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1. Purpose and Goal
1.1 JRDA exists to help everyone involved, from the skaters, parents, and officials, to league volunteers and spectators, learn and grow in a safe, fun, and supporting environment. This Code of Conduct outlines what is expected and required of everyone who attends a JRDA practice, game, tournament, or other event in any capacity, in order to facilitate that environment.
2. Where This Code of Conduct Applies
2.1 All JRDA games, whether sanctioned or regulation
2.2 Tournaments hosted by any JRDA league
2.3 Practices held by any JRDA league
2.4 Other derby-related events put on, held by, or sponsored by JRDA leagues or member skaters
3. Universal Behavioral Expectations
3.1 The Good
3.1.1 JRDA Roller Derby is a welcoming, positive, drama-free learning environment for everyone, on- and off-skates. All participants will uphold this environment at all times.
3.1.2 Mutual respect and support is encouraged at all times.
3.1.3 Having fun and socializing - especially with other teams - is highly encouraged.
3.1.4 All participants will conduct themselves to develop empowerment, emphasize motivation and enthusiasm, and celebrate each individual's abilities and individuality.
3.1.5 All participants will be treated with respect regardless of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, military status, or abilities.
3.1.6 Conduct will be sportsmanlike (sports-person-like), family-friendly, and professional at all times.
3.1.7 Safety is everyone’s responsibility. All participants will actively promote and model sportsmanship and safety on and off the track.
3.1.8 All participants on skates must have full protective gear on at all times.
3.2 The Bad
3.2.1 Participants will not engage in any behavior that will endanger the health, safety, or wellbeing of any attendees, on or off the track.
3.2.2 The use of undirected profanity is discouraged.
3.2.3 Profanity or insults directed at anyone are forbidden.
3.2.4 The use of illegal drugs is prohibited.
3.2.5 The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other legal drugs by anyone (spectators, fans, or parents) is strongly discouraged, and forbidden except as allowed by applicable state and federal laws. Intoxication will not be an excuse for behavior that violates any other tenant of this Code of Conduct.
3.2.6 The use of alcohol or any other form of chemical impairment by anyone involved with the game, practice, or event (skaters, coaches, or officials) is forbidden while participating.
4. Spectators
4.1 Spectators are not allowed onto the track area for any reason during gameplay.
4.2 In the event there is an injury, the Head Official may make an exception to allow a parent/guardian to enter the track.
5. Skaters
5.1 Skaters who do not pass gear check will not be able to participate until any identified issues are corrected. If there is a dispute regarding a skater passing their gear check, only the coach may speak directly with the Head Official to discuss the matter. The Head Official’s determination is final.
5.2 Skaters will remove themselves from any situation or drill they are not comfortable performing safely
5.3 Skaters will lead by example and demonstrate good sportsmanship with fellow skaters, coaches, officials, parents, and other attendees at every game and practice.
5.4 Skaters will listen and learn from coaches and other league members.
5.5 Skaters will treat coaches, other league members, officials and fans with respect regardless of race, sex, creed, or abilities, and will expect to be treated accordingly.
5.6 Skaters will not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety, or well being of themselves, coaches, parents, other league members, officials, or any other attendees.
5.7 Skaters will not engage in the use of profanity, verbal or physical threats, or any abuse aimed at coaches, parents, league members, officials or any other attendees.
6. Parents
6.1 Parents will use positive tones when encouraging their children, and refrain from negativity towards or about their child or other participants.
6.2 Parents will promote the emotional and physical well-being of all skaters on any team ahead of any personal desire for an individual skater or team to win.
6.3 Parents will respect the officials and their authority during games and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches or officials on the track. Issues and concerns will be brought to the team coach, and the coach will then address concerns with the officials in the appropriate manner.
6.4 Parents will refrain from coaching their child/ren or other players, unless serving as JRDA league coach and coaching the whole team.
7. Coaches
7.1 Coaches are responsible for parent and skater behavior at all times. If any dispute or issue arises, it is the responsibility of the coach to notify the appropriate people, which may include the Head Official, Tournament Director, or League JRDA Representative.
7.2 Coaches will encourage appropriate behavior among skaters, and will lead by example at all times.
7.3 Any inappropriate behavior from coaches will result in a warning/expulsion and may affect the ability to attend other JRDA events.
7.4 Coaches will not force or pressure any league member to participate in any skating activity that they are uncomfortable performing.
7.5 Coaches will coach in a spirit of developing empowerment, emphasize motivation and enthusiasm, and celebrate each league member’s abilities and individuality, placing individual skater growth and development over winning.
7.6 Coaches will encourage social influence and support from teammates with healthy attitudes towards factors that are often targets of separation – for example, sexual orientation, race, body size/shape - and in support of anyone who needs support for any reason.
8. Officials
8.1 Safety: Keeping all participants and spectators safe from harm is the primary responsibility of all officials.
8.1.1 Officials will check each skater for signs of injury or impairment during gear check and continuously while on the track. Officials will not hesitate to stop play to remove an impaired or injured skater from game play.
