Question about etiquette when using flash during sporting events

[PhotoScout]

Is there ever an issue from the players if you use your flash?

I recently shot an indoor youth basketball game and didn't use flash for fear that it may disturb the players. Even with my fast lenses, very few images were decent. Most of our area schools are reducing their use of indoor lighting as a way of saving energy ($).

Is there an unwritten rule of etiquette?

Thanks for any and all advice on this.

[JoYork]

Is it possible for you to ask someone in charge before the game?

[ghaleon109]

I would like to know the answer to this as well... I don't shoot many sporting events now but just curious as to the answer.

Shot a lot of Downhill MTB a while back and alwas wondered if I'd get a rider or two who was disturbed by the flash, but I didn't and really doubt that I ever will.

I ride some too and my GF likes to shoot photos of it, and really with any sport your so focused on the task at hand that you sometimes don't notice the flash at all. And besides, it's not like any of the players will be looking DIRECTLY at the flash anyways so it's unlikely that they'd get blinded for a second or two from it.

Thats just my POV though, I'd like to hear what others have to say as well :)

[MikeKy55]

I was shooting volleyball this past weekend and another parent was using a point and shoot with flash. The ref stopped play and told him to either turn the flash off or stop shooting.

[slivr]

You can be shut down using flash by the officials, school athletic director, and/or the coaches at most school events and should heed them when told. Mostly depends on the sport and angle/location you select. Basketball flash from the end-court is considered disruptive by most coaches and can distract players a bit. You'll almost certainly catch the official's attention. But if you're on the corners or sidelines, most teams and officials don't seem to mind but you should ALWAYS use your fastest lens and/or largest aperture so that your flash is at FILL level rather than banging off like the old pop-out bulbs press photographers used. If you're allowed in the end-court try to stick with no flash, or the slightest amount of fill unless coach has given you permission to do otherwise. (And you'll probably need coaches permission to stand down there anyway) I've never been sent off when using just a fast lens without flash, but I'm posting images on a public website the athletes and coaches all visit regularly so it might be different if you're standing down there just to get little Johnnie in his big moment.

Volleyball in general is okay for flash. The players are focused with their eyes and faces upwards and usually not distracted by photogs on the sidelines so coaches don't mind it.

Football is at night-time and outdoors with crappy stadium lighting for most of the country. You'll need an f2.8 lens and flash-use is common. In fact, the newspapers almost always have their flash set for a fill amount to help stop action. HOWEVER: Be smart when you're taking that picture. I've shot football & basketball for a local high school 9 years running, and the only time I was chastised was when I stupidly popped a flash off in front of a receiver just as the ball got to him. (He dropped it and the coach snapped at me for flashing in his eyes - LOL). Now I use a Sigma 100-300 f2.8 or Canon's 70-200 f2.8L and don't need flash but I've never forgotten that. No one wants a coach snarling at them like a Marine drill sargent!

But since you're asking about etiquette - I'd also encourage you to speak with the coach briefly in advance and let them know you want to shoot, what it's for, and offer to make any quality images available to him/her as well. Preferably you can let them know at a practice or well before the game starts. In other words, don't try to hit them up 1 minute before tipoff or you wind up interrupting their team preparations. Plan ahead and tell them your intentions ... assuring them you won't do something stupid to distract their athletes instead of "asking" if it's okay and most will allow you access. I've always had better luck by emailing the coach a couple days ahead of season-start or the big-game rather than trying to track him down on the field or in the gym.

[RiSK]

Always check with the coach / officials. The high school's conference that our paper shoots for disallows flash for both Volleyball and Swimming.

One thing I've always tried is shooting a a half or full stop underexposed, with the hopes of bringing a shot up to acceptable levels in post processing. This way, you're able to bump up shutter speed to freeze action for a great shot. The disadvantages to this are obvious, however. Pictures may end up looking awful when trying to get their exposure up, or you may have a terrible amount of noise.

I shoot with a 70-200mm f/4L, and regret not dropping the extra $500 to go to 2.8. It's challenging, yeah, but I can pull it off most of the time.

In the end, while often times, athletes seem to be "in the zone" and are able to ignore flash, you should always check first before breaking out the flash.