I. Introduction

The mission of National Roller Sports is to develop, promote, educate and grow Roller Sports at all levels and to enable athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in domestic and international competition. National Roller Sports grants the privilege of membership to individuals and organizations committed to that mission. National Roller Sports may, therefore, withdraw the privilege of membership or discipline a member where National Roller Sports determines that an individual or organization’s conduct is inconsistent with the mission of National Roller Sports or the best interest of the sport and those who participate in it. To better serve the interests of those who participate in roller sports, National Roller Sports has adopted this Code of Conduct. This Code is not intended to establish a set of rules that will, by inclusion or exclusion, prescribe the appropriate behavior for members in every aspect of their participation in the sport. Rather, the Code offers general principles to guide the conduct, and the judicious appraisal of conduct, of all National Roller Sports members (athletes, coaches, officials, other individuals, organizations, clubs/leagues/associations and other groups, which are collectively referred to as “Members” and individually as a “Member”), employees, Board of Directors, and officers in situations that have implications of appropriate conduct. This Code cannot assure appropriate conduct in roller sports; that must come from the personal commitment of the Members of National Roller Sports to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that safeguards the best interests of the roller sports.

II. General Principles

The following are general principles of this Code which shall apply, whether or not encompassed within the Elements of the Code set forth below. Participation by Members in the activities of National Roller Sports is an honor and a privilege that carries certain obligations and responsibilities.

It shall be the responsibility of each Member, employee, Board Director, and officer of National Roller Sports (a) to be familiar with this Code, the Bylaws of National Roller Sports Association, and the policies, rules and regulations of National Roller Sports and any rules of the host organization of a National Roller Sports sanctioned event that may apply to them and to observe all provisions thereof in good faith and in spirit as well as in letter, (b) to strive to continuously uphold the high ideals of competitive roller sports, and (c) to conduct themselves in a manner not detrimental to the welfare of National Roller Sports. It shall also be the responsibility of each Member, employee, Board Director, and officer to adhere to rules, policies, and procedures of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers should also be familiar with and adhere to the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.

Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers shall demonstrate the highest standards of fairness and good sportsmanship in all their relations with others in the sport and shall be courteous in word and demeanor to competitors, officials and spectators while participating in or attending National Roller Sports sanctioned events. When training for, traveling to or from, or attending or participating in National Roller Sports Sanctioned events, Members shall conduct themselves with decorum and in accordance with the rules of the event and the host club and/or facility, as well as the laws of the jurisdiction in which the event is located.

III. Elements of the Code

A. Participation.

Every Member, employee, Board Director, and officer participating in a National Roller Sports sanctioned activity or event has an obligation to participate to the best of his/her abilities. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member, employee, Board Director, and officer to:

1. Knowingly participate as an official, coach, athlete or administrator in any activity or event where that official, coach, athlete or administrator is inadequately prepared, unable to participate or fails to participate to the best of their ability.
2. Engage in behavior that is so disorderly or inappropriate as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the activity or other Members' employees, Board Directors, or officers participation in, or enjoyment of, the activity or event.

B. Participant Relationships.

Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports are charged with the responsibility for contributing to an environment that makes participation in the sport a positive and rewarding experience. To achieve that result, each Member, employee, Board Director and officer has an obligation to make decisions based on the best interest of the sports and its athletes. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer to:

1. Fail to follow safety guidelines established by National Roller Sports, or otherwise knowingly subject a participant to unreasonable physical or emotional risk.
2. Engage in conduct that is unfair including, in particular, attempting to injure, disable or intentionally interfere with the preparation of a competitor.
3. Engage in conduct toward another participant in the sport that is abusive. National Roller Sports recognizes that the process for training and motivating athletes varies with each coach and each athlete, but it is nevertheless incumbent on everyone involved in the sport to support the development and use of motivational and training methods that avoid conduct that is, or is likely to be perceived as being, abusive.
4. Attempt to intimidate, embarrass or improperly influence any individual responsible for judging or administering a competition.

C. Non-Discrimination.

Any National Roller Sports activity or event should be open to any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer properly qualified under the rules of that activity or event. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member, employee, Board Director or officer to:

1. Restrict the ability of a Member, employee, Board Director, or officer to qualify for or participate in competition because of the Member's association with a particular organization or individual or because of that Member’s, employee’s, Board Director’s, or officer’s race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability, or any status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable.

2. Discriminate in the provision of resources or opportunities to any Member, employee, Board Director or officer or prospective Member, employee, Board Director, or officer on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability. or any status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable.

