== Behavior Contrary to the Integrity of the SCRABBLE Game Preamble ==
The favorable reputations of SCRABBLE® SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game and the North American SCRABBLE Players Association (NASPA) are valuable assets. They create tangible benefits for all NASPA members.
SCRABBLE players and officials serve as ambassadors for the game. Accordingly, everyone involved in organized SCRABBLE should refrain from engaging in conduct or behavior detrimental to the integrity of SCRABBLE when attending a club or tournament. All SCRABBLE participants should also strive to present a positive image during SCRABBLE events even during those times when they are away from the tournament area, in such places as restaurants or hotels.
Players and directors are reminded that their friends, spouses, relatives, and other associates who attend SCRABBLE events with them should not negatively disrupt the event nor impede club and tournament officials from doing their jobs.
Players and officials are encouraged, to the best of their abilities, to be cooperative and courteous with media personnel who are covering SCRABBLE events.
A SCRABBLE event should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Behavior that is deemed harmful to this objective will not be tolerated. All players are urged to inform club and tournament directors about any incidents which are detrimental to the positive atmosphere at a SCRABBLE event. In order to create a pleasant atmosphere at SCRABBLE events, the following guidelines have been established.
=== Classification 1 Code Violations ===
==== a. Abuse Audible Obscenities Do not use audible obscenities while playing a game or in the accepted boundaries of the club or tournament area. An audible obscenity is defined as the use of words commonly known and understood to be profane and uttered clearly and loudly enough to be heard. It is permissible to speak offensive words where necessary in the context of Equipment ====relating a play that was made during a game.
Players shall b. Visible Obscenities Do not throw, slam, break, damage or destroy make obscene gestures of any kind while playing a game equipment or tournament equipment. This includes (by way while in the accepted boundaries of example, but not limited to) tiles, tile bags, racks, boards, clocks, chairs, tables, receptacles, documents, the club or computer equipmenttournament area. This also includes personal items such A visible obscenity is defined as clipboards, pens, items the making of clothing, and a sign with hands or other possessionsmeans that is commonly known to have an obscene meaning.
==== bc. Written Obscenities Do not use any written obscenities to insult, demean, or harass other players or club or tournament officials. This includes the writing of words or statements, commonly understood to be profane, that can be easily seen by nearby players or passersby. It is permissible to write offensive words on a challenge slip when such words are challenged. It is also permissible to write offensive words that have been played during a game (or words that were considered for play) on one's score sheet or note paper. Verbal Abuse ====
Players shall d. Abuse of Equipment Do not at any time verbally abuse an opponentthrow, a club or tournament officialslam, volunteerbreak, damage or destroy any other person connected within the precincts of the club or game equipment, tournament site. Verbal abuse is defined as any statement that is derogatory, insulting, threateningequipment, or otherwise abusiveother personal property.
==== ce. Leaving the Playing Area during a Game without Legitimate Cause With the exception of unavoidable restroom breaks or other legitimate reasons, do not leave the playing room before your game is completed (including completing and submitting any required paperwork). Audible Obscenities ====
Players shall f. Deliberate Noncooperation with Tournament Officials Cooperate with club or tournament officials and staff at all times. Deliberate noncooperation with tournament officials will not use any audible obscenities while playing be tolerated. g. Unsportsmanlike Conduct Conduct yourself in a game or in sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the accepted boundaries authority of officials and the club or tournament arearights of your opponents and other players. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. An audible obscenity Unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as the use any misconduct by a player that is not specifically defined in other sections of words commonly known and understood to be profane and uttered this code, but is clearly and loudly enough abusive, negative, or detrimental to be heardthe success of the club, tournament, NASPA, or organized SCRABBLE in general.
