with other sport associations.

21.1.2             by voluntary dissolution.

21.1.3             The forfeiture of the Federation can only be passed by resolution in a specially convened Extraordinary Delegates’ Conference.
A three quarter majority of those delegates entitled to vote is necessary.

21.1.4             The winding-up of the ITHF should be executed, as far as the Delegates’ Conference has not appointed others, by the President of the ITHF.
After finishing the winding-up any remaining assets will be made over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for non-profit-making sporting purposes.

21.1.5             In the case of amalgamation with other sport association, any remaining assets will be brought into the amalgamated federation.

Art. 22: Rules and regulations

22.1                The Delegates’ Conference is responsible for making, changing and repealing of playing rules of table hockey.
Such decisions are passed with simple majority of those present at The Delegates Conference.

22.2                The Executive Committee alone is responsible for making, changing and repealing of regulations needed for guarantee the functioning of the ITHF.

Art. 23: Official languages

23.1                The official language of the ITHF is English.

23.2                The English translation of the Constitution is used at the international level.

Art. 24: Coming into effect

24.1                This Constitution comes into effect by passing at the Delegates Conference.