The I Play For SF league is committed to the safety of all league participants and referees. We strive to provide a fun and competitive environment in a space where players can feel safe and comfortable to enjoy the beautiful game. All reports of harassment, inappropriate behavior, and violent altercations are taken seriously and will be addressed immediately.
Harassment
Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based upon a person’s protected status. I PLAY FOR SF will not tolerate harassing conduct that affects any Participant, including conduct that affects player’s safety, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
Among the types of conduct prohibited by this policy are epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping or intimidating acts based on an individual's protected status and the circulation or posting of written or graphic materials that show hostility toward an individual because of his or her protected status.
Prohibited conduct can also include jokes, kidding, or teasing about another person’s protected status.
Sexual Harassment
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment. Sexual harassment may involve individuals of the same or different gender.
Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment and are prohibited by this Policy include, but are not limited to:
unnecessary touching, patting, hugging, pinching, or brushing against a person’s body;
staring, ogling, leering, or whistling at a person;
continued or repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature;
sexually explicit statements, sexual flirtations, advances, propositions, subtle pressure for sexual activity, comments, questions, jokes, or anecdotes;
graphic or degrading comments about a person’s clothing, body or sexual activity;
sexually suggestive objects, cartoons, posters, calendars, or pictures;
suggestive or obscene letters, notes or invitations;
harassing use of electronic mail, electronic or instant messaging, or telephone communication systems; or
other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
Racial, Religious, or National Origin Harassment
Racial, religious, or national origin harassment is expressly prohibited by I PLAY FOR SF. Racial, religious, or national origin harassment includes any verbal, written, or physical act in which race, religion, or national origin is used or implied in a manner which would make a reasonable person uncomfortable. Examples of race, religious or national origin harassment may include, but are not limited to:
jokes, which include reference to race, religion, or national origin;
the display or use of objects or pictures which adversely reflect on a person’s race, religion, or national origin; or use of pejorative or demeaning language regarding a person’s race, religion, or national origin.
Consequences for Harassment
On field consequences
Red card
Recurring Offenses
1st offense: Minimum 3 game suspension
2nd offense: Permanent suspension
Sexual Abuse
Any sexual abuse is prohibited. This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by deception, manipulation, force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants.
Sexual Misconduct
Any sexual interaction between a player and an individual with evaluative, direct or indirect authority is prohibited. Such relationships involve an imbalance of power and are likely to impair judgment or be exploitative. This section does not apply to a pre-existing relationship between two spouses or life partners.
Emotional Misconduct
Emotional misconduct in all forms is prohibited. Emotional misconduct is a pattern of deliberate, non-contact behavior that has the potential to cause emotional or psychological harm to another person. Non-contact behaviors include verbal acts, physical acts, or acts that deny attention or support; or any act or conduct described as emotional abuse or misconduct under federal or state law.
Bullying
Intentional, persistent and repeated pattern of committing or willfully tolerating physical and non-physical behaviors that are intended, or have the reasonable potential to cause fear, humiliation or physical harm in an attempt to socially exclude, diminish or isolate the targeted player(s), as a condition of membership are prohibited. Bullying does not include group or team behaviors that (a) are meant to establish normative team behaviors, or (b) promote team cohesion.
Hazing
Coercing, requiring, forcing or willfully tolerating any humiliating, unwelcome or dangerous activity that serves as a condition for (a) joining a group or (b) being socially accepted by a group’s members are prohibited. Hazing does not include group or team activities that (y) are meant to establish normative team behaviors or (z) promote team cohesion.
Procedures for Complaints, Investigations and Corrective Action
All Participants are responsible for helping ensure that misconduct is avoided. I PLAY FOR SF cannot act to eliminate misconduct unless it has notice of the conduct. Participants need to report any concerns within 48 hours of an incident occurring. Please submit all reports via email to the league manager at iplayforsf@streetsoccerusa.org.
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