TUSC365

CODE OF CONDUCT

INTRODUCTION:

TUSC365 Mission: TUSC365 believes in ultimate’s ability to cultivate outstanding athletes and people. We are a sports program that promotes competitive play, athleticism, and fitness, while also prioritizing character and sportspersonship. We’re committed to growing participation at all levels of youth ultimate by valuing and developing the skills of each player and each team, supporting equity in our sport, and creating and maintaining an atmosphere that is safe, fun, and empowering for all players.

TUSC365 Goals: 

  • Education: Provide robust, high-quality, sustainable, accountable year-round programming for youth ultimate players, families, coaches, and organizers. Teach, model, and assess ultimate skills and character education; exemplify and uphold Spirit of the Game.

  • Leadership & Responsiveness: Ensure that programs are responsive to unique player and team needs, and adaptable to both predictable and unpredictable circumstances. 

  • Development & Sustainability: Support existing teams and players; help build, mentor, and grow new programs; recruit and retain new youth ultimate players and families. 

  • DEI & Safety: Create an environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive, and safe for all players, families, coaches, and staff.

Definitions:

  • Spirit of the Game: "Spirit of the Game is a set of principles which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. All players are responsible for knowing, administering, and adhering to the rules. The integrity of ultimate depends on each player's responsibility to uphold the Spirit of the Game, and this responsibility should remain paramount." (Source: USA Ultimate)

  • Tone Policing: The attempt to discredit an argument by attacking the tone with which it is made.

Description:

TUSC365 serves and provides playing opportunities for youth ultimate in Central Texas (and beyond), including its players, families, coaches, teams/programs, schools, and organizers. As such, TUSC365 seeks to provide programming that aligns with our values of representation, outreach, equity, and safety. By living, celebrating, and championing these shared values, we all have the power to make participation in youth ultimate – and in TUSC365 events specifically – a joyful, welcoming, healthy experience for our athletes, families, and organizers.

All players, staff, spectators, and volunteers attending and participating in TUSC365-sanctioned events must be aware of and agree to abide by the expectations laid out in the TUSC365 Code of Conduct. The success and wellness of our community relies on the investment and commitment to these values by all participants. 

EXPECTED CONDUCT:

Inclusive Environment

TUSC365 is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that allows for participation of all athletes, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, or any physical, mental or sensory disability. Any form of discrimination, harassment, abuse or misconduct, including bullying, crude or abusive language, threats, unwelcome advances, sexual harassment, and/or consent issues will not be tolerated and will be taken under review in accordance with our restorative justice and review process. TUSC365 reminds players, families, coaches, and organizers that they have the ability and the responsibility to promote and perpetuate a culture of inclusion, safety, communication, and accountability.

Dignity, Respect, and Integrity:

All participants are expected to treat others with dignity and respect, including abiding by the Official Rules of Ultimate and the tenets of Spirit of the Game. Spirit of the Game is essential to youth ultimate, and is at the center of TUSC365’s events and mission. We all carry Spirit with us on and off the field, placing respect at the forefront of interactions and relationships. All TUSC365 players, spectators, and staff are expected to uphold the integrity of the sport and promote fair play by acting honestly and fairly by being knowledgeable of, understanding, and following the policies set forth in the TUSC365 Code of Conduct.

Participants should be aware of and avoid tone policing in discussions of Spirit or the resolution of on-field disputes. Historically marginalized people, particularly people of color, experience tone policing much more frequently than others. TUSC365 believes that every player should feel confident to express themselves naturally on the ultimate field and have the right to respectfully express themselves on issues that impact them, as well as the ultimate community. TUSC365 encourages all participants to consider how implicit bias might affect the way they perceive their opponent’s behavior. Look here for more reading on this topic.

Health and Safety:

TUSC365 actively works to ensure the health and safety of all its participants. Any member involved in TUSC365 events will not engage in any safety-related acts that could negatively impact members of the community. 

