CONSTITUTION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL TABLE HOCKEY FEDERATION (ITHF)
Part 1: GENERAL REGULATIONS
Art. 1: Name and form
1.1 The International Table Hockey Federation / ITHF is the international umbrella organisation of all table hockey players.
1.2 Members of the ITHF are the national table hockey associations from all over the world.
1.3 Table hockey as taken by the ITHF means the table hockey game produced by the Stiga company.
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 international level with regard to the authorities, other sport associations, the mass media and the public, in so far that is 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 the other world tournaments.
2.4 To monitor and ensure the 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 the place of residence of the president.
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 has purely non-profit-making aims.
Part 2: MEMBERSHIP
Art. 5: Membership
There are the following kinds of members:
5.1 Active members (Nations)
5.2 Honorary members
Art. 6: Admission regulations for active members
6.1 Per each nation only one association can become active member.
6.2 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.
6.3 By joining the ITHF an active member accepts the constitution, rules and other decisions.
6.4 The newly admitted active members immediately after their admission through the Delegate’s Conference have all rights resulting from the constitution.
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 him of 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 Delegate’s Conference takes the final decision on an exclusion.
Art. 9: Honorary members
9.1 On the suggestion of the Executive Committee or on application of an active member, the Delegate’s 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 as active members.
Part 3: ORGANISATIONS
1. THE DELEGATE’S CONFERENCE
Art. 10: Powers and duties
10.1 The Delegate’s Conference is the highest decision-making authority in the ITHF. It determines on all questions and issues of a fundamental nature in world-wide international table hockey sport, where this right is not reserved for the members. The Delegate’s Conference lays down the guidelines for the running of the Federation.
10.2 The Delegate’s Conference is authorised amongst other things to carry out the following:
10.2.1 Election of Executive Committee members.
10.2.2 Election of members of the Technical Commission, Legal Committee.
10.2.3 Relieving Executive Committee members of duties.
10.2.4 Passing of 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, the Technical Commission or other committees or their members and the auditors, where applicable.
10.2.6 Changes in rules
10.2.7 Exclusion of members
10.2.8 Dissolution of the Federation
Art. 11: Structure and voting rights
11.1 The Delegate’s Conference consists of:
11.1.1 The delegates of the active members (with voting rights).
11.1.2 The members of the Executive Committee (without voting rights; they can vote only if they are also the delegates described at 11.1.1).
11.1.3 Honorary members (without voting rights).
11.2 General voting rights:
11.2.1 Each active member with seven or less World Championship players has one vote. Each active member with eight or more players in the World Championship has two votes. The active member’s rights to vote are not transferable. The count of World Championship players is taken from the last held World Championship. If the Delegate’s Conference is held during the World Championship, then the count of World Championship players is taken from the just running World Championship.
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 Delegate’s Conference, which has been convened in accordance with the rules, always has a quorum.
12.2 Elections held and resolutions passed by the Delegate’s Conference are affected by simple majority, with the exception of such instances as are listed in the rules.
12.3 A tied vote will result in rejection.
12.4 Protocol
12.4.1 Minutes must be taken of the resolutions passed at the Delegate’s Conference, and signed by both the Executive Committee member responsible for the minutes and by the person taking the minutes. The minutes must be distributed to all members not later than 60 (sixty) days after the conference.
12.4.2 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.
12.5 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 the same force as a resolution passed by the Delegate’s Conference. This type of voting can also be used in the other bodies of the ITHF. (Votes not received on time will be interpreted as endorsement).
Art. 13: Ordinary and Extraordinary Delegate’s Conference
13.1 Ordinary Delegate’s Conferences are held every 2 (two) years, during the World Table Hockey Championship.
13.2 The Executive Committee or at least one third of the active members can arrange or call for an Extraordinary Delegate’s 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 Delegate’s 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 Delegate’s Conference can be convened at as little as 15 (fifteen) days notice.
Art. 15: Motions
15.1 Motions can be proposed for the Delegate’s Conference by the following:
15.1.1 The active members
15.1.2 The Executive Committee
15.1.3 The Technical Commission
15.1.4 The Legal Committee
15.1.5 The Special Committees
15.1.6 The honorary members
15.2 Motions must be submitted with an explanation to the ITHF-Office not later than 30 (thirty) days before the Delegate’s Conference is to be held. The General Secretary distributes a compilation of the motions to all members at least 20 (twenty) days before the conference. Motions submitted after the deadline are subject to priority and will only be placed on the agenda if there is a 2/3 (two-thirds) majority of those present in favour. These deadlines do not apply to motions proposed by the Executive Committee and the Technical Commission.
15.3 In the event of an Extraordinary Delegate’s Conference being convened, the deadline for putting forward motions is reduced to 14 (fourteen) days before the conference.
2. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Art. 16: Structure
16.1 The Executive Committee consists of
16.1.1 The President
16.1.2 The Secretary-general
16.1.3 The Financial-manager
16.1.4 The Sport director
16.1.5 The Media-manager
Art. 17: Election and length of office
17.1 The Executive Committee members are elected by the Delegate’s Conference for a period of 2 (two) years and can be repeatedly re-elected.
Art. 18: Quorum and the convening of the Executive Committee
18.1 The Executive Committee sits as required or at the request of 4 (four) of its members.
18.2 The Executive Committee has a quorum at all events.
18.3 The shortest period of time in which a meeting can be convened is 15 (fifteen) days.
18.4 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.