==== d. Visible Obscenities ====
Players shall not make obscene gestures of any kind while playing a game or while in the accepted boundaries of the club or tournament area. A visible obscenity is defined as the making of a sign by a player with hands or other means that is commonly known to have an obscene meaning. Classification 2 Code Violations
==== ea. Physical Abuse Do not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, or other person within the precincts of the club or tournament site. Written Obscenities ====
Players shall b. Intimidation, Threats, and Harassment It is part of the mission of NASPA to provide all participants and officials at NASPA clubs and events with a safe and harassment-free experience. Do not use any written obscenities to insultverbally abuse, intimidate, threaten, demeanbully, or harass other fellow players or , club officials or tournament officials. This includes the writing of words (without limitation) sexual harassment and discriminatory or statementsharassing remarks based on race, commonly understood to be profanecolor, that can be easily seen by nearby players creed or passersby. It is permissible to write offensive words on a challenge slip when such words are challenged. It is also permissible to write offensive words that have been played during a game (or words that were considered for play) on one's score sheet religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, military status, or note paperdisability.Classification 3 Code Violations
==== fa. Leaving Cheating Do not cheat. Cheating is defined as knowingly violating the Playing Area during rules to gain a Game without Legitimate Cause ====competitive advantage. Cheating is a serious infraction that cannot be tolerated.
With the exception of unavoidable restroom breaks or other legitimate reasons, players shall b. Suspicious Behavior Do not leave the playing room before their games are completedengage in suspicious behavior. This type of Suspicious behavior is both disrespectful and unnerving defined as any behavior that could be interpreted as cheating, but has not been conclusively determined to opponentsbe cheating.
==== gNote: It is understood that tournament newcomers may sometimes accidentally engage in suspicious behavior because of their inexperience. Deliberate Noncooperation Directors may grant some leeway and give the benefit of the doubt to unseasoned players who violate the rules without malicious intent. The rules pertaining to suspicious behavior are generally designed for more experienced tournament players who are trying to gain an unfair advantage with Tournament Officials ====their actions and who are willfully violating the rules and/or spirit of the game.
Players must be cooperative with club or tournament officials On-site Reporting and staff at all times. Deliberate noncooperation includes (by way Enforcement of example, but not limited to) refusing to complete mandatory paperwork, refusing to cooperate with official game annotators (at tournaments where annotation was advertised), refusing to leave the playing area when asked to do so, refusing to tidy the playing area, and other acts of noncompliance that hinder the smooth operation of a club or tournament.Code Violations
==== hA player who witnesses a Code of Conduct violation should notify a club or tournament director who is in charge of the event at which the violation occurred, as soon as possible. Unsportsmanlike Conduct ====
Players shall at all times conduct themselves in When a club or tournament director ascertains by a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to preponderance of the authority evidence that a player has committed a Code of officials and Conduct violation, the rights of their opponents and other players. Unsportsmanlike conduct director is defined as any misconduct by a empowered to discipline said player that is not specifically defined in other sections one or more of this codethe following ways, but is clearly abusivedepending upon the seriousness of the offense, negative, or detrimental to the success of impact on the club, or tournament, NASPA, or organized SCRABBLE in general. and any other factors that the director deems relevant to the decision-making process:
=== Penalties for Classification 1 . Official warning – the director warns the player about his/her conduct, and informs the player that additional Code Violations ===of Conduct violations will carry more serious sanctions.2. A point penalty (e.g., 100 points; 200 points) applied to club or tournament spread.3. Forfeiture of the game in process at the time of the violation.4. Ejection and disqualification from the club or tournament.
When a club or tournament director ascertains beyond a reasonable doubt that The disciplinary items listed are not intended to be a system of “progressive discipline” in which the player has committed may only receive an official warning for a Classification 1 Code Violationfirst offense. Rather, the director is empowered to discipline said levy those sanctions against the player in which the director deems reasonable under the following manner: circumstances.
* 1st offense: official warning* 2nd offense: 100-point penalty applied to club or tournament spread* 3rd offense: ejection and disqualification from Sanctions may also be imposed against the club or tournament player by NASPA as detailed below.
Note: A director may use his/her discretion Reporting Code Violations to apply a stricter penalty for a first offense if the violation is especially flagrant or egregious. (i.e., A director may immediately issue a 100-point spread penalty or eject the transgressor for a serious transgression. Likewise, a director may eject a transgressor for a flagrant second offense.)NASPA
Additional sanctions may be imposed against Club and Tournament directors are required to report all code violations to NASPA as soon as they can conveniently do so, and not later than 7 days after the player by event (use the Incident Report Form). Players are also permitted to report code violations to NASPA using the Incident Report Form (but should always make an in-person report to the director at the time of the event, unless special circumstances apply as detailed described below). Players should report code violations to NASPA as soon as they can conveniently do so. NASPA will consider the timeliness of an Incident Report filed by a player when determining what action to take.
