Student Athletic Media Credentials

Media Access Overview & Purpose

 Flagler Schools values the role of local and regional media in highlighting our student-athletes' achievements. To maintain a safe, secure environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors while providing fair access to legitimate news organizations, Flagler Schools enforces a standardized credentialing and sideline access policy across all district venues in compliance with School Board Policy 9150.

Important Note on Campus Authority
Media credentials grant access to designated working media areas only. Per District Policy, the Host School Principal, Athletic Director, and/or Game Day Administrator retains ultimate authority over campus access, sideline limits, safety enforcement, and any and all event operations. Credentials do not provide unrestricted access to team spaces or restricted campus areas.

Credential Categories & Eligibility
Media access is strictly reserved for legitimate news gathering, authorized school services, or educational sports journalism. Review the categories below to determine your access type and application route.

Category 1: District-Approved Media (Seasonal **or School-Year** Credential - THOUGHTS?)

Who Qualifies: Working members of recognized, professional news and sports outlets (print, broadcast, radio, and established digital publications) covering student/school/district news as a primary service to the general public.

Requirements:

• Active website featuring original, regular, fact-based sports coverage (social media handles alone do not qualify).
• Business verification (Official press organization membership or Tax Identification Number).
• Submission of a high-resolution, headshot digital photo for identity badging. (Possibly. Bandwidth Issue/Materials Issue?)

Benefits: Season-long credential pass, access to designated sideline/press areas, and waived venue admission for student-athletic events hosted by Flagler Schools.

Category 2: School Administration-Approved Media

Who Qualifies: Individuals invited and contracted or authorized by the host Principal, Athletic Director, or Head Coach to provide media services directly for that school, team, or program. Examples include yearbook staff, school student-journalists, team photographers, and booster-affiliated media. (YES or NO on this last one? I’d say no, to keep it clean.)

Requirements:

• Direct approval from the host Principal or Athletic Director. Head Coach may invite, but the final approval is with the Principal or Athletic Director.
• Completion of Flagler Schools Volunteer/Vendor Clearance (Level 1 Background Check). (I need clarification on this language.)
• Compliance with event-specific check-in and credentialing procedures.

Access Scope: Event- or season-specific access to serve the designated school program only. Commercial sale or usage of captured media for personal profit is strictly prohibited.

Category 3: Vendors or Freelancers

Who Qualifies: Individuals or businesses providing photography, videography, livestreaming, or recruiting profiles for commercial sale or personal profit (e.g., selling photo packages to parents, paid recruiting highlights).

Policy: Commercial media entities do not qualify for District Media Credentials or School Administration-Media access to student-athletic restricted areas.

Spectator Rules: Commercial vendors must purchase general admission tickets, enter through public gates, remain in general spectator seating, and refrain from obstructing spectator views or passages. Any sideline access request must be cleared in advance by the host Principal/AD and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
 

Application Process & Application Rules

All media representatives requesting access to Flagler Schools athletic events must submit an application online before visiting any campus or facility.

4-Step Credential Workflow

1. Submit Request Form: Complete the online credential form at least 10 business days prior to your target event. Each individual requiring access must submit a separate application.

(INSERT LINK - For being built now.)

2. Submit Business Verification & Photo: Provide proof of business/outlet status and upload a clear, passport-style headshot.
    
3. Background Screening:
   • Category 1 District-Approved Outlets: Processed through ______________ at no cost.
   • Category 2 / School Adminstration-Approved Outlets: Require Level 1 Volunteer/Vendor screening ($_____ fee if applicable). Under Florida Statute 943.04351, any criminal history disqualifying an individual from school employment will result in credential denial.
      
4. Credential Issuance: Approved media will receive a digital or physical event pass (thoughts?) detailing approved access zones.

Game-Day Rules & Code of Conduct

All credentialed media members are guests of Flagler Schools and must adhere to professional standards at all times. Failure to follow guidelines or directives from school administrators, game managers, or law enforcement will result in immediate credential revocation. Credentialed media members must enter through general admission gates in a first-come, first-served basis along with those purchasing tickets.

General Venue Protocols

Arrival & Gate Entry: Present your active credential pass and a valid government-issued ID at the main gate. If arriving during instructional school hours, you must check in at the front office first.

Parking: Designated media parking spaces are not guaranteed.

Equipment Checks: All camera bags, cases, and technical gear are subject to security searches upon arrival.

Attire: Professional attire is required. Outlets are strongly encouraged to wear branded apparel or media passes visibly at all times.

Guests & Family: Credentials are non-transferable. Spouses, children, or non-credentialed guests are not permitted in working media areas and must purchase a standard spectator ticket.

Prohibited Actions (Zero Tolerance)

Locker Room Entry: Absolutely no access to team locker rooms under any circumstances.

Unsanctioned Bench Access: Entering team bench, dugout, or sideline areas without explicit administrative permission.

Cheering/Bias: Cheering, shouting, or demonstrating active bias for or against any team, athlete, or official while working in an official capacity.

Interfering with Play or Fans: Obstructing spectator sightlines, standing in official timing paths, or blocking coaches and referees.

Commercial Rebroadcasting: Rebroadcasting or livestreaming any full athletic event without written consent from the host school Athletic Director and District Communications.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones): Drones are strictly forbidden on all Flagler Schools properties.
 

Sport-Specific Media Placement Guidelines

Media representatives must remain within restricted media zones. Sideline access between the 25-yard lines for football, and any and all team bench zones, is strictly off-limits across all outdoor sports. Flash photography is prohibited across all sports.

Football: Sidelines between the 25-yard-line and the back line of the end zone, as well as three yards or greater away from the sideline, away from the field of play, and    behind end zone perimeter hashes. Crossing the field is only permitted behind the end zone during play stoppages. Obey all referee positioning directives.

Basketball / Volleyball: Restricted to designated baseline photography areas outside the court boundaries. Photographers may not shoot from the court floor, behind team benches, or directly at the scorer’s table. (What are your current allowable areas for media in these events?) Obey all official positioning directives.

Baseball / Softball: All photographers must remain outside the playing field fences. Access to safe, designated inside camera bays (if applicable) is at the sole discretion of the host Athletic Director and Umpire Crew. Obey all umpire positioning directives.

Soccer: Sidelines outside team bench areas; avoid blocking spectator sightlines and stay off end lines. Obey all official positioning directives.

Track & Field / Cross Country: Must stay outside event running zones, timing lanes, and finish-line equipment paths. Obey all official positioning directives.

Swimming / Wrestling / Weightlifting: Must remain outside designated competition mats, platforms, and starting blocks. Obey all referee positioning directives. Obey all official positioning directives.

Student Safety, Privacy, & Interviews

Flagler Schools strictly protects student privacy and instructional time.

During School Hours & General Media Queries: Contact the District Communications Office directly for all general, academic, or non-game day requests.

Practice & Pre-Game Coverage: Pre-arrange with the host Principal and Athletic Director at least 24 hours in advance, copying District Communications. Any access request must be approved by those you are requesting the access from.

Post-Game Student Interviews: Post-game interviews on-site are permitted in designated post-game media zones. For any on-site or follow-up interviews involving student-athletes, school or district administration must approve the request in advance.
 

Contact & Media Relations

For questions regarding media credentials, district policy, or coverage requests:

District Communications: Don Foley, District Communications Coordinator

Email: foleyd@flaglerschools.com

Phone: (386) 437-7526, Extension 1124

Office Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM