Code of Conduct

Members of Philadelphia Runner Track Club (PRTC) are to uphold a code of conduct rooted in respect, safety, and consideration for all persons. We value and prioritize the well-being of each individual within our community. Respect for others is paramount; we expect members to treat each other with kindness and dignity at all times.

Uphold Fair Sport

Demonstrating respect towards teammates, competitors, and event organizers when representing our club is crucial. We are committed to values of sportsmanship, integrity, and fair play, both on and off the race course and encourage any member competing in a USATF sanctioned event to familiarize themselves with USATF Competition Rules. 

We aim to compete with honor, treating fellow runners with respect and encouragement, regardless of their affiliation. Additionally, we recognize the hard work and dedication of event organizers, volunteers, and officials who make races possible, and expect our members to display respectful and courteous behavior to them at all times. By embodying these principles, we not only represent our club positively but also contribute to an overall spirit of goodwill and camaraderie within the running community.

Dignity and Respect for All Persons

We strive to foster a welcoming environment for all members. We recognize that joining a running club can be a significant step for many and we expect members to extend positivity, camaraderie, and respect to all newcomers. 

Members are expected to embrace inclusiveness and contribute to a supportive atmosphere to ensure that all members, regardless of their experience level, feel valued, respected, and motivated to achieve their running goals within our club.

Members must respect the race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, age, disability, occupation, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, and other protected characteristics or statuses of all persons. 

Any and all harassment behaviors are unacceptable and will subject the offender to disciplinary action. Harassment includes intimidating, demeaning, threatening, abusive, or offensive conduct toward an individual or a group. Examples of harassment include but are not limited to bullying; discrimination; unwanted or continued advances; unwanted verbal, physical, or digital conduct a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile, or offensive; repeated unwanted invitations or messages after a refusal. Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to unwelcome sexual advances; comments about a person’s body and/or appearance; requests for sexual favors; or conduct of a sexual nature that affects participation. Stalking includes but is not limited to repeatedly following someone, repeatedly contacting them over phone, text, or social media, and monitoring a person's activities online or in person. 

Accountability

This Code of Conduct applies to all club activities (e.g. practice, group runs, races, club social events, group travel), including activities on digital platforms (e.g. Slack, Strava, and social media). Conduct on online platforms which may be considered defamatory, harassing, or discriminatory to any persons or reflect negatively on the club is not tolerated. 

How to Report a Code of Conduct Violation

Any violations of this Code of Conduct must be reported to the PRTC Board of Directors. 

Violations can be reported to the PRTC Board of Directors, by any member, in a number of ways, including:

If any PRTC club member wishes to report a Code of Conduct violation anonymously, please either relay that information to another member to bring to the Board of Directors, or through this anonymous Google Form.

What to Include in a Code of Conduct Violation Report

The safety and integrity of our members is our top priority. No member will ever be asked to share information they are not comfortable sharing. However, we encourage members to share as complete a picture of any incident as possible, to allow the PRTC Board of Directors the opportunity to make a fair assessment of the situation and take any appropriate and necessary action.

When submitting a report of an alleged Code of Conduct Violation, the following information would be helpful:

  • Firsthand written and/or verbal accounts of the incident(s) in question;

  • Screenshots of any digital communication pertinent to the incident(s) (text messages, Slack or Instagram DMs, emails, etc.);

  • Names of any witnesses to the incident(s) in question, provided the witnesses have given their consent;

  • Any additional information that might be helpful in resolving the matter.

Code of Conduct Violations

The safety, well being, respect, and integrity of members of our community is of the utmost importance to PRTC. All potential Code of Conduct violations will be addressed promptly and with utmost respect the rights and confidentiality of those involved.

At the discretion of the PRTC Board of Directors, a finding that any individual has violated this Code of Conduct may result in:

  • A verbal warning; or

  • A written warning; or

  • Suspension of that individual’s membership in PRTC, together with all privileges associated with that membership. In the event of a suspension, the affected member may be reinstated only upon application for and granting of reinstatement by the Board of Directors.; or

  • Termination of that individual’s membership in PRTC, together with all privileges associated with that membership. 

In the event of a suspension or termination, the individual affected shall not be entitled to any refund of their dues, in full or in part.

Last Updated: 11/10/2025