Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 25, 2026

1. Who We Are

Walking West, Inc. (“Walking West,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates BallGameRoots.com, the website for Roots of the Game.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, request a bulk order, purchase products directly from us, or participate in our fundraising and promotional programs.

Walking West is responsible for the personal information it handles as described in this policy. You can contact us about privacy through the form at BallGameRoots.com/contact. Please identify your message as a “Privacy Request.”

This policy does not replace the independent privacy policies of Amazon or other websites you visit through our links.

2. Information You Provide

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Contact information: Your name, email address, telephone number, and the contents of messages or inquiries.

Organization information: Your organization’s name, your role or authority to represent it, and details about your fundraising activity, event, or intended use of the books.

Order and delivery information: Products, quantities, billing and shipping details, delivery instructions, requested dates, invoices, payment status, and order history.

Tax documentation: Resale certificates, exemption documentation, associated permit or registration numbers, and information needed to evaluate those documents.

Customer-service information: Invoice numbers, shipment details, photographs of damaged or incorrect products, packaging photographs, and information submitted in connection with replacements or other order issues.

Communication preferences: Newsletter subscriptions, marketing choices, consent records, and unsubscribe requests, where these features are offered.

Other voluntarily submitted information: Information you include in messages, attachments, feedback, or requests.

Please provide only information relevant to your request. Do not submit payment-card details, passwords, or other unnecessary sensitive information through our forms.

If you provide information about another person, such as a delivery recipient, ensure that you are authorized to do so and that the person is aware of the disclosure.

3. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the website, Squarespace and other providers supporting the website may collect technical and usage information, including:

  • IP address and approximate location derived from it.

  • Browser type, device information, and operating system.

  • Pages viewed, links clicked, referring pages, and visit timestamps.

  • Cookie identifiers and similar online identifiers.

  • Error reports, security events, and information needed to operate the website.

Images, fonts, and other website resources may be delivered through content-delivery networks. Loading these resources can disclose technical information, such as your IP address and browser information, to the providers delivering them.

The information collected depends on the features enabled and your applicable privacy choices.

4. Information From Service Providers

We may receive information from providers that assist with payment processing, website operation, fraud prevention, production, fulfillment, and delivery.

For example, we may receive payment confirmation, transaction references, shipment status, tracking information, delivery confirmation, and reports of payment or delivery problems.

When you purchase directly through Amazon, Amazon handles that transaction under its own policies. We do not ordinarily receive your name, payment information, or delivery address merely because you purchased our book through an Amazon retail listing. If you contact us about that purchase, we receive the information you choose to provide.

5. How We Use Information

We use personal information to:

  • Respond to questions and provide customer service.

  • Evaluate order requests and confirm pricing, shipping, and availability.

  • Prepare invoices, process payments, and maintain transaction records.

  • Arrange production, shipment, delivery, and replacement of products.

  • Review resale certificates and other tax documentation.

  • Administer league fundraising and organization bulk-purchasing programs.

  • Provide requested promotional materials and program assistance.

  • Send order updates, invoices, delivery notices, and other transactional communications.

  • Send optional marketing communications when permitted and consistent with your choices.

  • Understand website use and improve its content, layout, and operation.

  • Detect abuse, protect security, investigate suspected fraud, and resolve disputes.

  • Meet accounting, tax, legal, and regulatory obligations.

We do not use an inquiry or order request as automatic permission to send promotional emails.

6. Payments

Payments may be processed through Stripe or the payment services identified on an invoice or at checkout.

Payment providers collect and process payment credentials through their systems. Our ordinary transaction records may include billing details, the amount paid, payment status, transaction identifiers, and limited payment-method information, such as card brand and last four digits. We do not ordinarily receive or store full payment-card numbers or security codes.

Payment providers may also process information for their own fraud-prevention, security, regulatory, and other purposes as explained in their privacy policies.

Do not enter payment credentials in our contact or bulk-order request forms.

7. When We Disclose Information

We disclose personal information when reasonably needed for the purposes described in this policy.

Website and communication providers: Including Squarespace, email providers, form-storage services, and security or spam-prevention services used to operate the website and respond to submissions.

Payment providers: Including Stripe and any payment provider identified during the transaction.

Book production and delivery providers: Including Amazon KDP, its associated fulfillment providers, and carriers. Information may include recipient names, delivery addresses, telephone numbers, quantities, and delivery instructions.

Merchandise providers: If merchandise sales are enabled, relevant order and recipient information may be shared with Printify and other providers and carriers to manufacture and deliver the merchandise.

Professional advisers: Accountants, legal advisers, insurers, and other advisers who need information to provide their services.

Legal and security purposes: When reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law or valid legal process, protect people or property, investigate fraud or abuse, or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

Business transactions: In connection with a proposed or completed merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, or transfer of business assets, subject to appropriate protections and applicable law.

At your request: When you direct us to disclose information or provide the necessary authorization.

We do not provide participating leagues or organizations with our general customer or contact lists. An organization independently collecting orders from its families is responsible for its own privacy practices.

8. Sale of Information and Advertising

We do not sell personal information or disclose it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We do not provide customer information to unrelated organizations for their independent marketing.