8.1.2 Officials will not force or pressure any skater to participate in any activity that they are uncomfortable performing. Officials will not permit anyone else to force a skater to perform such activities.
8.1.3 Officials will immediately inform the Head Official of any physical condition, disability, injury, illness, or any other circumstance or condition that may affect the safety and/or welfare of themselves or any participant, or that may impact the ability of the official to fulfill his/her duties and responsibilities.
8.2 Knowledge: Officials will stay informed and execute all procedures and penalty calls to the best of their ability based on the most current rule set. Officials will use best practices as set forth by the JRDA at all times when available, and their own best judgment when not.
8.3 Impartiality: Officials will remain objective and impartial at all times while wearing the official’s uniform. Officials will conscientiously avoid even the perception of bias towards any team or league while in uniform.
8.3.1 Officials will fully disclose any and all team or league affiliations, memberships, and memberships/ affiliations of immediate family members to the Head Official/Tournament Head and place faith in their judgment to staff games as they see fit and/or as objectively as possible.
8.3.2 Officials will execute all calls and procedures objectively and fairly.
8.3.3 Officials will not actively cheer, coach, or communicate with coaches or skaters regarding gameplay beyond teaching and enforcing the rules.
8.3.4 To ensure effective authority in all capacities, officials who are working at any game in a multi-game event will remain professional and unbiased during any game that they are not actively officiating.
8.4 Respect: Officials will respect those they interact with in the role of an official, and will require others to respect that role.
8.5 Dress Code: During gameplay, all Officials must be in compliance with the JRDA Officials Dress Code. If an Official is not currently officiating a game and wishes to cheer/coach, the Officiating uniform (SO stripes / NSO shirt) must be removed.
9. Gameplay
9.1 All individuals participating in a game in any capacity (including spectators) are subject to the JRDA Rules, and the authorities set forth therein.
9.2 The Head Official has the right to unilaterally remove a player or team from gameplay, or to call the game off, for safety reasons.
9.3 If any participant’s safety is compromised at any point during gameplay, the officials will stop gameplay.
10. Tournament Play/Rankings/Sanctioned Games
10.1 JRDA reserves the right to deny game sanctioning based on rules violations, improper sanctioning processes, or for any other reason at the discretion of the Games Department and JRDA Board of Directors.
10.2 Any disputes or disagreements regarding schedules, brackets, or seeding must be discussed with the JRDA representative for your league prior to any event. Your league representative can contact the JRDA Games Department and the HR Director at any time.
10.3 Tournament game schedules, bracketing, and seeding are final at the beginning of the first day of the event, and only subject to change after this point by the Tournament/Event Director or the JRDA Board of Directors.
11. Grievance Process
11.1 Grievances may be submitted by JRDA league representatives using the grievance process found on the JRDA Website. Parents and spectators are encouraged to speak with the coaching staff and JRDA league representative with any issues or complaints.
11.2 JRDA will not review calls from a game; all rulings on the track are final once the official final score is posted.
11.3 JRDA will not handle disputes between leagues unless there is concrete evidence of violation of this code of conduct.
12. Consequences
12.1 Penalties
12.1.1 Violations of this Code of Conduct during gameplay may be penalized as Misconduct under the JRDA rules.
12.1.2 Penalties assessed to non-skating participants will be served by the team captain as set forth in the rules.
12.1.3 Violations of this code of conduct which occur outside of an officiated game will be deferred to the league rep and coaches for disciplinary action at their discretion.
12.2 Expulsion / Suspension
12.2.1 For extreme or repeated violations, the offending participant(s) may be asked to leave the venue. Only JRDA Directors, Tournament Directors, and Head Officials may make the decision to have a participant ejected from the facility.
12.2.2 If the offending person does not leave voluntarily, venue security or the local police may be asked to remove them. Gameplay will not continue until the offending participant has left the premises. Extended delay due to refusal to leave (20 minutes or more) will result in the game ending immediately.
12.2.3 Expulsions will be reported to and reviewed by the JRDA Board of Directors. If appropriate, the Board may suspend the expelled person, prohibiting that person from attending future JRDA events until a specified date.
12.3 Officials
12.3.1 Violations of this Code of Conduct by any official, skating or non-skating, will be reported to the JRDA Officials Review Board, and may be penalized by suspension from working any JRDA game for a period of time (up to and including a lifetime ban) at the sole discretion of the Review Board.
13. Acknowledgement and Signature
13.1 By signing below, I understand that it is my primary responsibility to promote sportsmanship and safety on the track, and I agree to place safety over and above any other consideration. I knowingly acknowledge all expectations of this Code of Conduct, and promise to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the JRDA and its participating leagues. I understand violation of this Code of Conduct may result in ejection from the facility, and it may jeopardize my presence at future JRDA events. I have read and agree to abide by all expectations set forth in the JRDA Code of Conduct.