2 minutes ago, New Colonel said:

This is WAY overdue.  There have been entirely too many people on sidelines for too long, especially at the big time schools with lots of state titles.  

When coaching, I have run into reporters and camera men numerous times because they are in the way.   I have seen kids getting hurt too because again they are completely in the way and do not care.  I have had camera people curse at me and players.  It's even worse when your game is being broadcast on cable TV as they run large wires all over your sidelines and create tripping hazards.  

At the multi title schools, you always have dozens of "somebodies" down on the sideline, usually around the 10 yard line to the goal line.  Typically these are big donors, celebrities, or other prominent people.  Enough already. 

Schools can deny whoever they want to the sidelines.  That isn't a right to be there, no matter your credentials or cameras. Everyone has a HD camera now with their cell phones, so just having a camera doesn't give you access.  

It's ironic that players and coaches have boundaries on the sidelines, but everyone else can go wherever they want.  Get right up to the sidelines.  Go outside the players' box.  

This doesn't occur in any other sport.  We don't let camera crews in our baseball and softball dugout, yet it's perfectly ok to have cameras in a coaches face while he's addressing his players on the bench, or my favorite, when they go on the field during a timeout and put a camera in everyone's face.  

Good for schools for limiting access.  Let whoever trash them online, that's fine.  There's too many people on sidelines that coaches and players don't know, and that's a big safety issue for me.  If you want to film or take photos, get cleared ahead of time.  If you don't, take them from the track.  Nobody is entitled to field access who isn't a coach, player, official, or health provider.

Some good stuff in there but I want to address two points:

1.  Coaches/players/teams should be in the coaching box (and no where else) and everyone else should not be in the coaching box.  We all know coaches violate this with little or no consequences.  On everyone else, the problem on many high school sidelines is there is no way to move from one end of the field to the other without cutting through the coaching box and then what you have is some unethical people that take up "residence" in the coaching box and start taking pics/video.

2.  I strongly disagree with your "Schools can deny whoever they want to the sidelines." comment.  I think schools definitely have the right to say no one period is allowed on the sidelines.  However, once a school starts allowing cameras/video on the sidelines they have to apply a consistent standard that is non-discriminatory.  What they definitely can't do, is pick and choose who gets field access based on their opinion(s).

Just now, theguru said:

Some good stuff in there but I want to address two points:

1.  Coaches/players/teams should be in the coaching box (and no where else) and everyone else should not be in the coaching box.  We all know coaches violate this with little or no consequences.  On everyone else, the problem on many high school sidelines is there is no way to move from one end of the field to the other without cutting through the coaching box and then what you have is some unethical people that take up "residence" in the coaching box and start taking pics/video.

2.  I strongly disagree with your "Schools can deny whoever they want to the sidelines." comment.  I think schools definitely have the right to say no one period is allowed on the sidelines.  However, once a school starts allowing cameras/video on the sidelines they have to apply a consistent standard that is non-discriminatory.  What they definitely can't do, is pick and choose who gets field access based on their opinion(s).

They absolutely can pick and choose who has access.  Why can't they?  

44 minutes ago, theguru said:

Someone sent me this question in a PM:

When you did pictures at KHSAA championship games, did they want anything in return or just allow you to get the pictures?

Answer:

Yes, I had to pay a triple digit licensing fee (I think it was $150 or something close to that) to photograph and sell photos from a KHSAA championship event.  However, had I only wanted to use the photos for promotional purposes I may not have had to pay that fee.  With that said, I think most photographers/videographers at a KHSAA event are there for profit. 

You are paying for access.  
Here at WFTM out of Maysville for example.  We have to pay $125 to broadcast district basketball tournament.  $300 to broadcast regional tournament.  More than that to provide video.  It is similar for the state tournament when we broadcast the state tournament.  You are paying for access.  
I can see why everyone wants to jump in and get a piece of the pie.  Try to catch up with that next prospect to profit.  You all do know when the Jasper Johnson’s of the world go to prep academies and you hear about the amount of money they are getting, you do know that the bulk of that money comes from their social media.  They get a bunch for YouTube, IG traffic and so forth.  In return they pocket that money, but often times in lieu of future earnings of pro contracts. 
I’m not trying to besmirch the profession at all.  Go do what you love.  Access comes with a price and limitations.  

