BELLES & CHIMES MADISON

Belles & Chimes Madison Community Code of Conduct 

Belles & Chimes Madison is a place where women and gender-diverse pinball players can show up, play hard, learn, connect, and feel like they belong whether you come every time or once in a blue moon.

We welcome trans women, cis women, nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender-diverse players of all experience levels. We are actively committed to nurturing a community that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive. Everyone deserves a respectful, welcoming, harassment-free space regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, sexuality, relationship structure, body, size, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, age, or religion.

We know learning and unlearning are lifelong processes. Curiosity is welcome but not at the expense of anyone’s safety or comfort. Harmful “learning moments” will not be placed on the backs of our members.

Note that this Code of Conduct outlines expectations for how we conduct ourselves during our events. If you are interested in the rules governing tournament structure and administration, we utilize and adapt rules from the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA). We encourage players to review the IFPA’s rulebook, Conduct Code, and Diversity and Inclusion Code. 

Some of our events are also affiliated with the Punk Rock Pinball Association (PRPA), which borrows from IFPA rules while offering a simplified framework. PRPA’s rule set can be found here.

If you have concerns related to being associated with the IFPA specifically and want to know how to opt-out, please see Section 7.

1. Play & Interactions

Pinball gets exciting! You’re allowed to cheer, fist-pump, mutter to yourself, and get into the moment.
We simply ask for mindfulness:

  • Don’t talk to someone actively playing or try to give advice during their turn.
  • Avoid loud, sudden, or intrusive behavior directly next to someone who is playing.
  • Accidents happen, just be considerate and adjust if someone asks for space.
  • Celebrate good shots (yours and others’).
  • Own your mistakes (gameplay or interpersonal).
  • No trash-talking people. Friendly ribbing is fine if everyone involved is clearly cool with it.

2. Safety, Respect, and Harassment-Free Space

Zero tolerance for:

  • Harassment, stalking, or intimidation
  • Racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, ableism
  • Misgendering (intentional or repeated)
  • Sexual comments or behavior that is unwelcome
  • Touching without consent
  • Making other members feel unsafe, pushed out, or repeatedly uncomfortable

If a boundary is set, respect it immediately.

If something happens

Talk to an organizer privately. We will listen, take action, and prioritize the comfort of the person harmed. Accountability can look like conversations, asking someone to leave a session, suspensions from events, or other steps as needed.

3. Guests

Our tournaments are only open to folks who fit the IFPA’s inclusive definition of womanhood.

However,

  • You’re welcome to bring the people you need to bring to the venue: partners (including men), supportive friends, kids, etc.
  • Guests may hang out and play pinball on their own, but they should remain in the background and not encroach on the women-focused space we’re creating during meetups.
  • Guests must follow this Code of Conduct.

4. Accountability & Conflict Resolution

We approach issues with honesty, care, and a desire to protect the safety of our members and not to shame or punish people unnecessarily.

Our approach:

  • Address behavior, not identity.
  • Listen first.
  • Repair if possible, protect if needed.
  • Escalate only when appropriate.

We expect members to take responsibility for harm they cause, and we support people in growing, learning, and coming back better.

5. This Community Belongs to You

Whether you’ve played for years or just flipped your first ball:

  • You matter here.
  • Your safety matters.
  • Your joy matters.
  • And your voice helps shape this space.

We’re all here because we love pinball. The machines, the chaos, the challenge, and especially each other.

Let’s keep making this a place we’re proud to show up for.

6. IFPA Concerns


Following a poorly handled event that occurred in November 2025, some members of the pinball community have raised concerns regarding the IFPA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. These concerns were amplified by the resignation of the IFPA Women’s Advisory Board, as well as other issues leading up to that decision.

While we do not believe the individuals within IFPA are inherently bigoted, we acknowledge that some players may feel uncomfortable with IFPA’s response to these events and may wish to limit their involvement.

Players who wish to reduce or avoid interaction with the IFPA have the following options. These may be used independently or together:

1. Decline the $1 IFPA Fee (Opt-Out)

  • You may choose not to contribute the $1 IFPA fee – this needs to be told to the event organize before the tournament starts
  • You may still participate fully in the tournament and receive physical or local rewards.
  • Your results will not be submitted to IFPA, and you will receive no IFPA points.
  • When results are submitted, players who placed below you will be moved up one position for IFPA reporting purposes only.

2. Suppress Your IFPA Profile

  • You may suppress your IFPA profile through IFPA directly.
  • The $1 IFPA fee is still required, and you will still earn IFPA points.
  • Your name will appear as “Suppressed Player” in IFPA listings.
  • You will be ineligible to participate in any invitational IFPA tournaments during that year which includes the Championships that occur in the following year (e.g. Being suppressed during the 2025 qualifying year means you cannot play the State Championships that occur in January 2026)

Created: 1/3/2026
Last Revised: 1/3/2026