This Code of Conduct is intended to ensure our club’s activities remain welcoming and inclusive for all. It is here to help guide our members on how to be more self-aware of how their words and actions impact others, so any potential conflicts can be resolved quickly and amicably.

Where the Spirit of Curling guides an athlete's on-ice conduct regarding gameplay, this Code of Conduct is intended to complement that, with regards to our members’ behavior and communication towards others (both on and off the ice).

It is in that spirit we ask this Code of Conduct be followed and applied. It is not designed to be an exhaustive list of things North End Curling Club (NECC) members cannot do.

This Code of Conduct will be enforced inside all spaces managed or organized by NECC. This includes, but is not limited to: on-ice activities, broomstacking before and after curling, off-ice social events organized by the club, NECC Slack chats, NECC mailing lists, and other forms of media communication.

This Code of Conduct also covers events in which you are officially representing NECC. Examples include: playdowns and national competitions where teams are organized by NECC, any bonspiels where you play “under the flag” of NECC.

If you believe someone is violating this Code of Conduct, we ask that you report it by emailing the Code of Conduct Committee. (See Reporting Guidelines below.)

The Spirit of Curling is a commonly used term in the sport. It refers to the respect curlers show, not only to one another, but also to the sport itself. It can be found on page one of our rule book and is the foundation of the sport.

Curling is a game of skill and of tradition. A shot well executed is a delight to see, and it is also a fine thing to observe the time-honoured traditions of curling being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win, but never to humble their opponents. A true curler never attempts to distract opponents, nor to prevent them from playing their best, and would prefer to lose rather than to win unfairly.

Curlers never knowingly break a rule of the game, nor disrespect any of its traditions. Should they become aware that this has been done inadvertently, they will be the first to divulge the breach.

While the main object of the game of curling is to determine the relative skill of the players, The Spirit of Curling demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling, and honourable conduct.

This spirit should influence both the interpretation and the application of the rules of the game and also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.

Along with the Spirit of Curling, NECC has core values guiding our behavior both on and off the ice. These principles are grounded in our love of the game and our respect for one another. Also, while broomstacking is a cherished part of curling culture, alcohol consumption is not an excuse to violate the code of conduct. Please consume responsibly.

This list of values and the details that follow are not an exhaustive list of rules, but rather guideposts to help you find your way towards positive and inclusive interactions with everyone in NECC spaces.

Be Respectful

Respect is a fundamental value of our club. Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and poor manners. We might all experience some frustration or competitive anger now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration or competitive feeling to turn into a personal attack.

Any community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened does not help grow the sport we all love. Members of NECC should be respectful when dealing with other members and non-member participants at NECC activities.

Be Inclusive

We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to: members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, color, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, size, family status, political belief, religion, and mental and physical ability.

Be Kind to Others

Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary behavior are not acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Violent threats or language directed against another person
• Discriminatory jokes and language
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Conduct directed at someone that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety and/or the safety of others, and/or suffer substantial emotional distress
• Sharing sexually explicit or violent material
• Sharing (or threatening to share) other people’s personal information
• Personal insults, especially any using racist or sexist terms, or other such “hate speech”
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviors
• Repeated harassment of others. If someone asks you to stop, then stop.

Be Friendly and Patient

We understand everyone has different levels of experience and skill on the ice. We all have areas of our game in need of improvement. NECC should be a place where people can not only compete but also feel comfortable asking questions and learning along the way.

When helping another member grow as a curler, either in their gameplay or their on-ice etiquette, do so with patience, respect, and politeness. Remember: we all were new to the sport at one point, too!

If you see someone you think needs help with their curling skills, always ask first before offering advice. Not everyone is always looking for feedback, no matter how well-intentioned.

When someone violates the generally accepted etiquette of the game, communicate your concern as politely as possible. If the issue is not urgent, consider discussing the matter after the match or with the player’s skip, rather than addressing the player directly.

When We Disagree, Try to Understand Why

Disagreements, both social and competitive, happen all the time. It is essential that we resolve disagreements and differing views in a constructive manner. There is strength in having a diverse community of people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Different people have different perspectives. Being unable to understand why someone holds a certain viewpoint doesn’t mean they’re wrong. To err is human, and blaming each other for a mistake solves nothing. Instead, try to focus on resolving the issue, and learning from it.

Questions?

If you have questions, please see the FAQ below. If you don’t find your answer there, please email the Code of Conduct Committee. The email may be found in the Member's Home section when logged in to this site.

The NECC Board of Directors will establish the Code of Conduct Committee (“the Committee”), which will be composed of the three Members-at-Large who serve on the Board.

Membership

One member will be designated Chair of the Committee. They are responsible for all reports back to the entire NECC Board of Directors.

It is NECC policy that all members of the Committee be SafeSport Trained via the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Purpose and Goals

The primary purpose of the Committee is conflict resolution.

NECC understands not everyone will get along 100% of the time. Minor disagreements are bound to happen. Just as equally, NECC expects those disagreements to be resolved in a civilized manner. When that does not happen and/or more severe language or behavior is involved, the Committee is there to help figure out what happened and how to best resolve the issue.

To be clear: the Committee is not a task force set out to police people’s behavior, nor is it designed to be used as a weapon by one member to get another they don’t like “in trouble.” It is here to help bridge divides, not widen them.

