I drew the unwanted attention of a soccer referee last week, as I took photos near the net at Memorial Stadium.
There were several of us taking photos at the other end of the field in the first half, but I was the only one at the other end of the field in the second half.
Anyway, he stops the game – before I’ve snapped to what was happening.
He’s screaming for me to leave the net area – the net is set up below the football goalposts.
So I move away from the net.
But that’s not good enough.
He motions for me to keep moving away from the net until I’m on the sidelines.
So when the game is over I walk over and hand him my Sentinel business card and I question why I was removed.
In broken English he tells me no one is allowed behind the goal.
I explain I’ve been shooting soccer games for at least a decade and many of those photographs were taken near the goal.
Photographers almost never get near the net or on the playing surface during a game.
There’s a gray line around the perimeter of a soccer game field and photographers aren’t to cross that line.
I wasn’t.
We generally follow the same rules during a high school football game.
The thing is, I shoot with a 300 mm lens.
That brings in the action quite well.
Getting in the area near the goal affords some of the best soccer and football shooting.
When an offensive team in either sport closes in on a goal the action is more intense and the photography is better.
Most of the photos you can see in my coverage of the Ladycat soccer last week was from the end zone area, which until last Friday was permitted.
I’ll need to work with Bay City High School coaches to get a sense of what’s allowed.
Mind you, my situation is from one official I never laid eyes on.
But there are far more photographers than me that would be affected.
I’m talking about conditions at every district soccer game and then beyond in the playoffs.
Anyway, I’ll live with the rules set down.
If that means taking all my shots from the sidelines, so be it.
I’ll do anything to keep from having the game stopped to drive me away.
