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Code of Conduct

Volée Haus Code of Conduct

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Volée Haus exists to build the strongest, most welcoming pickleball community in San Francisco. This Code of Conduct describes the standards we hold ourselves and our community to — at every event, on our platform, and in every interaction connected to Volée.

By creating an account or attending an event, you agree to this Code.

Our values

  • Compete hard. Treat people well. Bring everything you have to the court. Bring respect for your opponents and partners off it.
  • Everyone belongs. Skill level, age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, background — every player who shows up is part of the community.
  • Honesty over winning. Call lines fairly. Report scores accurately. Play your real level. Acknowledge mistakes.
  • Take care of the room. Help new players feel welcome. Pick up after yourself. Be a good guest at every venue.

Expected behavior

At Volée events and on the platform, we expect every member to:

  • Treat all participants, staff, volunteers, and venue personnel with respect
  • Call lines honestly and accept your opponent's calls in good faith
  • Report scores accurately
  • Play at your true skill level — no sandbagging in skill-rated events
  • Resolve on-court disagreements calmly; escalate to the tournament director if needed
  • Follow all venue rules (parking, sound, alcohol, dress, court time)
  • Be considerate of players waiting for the next round

Unacceptable behavior

The following will result in a warning, suspension, or permanent ban from Volée events and the platform, depending on severity:

Harassment and discrimination

  • Slurs, insults, or jokes targeting race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, body type, or any other personal characteristic
  • Unwelcome sexual attention, comments, gestures, or physical contact
  • Stalking, intimidation, or repeated unwanted contact (online or in person)
  • Public outing of someone's identity (gender, sexuality, immigration status, medical condition, etc.)
  • Bullying — repeated targeting of an individual with hostile behavior

Threats and violence

  • Threats of physical harm, in person or online
  • Physical assault — including aggressive contact during play that is clearly intentional
  • Throwing equipment in a manner that could injure others
  • Bringing weapons to events

Cheating and integrity violations

  • Sandbagging — intentionally misrepresenting your skill level to gain an unfair advantage in skill-bracketed events
  • Score manipulation — falsifying scores, "fixing" matches, or colluding to throw matches
  • Identity fraud — registering under a false name or playing in place of another registered participant
  • DUPR manipulation — submitting fake matches, refusing to submit losses, or coordinating with others to inflate or deflate ratings

Substance use

  • Consuming alcohol in violation of venue policy
  • Playing while impaired by drugs or alcohol to the point of being a safety risk
  • Use of any banned substance in any Volée-affiliated competition

The tournament director (or designated event lead) may remove any participant exhibiting impairment from a Volée event for the safety of all participants. Removal decisions on the day are final unless appealed in writing per the Appeals section below.

Platform abuse

  • Creating multiple accounts to evade bans, manipulate rankings, or claim duplicate event spots
  • Impersonating another player, staff member, or Volée itself
  • Spamming, scraping, or attempting to extract user data
  • Posting content that is illegal, defamatory, obscene, or violates anyone's intellectual property

Retaliation

  • Punishing or threatening anyone for reporting a Code of Conduct violation in good faith, or for participating in an investigation

How to report a violation

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code:

Email: admin@voleehaus.com Subject: "Code of Conduct Report"

Include if you can:

  • What happened (be specific — date, time, location)
  • Who was involved (names, usernames, or descriptions)
  • Any witnesses
  • Any screenshots, photos, or other evidence
  • Whether you want to remain anonymous to the person you're reporting

If you're at an event right now and feel unsafe: find the tournament director immediately. Their authority on-site is final for the duration of the event.

If you fear for your immediate safety: call 911 first, then notify us.

You can also ask a friend, partner, or third party to submit a report on your behalf.

What happens after a report

  1. Acknowledgment within 2 business days. We confirm we received the report.
  2. Investigation. We talk with you, with the person reported (separately), and with any witnesses. We aim to complete most investigations within 14 days — complex matters or reports involving an active event may take longer, and we'll keep you updated if so.
  3. Decision. We decide on an outcome based on the evidence. We weigh the severity, intent, history, and impact on the community.
  4. Follow-up. We inform you of the outcome and any action taken (consistent with the privacy of the person reported).

Possible outcomes

Depending on the severity and pattern:

  • No action if the report doesn't substantiate a violation
  • Private conversation — a clarifying or restorative conversation with the person reported
  • Written warning — formal notice that the behavior was a violation; further violations escalate
  • Temporary suspension — banned from events and platform features for a defined period (days to months)
  • Permanent ban — removal from the Volée community indefinitely
  • Referral to law enforcement — for criminal conduct (assault, theft, stalking, etc.)

Confidentiality

We protect the privacy of reporters to the maximum extent possible while still being able to investigate. We will not share your identity with the person reported without your consent, except where required by law or where investigation is impossible without it (in which case we will tell you first).

Appeals

If you receive a warning, suspension, or ban and disagree with the decision, you may appeal in writing to admin@voleehaus.com with the subject "Code of Conduct Appeal" within 30 days of the decision. Appeals are reviewed by a Volée founder or designated reviewer who was not involved in the original decision. Their determination is final.

Scope

This Code applies:

  • At all Volée-organized events (tournaments, socials, round robins, clinics)
  • On the Volée Haus platform (voleehaus.com, apps, community features)
  • In any Volée-affiliated chat, social media, or messaging channel
  • To behavior outside the above that materially affects the safety or trust of the Volée community (for example, threats made over a personal channel about Volée members)

This Code does not govern your personal life outside of Volée. We will not act on unrelated personal disputes, political views, or off-platform conduct that doesn't intersect with the Volée community.

Changes

We may update this Code of Conduct as the community grows. If we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email at least 14 days before the updated Code takes effect.

Contact

Email: admin@voleehaus.com Subject options:

  • "Code of Conduct Report" — to report a violation
  • "Code of Conduct Question" — to ask about the policy
  • "Code of Conduct Appeal" — to appeal a decision

We read every message. Reports submitted in good faith — even ones that turn out to be misunderstandings — are always welcome.