2 minutes ago, ProblemChild said:

You are paying for access.  
Here at WFTM out of Maysville for example.  We have to pay $125 to broadcast district basketball tournament.  $300 to broadcast regional tournament.  More than that to provide video.  It is similar for the state tournament when we broadcast the state tournament.  You are paying for access.  
I can see why everyone wants to jump in and get a piece of the pie.  Try to catch up with that next prospect to profit.  You all do know when the Jasper Johnson’s of the world go to prep academies and you hear about the amount of money they are getting, you do know that the bulk of that money comes from their social media.  They get a bunch for YouTube, IG traffic and so forth.  In return they pocket that money, but often times in lieu of future earnings of pro contracts. 
I’m not trying to besmirch the profession at all.  Go do what you love.  Access comes with a price and limitations.  

I know and I (BGP) has donated money to some organizations to pay for access fees for KHSAA playoff football and other events. 

Just now, New Colonel said:

They absolutely can pick and choose who has access.  Why can't they?  

The context here is "media" and there has to be equal access.  This is a problem that has been brewing for 20 years and schools just can't point a finger and say, off with your head. 

10 minutes ago, New Colonel said:

I definitely think this should be the norm.  How do we know the cameraman doesn't have a violent criminal record or something of the sort.  The fact that schools just let these news stations pull up by the gates, park illegally not in spots, and walk onto the field without anyone saying a word is truly mind blowing when you think about it. 

None of us have any idea about the character of many people showing up and some of you would be shocked (maybe not) about little things I learned about some photographers at high school sporting events.   With that said, the motivations of some people on the sidelines are probably in line with some teachers and that is to exploit the access to children. 

4 minutes ago, theguru said:

The context here is "media" and there has to be equal access.  This is a problem that has been brewing for 20 years and schools just can't point a finger and say, off with your head. 

I get what you are saying.  However, schools ? have the right to point at anyone and deny access to the field.  Field access is not a right, no matter who you are.

2 minutes ago, theguru said:

None of us have any idea about the character of many people showing up and some of you would be shocked (maybe not) about little things I learned about some photographers at high school sporting events.   With that said, the motivations of some people on the sidelines are probably in line with some teachers and that is to exploit the access to children. 

I agree wholeheartedly. 

20 minutes ago, theguru said:

Could they try, I guess, but it wouldn't go anywhere.  Remember, these are public events funded with our money.  Sometimes the schools/coaches forget that. 

Parents have rights to say child shall not have their information including photos to be used for public consumption.  That’s on file at schools.  Public events true, but you don’t have unlimited rights.  Just as by entering premises your car could be subjected to search.  We are in the weeds a bit here but legally my assumption is their argument would hold up in court. 

Just now, New Colonel said:

I get what you are saying.  However, schools ? have the right to point at anyone and deny access to the field.  Field access is not a right, no matter who you are.

Right, the school has free will in the moment (just like a human being) but that doesn't make it legal to discriminate based on an arbitrary opinion.  Furthermore, this is why I said earlier in the thread that the proper recourse for anyone that thinks they are being discriminated against is to take legal action against the school and the school employee that denied them access.  In other words, make the school put big money where there mouth is and then see how they act. 

6 minutes ago, ProblemChild said:

Parents have rights to say child shall not have their information including photos to be used for public consumption.  That’s on file at schools.  Public events true, but you don’t have unlimited rights.  Just as by entering premises your car could be subjected to search.  We are in the weeds a bit here but legally my assumption is their argument would hold up in court. 

Illegal search and seizure is one thing but you have no expectation of privacy at a public event and your picture can be taken by anyone and disbursed as that person sees fit. 

4 minutes ago, ProblemChild said:

Parents have rights to say child shall not have their information including photos to be used for public consumption.  That’s on file at schools.  Public events true, but you don’t have unlimited rights.  Just as by entering premises your car could be subjected to search.  We are in the weeds a bit here but legally my assumption is their argument would hold up in court. 

Anyone can sit in the stands and take photos at a high school event.  Having something on file at a school doesn't restrict individual citizens.  Furthermore, this is no different than filming a police officer doing her/his job, it is allowed.  And we are in the weeds legally, you may deny people from bringing cameras into a venue but you can't stop iPhones. 

4 minutes ago, Ram said:

Illegal search and seizure is one thing but you have no expectation of privacy at a public event and your picture can be taken by anyone and disbursed as that person sees fit. 

Uh False.

Try reading signs when you enter school property.  

5 minutes ago, theguru said:

Anyone can sit in the stands and take photos at a high school event.  Having something on file at a school doesn't restrict individual citizens.  Furthermore, this is no different than filming a police officer doing her/his job, it is allowed.  And we are in the weeds legally, you may deny people from bringing cameras into a venue but you can't stop iPhones. 

True, I’m just playing devils advocate. Way in the weeds.   Videographers can film from stands too, then it really shouldn’t be a problem then, correct?

2 minutes ago, ProblemChild said:

Uh False.

Try reading signs when you enter school property.  

I would like to see the signs and the legal basis that supports the signs.