Safe Play

All participants are expected to play and compete with regard for the safety and well-being of everyone involved. Ultimate is a non-contact sport, and players hold the responsibility at practices and games to maintain body control and avoid potentially dangerous plays whenever possible, while also paying attention to the actions of others in order to avoid contact. In order to self-officiate and resolve conflicts, players are expected to embody the principles of fair play and Spirit of the Game in a responsible manner as laid out by the Official Rules of Ultimate. These rules and policies exist to ensure the safety of all players, and to allow for the proper enjoyment and well-being of everyone.

Personal Health and Wellness

Any athlete engaging in TUSC365 events has the autonomy to determine and act on pursuing a healthy lifestyle. This includes but is not limited to injury prevention and care, proper nutrition, and mental health support. Coaches are required to support player health and wellness by responding to inquiries and concerns with understanding, care, referrals and resources (when available). Under no circumstances should a coach limit or restrict a player’s access to proper nutrition or hydration, force a player to return to the field following an injury, use fitness as “punishment” for on-field play, target a player or players with disrespectful language or abusive sideline talk, or in any other way negatively impact a player’s health and wellness.

Illegal Substances and Dangerous Weapons

TUSC365 Events are entirely alcohol and drug-free environments. TUSC365 also prohibits the possession or use of dangerous weapons, including firearms, explosives, knives, or any other weapon that might be considered dangerous or harmful. These policies apply to athletes, family members, spectators, and staff. Individuals who violate this policy will be removed from the event without a warning or refund/compensation.

Social Media and Digital Citizenship:

TUSC365 has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for online harassment / bullying, sharing sexual / explicit content, hateful messages and peer activity, peer pressure, and trolling. Inappropriate postings, either during TUSC365 events or directed at other TUSC365 participants, that may include discriminatory remarks, slander, sexual harassment, threats of violence, or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated. A player will be removed without a refund if they violate these expectations during a TUSC365 event, or target another TUSC365 player at any time. Note that TUSC365 Staff Members are all SafeSport Certified mandatory reporters regarding illegal behavior and abuse.

We believe that we must teach and model appropriate digital citizenship, encouraging face-to-face interaction both on and off the field. We strongly discourage the use of cell phones and any other digital media devices (aside from photography/videography and essential team communication) during TUSC365 events, and suggest that players turn off and store their digital devices during play. 

Compliance:

TUSC365 participants must respect and comply with these policies, and complete all participation agreements, waivers, and paperwork as required for each TUSC365 event. This also includes abiding by the laws, regulations, and statutes of the Review, Response, and Restorative Justice Process. Players are expected to act as responsible representatives of the sport within the larger community.

Report Misconduct and Concerns:

Please use this platform to report any issues you've observed that raise concerns about player, coach, or sideline misconduct, or violations of the TUSC365 Code of Conduct. All reports will remain anonymous unless you choose to share your contact information for follow-up. This platform serves as a system to document, review, and / or address misconduct pertaining to TUSC365 and other relevant youth ultimate events and environments.

Review and Response:

TUSC365 believes that all people have the ability to correct and improve their behavior and grow as individuals to serve our sport and our youth ultimate community as a whole. However, we also believe in holding individuals and teams accountable for their actions, and providing feedback, guidance, and growth plans to address infractions. As such, TUSC365 follows a three- tiered approach to reviewing, responding to, and intervening following reports of misconduct in and around our events:

  • Tier 1: Discussion & Mediation, Deescalation / Prevention

  • Tier 2: TUSC365 Event-Based Sanction (i.e. pause on play, suspension from event(s))

  • Tier 3: Committee Review, Sanction, & Restorative Justice Process

The type of intervention is based on the degree of the violation, the harm that was caused by the infraction, the history and documentation of previous reports, and other variables.

Contact tusculti@gmail.com with any additional questions. 

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RESOURCES & SOURCES

TUSC365 Code of Conduct Contributors & Collaborators

  • Caroline Pellegrini

  • Prakruthi Nikam

  • Jenna Martin

  • Sandy Knight

  • John Kepner

  • Brianna Stedman

  • Colleen Kepner