CODE OF CONDUCT

 

1.        Definition of Terms

a.        The term APTSA member or just Member refers to any paid member of APTSA.  It also refers to any non-member playing in an APTSA event.

b.        The term In Public or just Public refers to anyone other than the specific parties concerned.  If there is an issue between a group of members, the term Public refers to anyone other than that group.

                                                                i.      Exception:  Members of the concerned group may involve any APTSA Board member.

                                                               ii.      When referring to ‘Statements Made in Public’, the term ‘Public’ shall refer to the following:

1.        A written document sent to any party outside the concerned parties, and the APTSA Board.

2.        Verbal statements made during a public meeting or gathering of players, members, or spectators.

2.        General Conduct Guidelines

a.        APTSA members are required to report any violations of the Code of Conduct or Rules to either the Tournament Director, or to an APTSA Board member.

b.        No APTSA member will say, write, or do anything that jeopardizes sponsors or hosts.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Complaining about a tournament site in public.

                                                               ii.      Complaining about a venue’s equipment in public.

                                                              iii.      Complaining about the amount of money added by a sponsor or host in public.

                                                             iv.      Using profanity, or acting in a profane manner in public.

c.        All complaints about a venue or sponsor must be sent to the APTSA Board (either verbally or in writing).  The APTSA Board will then handle the issue.

d.        APTSA members will not attempt to undermine the integrity of APTSA, Artistic Pool, WPA-APD, WPA, WCBS, or the IOC by making negative comments in public that prove to be false.

e.        No APTSA member will provide false information on a membership application.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      False address

                                                               ii.      False age

                                                              iii.      False name.  This includes the use of an alias.  Only legal names will be accepted and used.  Nicknames are accepted and will be used only in their proper context.

f.         No APTSA member will claim any APTSA event title that was not legitimately earned.

g.        No APTSA member will represent that he is speaking on behalf of APTSA or the APTSA Board without expressed written consent from the APTSA Board.

h.        No APTSA member will partake in any illegal activity.

3.        Conduct in relation with another APTSA member:

a.        No APTSA member will attack, insult, or humiliate another APTSA member in public.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Verbally, in the middle of a crowd at a tournament.

                                                               ii.      Via email, where copies are sent to more than the concerned parties.

                                                              iii.      Anything that could be considered slanderous.

b.        All personal matters shall be handled in private.

                                                                i.      Private harassment (via phone, email, etc) will not be tolerated.

c.        Issues that cannot be resolved will be brought, in private, to either the tournament director or an APTSA board member.

d.        No APTSA member will make other APTSA members feel unwelcome in a public setting.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Making comments about a member’s inability to perform up to a certain standard.

                                                               ii.      Harassing other members about a low score.

                                                              iii.      Calling members ‘unprofessional’ in public, due to the fact that they are either new to the sport, or due to the fact that they do not perform up to some standard.

e.        APTSA members are required to have a certain level of respect for other APTSA members.

                                                                i.      Disagreements on issues are fine, but both parties are expected to conduct themselves professionally.  All public communication between the parties must stick to the facts and contain no personal comments that could be interpreted as insulting or humiliating.

                                                               ii.      APTSA members shall not be a part of any actions designed to unfairly treat, limit or restrain access to any part of Artistic Pool based on economic factors, race, creed, color, age, sex, religion, physical handicap, country, or national origin.

4.        Conduct of APTSA Members During a Match

a.        APTSA members must respect the staff.  This includes the Tournament Director, and all Table Judges.

                                                                i.      Any disagreements must be handled quietly and in a professional manner.

                                                               ii.      Once a decision is final, APTSA members will drop the issue.  The member will not consult other parties and try to ‘make their case’.  It may be brought up at a later time (in private), but at the present time, the issue is closed.

b.        APTSA members will not do anything that will distract other players during competition.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Unsportsmanlike conduct.

                                                               ii.      Bringing electronic equipment into the arena (cell phones, beepers, etc).

                                                              iii.      Moving around or making noises while other players are shooting.

                                                             iv.      Constantly arguing about another player’s setup or execution, without cause.

                                                              v.      Constantly asking other players for help in setup or shot program questions.

c.        APTSA members are required to control their emotions during play.  Acts of frustration will not be tolerated.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Throwing your stick.

                                                               ii.      Banging the table.

                                                              iii.      Openly complaining about a poor performance.

d.        APTSA members will not quit during a match, or quit during the course of a tournament.

                                                                i.      Once an APTSA member has entered a tournament, they are required to honor their commitment to play.