If you believe someone is violating the NECC Code of Conduct, please report it by one of the following methods:

• Fill out the secure form here. The information you submit in the form is only available to the board members on the Code of Conduct committee.
• Approach a Committee member in person to discuss it.
• Email the Code of Conduct Committee (email may be found in the Member's Home section when logged in) with the details of your situation. Further details may be requested.
• If a report involves a member of the Committee, report it to the remaining member(s) via their NECC email address(es). Their email addresses may be found in the Member's Home section when logged in to this site.

All reports will be kept confidential.

Only members of the Committee will receive the reports. They will give them urgent and immediate attention.

If the Committee needs to share information with the executive members of the NECC Board of Directors, the reporter's identity will not be divulged before the reporter has agreed to it.

(NOTE: For incidents involving individuals under the age of 18, the above policy is superseded by USA Curling’s SafeSport policies and procedures. The Code of Conduct Committee has a duty to report these SafeSport violations involving minors to the executive members of the NECC Board of Directors and USA Curling. More information can be found in the USA Curling SafeSport Handbook.)

If the act is ongoing, the Committee will take immediate measures to stop it if possible, and to gather the information described below.

How the Committee Will Respond to Reports

When a report is sent to the Committee, they will reply to the report to confirm receipt within 24 hours.

If the incident reported involves an individual under the age of 18 and may be a violation of the policies set forth in the USA Curling SafeSport Handbook, the matter will be referred immediately to the executive members of the NECC Board of Directors and USA Curling.

Matters rising to a level of criminal act will be referred to law enforcement as appropriate.

If a report doesn’t contain enough information, the Committee will strive to obtain all relevant data before acting. The Committee is empowered to contact any individuals involved to get a more complete account of events.

The Committee will then review the incident and determine, to the best of their ability:

• What happened
• Whether this event constitutes a Code of Conduct violation
• Who, if anyone, was involved in the violation
• Whether this is an ongoing situation

This information will be collected in writing and, whenever possible, the Committee’s deliberations will be recorded and retained. Policies for record retention and handoff will be established by the first Committee.

The Committee aims to have a resolution agreed very rapidly. If not agreed upon within a week, it will inform the parties of the planned date.

Resolution

The Committee must agree on a resolution by consensus. If the Committee cannot reach a consensus, the Committee will turn the matter over to the executive members of the NECC Board of Directors for a resolution.

Responses will be determined by the Committee on the basis of the information gathered and of the potential consequences. Actions the Committee may take without consulting the executive members of the Board of Directors include:

• Taking no further action
• Issuing a reprimand (private or public)
• Asking for an apology (private or public)

The Committee may determine a situation merits a more serious response than a reprimand or apology. For example, the Committee may recommend the NECC Board of Directors temporarily suspend or permanently revoke an individual’s membership with NECC. In these situations, the case and Committee recommendations will be escalated for review and further pursuit by the NECC Board of Directors in accordance with the NECC bylaws.

The Committee will never publicly discuss issues referred to it.

All public statements, if needed, will be made by the NECC Board of Directors.

Conflicts of Interest

In the event of any conflict of interest (i.e. - Committee or Board members who are personally connected to a situation), the conflicted member must immediately notify the other Committee members and recuse themselves.

This section attempts to address common questions and concerns around the NECC Code of Conduct. If you still have questions after reading it, please feel free to contact the Committee or the NECC Board of Directors. Their emails may be found in the Member's Home section of this site once you are logged in.

Why have you adopted a Code of Conduct?

First and foremost: let it be said we think our curling community is awesome!

We know NECC members are friendly and welcoming. The purpose of this Code is to keep it that way as we grow and thrive as a club. We want everyone to know what is expected of them — be they a seasoned member, or a brand new curler.

What does adopting this Code of Conduct mean for our club?

For the most part, we don’t think it means large changes. This text does a really good job of describing the way our club members already behave. We expect that most people will simply continue to carry on as they have for years.

However, having a formal Code of Conduct ensures we all have the same expectations of each other; holds ourselves accountable to each other to encourage good behavior; and helps introduce our NECC values to new members.

By putting this Code of Conduct in place, we expect the spirit and words of it to be followed both in spaces we manage, and when our members go out curling in representation of our club. By being a NECC member, you are agreeing to abide by it.

What happens if someone violates the Code of Conduct?

Our intent is that anyone in the community can and should stand up for this Code.

Please direct others to this document if they are unaware of it. If that doesn’t work, or if you need more help, you can email the Committee. For more details, please see our Reporting Guidelines above.

Why do we need a Code of Conduct? Everyone knows how to behave in our club.

Sadly, this is not always the case.

Not everyone knows where to draw the line of what is acceptable behavior, or what is acceptable to say to and in front of others. Some people may not know how they impact others. Even if everyone were kind, compassionate, and familiar with good behavior, it would still be incumbent upon NECC to publish a Code of Conduct.

Maintaining this code forces us to consider the kind of community we want to be, articulate it into words that remove ambiguity, and serves as a constant reminder to put our best foot forward.

Just as important, it lets newcomers know our NECC values, what is expected of them, and what they can expect in others. It also offers everyone recourse when those expectations aren’t met.

This is censorship! I have the right to say whatever I want!

Yes you do – in your spaces. However, in our spaces (as clarified above), these simple guidelines apply. If you want to form a group where curling is discussed in language that is inappropriate for general or public channels, nobody’s stopping you. We respect your right to establish whatever codes of conduct you want in the spaces you create and/or own. Please honor this Code of Conduct in our spaces.

Acknowledgements

• The Spirit of Curling in the introduction is excerpted from World Curling’s current Rules of Curling document
• Thanks go out to our friends at Windy City Curling Club. Their Code of Conduct served as a model for our code of conduct.