ITF Ireland

Joining ITF Ireland

Taekwon-Do Associations

Fill in the association application form and send it to the ITF-Ireland secretary. Your application will be considered at the next ITF-Ireland meeting.
Successful applicants will then have to
pay the appropriate joining fee to join ITF-Ireland
send their black belt degree certificates and appropriate fee to the ITF-Ireland secretary to be forwarded on to the ITF HQ. The procedure for the ITF to exchange certificates is outlined on the ITF website (www.itftkd.org).

Groups of Taekwon-Do Schools
There are two paths for groups of Schools to join ITF-Ireland

Join an existing ITF-Ireland member association directly (e.g. the RITA). This will give your Taekwon-Do Schools full recognition the ITF and will avoid having to pay the ITF-Ireland membership fee. It will also give your members access to all ITF recognised World and Europeans Championships. To join the RITA contact the RITA National Secretary (www.rita-itf.org))
Form your own Taekwon-Do Association. Depending on your membership and number of schools you could form your own association and apply to join ITF-Ireland. (see ‘Taekwon-Do Associations’ above).

Individuals

ITF-Ireland is primarily set-up as a collection of Taekwon-Do associations. Individuals or groups of individuals who wish to join ITF-Ireland should apply to join an existing ITF-Ireland member association directly (e.g. the RITA) directly. Joining the RITA would give the member all the benefits of both RITA and ITF membership. To join the RITA contact the RITA National Secretary (www.rita-itf.org))

INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO FEDERATION OF IRELAND CONSTITUTION

ITF Ireland is and shall be, the acting body for the purpose of International Competition for students from ITF Registered Organisations and Schools within Ireland, as recognised by the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

ARTICLE ONE – INTERPRETATIONS
Throughout this constitution the following interpretations shall always apply: -

DEFINITION DESCRIPTION
1a. ITF Ireland International Taekwon-Do Federation of Ireland
1b. ITF The International Taekwon-Do Federation.
1c. ITF Rules The Constitution, Rules, Regulations and Requirements of the
ITF, AETF (now the EITF)
1d. AETF All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation.
1e. EITF European ITF Taekwon-Do Federation
1f. Executive Committee The selected individuals of ITF Ireland as elected in accordance with Article Four of the Constitution
1g. Organisation Members Any Irish national body affiliated to the ITF, with Schools or Instructors operating in Ireland.
1h. Registered Members - All Black Belt persons who have paid all relevant training fees and annual subscriptions for ITF Ireland.
1i. Tenets of Taekwon- The received Tenets of Taekwon-Do being briefly, Courtesy,
Do Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit.

ARTICLE TWO – OBJECTIVES
2a. To promote wherever possible the Art of Taekwon-Do and observe of its Tenets.
2b. To comply in all respects with the ITF Rules and to remain an affiliated member of
the organisation.
2c. To always be a non-political, not for profit group, which shall categorically reject and where possible work to prevent any type of national, political, religions or racial pressures or prejudices.
2d. To promote Taekwon-Do to the public and encourage new members to join or try Taekwon-Do as a martial art, regardless of sex, age, national origin or disability. Membership to ITF Ireland must remain open to all.
2e. To promote and encourage the moral, cultural and physical education of all Taekwon-Do practitioners thereby creating respect and goodwill with a view to the building of a better and more peaceful world.
2f. To promote and enhance the authority and value of Taekwon-Do by developing and
standardising its techniques and theory and by enforcing the ITF Rules for men and women of both amateur and professional status.
2g. To supervise the instruction provided by Coaching Staff to ensure compliance with the ITF Rules for standards of instruction and competition.
2h. To ensure compliance with the ITF Rules by Registered Members, rules may be enforced by use of suspension or expulsion from ITF Ireland thereby losing any competition related affiliation with the ITF/AETF/EITF and consequently recognition for international ITF competition.

ARTICLE THREE – MEMBERSHIP
3a. Organisation Membership is accepted freely for any Irish national body affiliated to the ITF, with Schools / Instructors operating in Ireland.
3b. Registered Members of ITF Ireland must be licensed to an organisation with membership to ITF Ireland. They must have paid the ITF Ireland annual subscription.