D. Commitment to Integrity.

A Member, employee, Board Director and officer of National Roller Sports has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the sport and the rules and regulations that govern it, and to act honestly, openly, fairly and competently. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer to:

1. Knowingly misrepresent the policies or actions of National Roller Sports or its authorized representatives.

2. Act on behalf of National Roller Sports or a Member, employee, Board Director or officer without appropriate authorization.

3. Alter, falsify, or omit any information, record or document to intentionally make a false or exaggerated claim or statement or to mislead.

4. Fail to resort in the first instance to the established procedures for challenging a competitive result, contesting a selection decision, complaining about the conduct of another Member, employee, Board Director, or officer or attempting in the absence of good faith to alter or reverse a policy adopted by National Roller Sports.

5. Breach the duty to maintain appropriately established confidences of National Roller Sports or any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer.

6. Knowingly make false certifications on membership or event sanction applications or otherwise regarding the involvement of any person ineligible for National Roller Sports membership, or any person who is listed on a federal or state sex-offender registry, with regard to any event or activities of an organizational Member, employee, Board Director, or officer.

7. Engage in business practices directed toward another Member, employee, Board Director, or officer that are determined by National Roller Sports, a court, arbiter, or other adjudicatory body, to be unethical, illegal, or a breach of contract.

8. Incur expenses in furtherance of National Roller Sports' business that are unreasonable, unnecessary, or unsubstantiated.

E. Communications.

Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports have a duty to communicate honestly and openly with National Roller Sports and other Members. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer to:

1. Misrepresent competitive achievements, professional qualifications, education, experience, eligibility, criminal record or affiliations.

2. Knowingly disseminate false or misleading information about another Member, employee, Board Director, or officer.

3. Misrepresent actions taken or not taken in an effort to show compliance with National Roller Sports’ policies or procedures.

4. Withhold from athletes information or resources likely to enhance the athletes' enjoyment of the sport or reduce their risk of injury or illness.

5. Fail to consult with or inform fully the athlete or the athlete's parents about opportunities made available to the athlete involving competitions, commercial activities or recognition.

6. Misrepresent the nature or extent of an injury in order to decline an invitation to participate in or withdraw from a competition, training camp or other similar activity.

7. Misrepresent the nature or extent of an injury in order to participate in (or cause an athlete to participate in) a competition, training camp or other similar activity when such participation is inconsistent with the appropriate medical response to the injury. This section applies to all forms of communication, including social media.

F. Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports must strive to ensure that the sport is conducted in an environment free of drug or alcohol abuse. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any Member to:

1. Use or provide to a third party any drug proscribed by applicable federal, state or municipal law.

2. Assist or condone any competing athlete's use of a drug banned by the International Olympic Committee, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency, United States Anti-Doping Agency, or, in the case of athletes, to use such drugs or refuse to submit to properly conducted drug tests administered by any of those organizations.

3. Provide alcohol to, or condone the use of alcohol by, minors; abuse alcohol in the presence of athletes or at National Roller Sports' sanctioned events or activities; or consume alcoholic beverages while a minor.

G. Criminal Conduct.

Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports are expected to comply with all applicable criminal codes. This obligation is violated by any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer who:

1. Has been listed on any State or Federal sexual offender list or registry.

2. Has been declared a sex offender in any applicable State or Federal jurisdiction.

3. Has been convicted of or has entered a plea of guilty or no contest to a criminal charge or indictment directly or indirectly involving or relating to sexual misconduct, child abuse, or conduct that is a violation of a law or regulation specifically designed to protect minors. Depending on the nature of the crime, this obligation may be violated by any Member, employee, Board Director, or officer who has been convicted of or has entered a plea of guilty or no contest to any felony charge or indictment involving conduct other than that specifically described above.

H. Sexual Misconduct, Abuse and Harassment.

1. Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports are obligated to promote a safe environment for athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff in all roller sports disciplines, which includes an environment free from sexual misconduct, abuse and harassment.

2. Members, employees, Board Directors, and officers of National Roller Sports must abide by all applicable SafeSport Codes.

IV. Enforcement of Code

Compliance with this Code depends primarily upon understanding and voluntary compliance, secondarily upon reinforcement by peers, and, when necessary, upon enforcement through disciplinary action. Any Member (‘Complainant’), employee, Board Director or officer who believes that another Member, employee, Board Director, or officer of National Roller Sports has failed to meet such Member’s, employee’s, Board Director’s, and officer’s obligations under this Code is encouraged, if the circumstances reasonably warrant, to first address that concern directly to that Member, employee, Board Director, or officer but is always free to file a written complaint with National Roller Sports. That complaint must be signed and state specifically the nature of the alleged misconduct.