If we introduce advertising technologies or materially change these practices, we will update this policy and provide any notices and choices required by applicable law before the new practices apply.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies for functions such as security, remembering preferences, operating shopping features when enabled, and understanding website usage.

Some technologies are necessary for the website or a requested service to function. Others support analytics or optional features.

Where available, use the website’s cookie settings to manage nonessential technologies. Your browser may also allow you to block or delete cookies. Blocking cookies may affect website features, and deleting cookies may reset previously saved preferences.

Third-party links, embedded content, and external services may use their own technologies under their respective policies.

Browser privacy signals: Traditional “Do Not Track” signals do not operate our cookie-consent controls. Use the available cookie settings to express your preferences. Where applicable law requires recognition of an opt-out preference signal, such as Global Privacy Control, we will process that signal as required.

Our statement that we do not sell information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising does not mean that no technical information is disclosed to providers needed to operate the website.

10. Marketing and Transactional Communications

If you subscribe to optional marketing communications, you may unsubscribe using the link in a marketing email or contact us through the website.

We may retain limited information needed to record and honor your unsubscribe preference.

Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent necessary communications about an inquiry, invoice, purchase, shipment, replacement, privacy request, or other transaction.

We do not enroll telephone numbers in promotional text messaging merely because they are provided with an order or inquiry.

11. Downloads, Photographs, and Submitted Materials

Downloading a flyer or other promotional asset does not, by itself, subscribe you to marketing messages.

If you submit a photograph, testimonial, or other material for private customer service, we use it for that purpose. We will seek appropriate permission before using identifiable submitted material publicly for marketing.

Please do not submit photographs identifying children unless necessary for your request and you are authorized to provide them.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our books are intended for children and families. The website’s purchasing, contact, and fundraising features are intended for adults, including parents, caregivers, educators, and organization representatives.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through these features. Children should ask a parent or guardian to contact us or place an order on their behalf.

Organizations should not submit player rosters, children’s contact information, or other child-specific information when placing bulk orders. We ordinarily need only the adult organization contact and designated delivery recipient.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, contact us through the website so we can investigate and take appropriate action, including deletion where required.

Any future feature designed to collect information directly from children will require separate review and appropriate safeguards before launch.

13. Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy.

Retention depends on the nature of the information, the transaction or relationship, legal requirements, and legitimate recordkeeping needs.

For example:

  • Inquiry records may be retained to respond and maintain a history of the issue.

  • Order, invoice, tax, and payment records may be retained for accounting, tax, fraud-prevention, and legal purposes.

  • Shipment and replacement evidence may be retained through resolution and any related claim period.

  • Marketing-preference records may be retained to honor consent and unsubscribe choices.

  • Technical and security information is retained according to operational needs and relevant provider settings.

When information is no longer needed, we delete it, de-identify it, or arrange for its removal, subject to lawful retention and backup practices.

14. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards appropriate to the information we handle.

No website, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Please avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive information and contact us if you suspect misuse involving your information.

15. Your Choices and Privacy Requests

You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we hold about you.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may also have rights to obtain a copy of information, withdraw consent, restrict or object to certain processing, opt out of specified uses, or appeal a decision concerning your request.

To submit a request, use BallGameRoots.com/contact and identify it as a “Privacy Request.” Describe what you would like us to do without including unnecessary sensitive information.

We may need reasonable information to verify your identity and authority. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted, subject to appropriate verification.

We will respond within the period required by applicable law. Some requests may be limited by legal obligations, another person’s rights, security needs, or records necessary to complete transactions or establish or defend claims. We will explain applicable limitations.

We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising privacy rights.

If applicable law gives you an appeal right, submit an appeal through the same contact form and identify it as a “Privacy Appeal.” You may also contact the relevant privacy regulator where permitted.

16. California and Other U.S. Residents

The categories of information, sources, purposes, recipients, and retention practices described above apply to the personal information we handle.

State privacy laws differ, and some rights depend on whether a business and its processing activities fall within a particular law’s scope. We will honor rights that apply to our activities and your request.

We do not knowingly sell or share children’s personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

California residents may also request information about disclosures for third parties’ direct marketing where applicable. Our policy is not to disclose personal information to unrelated third parties for their independent direct marketing.

17. International Visitors

Walking West operates from the United States. Our providers may process information in the United States and other countries whose privacy laws may differ from those where you live.

Where applicable European, UK, or other data-protection law governs our processing, we rely on an appropriate legal basis, such as steps requested before a contract, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, consent, or legitimate interests that are not overridden by your rights.

Legitimate interests may include answering inquiries, operating and securing the website, and preventing fraud. Where consent is the legal basis, you may withdraw it without affecting prior lawful processing.

Where legally required for international transfers, we use applicable safeguards or another permitted transfer mechanism.

You may have the right to complain to your local data-protection authority.

18. External Websites and Services

Our website may link to Amazon, an illustrator’s website, social platforms, charitable organizations, and other external services.

Those services control their own collection and use of information. Review their policies before providing information. A link does not mean that Walking West controls the linked service.

Relevant provider policies include:

19. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in services, practices, or legal requirements. The effective date above identifies the current version.

When required, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent before applying a material change. We will not treat continued website use as a substitute for consent where consent is legally required.

20. Contact

For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, please send us a message via our Contact Us form.

Please identify privacy-related messages as “Privacy Request.”