ARTICLE FOUR – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4a. There shall be an Annual and General Meeting for all Organisation Members of ITF Ireland. Every 2 years if necessary, a minimum of three representatives will be elected to the Executive Committee of ITF Ireland. Voting will be open to all Organisation Members, on a One Plaque, One Vote basis.
4b. The ITF Ireland President will normally be the most senior ITF Master (7th degree and above) who is a member of ITF Ireland. They must be both living in Ireland and a resident of Ireland.
4c. To be eligible for election to the Executive Committee a member must have been normally resident in Ireland for the preceding five years. They must be a citizen of the Ireland, be over 18 years of age.
4d. The executive Committee shall consist of A Chairperson, A Manager, A Treasurer, A
Secretary, and A Head Coach. These positions to be filled by the elected representatives. The representatives will at the end of their 2-year term be eligible for reelection.
Incoming and outgoing candidates must give six months notice prior to an election.
Any representative may hold more than one position, but no more than three positions during one term of office.
4e. The individual responsibilities of the President and the Executive Committee positions are as follows: -
The President - To attend ITF and AETF/EITF meetings and to make decisions and vote on any matters regarding ITF Ireland as they see fit. To oversee and offer advise on all other matters arising with regards to ITF Ireland.
Chairperson - To call/chair meetings when issues have arisen that require discussion. To oversee all other committee members and provide assistance when required.
Manager – To book venues, training facilities, Collect subscriptions at sessions.
To co-ordinate administration and management of all arrangements for competitors/coaches for International, and National Competitions.
Head Coach - To coordinate the National Coaching staff in carrying out the training sessions for all Registered Members, as per the ITF Ireland timetable and structure the classes to give all students the maximum benefits. To maintain a current understanding of all aspects of Competitive Taekwon-Do.
Treasurer - To oversee the income/expenditure of ITF Ireland to maintain a financially
viable state and advise on any required changes to fees/charges. To help maintain/advise on all legal financial aspects for ITF Ireland.
Secretary - To communicate with the ITF in matters relating to ITF Ireland. To communicate between members of the executive and arrange meeting of ITF Ireland
4e. Notice of a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be given two weeks prior to a meeting and shall include the business, time, date and place of the meeting. In case of an emergency meeting the Chairperson shall authorise the giving of such lesser notice as may, in his sole discretion, seem to be reasonable.
4f. A quorum of a valid meeting shall be the majority of three out of the Executive Committee.
4g. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be made by a majority, provided that, in the event of an equality of votes the President will be consulted and given the casting vote.
4h. The Executive Committee may conduct a postal vote on any matter amongst the Registered Members. When a majority of the Registered Members votes are in favour of any resolution made by post, then it shall be deemed to be fully valid.
4i. The Executive Committee may fill casual vacancies within itself during the period between elections as they see fit.
4k. The Executive Committee has the power to reprimand and where necessary to remove an Executive Committee Member should that person refuse to function with the remaining members.
4l. The Executive Committee will remain impartial, in all matters regarding to ITF Ireland, of any commitment to or with any Organisational Membership, relating to Taekwon-do
operating within Ireland and all decisions made by the Executive Committee must remain fair to all its Registered Members and Organisation Members.

ARTICLE FIVE – COACHES
5a. If a Coaching position becomes vacant the Head Coach shall be empowered to appoint a new Coach. The Coaching positions will only be re-appointed at the retirement of a given Coach or the dismissal of the Coach by the Executive Committee.
5b. Any person with a previous criminal record or who has in the past been listed as bankrupt shall not be allowed to hold a position within ITF Ireland Executive Committee.
5c. All persons involved in the coaching of Registered Members must be qualified.

ARTICLE SIX – DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
6a. To promote the study and development of all techniques and theory of Taekwon-Do in compliance with ITF Rules and International standards.
6b. To keep records of international competitions and to support Registered Members that are successful contestants at and in preparation for International Competition.
6c. To manage the finances of the ITF Ireland and to place before the Registered Members once in each calendar year a report on those finances.
6d. To consider and decide matters of importance relating to the practice of Taekwon-Do by the Registered Members and to report to, the development of competitive Taekwon-Do in the Ireland.
6e. To impose penalties on any Registered Members for any breach of the ITF Rules or any issued by ITF Ireland including where necessary the expulsion of such Registered Members from ITF Ireland.
6f. To liase with and maintain communications with all Organisation Members.
6g. To process all paperwork related to the Registered Members, for Insurance, Competitions and all other competitive Taekwon-Do related news and activities.
6h. Generally to ensure the Registered Members abide by the spirit of Taekwon-Do as laid down by the ITF and that they observe the Tenets of Taekwon-Do.