                                                               ii.      APTSA members are expected to put forth a full and honest effort, regardless of the score or expected outcome.

                                                              iii.      Emergency cases will be reviewed by the APTSA Board individually.

5.        APTSA Board Members

a.        APTSA Board members represent Artistic Pool.  With that comes a responsibility to act in a professional manner above and beyond that of a general APTSA member.

b.        The APTSA Board will be making decisions on numerous issues.  There will be disagreement within the Board.  All disagreements must be handled in a professional manner.

                                                                i.      Board members may not make personally insulting comments while discussing issues.

                                                               ii.      Board members must stick to the facts and leave personal feelings out of any communications.

                                                              iii.      Board members must respect the opinions of other board members, even if they disagree with them.

                                                             iv.      Board members are required to respect the majority vote rule.  Once a decision is made by the Board, all Board members are required to accept that decision and carry is out in the future.

                                                              v.      Board members may not, in public, demean the APTSA Board or any of its members, over votes that didn’t go their way.

c.        Board members may not do anything to jeopardize new membership.  Board members must be supportive of new members and act in a manner which encourages them to participate.  Board members may not be involved in any actions that make new players feel unwelcome and not want to participate in future events.

d.        Board members may not do anything to undermine the reputation of APTSA, Artistic Pool, WPA-APD, WPA, WCBS, or IOC.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Making negative comments in public.

                                                               ii.      Using words in public such as ‘unprofessional’, ‘obsolete’, and the like when referring to Artistic Pool.

                                                              iii.      Any comments, whether true or not, must be kept within the privacy of the APTSA Board.  This will ensure that no comments made by an APTSA Board member are misconstrued as being the opinion of the APTSA Board in general.

e.        APTSA Board members may not send out public communications, representing that they are speaking for the APTSA Board, unless it is through approved channels.

                                                                i.      One member of the Board is responsible for sending out all public communications.

                                                               ii.      All public communications will be subject to approval from all Board members, before being sent out.

f.         Board members may not disclose any confidential information.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Including the public on topics which are currently under review by the Board, unless the Board approves such actions.

                                                               ii.      Statements made within the Board that are specific to one player or a group of players.

                                                              iii.      Pending actions that deal with Code of Conduct or Rules violations.

g.        Board members agree not to falsifying or tamper with business records or financial information.

6.        Disciplinary Action

a.        Any APTSA member witnessing a violation of this Code should immediately report the matter to an APTSA Board member.  If the violation occurs during a tournament, the member may bring the matter to the tournament director.

                                                                i.      If the matter is brought to the tournament director, he will consult with an APTSA Board member before making any decisions.  If an APTSA Board member is not available and the tournament director feels that the issue must be resolved immediately, he will use his best judgment in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document.

b.        Any APTSA members violating this code will be subject to disciplinary actions.  This includes, but is not limited to the following:

                                                                i.      Scoring penalties during a competition.

                                                               ii.      Suspension of membership.

1.        Membership fees will not be refunded.

                                                              iii.      Cancellation of membership.

1.        Membership fees will not be refunded.

                                                             iv.      Refusal to allow membership.

                                                              v.      Ejection from a competition.

1.        Players will forfeit any prize money due them and entry fees will not be returned.

                                                             vi.      Refusal to allow entry into a competition.

1.        Any pre-paid entry fees will be refunded, but expenses already incurred will not be reimbursed.

c.        APTSA Board members violating this Code will result in the following procedure:

                                                                i.      The issue will be brought before the other Board members.

                                                               ii.      Majority vote will decide whether the Board member is in violation.  The Board member involved in the violation will not vote, but he will be involved in the discussions.

                                                              iii.      If the Board member is found to have violated this Code, the Board will decide what disciplinary action is to be taken.  The Board member involved in the violation will not be a part of this discussion.

                                                             iv.      Disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to the following:

1.        Everything mentioned above.

2.        Suspension from the Board.

3.        Impeachment from the Board.

                                                              v.      In all cases above, a majority vote is required.  If there is a tie, the vote will be considered to be in favor of the Board member in violation, and no action will be taken.

1.        All Board members are required to vote on these issues.  There must be 3 votes in favor of taking action against a Board member.

d.        For all violations, the APTSA Board will have the final say in any penalty that applies to that particular tournament (scoring penalties, etc).  All violations will be reported to the APTSA Board for review.  Decisions made by APTSA are final.  Players have no legal action against APTSA for any decisions made in relation to violations of the rules.

e.        APTSA reserves the right to make any and all decisions public knowledge.