USA Pickleball does not authorize and will not tolerate any form of harassment based on the following:

Race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, disability, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by law.

This policy applies to all USA Pickleball Ambassadors and also to people outside USA Pickleball organization who harass our Ambassadors. A confirmed complaint of harassment will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of an Ambassador’s position.

It is impossible to list every type of behavior that can be considered harassment in violation of this policy. In general, any conduct based on the above classifications that could interfere with an individual’s work as a volunteer or could create an offensive environment will be considered harassment in violation of this policy. This is the case even if the offending person did not intend to be offensive. It is essential that all USA Pickleball Ambassadors be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Sexual Harassment, or Harassment Based on Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation or Marital Status.

Sexual harassment (whether opposite-sex or same-sex, or based on gender identity, sexual orientation or marital status) is strictly prohibited. Examples include the following:

• Sexually offensive jokes or comments
• “Sexist” or “discriminatory” comments or behavior (in other words, conduct that demeans other individuals because of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status even if not vulgar, lewd, or sexually provocative)
• Physical assaults or other touching that is sexual in nature
• Promising favorable treatment or threatening unfavorable treatment based on the person’s response to sexual demands
• Displays of sexually oriented reading materials or pictures, including electronic materials
• Punishing another in the USA Pickleball organization for complaining about harassment, including but not limited to, any of the above

Harassment Based on Race, National Origin (ethnic group), Age, Disability, or Religion

Harassment based on the other above classifications deserves special mention and is also strictly prohibited. Examples include the following:

• Jokes or negative comments about these characteristics
• Displays of reading materials or pictures containing negative material about these characteristics, including electronic materials
• Vandalism or “pranks” based on these characteristics
• Name-calling based on these characteristics
• Punishing an ambassador for complaining about any of these types of harassment

“Harassing” Use of Electronic Communications

For purposes of this policy, “Electronic Communications” includes use of a personal computer, use of a portable electronic device, use of a personal email account, text messaging, instant messaging, use of the internet, and use of any social media, including Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. Harassment through the use of Electronic Communications is prohibited.

This policy protects USA Pickleball's Ambassadors from harassment by other Ambassadors as well as harassment by customers or vendors of USA Pickleball, or any other person or entity who is in a business relationship with a USA Pickleball Ambassador. It also prohibits Ambassadors from harassing USA Pickleball's customers, vendors, or any other persons or entities who are in a business relationship with USA Pickleball.

Use of Electronic Communications for any harassing purpose (as defined above) will be treated as a violation of this No-Harassment Policy. Examples include the following:

• Using email or text messaging to transmit messages, jokes, or other material that is defined as “harassing” in this Policy (including forwarding or showing the material to others)
• Electronic “pranks” or harassment by social media – based on the protected status of the victim (race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, disability, religion or veteran status), or in retaliation for a harassment complaint

If you receive an unwanted Electronic Communication, you should immediately notify the Ambassador Engagement team at ambassadorhelp@usapickleball.org. In most cases, the complaint will be assigned to the Ambassador leadership, which will follow up with you and begin an investigation. Do not destroy or delete the communication until you are instructed to do so by USA Pickleball’s legal counsel. Do not forward it or show it to anyone else in the meantime unless you believe that law enforcement should be notified. In that event, follow the instructions of law enforcement.

Reporting Harassment

USA Pickleball cannot help resolve matters that it does not know about. Every Ambassador has a duty to immediately report harassment so that USA Pickleball can try to resolve the situation. You should report harassment when

• You believe that you have been or are being harassed
• You believe that someone else covered by this policy has been or is being harassed

This is true whether the alleged harasser is an Ambassador, employee at any level, contractor or even a non-employee, such as a customer or vendor with whom USA Pickleball does business.

To report harassment, you should immediately notify the Ambassador Engagement team at ambassadorhelp@usapickleball.org. In most cases, the complaint will be assigned to the Ambassador leadership, which will follow up with you and begin an investigation.

No Ambassador will be punished for bringing a good-faith report of harassment to USA Pickleball's attention or for cooperating in an investigation. “Good faith” means only that you had an honest belief that you were being harassed.

Retaliation

This policy strictly prohibits retaliation against Ambassadors and others who make complaints of harassment in good faith (meaning they have an honest belief that they are being harassed). If you believe you have been retaliated against (punished) for making a harassment complaint, then you can report the retaliation to any of the same people to whom you would make a complaint of harassment. (See “Reporting Harassment,” above.) However, you should not report it to the individual whom you believe is retaliating against you.

All complaints of retaliation will be promptly investigated. A substantiated complaint of retaliation will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of position with USA Pickleball.

An effective No-Harassment policy depends on all of us, working together, to address this very important subject.