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The NYCGHA Code of Conduct is the organization’s statement of expected behavioral standards that all players are required to read, understand, and follow. The Code of Conduct, intended to reflect the stated goals of the NYCGHA (see Mission Statement), clarifies the expectation that NYCGHA players have responsibility for their actions in connection with NYCGHA activities both on and off the ice, at home and while traveling, and through their use of social media. This Code of Conduct is intended to ensure that there is a fair process in place for ensuring that members are held accountable for their actions when NYCGHA standards are violated.
The Code of Conduct has been adopted by the NYCGHA Board of Directors (“the Board”) and applies to all members of the NYCGHA. All members of the NYCGHA agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in signing up for membership and in participating in NYCGHA activities.
The New York City Gay Hockey Association (NYCGHA) provides an environment free of harassment and discrimination for members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community to play ice hockey and fulfill their athletic aspirations.
Threatening conduct of any kind, verbal threats, slurs of any kind against race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Sportsmanship is defined as fairness and respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing.
All players are expected to conduct themselves with the highest level of sportsmanship. Any player who deliberately tries to harm or intimidate another player through threatening, aggressive or demeaning actions and/or language of any kind will be subject to the consequences described herein.
As representatives of the NYCGHA their teams, it is doubly important that Captains and Alternate Captains be held to the highest level of conduct. They set the example for the team.
Members are encouraged to report possible violations of the Code of Conduct to the Board. Code of Conduct violations can be reported to any member of the Board either in person or via email at codeofconduct@nycgha.org.
The Board will investigate all such complaints or designate another officer or member of the NYCGHA to do so. The Board may also investigate potential violations of the Code of Conduct of its own accord or upon receiving a report from a non-member.
In completing an investigation, it will generally be the Board’s practice to make findings of fact regarding the allegations and to give notice and an opportunity to respond to the person(s) against whom a violation has been reported.
Should the Board conclude that the Code of Conduct has been violated, the Board will determine the appropriate sanction.
The penalty for each violation will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board. Sanctions can include but are not limited to: warnings, suspensions from games (including the forfeiture of prepaid alternate passes), removal from teams, suspension of NYCGHA membership or expulsion from the NYCGHA.
In determining the appropriate sanctions, the Board will generally take into account the totality of the member’s conduct within the NYCGHA, including that member’s past violations of the Code of Conduct.
The Board’s decisions are not subject to appeal. The Board notes that it will generally be its practice to expel members only by consensus of the Board.
It will generally be the Board’s practice to inform interested parties of the sanctions it has issued under the Code of Conduct. In addition, players who are suspended or expelled are not eligible for a refund of any portion of their season fees nor are they allowed to sit on the bench during the term of their suspensions.
It will generally be the Board’s practice to presume that conduct that led any hockey venue staff or on-ice official to penalize a member with a match penalty or a suspension due to offending conduct of the type described herein has violated the Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is subject to revision by the Board of the NYCGHA with or without notice. It will generally be the NYCGHA’s practice to publish updates to the Code of Conduct on its website.
This Code of Conduct is effective December 20, 2004.
The Code of Conduct was revised on March 25, 2007.
The Code of Conduct was revised on October 1, 2013.
The Code of Conduct was revised on August 5, 2019.