IHSA rules for photography released

UPDATE from Rob Dicker on listserv:

Greetings all,

I have finally assembled our recommendations for the IHSA. The News Media Advisory Committee meeting will be on August 23, so there is still some time to make changes.

If you would like to take a look at the report, please let me know and I can email you a .pdf copy.

Rob Dicker
Staff Photographer, Pioneer Press Newspapers

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From Rob Dicker, Staff Photographer at the Pioneer Press Newspapers and IHSA representative:

Here are the 2005-06 IHSA Rules for photography. Please read through them and comment as to any (realistic) changes you would like to see:

30. Policy Regarding News Media/Spectator Photography

This policy applies to both regular season and state series competition conducted by IHSA member schools.

Equipment Storage:
No equipment other than that which is hand carried by the photographer is allowed on the playing surface or adjacent to it. All carrying cases, computer equipment, photography equipment and/or other not being carried by the media representative is not to be on the playing surface or adjacent to it.

Photographer Shooting Zones:
The local manager will determine photographer shooting zones for events hosted by the manager’s school. It is the responsibility of the local manager to insure the safety of participants in the event(s) hosted by the manager’s school. The local manager has the responsibility to coordinate the working location(s) for photographers and other media representatives covering the event. Photographers shall be allowed to work the game/meet under reasonable conditions, as determined by the host school (principal or designee for regular season and contests in state series prior to the state final) or IHSA Office (state finals), and the nature of the activity. Spectator use of electronic lighting shall not be permitted.

Authorized news media representatives, who have identified themselves to the host school principal (or designee) may be permitted to use electronic lighting equipment throughout the course of a given activity. Such electronic lighting can be either: 1) strobe lights mounted to fixed positions and/or 2) electronic attachments mounted to a camera.

Host principals (or designee) should confer with the coaches of the teams participating in a contest before giving permission to authorized news media photographers to use strobe lighting mounted to fixed positions.

Host principals (or designee) should confer with game officials and authorized news media photographers before requiring photographers to cease use of electronic attachments because such equipment may be allegedly causing interference with the conduct of the contest.

Newspaper Photographers. Requests to the IHSA Office for photographers credentials shall be honored dependent upon the following criteria and priority:

1) Space available at the facility
2) Wire service and daily newspapers with Sunday editions
3) Daily newspapers without Sunday editions
4) Headquarters office of weekly chain
5) Multi-weekly newspapers with teams/individuals competing
6) Weekly newspapers with teams/individuals competing
7) Multi-weekly and weekly newspapers without teams/individuals competing

The number of credentials to be issued to a single outlet shall generally be one (1) per newspaper unless space available, geographic locations of teams advancing to state final, previous coverage of the state final or other circumstances deemed acceptable to the IHSA can permit issuing additional credentials.

Photo Limitations:

Photographers shall be allowed to work the tournament/meet under reasonable conditions as determined by the IHSA in conjunction with the News Media Advisory Committee and the nature of the activity.

Electronic flash equipment is not prohibited for game action at outdoor State Finals unless the number of photographers using the equipment does interfere with the conduct of the competition. Electronic flash equipment use at indoor State Finals must be approved in advance by the IHSA. The IHSA, in conjunction with the Local Manager and photographers covering the event, shall have the authority to require photographers to cease using electronic flash equipment because of its interference with the conduct of the competition, or facility lighting is previously deemed adequate.

Equipment Storage:
No equipment other than that which is hand carried by the photographer is allowed on the playing surface or adjacent to it. All carrying cases, computer equipment, photography equipment and/or other not being carried by the media representative is not to be on the playing surface or adjacent to it.

Photographer Shooting Zones:
The local manager will determine photographer shooting zones for events hosted by the manager’s school. It is the responsibility of the local manager to insure the safety of participants in the event(s) hosted by the manager’s school. The local manager has the responsibility to coordinate the working location(s) for photographers and other media representatives covering the event.

Basketball State Final Limits:
All photographers wishing to shoot a game in the state final basketball tournament must report to the photo supervisor on the floor of Carver Arena in the Peoria Civic Center (Boys Basketball) and/or Redbird Arena (Girls Basketball) to receive clearance to shoot the game(s) desired. A limited number of shooting spaces is available, and shooting locations on a game-by-game basis will be assigned according by the IHSA credential policy. Only those photographers approved by the photo supervisor and displaying proper credentials, shall be allowed to shoot under the basket(s) during each game.

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