Incidents which occur at a club shall be reported to the NASPA Club/Directors Committee (CDC). All other incidents which are related to NASPA organized SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game play, whether at a tournament or otherwise, shall be reported to the NASPA Tournament Committee (TC).
=== Classification 2 Code Violations ===Incident Report Investigation
==== aUpon receipt of an incident report, the CDC or TC will also investigate the incident and shall levy such sanctions against any of the involved parties as it deems appropriate. Physical Abuse ==== The committee shall investigate the incident as it deems appropriate under the circumstances, but such investigation shall ordinarily proceed as follows:
Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official1. For a first offense of a lower-level violation, opponentthe committee will generally receive the incident report for its files, or other person within and take no action beyond the precincts of sanctions imposed by the club or tournament on-sitedirector. Physical abuse is defined as 2. For a more serious violation, the committee will generally solicit statements from relevant witnesses, then forward the unauthorized touching of an officialentire incident report, including witness statements, to the accused player and provide him/her an opponentopportunity to respond (usually 10 days will be provided).3. The committee will review the entire record, solicit any additional information it deems necessary or other person advisable, then render its decision.4. The decision will be communicated to the accused player at his/her email address of record in the NASPA membership database. If the player does not have a club or tournament siterecorded email address but does have a recorded postal address, that harmsa printed copy of the decision will be mailed to the player. 5. If the decision results in a membership suspension, harassesa suspension record will be posted for viewing by NASPA directors online at NASPA Member Services, provokes, or intimidates that individualand the suspension will be announced on the naspa-tcd@yahoogroups.com mailing list for NASPA directors.
The penalty for physical abuse is Should the immediate ejection committee find, by clear and disqualification convincing evidence, that a player has committed a Code of Conduct violation, the perpetrator from the club or tournament. Additional committee shall issue such sanctions may be imposed against the player by NASPA as detailed below. ==== b. Intimidationit deems appropriate, Threatswhich sanctions may include, and Harassment ==== Players shall but are not at any time engage limited to, suspension of an individual from participation in behavior that intimidates, threatens, or harasses fellow players, club officials and/or tournament officials. This includes (by way events for a period of exampletime or permanently, but not limited to) sexual harassmentsuspension or revocation of an individual’s NASPA membership without refund, stalkingfinancial restitution, confrontational and adjustment of game results or antisocial behaviorspread, spoken or written threatscumulative spread. Additionally, where appropriate, the CDC or any other malicious acts TC may require an individual to provide reasonable evidence that circumstances underlying that person’s misconduct have been appropriately addressed, prior to that can reasonably be perceived as intimidation. Directors are empowered person being permitted to remove and disqualify any player from a club or tournament who behaves participate in the aforementioned manner. Additional sanctions may be imposed against the player by NASPA as detailed below-sanctioned activities. === Classification 3 Code Violations === ==== aAn accumulation of transgressions may result in longer suspensions and/or other disciplinary action. Cheating ==== Players at SCRABBLE clubs The CDC and tournaments are honor-bound not to cheat. Cheating is a serious infraction that cannot be tolerated. Those who are caught cheating at a club or tournament TC will be immediately ejected and disqualified from the event. Additional sanctions may be imposed against the player by NASPA as detailed below. Acts of cheating can include (by way keep records of exampleall reported transgressions, but not limited and any action taken with respect to) 1. Concealing or palming tiles (other than in the ordinary course of drawing or playing tiles). 2. Disguising an overdraw situation by hidingthem, palming, discarding, or destroying tiles. 3. Failing to report an overdraw immediately. 4. Deliberately falsifying data on a result slip. 5. Using marked tiles. 6. Consulting premade word lists, dictionaries or and will share this information with each other reference books, or word-source devices during a game.
