LexRides

[andy]

we've had the same set of official rules posted on lexrides for a while and while they generally address the conditions of game-play there is a minimal emphasis on personal conduct and comporting oneself to any higher standard.
we are all friends and polo should be an inviting, safe, accepting environment where people can play and meet new people who might in turn become friends. on top of that, we've done a lot of work on the courts, as well as getting official sanctions from the city and parks/rec, but bike polo as we know it is a privilege, not a right. we are all beholden to the standards of the group as well as those of the city. if we piss off the right people for any reason, we can be asked to sit out a game/night/season, we can have the lights turned off, the community center off-limits, or the courts locked and re-appropriated. everyone loses. as such, we need to be both sensitive and responsible about how we compose ourselves and present our group, especially in the public sphere.
im going to throw out some general ideas and i'd like to solicit feedback from anyone who plays, watches, or involves themselves on any level with polo. this is a community and everyone has a right to speak their mind.
1. dont be a jerk - simple enough, but it should be noted that this is the first rule for a reason. our club is self-referee'ed and so it will usually be at the players discretion to back off when they have gone too far. again, we are all friends or at least friendly with each other; dont make it a bigger issue than it needs to be
2. watch your mouth - coolavin is a public space and im probably the most consistently ridiculous in terms of mouthing off. but we need to be aware of how outsiders and spectators might perceive us, not to mention neighborhood kids. you never know who is watching. this can also apply to trash-talking between players. its usually good-natured, but be aware of when you might be pushing someone-else's limits.
3. dont bring your drama/dirty laundry to the courts - the courts are for playing and socializing. dont be that person who ruins everyone else's good time by fighting/arguing/breaking stuff/throwing a tantrum at full volume in front of the whole crowd. yeah, emotions can run high; be mature enough to excuse yourself if you cant control them
4. dont play when you aren't fit - if you've had too much and cant stay on your bike, or feel yourself getting overly angry, or keep t-boning people because your sense of judgment is shot, dont play. its dangerous, rude, and only pisses other people off. this can be rolled into a discussion about discretion if need be.
5. no violence, period - no punching, no shoving, no threats, no destruction of property. i feel pretty strongly about this: if you fight or act violently towards another player, you should be banned for good. this needs to apply to out-of-towers as well, and we will post rules before any tourney clearly stating such. if someone is violent towards you, walk away. they will be banned and if you can swallow your emotion/desire to fight, you can live to play another day.
ultimately, the most important rule is to be respectful. you yourself will usually be the judge when there is friction between players, but we need to feel comfortable speaking up and backing each other up when we see things that aren't acceptable. i'd definitely like to to open this up for other thoughts

[mofokuban]

I think that having a zero-tolerance for violent confrontations is very important and that these rules should be laminated and posted at the courts for all to see.

It's a public space and there should be some visible rules.