Photo not allowed at intramural sports. Anyone else?

I wanted to try shooting some intramural soccer at my university (U of Maryland). I haven't done much sports and figured this would be an easy way to try and no problem since there where a lot of games and "low level" so who would care right?
At a game I was told to go to the intramural sports office to get permission; ok no problem. But there I was told to contact the media coordinator or something for the school sports. Called him and was asked some standard questions: It's just for my hobby, no publication etc. I was told photography at these "events" was something they didn't allow. Some of the participants might not want their picture taken and I could use them in an "inapropiate manner", whatever that means. And I didn't know anyone on the team, otherwise it sounded like that could be allowed, but not the other team then I guess?
At some point there was also some mention of needing a model release for each team member, which sounded excessive to me but didn't ask about that

Sorry for a long boring story. It's their school, they can of course do whatever they want. I have give up on this crap and will look for something else. But I was just wondering if anyone else has been through the red tape around intramural sports and did or did not get permission?

Wow.

It sounds like another stupid limit based on the size of your camera and with technology that standard will not hold up in the next few years. Camera phones will easily equal today's point and shoots in general quality and point and shoots will give us near SLR like files (without the advantages of DOF, lens quality, extreme ISO, etc).

So will they prohibit cell phone cameras now, too?

Anyway, that is my technology based rant; I have no idea how legal or illegal the limitation is on a college campus.

Hey, it's Washington, DC. It can be stupid and not make any sense. Most of what comes out of there is that way.

It sucks but if the games are being played on University property, then it's their ball and their rules...

Trust me, it won't be the last time you run up against seemingly inane regulations...

I shoot my son's Pop Warner games to share with the other parents. I dare not aim a lens at one of the Junior Midget cheerleaders for fear of arrest and prosecution.

I am sure you could find a high school in the area that would be more than happy to let you snap away for a few good shots.

Like I said I won't even bother trying this anymore. Was going to go to the school team's soccer matches too, but now I fear how it will there..

hehe, yeah Stephen, was also going to be careful to shoot only when there were guys playing. If there were any girls there I would be afraid of being thought of as a pervert.

Decided to look at other sports clubs in the area. Found an amateur rugby team that looks like it's full of old dudes, hoping they are nicer

A friend here in the Portland area shoots high school girls volley ball quite successfully. It's a great market. Have to be cleared with the school but that doesn't seem to be an issue.

ObiDamnKenobi wrote in post #6313551
Like I said I won't even bother trying this anymore. Was going to go to the school team's soccer matches too, but now I fear how it will there...

If you thought Intramural was tough...

You ain't seen nothin' if you try just "showing up" at an NCAA sanctioned sporting event...

Why not apply to shoot for the school paper?

You don't need a model release to shoot, only to sell. And even then not always.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #6313572
If you thought Intramural was tough...

You ain't seen nothin' if you try just "showing up" at an NCAA sanctioned sporting event...

Why not apply to shoot for the school paper?

hmmm... few years ago I shot quite a few gymnastic meets at Michigan State... gripped 20D, Sigma 120-300 on a monopod... no one ever looked twice... LOL!

Perhaps it wasn't an actually NCAA sanctioned event... but i was still surprised no one asked me anything when i came through the gate with my BIG old camera bag... LOL

next thing you know will be a prohibition on pics in any national or state park because the "photography contract" was awarded to some company out of Guadulawhothehellcares​...ain't amerika grand?

I find it ironic that such strict sporting rules exist for that institution, where fans are allowed to riot and maliciously harass opposing basketball players.

(Sorry, as a fellow ACC alumnus, I had to get that dig in. )

Seriously, though... I think this may be one of those situations where it would have been easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Pretty lame policy, imo.

Those rules are in place to protect the athletes eligibility and the school. College level sports is serious business for both the school and sports photographers who are hired to capture the games for school media content. Trust me when I say that the school will always side with the athlete and the photographer under contract. That SID doesn't know who you are or what your intent with the photos is. To him you are just some GWC and giving him the same story he hears a thousand times a year. When I got my contract I had to go through local, and federal background checks, credit check, 5 business references, and 5 personal references. I later found out that they call each and every reference and had a list of 20 questions they asked each one. My point is that in todays day and age with college student bashing sites, everyone having photoshop, myspace, facebook, everyone suing for everything etc. It is the schools duty to go to extreme lengths to protect students. Just because you told the SID or whoever that this was your hobby and you just want practice doesn't mean that you are telling him the truth. You could be a pedophile, stalker, prankster, normal guy, or the grand old duke of York for all he knows.

Just want to add that we had a related discussion about the NCAA rules here in this thread. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=567897