Photographer's getting tossed

[HawkeyeCubP]

1. I think if photographers (and I've got to think most do) take the time to know and abide by the field/court rules (i.e. restraining lines, etc.) AND use common sense when court rules don't specifically apply (i.e. not shooting from the endline when there are less than 6 feet between it and the wall at high school basketball gyms), there would be little to no problems in this area.

2. I feel that if fields and courts are properly marked, and AD's make the rules and policies clear to those who have clearance to be around the field/court, there's not much to worry about.

3. On the football field this season, I experienced some way-too close lens by my head action as back judge outside the endline at a couple of games (this was, of course, at a field which did not have the new mandatory 3-yard broken restraining line around it).

4. I have, actually, moved back and forth slightly, adjusting my position at back judge in football (similar to one of the photographer posts described), and for a split second, did actually wonder if the photographers in that area thought I was intentionally messing with them. Then I snapped back onto my key for the play and forgot about them, until a deep pass play out the back of the endzone almost took one out.

5. And I'm positive I'd kill myself the first few times down some of the skinnier endlines at the NCAA D1A basketball level I see on tv. I personally think that the angled/too close photographer spaces in the NBA and some NCAA courts is completely unsafe. I know the leagues need the shots for marketing, but the athletes are big and fast, and come down very hard and cover a lot of ground when they do it.