Community

Community Guidelines

Last updated: May 2026

NearbyPlay exists to help people play. Our communities work because members trust each other to show up, play fair, and treat one another with respect. These Guidelines describe the behaviour we expect from every NearbyPlay user, on the app, in WhatsApp groups, and at games we coordinate. Violations may result in warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent removal from the platform.

1. Treat everyone with respect

What we want: Friendly competition, encouragement, sportsmanship, and the kind of environment that makes new players feel welcome.

This means:

Communicate politely with hosts, organisers, and other participants
Welcome new players regardless of skill level, age, gender, background, or community
Accept umpire or organiser decisions gracefully, even when you disagree
Help others learn. Coach gently if asked, don’t mock skill gaps

What is not acceptable: Harassment, discrimination, bullying, slurs, or threats of any kind based on gender, religion, caste, race, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Zero tolerance.

2. Show up, or cancel responsibly

Casual games depend on every player. A no-show is a broken game.

If you confirm a slot, plan to attend
If you can’t make it, cancel as early as possible, ideally hours before, not minutes
Repeated last-minute cancellations or no-shows without notice may lead to restrictions on your ability to join future games
Hosts: notify all participants promptly if a game is cancelled or rescheduled

3. Play fair, play safe

Play within the rules of the sport and the spirit of the game
Don’t play through serious injury or illness. Your health comes first
Don't pressure others to play injured or against their judgement
Respect the venue. Leave it the way you found it, or better
Wear appropriate protective gear when relevant (helmet for cricket, knee support for skating, etc.)

4. Be honest in what you post

Game listings: accurate time, venue, sport, skill level, and player count
Profile information: real name (or honest display name), accurate sport preferences
Don't impersonate another person, exaggerate credentials, or post misleading details
If venue details change, update the game listing immediately

5. Keep payments and bookings transparent

NearbyPlay doesn't process payments. Where ground booking fees or shared costs are involved:

Hosts must disclose all costs upfront when creating the game
Cost-sharing arrangements are between hosts and players directly
Don't use NearbyPlay to solicit personal payments unrelated to the game (asking for money, donations, gifts)

6. No spam, no scraping, no commercial misuse

Don't use NearbyPlay to advertise unrelated products, services, or events
Don't scrape or harvest user data for any purpose
Don't share other players' contact information without their consent
Don't use NearbyPlay for political campaigning or religious solicitation

7. Communities are for the community

Community Owners and Admins have responsibility for the tone of their community:

Manage memberships in line with the community's stated purpose
Address complaints from members promptly
Don't use admin powers to favour certain members or exclude others without good reason
Report serious misconduct (harassment, threats, fraud) to NearbyPlay so we can act platform-wide

8. Protect minors

NearbyPlay is for users 18 and above. If you are aware of a user under 18 on the platform, please report it to contact@nearbyplay.in so we can act on it.

9. Reporting concerns

If you encounter conduct that violates these Guidelines:

Use the in-app Help & Support feature to report it directly
Or email contact@nearbyplay.in
Include the user's name or community, what happened, when, and any evidence (screenshots, dates)

We treat all reports confidentially and aim to respond within 48 hours.

10. What happens when guidelines are broken

Depending on severity and history:

Warning: A notification explaining the issue, often enough for first-time accidents
Temporary suspension: Limited access for a defined period. Joining games, posting, or community participation may be restricted
Permanent removal: Account terminated; serious or repeated violations
Reporting to authorities: For violations of law (threats, fraud, assault)

NearbyPlay's decisions on enforcement are at our sole discretion. We may act without prior notice when we believe immediate action is necessary to protect users.

11. These guidelines may change

As our community grows, we will update these Guidelines to address new situations. Material changes will be notified through the app and on this page. Continued use of the platform indicates acceptance of updated guidelines.