ARTICLE SEVEN- FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
7a. The Executive Committee shall where required, appoint suitable qualified auditors who shall be responsible for auditing the annual accounts of ITF Ireland and for preparing the Annual Report to be placed before the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall, where necessary, appoint any professional advisors who shall be retained to provide assistance where the Executive Committee deems it to be necessary.
7b. The Executive Committee shall decide annually what subscription and contributions are to be paid by Registered Members. Failure to make payment of these by a Registered Member with 28 days of expiry shall result in the Registered Member becoming liable for expulsion from affiliation or Membership of ITF Ireland. The Executive Council shall decide if expulsion is to be imposed for such non-payment.
7c. The Executive Committee shall decide any fees / expenses which will be paid to Coaches, Coaching Staff, and Executive Committee for conducting classes, Advanced Training, Courses or any compensation to assist the fore mentioned in improving the effectiveness of ITF Ireland. The Executive Committee will also reserve the right to refuse any payments for unsatisfactory duties.

ARTICLE EIGHT - AMENDMENTS
ITF Ireland Executive Committee may by resolution, alter, amend or delete the Constitution or any part of it by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or by majority vote of its Registered Members.

ARTICLE NINE - EXPULSIONS
9a. In accordance with the grounds for Expulsion set out elsewhere in this Constitution, the Executive Committee may expel from Affiliation with or Membership of ITF Ireland any Registered Member who it finds to be in material breach of this Constitution.
9b. In considering Expulsion the Executive Committee may impose any lesser penalty it may see fit, including (but not limited to) suspension or limitation of activities.
9c. No registered Member shall be expelled or suffer any other penalty without being given an opportunity to know the case against them and to answer it before the Executive Committee.
Notice of any hearing by the Executive Committee shall be given at least fourteen days before taking place and such notice shall broadly specify the case against the Member.

ARTICLE TEN - POWERS TO BORROW AND CHANGE
ITF Ireland through Coaches or Executive Committee shall have power to buy, hold and sell Estates and interests in land whether freehold or leasehold and to borrow against pledge charges or create encumbrances over such estates and interests.

ARTICLE ELEVEN - TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS
All logos, clothing and artwork designed for and used by ITF Ireland will be the property of ITF Ireland and will remain so as long as the Executive Committee see fit. All clothing, logos, and equipment used to promote ITF Ireland must have been approved by majority decision prior to use by any ITF Ireland representative.

ARTICLE TWELVE – DISSOLUTION OF ITF IRELAND
12a. ITF Ireland may be dissolved according to the decision of the ITF. The executive
Committee shall appoint a liquidator; if no liquidator is appointed, the Manager is liquidator automatically. The Executive Committee shall also decide; to whom the property of the ITF Ireland shall be distributed. As far as possible and in a accordance to the Laws of the Republic of Ireland, the property shall be distributed to an organisation with similar objectives as ITF Ireland, apart from that the property shall be distributed to charities and welfare institutions.
12b. Call of such a decision for dissolution by ITF of ITF Ireland shall be announced at least 90 days before the event.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN - VALIDITY
This Constitution was adopted at the 1st Annual General Meeting of ITF Ireland held on Saturday 27th September 2008 at the Lucan Spa Hotel, Dublin.

President – Senior Master Howard
Chairperson – Senior Master Phelan
Treasurer – Senior Master Phelan
Secretary – Ms Valerie Keane
Head Coach – Mr Stephen Doyle

INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO FEDERATION OF IRELAND RULES & REGULATIONS

This document outlines the rules and regulations to be followed by all Registered Members of ITF Ireland while operating within or directly for ITF Ireland. This includes training, travel and attendance of the ITF European and World, Senior and Junior Tournaments.

ARTICLE ONE – INTERPRETATIONS
Throughout the Rules and Regulation the following interpretations shall always apply: -
DEFINITION DESCRIPTION
1a. ITF Ireland International Taekwon-Do Federation of Ireland
1b. ITF The International Taekwon-Do Federation.
1c. AETF All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation. (now the EITF)
1d. ITF Rules The Constitution, Rules, Regulations and Requirements of the
ITF & AETF
1e. EITF European ITF Taekwon-Do Federation
1f. Executive Committee The selected individuals of ITF Ireland as elected in accordance with Article Four of the Constitution.
1g. Organisation Members Any Irish based national body affiliated to the ITF, with Schools or Instructors operating in Ireland.
1h. Registered Members All persons who have paid all relevant training fees and annual
subscriptions for ITF Ireland.
1i. Tenets of Taekwon- The received Tenets of Taekwon-Do being briefly, Courtesy,
Do Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit.

