Code of Conduct

1. Our Commitment

Northbound Esports is committed to a competitive environment that is fair, respectful, and welcoming to players of all backgrounds. This Code of Conduct applies to everyone who participates in our events or community spaces — players, captains, coaches, and spectators. Registering for a tournament means you agree to uphold it.

2. Expected Behavior

We expect all participants to:

• Treat opponents, teammates, staff, and viewers with respect.
• Compete honestly and accept wins and losses with sportsmanship.
• Follow the Game Rules and administrator instructions.
• Communicate clearly and constructively, especially when reporting issues.
• Represent your team and the community positively.

3. Prohibited Behavior

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Harassment & bullying — targeted abuse, threats, stalking, or intimidation of any person.
• Hate speech & discrimination — slurs or demeaning content based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
• Toxicity — excessive flaming, verbal abuse, or intentionally hostile conduct.
• Cheating & unfair play — as defined in the Game Rules, including hacks, exploits, ghosting, and stream sniping.
• Match-fixing & collusion — deliberately losing, arranging outcomes, or betting on matches you are involved in.
• Account fraud — account sharing, smurfing, or fielding unregistered players.
• Impersonation — pretending to be staff, another player, or another team.
• Illegal or harmful content — sharing content that is unlawful, sexually explicit involving minors, or that endangers others.

4. Communication Standards

In-game chat, voice comms, Discord, and any official channel must remain free of abuse and hate speech. Trash talk within the spirit of competition is tolerated, but it must never cross into personal attacks, threats, or discrimination. Administrators may mute, remove, or penalize anyone who breaches these standards.

5. Anti-Cheat & Fair Play

Every player is responsible for the integrity of their own setup. Running unauthorized software, exploiting bugs, or gaining any unfair advantage is a serious violation. Northbound Esports may request evidence (such as screenshots, recordings, or hardware information) as part of an investigation, and refusal to cooperate may itself result in penalties.

6. Reporting Violations

If you witness or experience a violation, report it promptly so we can act:

• During a match: notify the on-duty administrator immediately.
• At any time: email conduct@northbound.es with details, dates, and any evidence.

Reports are treated confidentially. We do not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports in good faith.

7. Enforcement & Penalties

Penalties are applied proportionally to the severity and frequency of the violation, at administrator discretion:

• Tier 1 — Minor: formal warning and required correction.
• Tier 2 — Moderate: round or map forfeiture, temporary mute, or point deduction.
• Tier 3 — Serious: match forfeiture or disqualification from the tournament.
• Tier 4 — Severe: prize forfeiture and a ban from future Northbound Esports events, up to a permanent ban.

Severe misconduct — such as cheating, match-fixing, hate speech, or threats — may result in the highest penalties on a first offense.

8. Appeals

A team or player who believes a penalty was issued in error may submit a written appeal to conduct@northbound.es within 7 days of the decision, including any supporting evidence. The appeal will be reviewed by an administrator not involved in the original decision, whose ruling is final.