SoCal Swordfight is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for competitors, spectators, instructors, staff, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and guests.

This Code of Conduct applies to all attendees of SoCal Swordfight 2027. By attending the event, attendees agree to conduct themselves in accordance with these standards and to comply with reasonable instructions from SoCal Swordfight staff and venue personnel.

Violations may result in a warning, tournament penalty, disqualification, removal from the event without refund, or a temporary or permanent ban from future SoCal Swordfight events depending on the nature, severity, or frequency of the conduct.

1. Respect and Inclusion

SoCal Swordfight welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds and expects everyone attending the event to treat others with respect.

Discrimination, harassment, or abusive conduct based on characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion or creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, neurodiversity, body size, marital status, military status, or other protected characteristics will not be tolerated.

Attendees are expected to:

• Use the names and pronouns others ask them to use.
• Respect personal boundaries and requests to disengage.
• Avoid unwanted physical contact.
• Treat competitors, officials, volunteers, instructors, vendors, spectators, and staff respectfully.
• Stop unwanted conduct when another person asks them to stop.

Competitive frustration, disagreement, or interpersonal conflict does not excuse abusive or disrespectful behavior.

2. Harassment and Sexual Harassment

Harassment of any kind is prohibited.

Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Threats, intimidation, stalking, bullying, or repeated unwanted contact;
• Unwanted physical contact;
• Repeatedly pressuring someone to interact, socialize, participate, or explain why they do not wish to do so;
• Sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or remarks directed toward another person;
• Unwanted sexual or romantic attention or advances;
• Pressure to engage in sexual or romantic activity;
• Inappropriate comments about another person's body or appearance;
• Harassing or threatening electronic communications;
• Deliberately following or repeatedly approaching someone who has asked to be left alone; and
• Retaliation against someone for reporting an incident or participating in the review of a concern.

Consent and personal boundaries must be respected at all times.

3. Tournament Conduct and Sportsmanship

Competitors are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and follow the rules of each tournament in which they participate.

Competitors must comply with the instructions and decisions of tournament directors, referees, judges, table staff, and other authorized tournament officials.

Questions or disagreements regarding tournament rulings should be raised through the appropriate tournament process.

The following conduct may result in penalties up to and including disqualification or removal from the event:

• Abusive or threatening behavior toward an opponent or official;
• Intentional cheating;
• Deliberately attempting to circumvent tournament rules;
• Intentionally attempting to injure another competitor;
• Reckless behavior that creates an unreasonable risk to others;
• Interfering with tournament operations; or
• Repeated unsportsmanlike conduct.

Disagreement with a ruling does not permit harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or disruption.

4. Alcohol, Drugs, and Impairment

Alcohol is not permitted inside the SoCal Swordfight conference center or event spaces.

Anyone found possessing or consuming alcohol inside the conference center will be asked to leave the event without refund.

Anyone who event staff reasonably suspect is under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs, or another intoxicating substance to a degree that may affect their judgment, coordination, behavior, or ability to safely participate will also be asked to leave the event without refund.

Competitors may not participate while impaired by any substance, including prescription or over-the-counter medication, if that substance affects their motor control, cognitive function, reaction time, or ability to safely participate in HEMA activities.

Anyone instructed to leave because of alcohol, intoxication, or impairment must comply with the instruction.

Repeated incidents, or multiple occasions in which an attendee must be asked to leave because of alcohol, intoxication, or impairment, may result in a temporary or permanent ban from future SoCal Swordfight events.

5. Weapons and Equipment Conduct

Weapons and fencing equipment are present throughout SoCal Swordfight for legitimate competition, instruction, demonstration, vending, and training purposes.

Attendees are expected to handle weapons responsibly.

Weapons may not be:

• Used to threaten or intimidate another person;
• Brandished or handled recklessly;
• Used for unauthorized sparring in inappropriate areas;
• Intentionally used in a manner designed to injure another attendee outside the legitimate scope of an event activity; or
• Left in a location where they create an unreasonable obstruction or hazard.

SoCal Swordfight staff may restrict or prohibit the use of equipment that presents a safety or operational concern.

6. Venue and Event Conduct

Attendees are expected to respect the conference center, event equipment, hotel property, and the personal property of others.

Attendees must not:

• Intentionally damage event or venue property;
• Block entrances, exits, walkways, tournament areas, or emergency access;
• Enter staff-only or otherwise restricted areas without authorization;
• Interfere with event operations, tournament tables, livestream equipment, vendors, or staff; or
• Engage in conduct that substantially disrupts the event or another attendee's ability to participate.

Attendees may be held responsible for damage they intentionally or negligently cause.

7. Staff Instructions and Removal

SoCal Swordfight staff may intervene when they reasonably believe that an attendee's conduct violates this Code of Conduct, interferes with the event, or presents a concern for the safety or wellbeing of others.

If an authorized member of SoCal Swordfight or venue staff instructs an attendee to stop a behavior, leave an area, or leave the event, the attendee must comply at that time.

Concerns regarding the decision may be raised with event leadership afterward. Disagreement with a staff decision does not authorize an attendee to disregard the instruction or escalate the situation.

Depending on the circumstances, enforcement may include:

• A verbal reminder or warning;
• Removal from a particular activity;
• Tournament penalties;
• Tournament disqualification;
• Removal from the event;
• Temporary suspension from future SoCal Swordfight events; or
• A permanent event ban.

Serious violations may result in immediate removal or banning without a prior warning.

Repeated violations may result in escalating consequences.

8. Reporting Concerns

Attendees are encouraged to report harassment, discrimination, threats, unsafe conduct, retaliation, or other Code of Conduct concerns to SoCal Swordfight staff as soon as reasonably possible.

Reports may be made to designated event staff during the event or through any reporting method published by SoCal Swordfight.

SoCal Swordfight organizers may:

• Speak with the people involved;
• Speak with witnesses;
• Review available documentation or recordings;
• Consult tournament or venue staff; and
• Take action the organizers determine appropriate based on the available information and the needs of the event.

Retaliation against a person for making a good-faith report or participating in the review of an incident is itself a violation of this Code of Conduct.

Knowingly making a false report for the purpose of harming, harassing, or retaliating against another person may also constitute a violation.

9. Registration Refunds

The last day to request a refund for SoCal Swordfight 2027 registration is January 4, 2027.

Refund requests must be submitted on or before January 4, 2027.

Registration refund requests submitted after January 4, 2027 will not be eligible for a refund.

Removal or disqualification from the event does not extend the registration refund deadline.

10. Enforcement and Future Participation

SoCal Swordfight reserves the right to determine the appropriate response to Code of Conduct violations based on the nature, severity, frequency, and circumstances of the conduct.

A single serious incident may be sufficient to result in removal or a future event ban.

Repeated violations, repeated warnings, or patterns of behavior may result in escalating consequences, including a temporary or permanent ban from SoCal Swordfight.

Decisions concerning future event participation will be made by SoCal Swordfight event leadership.

Acknowledgment

By registering for or attending SoCal Swordfight 2027, attendees acknowledge that they are expected to comply with this Code of Conduct and understand that failure to do so may affect their ability to participate in the current event or future SoCal Swordfight events.