7All reports/statements provided to the CDC or TC shall be deemed non-confidential, unless a request for confidentiality accompanies the report/statement. Using an accomplice “Non-confidential” means that reports/statements may be shared by the CDC or TC with the accused and other parties to gain information about the validity of words, an opponent's rackalleged incident, for their review and response. “Confidential” means that the CDC or TC will not forward the report/statement to the accused or any other informationparty, except for another NASPA committee considering the matter, either directly or upon appeal. Confidential reports/statements are given less weight.
8. Peering into All parties to an incident report investigation are prohibited from disseminating the tile bag by reports or statements of others to any meansparty, other than legal counsel or personal advisors to that party, or to NASPA committees who are acting on the incident report.
9. Colluding with an opponent to achieve a specific game result.Special Circumstances
10. AttemptingIn the event that a Code of Conduct violation is committed by the on-site director, by any meansand the player is uncomfortable reporting the violation to that director, they may report it to look a NASPA Advisory Board member or Executive Committee member, if present at the tournament, or may make a score sheet or notes that an opponent is concealingwritten Incident Report to NASPA at the earliest convenient opportunity to do so.
11. Knowingly announcing an incorrect turn score In the event that a player is subject to sexual harassment or cumulative scoreother harassment, and is uncomfortable reporting the harassment to the on-site director, they may report it to a NASPA Advisory Board member or knowingly verifying an opponent's incorrect turn score Executive Committee member, either in person, by phone, or cumulative scorein writing.
==== b. Suspicious Behavior ====Right to Appeal of On-site Director Sanctions
A player whose actions and/or behaviors are deemed to be suspicious who has been disciplined by the an on-site director will be warned that his/her behavior is suspicious. Any further occurrences of suspicious behavior can result in ejection and disqualification from the tournament. Additional sanctions may be imposed against appeal the player by NASPA disciplinary ruling as detailed below.follows:
Note: 1. Tell the director immediately that you object to their decision, and explain why, citing specific rules and presenting evidence as appropriate. It You may ask for a second opinion, if a second director is understood that tournament newcomers may sometimes "accidentally" cheat or engage in suspicious behavior because of their inexperienceavailable to offer such opinion. Considerable leeway and Do not delay, as most problems quickly become harder to resolve fairly with the benefit passage of time. NOTE: If the doubt should be given to unseasoned players who violate director has ejected you from the rules without malicious intent. The rules pertaining to cheating are generally designed for experienced tournament players who are trying site, your right to gain an unfair advantage with their actions and who realize what they are doing immediate appeal is wrong void, and contrary you must appeal to the spirit of the gamea NASPA committee as described below.
2. If you disagree with a club or tournament director's ruling against you, and are unable to resolve your disagreement with them, email or mail the CDC (for incidents taking place at a NASPA club) or TC (for all other incidents), respectively, within 10 days of the ruling. Give as much information as you can about the ruling, and include eyewitness or other evidence to support your case. The CDC or TC will ask the director to provide a written account of the ruling and the evidence on which it was based. The CDC or TC will then make its own ruling, typically within 30 days of gathering all necessary information. The CDC/TC may uphold, vacate or modify a director's original ruling (to either increase or decrease the sanctions against a player). The CDC/TC may uphold a director’s original ruling based on an evidentiary standard of preponderance of the evidence, but will only vacate or modify a director’s original ruling based on an evidentiary standard of clear and convincing evidence.
=== Record of Code Violations === Club and Tournament directors are required to report all code violations to NASPA as soon as they can conveniently do so, and not later than 7 days after the event (use the [https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=YuLr8JUnSSoWlpOUBTEyYg Incident Report Form]). Players are also permitted to report code violations to The NASPA using the [https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=YuLr8JUnSSoWlpOUBTEyYg Incident Report Form]. Incidents which occur at a club shall be reported to the NASPA [[Club/Director Executive Committee]] (CDCEC). All other incidents which are related to NASPA organized SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game play, whether at a tournament or otherwise, shall be reported to the NASPA [[Tournament Committee]] (TC). As described above, a director may impose disciplinary measures that apply within their clubs and tournaments. Upon receipt of an incident report, the CDC or TC will is also investigate the incident and shall levy such broader sanctions against parties as it deems appropriate. Such sanctions may include, but are not limited empowered sua sponte to, suspension of an individual from participation in club and/or tournament events for a period of time or permanently, suspension or revocation of an individual’s NASPA membership without refund, financial restitution, and adjustment of game results or spread, or cumulative spread. Additionally, where appropriate, direct the CDC or TC may require an individual to provide reasonable evidence that circumstances underlying that person’s misconduct have been appropriately addressed, prior to that person being permitted to participate in NASPA-sanctioned activities. An accumulation of transgressions may result in longer suspensions and/or other disciplinary action. The CDC and TC will keep records of all reported transgressions, and consider any action taken with respect to them, and will share this information with each otherdirector’s decision.
