Introduction

HPH Sports is committed to delivering its mission professionally and ethically and is guided by the values of integrity, trust, fair play, respect for others and sportsmanship. HPH Sports is committed to providing an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect. Furthermore, HPH Sports supports equal opportunity and prohibits discriminatory practices. Participants are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the values of HPH Sports.

The HPH Sports Code of Conduct provides all participants – players, parents, coaches, officials, spectators and administrative officials – with some simple rules that assist in delivering a safe and positive environment to everyone involved with the sport.

General Principles

HPH Sports participants are defined to include: all registered players, game officials, HPH staff, sponsor representatives, and members of the general public attending as spectators.

Participants are encouraged and expected to:

• Show positive acts of sportsmanship, discouraging all instances of foul or illegal play, or acts of violence, both during and after HPH activities.

• Demonstrate the greatest levels of respect, protecting the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability/disability, sexual orientation, age, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, or religion.

• Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment, where harassment is defined as improper conduct by an individual during an HPH Sports sponsored event or business activity that the individual knew or ought reasonably to have known would cause offense or harm. It comprises objectionable act(s), comment(s), or display(s) that demean, belittle or cause personal humiliation or embarrassment, and any act of intimidation or threat.

• Refrain from behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual comments and advances, requests for sexual favours, or conduct of a sexual nature.

• Use social media responsibly and understand that cyber-bullying — including negative or demeaning comments, status posts, personal messages or emails — is deemed a serious form of harassment.

• Demonstrate integrity in all matters involving the sport by behaving with honesty and transparency.

The HPH Sports Code of Conduct shall aid in governing all disciplinary matters.

CODE OF CONDUCT – PARTICIPANT

• Always respect the game official’s decision.

• Never become involved in acts of foul play.

• Honour both the spirit and the letter of the competition rules and live up to the highest ideals of ethics and sportsmanship.

• Never engage in disrespectful conduct of any sort including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks, trash-talking, taunting or other actions that demean other players, officials or supporters.

• Care for and respect the facilities and equipment made available to you.

• Treat all participants and game officials with the utmost respect.

• Keep off the playing area and do not interfere with play in any manner.

• Keep all facility locker rooms and changing areas free of debris, garbage, or trash.

• Do not bring banned or illegal substances to the facility or use prior to coming to games (including alcohol, drugs).

• No smoking or vaping on premises.

• Unsportsmanlike language, harassment or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.

CODE OF CONDUCT – GAME OFFICIAL

• Be impartial. Also be consistent, objective and courteous.

• Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else; be alert to minimize dangerous competition, fair or foul.

• Accept responsibility for all actions taken.

• Avoid any form of inappropriate verbal contact with participants and spectators during competition.

• Condemn all instances of unsportsmanlike, foul or unfair competition.

CODE OF CONDUCT – SPECTATOR/PARENT

• Condemn all violent or illegal acts, whether by athletes, coaches, officials, parents or spectators.

• Respect an official’s decisions — don’t complain or argue about decisions during or after a game.

• Unsportsmanlike language, harassment or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.

• Never ridicule or scorn an athlete for making a mistake — respect their efforts.

• Participate in positive cheering that encourages athletes you support; do not engage in cheering that taunts or intimidates opponents, their fans or officials.

CODE OF CONDUCT – HPH STAFF

• Conduct oneself openly, professionally, collaboratively, in good faith and in the collective best interests of HPH Sports.

• Behave with decorum appropriate to the circumstance and position.

• Promote the open exchange of ideas and perspectives. Respect the governance and policies of HPH Sports.

• Strive to model the general principles outlined in this Code of Conduct, thereby setting a positive leadership example for the sport.

 

 

Mission Statement

Our mission at HPH is to create a safe and high-value sports experience for all participants regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. Anyone that signs up for any HPH activity:

• Must respect all individuals including (but not limited to) other players, spectators, officials, and HPH and venue staff.

• Is prohibited verbally and/or physically from targeting an individual(s) based on that individual’s race, gender identity, sexual identity, or religious beliefs.

• Must participate in the spirit of competition through fair, honest, and just play.

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Social Media

HPH Sports is aware that participant interaction and communication occurs frequently on social media and acceptable communication is highly encouraged by participants. However, HPH Sports cautions participants that any conduct falling short of the standard of behaviour required by the Code of Conduct may be subject to the disciplinary sanctions identified within the Discipline and Complaints Policy.

 

Conduct and Behaviour

All conduct and behaviour occurring on social media must comply with the Code of Conduct. This means that participants should not post anything that would be considered disrespectful, hateful, or offensive to another HPH participant.

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Discipline and Complaints Policy

This will be implemented according to the relevant level of misconduct by the participant concerned. For small internal team disputes, we expect, in the first instance, issues to be resolved within the team. If the matter cannot be resolved in this way, or involves any other team or HPH staff, then HPH management will intervene and conduct an appropriate investigation.

The exception to the above will be any situation where the situation includes harassment or abuse of any kind which will immediately be elevated to HPH management for investigation and sanctioning. For the purposes of this exception, the following definitions shall be employed:

Abuse

Includes Psychological Maltreatment, Physical Maltreatment, Verbal Maltreatment, Neglect, and/or Grooming of Vulnerable Participants by Persons in Authority and which can have the following warning signs:

• Recurrent unexplained injuries

• Alert behaviour; participant seems to always be expecting something bad to happen

• Often wears clothing that covers up their skin, even in warm weather

• Participant startles easily, shies away from touch or shows other skittish behavior

• Constantly seems fearful or anxious about doing something wrong

• Withdrawn from peers

• Behaviour fluctuates between extremes (e.g., extremely cooperative or extremely demanding)

• Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects

• Self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning or other harmful activities)

Harassment

A course of vexatious comment or conduct against a Participant or group, which is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Types of behaviour that constitute Harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Written or verbal abuse, threats, or outbursts

• Persistent unwelcome remarks, jokes, comments, innuendo, or taunts

• Racial harassment including slurs, jokes, name-calling, or insulting behaviour or terminology reinforcing stereotypes or discounting abilities because of racial or ethnic origin

• Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures

• Condescending or patronizing behaviour intended to undermine self-esteem, diminish performance or adversely affect working conditions

• Practical jokes that endanger a person’s safety or negatively affect performance

• Hazing — any potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive, or dangerous activity expected of a junior-ranking individual by a more senior individual that does not contribute to positive development but is required for team acceptance

• Unwanted physical contact including touching, petting, pinching, or kissing

• Deliberately excluding or socially isolating a person from a group or team

• Persistent sexual flirtations, advances, requests, or invitations

• Physical or sexual assault

• Contributing to a harmful sport environment, including:

  • Display of discriminatory material (e.g., explicit posters or racist imagery)

  • Groups where harassing behaviour is normalized

  • Behaviour causing embarrassment, awkwardness, safety risk, or performance harm

• Behaviours not directed at a specific person but creating a hostile environment

• Retaliation or threats of retaliation against a person who reports harassment to HPH Sports

 

Potential Individual Sanctions and Punishments:

• Game suspensions

• Ban from all HPH Sports related events for a determined period of time

• Expulsion from registering for any/all future HPH Sport activities or events

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Any sanctions implemented by HPH management under this policy are not eligible for appeal.

Reporting a Complaint

Our goal is to make it easier and safer for cases of inappropriate conduct to be reported. There will be “zero tolerance” for those who participate in these kinds of incidents and they will be subject to severe discipline.

Note: We may require that submitters provide as much detail as possible and may be asked to speak to league officials about any submissions. All submissions will be confidential between the submitter and the league.

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