Unsporting conduct will not be tolerated at any time. Tournament participants must behave in a polite and respectful manner. Unsporting conduct includes, but is not limited to:
Broadly, this section exists to spell out one very important responsibility that all players share: to not ruin the enjoyable atmosphere of the tournament. While the behaviors cited below all have the potential to do so, they are not an exhaustive list, nor could such a list be written. If a player’s behavior is disruptive to the event or is making you or another person uncomfortable, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Keep in mind that “will not be tolerated” doesnt mean anyone that behaves unsportingly will be removed. It means that the issue will be addressed. Depending on the rules enforcement level and the action taken, addressing the issue may take the form of a stern talk, all the way up to a DQ. The appropriate guides (JAR and IPG) will provide guidance on the appropriate action level.
- Using profanity.
The above prohibition should not be taken to mean that any use of profanity at a Magic event is automatically considered Unsporting Conduct. Indeed, many Magic players routinely use profanity as part of their everyday speech without a second thought, and it would be senseless to try to eradicate it completely. Profanity becomes problematic when it is disruptive to other people’s enjoyment of the event. This can happen, for example, when it is used excessively, or directed maliciously toward another person. Such cases are more serious and merit the intervention of a judge. See IPG 4.1 for details. Stores, however, are more than able to impose a more restrictive policy on profanity, gosh darn it. However that restriction is based on store policy and not the MTR.
- Engaging in behavior that could reasonably be expected to create a feeling of being harassed, bullied, or stalked.
This are words with strong meanings, and they require a strong response. - Arguing with, acting belligerently toward, or insulting tournament officials, players or spectators.
- Violating the personal privacy or safety of any participant, including spectators and staff.
- Using social media to bully, shame, or intimidate other participants.
A safe environment is a basic expectation of any tournament attendee. Behaviors that compromise this expectation should not be tolerated. See IPG 4.2 for details.
- Failing to follow the instructions of a tournament official.
Judges and other Tournament Officials are responsible for the smooth running of the event. If we need a player to do something and they don’t do it, that disrupts the tournament. That said, if you’re going to use this authority, it needs to be for something that benefits the tournament, not for something arbitrary or trivial.
Officials are expected to investigate potential matters brought their attention as soon as possible and take actions to discourage repeat behavior. All incidents of Unsporting Conduct are subject to further DCI review.
Judges and other Tournament Officials are the people players turn to in case of a problem. This includes interpersonal problems like Unsporting Conduct. It’s very rare for someone to ask for an intervention when one isn’t warranted; quite the opposite, people often ignore or deal with such problems longer than they reasonably should. For this reason, we need to treat all such allegations seriously and deal with them before they can escalate.
Consequences to discourage repeat behavior can include anything from a simple “Don’t do that,” to issuing an Unsporting Conduct penalty. Where a player has broken a venue or organizer’s rule — by smoking in the venue, for example — it may be necessary to involve representatives from these groups to resolve the issue.