All reports/statements provided Right to the CDC or TC shall be deemed non-confidential, unless a request for confidentiality accompanies the report/statement. Confidential reports/statements are given less weight.Appeal of NASPA Committee Ruling
=== Right If you disagree with a ruling issued against you on an incident report by the CDC or TC, you may appeal it to Appeal ===the Advisory Board (AB). To do so, email or mail the Executive Committee (EC) within 10 days of the issuance of the committee ruling, and explain why you believe the committee's ruling was unjust. The EC will ask the committee chair to forward all files pertaining to the ruling to the AB, and offer the chair an opportunity to reply to your appeal in writing. The AB will then deliberate on the matter at its next meeting, typically within 30 days of gathering all necessary materials, using an evidentiary standard of clear and convincing evidence. The AB deliberation constitutes a de novo review of the matter, and the AB may uphold, vacate, or modify (to increase or decrease) sanctions levied by a director or another NASPA committee. The AB may uphold a lower committee’s ruling based on an evidentiary standard of preponderance of the evidence, but will only vacate or modify a lower committee’s ruling based on an evidentiary standard of clear and convincing evidence.
A player who has been disciplined may appeal The NASPA Executive Committee (EC) is also empowered sua sponte to direct the disciplinary ruling as follows:AB to consider any director’s or other committee’s decision (except for decisions of the Executive Committee).
1. Tell the director or committee chair immediately that you object to their decision, and explain why, citing specific rules and presenting evidence as appropriate. Do not delay, as most problems quickly become harder to resolve fairly with the passage of time.Motion for Reconsideration by NASPA Executive Committee
2. If you are at disagree with a club or tournament and the decision concerned the conduct of ruling issued on an incident report by the eventAB, you may email or mail the NASPA Executive Committee (EC) and ask if a second director it to reconsider the matter. The EC is available also empowered sua sponte to offer a second opinionreconsider any director’s or other committee’s decision.
3. If you disagree with a club or tournament director's ruling and are unable Should the EC decide to resolve your disagreement with themreconsider any matter, email or mail it will review the [[Club/Director Committee]] (CDC) or [[Tournament Committee]] (TC) respectively within 30 days of case record to date in the ruling. Give as much matter, solicit such additional information as you can about the rulingit deems necessary or advisable, and include eyewitness or other evidence to support your caseshall render such decision as it deems proper under the circumstances. The CDC or TC Except in extraordinary circumstances, the EC will ask not accept for reconsideration the director to provide in writing their ruling and the evidence on which it was based, and make its own ruling within 30 days decisions of gathering all necessary informationlower committees or directors. The CDC/TC may upholdIf the EC declines to reconsider a matter, overturn or modify a director's original rulingthe decision of the AB shall be final.
4. If you disagree with The EC reconsideration constitutes a working committee's ruling and are unable to resolve your disagreement with them, you can appeal it to de novo review of the [[Advisory Board]] (AB). To do so, email or mail the [[Executive Committee]] (EC)matter, and explain why you believe the committee's judgment was unjust. The EC will ask the may uphold sanctions levied by a director or another NASPA committee chair to forward all files pertaining to the ruling, offer the chair based on an opportunity to reply to your appeal in writing, and prepare a motion for the AB to debate evidentiary standard of preponderance of the matter at its next meetingevidence, typically within 30 days of gathering all necessary materials. The Advisory Board or may uphold, vacate, or modify (to increase or decrease) sanctions levied by a director or another NASPA committee, based on an evidentiary standard of clear and convincing evidence. The decision of the Advisory Board will EC shall be final.