Art. 19: Areas of responsibility and duties
19.1 The following areas of responsibility and duties, among others, are allocated to the Executive Committee:
19.1.1 The administration of the Federation.
19.1.2 The conclusion of all budget and financial matters.
19.1.3 The drawing-up of periodic reports and accounts.
19.1.4 Preparation for the Delegate’s Conference and drawing-up of the agenda.
19.1.5 The implementation of all the resolutions passed at the Delegate’s Conference.
19.1.6 Protection of the Federation's interests internally and externally.
19.1.7 The provisional admission of new members, subject to a formal determination by the next Delegate’s Conference.
19.1.8 Drawing-up of the budget.
19.1.9 Preparing changes in the constitution and rules.
19.1.10 Supervision of the activities of the committees and Technical Commission, but not the Legal Committee.
19.1.11 Supervision of the ITHF's sports events.
19.1.12 Designation of organizers / venues for international competitions.
19.1.13 To impose temporal limited and unlimited bans if there are violations against the prohibition of doping.
19.2 The Executive Committee draws up a programme of functions and duties for its members.
Art. 20: Legal validity
20.1 The Executive Committee itself determines whose signatures are legally binding and it establishes their responsibilities and type of signature.
3. THE TECHNICAL COMMISSION
Art. 21: Structure
The Technical Commission consists of:
21.1 The Sport-director (chairman)
21.2 The Youth Officer
21.3 The Ladies Officer
21.4 And 2 (two) further members, they can’t be members of the Executive Committee.
21.5 The Youth Officer, the Ladies Officer and 2 (two) members of the Technical Commission are elected by the Ordinary Delegate’s Conference for a period of 2 (two) years. They must not belong to the same active member, but they can unrestrictedly be re-elected.
Art. 22: Areas of responsibility and duties
22.1 The Technical Commission is an advisory body of the Executive Committee. The Technical Commission can pass resolutions for inviting entries for competitions, which are organized by the ITHF.
22.2 The following are some of the areas of responsibility and duties the Technical Commission is conferred with.
22.2.1 An advisory role in general questions of international table hockey.
22.2.2 Technical supervision of World championship and other tournaments organised by the ITHF.
22.2.3 The passing of resolutions on drafts of general rules and regulations in international table hockey for introduction and passing to the Delegate’s Conference and / or the Executive Committee.
22.2.4 The right to propose venues for World Table Hockey Championship and other competitions organised by the ITHF introduction and passing to the Executive Committee.
Art. 23: The act of convening, quorum and motions
23.1 The Technical Commission convenes on the Internet, whenever important matters arise.
23.2 The Technical Commission is convened by the Sport-director in accordance with Article 14.
23.3 The Technical Commission has a quorum, if at least 4 (four) members are present. Each member has a personal vote that is not transferable.
23.4 Motions can be put forward to the Technical Commission by:
23.4.1 The active members
23.4.2 The Executive Committee
23.4.3 The Committees
23.4.4 The members of the Technical Commission
23.5 Minutes must be taken down on all resolutions passed by the Technical Commission and distributed to all TC-members, the Executive Committee and the active members not later than 60 (sixty) days after passing of the resolution. The Executive Committee has the right to raise a protest against the TC decisions within 60 (sixty) days after distribution of the minute. In that case the matter must be treated in the following meeting of the TC.
4. THE LEGAL COMMITTEE
Art. 24: Structure, length of office and elections
24.1 The Legal Committee consists of a chairman, 2 (two) committee members and 2 (two) substitute members who must not be either members of another body or belong to the same active member.
24.2 The members of the Legal Committee are elected by the ordinary Delegate’s Conference for a period of 2 (two) years and they can unrestrictedly be re-elected.
24.3 The members of the Legal Committee can belong neither to another ITHF body nor to the same active member. They can not also be members of national legal bodies.
Art. 25: Areas of competency
The Legal Committee arbitrates in, and resolves all disputes between
25.1 The active members.
25.2 An active member and the ITHF.
25.3 Bodies of the ITHF
Part 4: FINANCE
Art. 26: Revenue
The ITHF gets the funds necessary for the fulfilment of its duties by the following means among others:
26.1 Membership fees
26.2 Taking from events
26.3 From third part
26.4 Donations and other fees
26.5 Campaigns for funds
Art. 27: Liability
27.1 The Federation is liable to fulfil its financial commitments from its assets. An active member is also liable, if by intent or through gross negligence, that member is responsible for weakening the financial situation of the ITHF.
Part 5: FINAL CLAUSES
Art. 28: Changes in Constitution
28.1 Changes in the ITHF Constitution can only be passed by resolutions of the Delegates' Conference. A two-thirds majority of those entitled to vote is necessary.
Art. 29: Disbanding of the Federation
29.1 The ITHF can be disbanded:
29.1.1 By amalgamation with other sport associations
29.1.2 By liquidation.
29.1.3 The disbanding of the Federation can only be passed by resolution in a specially convened Extraordinary Delegate’s Conference. A three quarters majority of those delegates entitled to vote is necessary.
29.1.4 The disbanding of the Federation should be carried out, in as far as the Delegate’s Conference has not appointed others, by the President.
29.1.5 In the case of amalgamation, any remaining assets will be brought into the amalgamated federation. In the case of liquidation, it will be made over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for non-profit-making sporting purposes.
Art. 30: Rules and regulations
30.1 The Delegate’s Conference, with a majority of the votes of those present, is responsible for the making, changing and repealing of rules.
30.2 The Executive Committee alone is responsible for the making, changing and repealing of regulations, and it can also give directions and make recommendations.
Art. 31: Official languages:
31.1 The official language of the ITHF is English.
Art. 32: Coming into effect
32.1 This constitution comes into effect immediately.