Players shall not make obscene gestures of any kind while playing a game or while in the accepted boundaries of the tournament area. A visible obscenity is defined as the making of a sign by a player with hands or other means that is commonly known to have an obscene meaning.
==== e. Written Obscenities ==== Players shall not use any written obscenities to insult, demean, or harass other players or tournament officials. This includes the writing of words or statements, commonly understood to be profane, that can be easily seen by passersby. (It is permissible to write offensive words on one's score sheet or note paper that have been played during a game or that were considered for play.) ==== f. Leaving the Playing Area during a Game without Legitimate Cause ====
With the exception of restroom breaks or other legitimate reasons, players shall not leave the playing room before their game is completed. This type of behavior is both disrespectful and unnerving to opponents.
==== fg. Deliberate Noncooperation with Tournament Officials ====
Players must be cooperative with tournament officials and staff at all times. Deliberate noncooperation includes (by way of example, but not limited to) refusing to complete mandatory paperwork, refusing to cooperate with official game annotators, refusing to leave the playing area when asked to do so, refusing to tidy the playing area, and other acts of noncompliance that hinder the smooth operation of a tournament.
==== gh. Unsportsmanlike Conduct ====
Players shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of their opponents and other players. Unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as any misconduct by a player that is not specifically defined in other sections of this code, but is clearly abusive, negative, or detrimental to the success of the club, tournament, NASPA, or organized SCRABBLE in general.
* 1st offense: official warning
* 2nd offense: 100-point penalty applied to tournament spread
* 3rd offense: ejection and disqualification from the tournament(including, at the discretion of the director, including the possible forfeiture of any prize money )
Note: A director may use his/her discretion to apply stricter penalties for a first offense if the violation is especially flagrant or egregious. (i.e. A director may immediately issue a 100-point spread penalty or eject the transgressor for a serious transgression.)
==== a. Cheating ====
Players at SCRABBLE clubs and tournaments are honor-bound not to cheat. Cheating is a serious infraction that cannot be tolerated. Those who are caught cheating at a tournament will be immediately ejected and disqualified from the event. Any At the discrtion of the director, any prize money will may also be forfeited. NASPA may also suspend or revoke the membership of any player caught cheating.
Acts of cheating can include (by way of example, but not limited to)