ARTICLE TWO – SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
2a. Junior competitors must be 13 - 17 at the commence and completion of championships.
2b. Senior competitors must be 18 to 39 at the commence and completion of the championships.
2c. You must be a registered ITF black belt, with recognised ITF Certification.
2d. You must attend squad-training sessions on a regular basis (At least 75%).
2e. You must participate in 2 or more ITF Ireland recognised national championships.
2f. Must be a Registered Member of ITF Ireland.
2g. Must be willing to obtain sufficient individual funding to cover relevant costs.

ARTICLE THREE – SELECTION
3a. All Team and Individual selections will be made by the Coaching staff, as selected in Article 4. of the Constitution.
3b. Selection will be based on
i) Performance at National and International competition
ii) Performance at ITF Ireland training sessions
iii) Attitude towards coaches and fellow Registered Members
iv) The Registered Members demeanour and general courtesy
v) Previous competition experience
vi) Future expectations/prospects
vii) Attainment of minimum fitness/conditioning level set by coaching staff
3c. Selection for all Tournaments will be made as far in advance as is possible of the Tournament dates, and may still be subject to change if circumstance require.

ARTICLE FOUR – TRAVEL/ACCOMMODATION
4a. All travel and accommodation for Major Tournaments will be arranged by ITF Ireland. The Squad Members are required at all time, to travel as a group. Anyone wishing to make alternative arrangements for special reasons must inform the ITF Ireland Manger as soon as is possible. Failure to do so will result in the Squad Member being held responsible for cancellation fees.
4b. All Squad Members will travel to major ITF Tournaments in ITF Ireland official dress (as decided by the manager). They will also wear only Ireland embossed clothing for the duration of the competition.
4c. At all meals during the duration of the Tournaments the Squad Members will eat together.
4d. All Squad Members will be punctual for all meeting times requested by the Coaching Staff. This is to include meal times, meeting points, and ‘lights out’.
4e. At the specified ‘lights out’ time, all Squad Members must be in their own rooms.
4f. All Squad Members must ensure that their next of kin contact details are up to date at the time of travel.
4g. All medical conditions must be reported to the Coaches or Team Manager as soon as possible
4h. Smoking or the consumption of alcohol before and during the Tournament is strictly
forbidden
4i. All male/female relationships are to be kept to a minimum for the duration of the Tournament.
4j. All squad members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. Bad language, unsportsmanlike behaviour or disrespectful attitude will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action.

ARTICLE FIVE – SELECTION DISQUALIFICATION
5a. Anyone found in breach of the Rules and Regulations will be subject to the following procedures:
i) Issuing of a verbal warning.
ii) Presentation of a written warning, this will stand for one calendar year.
iii) Dismissal/deselection of the Squad Member for the Tournament and the matter will
be passed to the Executive Committee for discussion and further action if required.
5b. Any Squad Members that sustains an injury or illness that will keep them from preparing or competing.
5c. Any Squad Members unable to provide/cover the necessary funding for the tournament.

ARTICLE SIX – EQUIPMENT
6a. All Registered Members are responsible for bringing with them to both Tournament and Training correct and safe training equipment. This is to include
i) ITF recognised Foot and Hand pads, 1 set blue, 1 set red
ii) Groin guards for Male, Chest guards for Females
iii) Gum Shields
iv) Water bottle
v) Towel
vi) Skipping rope
6b. Squad Members travelling to Tournaments must bring with them their license, passport and certificate of degree. They must also have with them a European Heath Insurance Card.
6c. Any equipment supplied by ITF Ireland must be treated with respect or the squad member will be held responsible for its replacement.

ARTICLE SEVEN- FUNDING
7a. ITF Ireland will provide help where is possible, to raise funds for Registered Members. But the emphasis will remain on the Registered Member to raise the required amount. ITF Ireland may pay back any funding raised retrospectively.
7b. All fees and documentation to be passed to the ITF Ireland Manager when requested.