akptc
Shoot first, think later
I am looking for advice on how to deal with a city which is preventing me from photographing my 9 year old daughter’s softball games. Since her t-ball days, I have been documenting my kid’s sport’s activities including official games. I’ve taken some awesome action shots of her playing t-ball, soccer, and now – softball, which I know she will appreciate even more when she grows up. Starting about a year and a half ago, nearly all of her games are now inside fenced ballparks. Until recently, that has never been an issue as I would simply ask the coaches’ permission to be on the outskirts of the field and snap away with my telephoto lens without getting in anyone’s way. I've never once heard a single complaint from anyone about my presence there.
A couple of seasons ago, while taking pictures of my daughter who was about to hit her home run, the umpire – a 7-foot tall, scary looking monster of a man - charged at me yelling to get the hell out of the field. I will admit that it freaked me out. I complied, assuming some city regulation was being violated by my presence there. I am not sure if the (retired) professional umpires are paid by the city or are doing this as volunteers, but they are definitely acting as the city’s agents.
Subsequently, I spoke with a uniformed city person who supervises events at the ballpark. I asked whether there was some official policy that prevented parents from photographing their children from inside the field. He said no and added that it was up to the umpire and that if I had any troubles with that, just to talk to him.
To be sure, I called the city’s recreation office and spoke with some kind of a Supervisor, who initially was not aware of any policies on the issue but asked his Supervisor in turn. This time I was told that the city prefers that parents not enter the field anywhere (even if it’s at the very end, where no kid stands a chance of hitting the ball). So I asked why that was. His response was that if they allowed one parent, they would have to allow all parents to enter the field. I then tried to explain that I always have the coaches’ permission and stay out of everyone’s way. I politely offered to sign any kind of waiver (assuming that the city was concerned about my safety and their liability) that they wanted. But, the guy kept repeating that what his Supervisor said was law. So I asked him to point me to the official city policy if they had one. He then quickly assured me that that indeed there was one and he would send it to me. That was nearly a month ago and I have not heard back from him.
Now, I am not a fan of causing trouble for me or the city I live in, I just want to have some memories saved for later. But here the city’s response just does not make sense to me. If they are worried about liability in case I get hit with a ball, I offered to sign a waiver. If they are afraid that a herd of camera-wielding parents will overrun the ball field during a game then they’ve never seen a kid softball game here, plus, if that was ever to occur, the coach is “law” on the field.
So, I find myself a bit confused and – frankly – unpleasantly surprised by this turn of events. Before I storm the city carrying a righteously pissed-off parent flag, I would like to find out how this issue is addressed in other US cities. Any softball or baseball parents out there?
A couple of seasons ago, while taking pictures of my daughter who was about to hit her home run, the umpire – a 7-foot tall, scary looking monster of a man - charged at me yelling to get the hell out of the field. I will admit that it freaked me out. I complied, assuming some city regulation was being violated by my presence there. I am not sure if the (retired) professional umpires are paid by the city or are doing this as volunteers, but they are definitely acting as the city’s agents.
Subsequently, I spoke with a uniformed city person who supervises events at the ballpark. I asked whether there was some official policy that prevented parents from photographing their children from inside the field. He said no and added that it was up to the umpire and that if I had any troubles with that, just to talk to him.
To be sure, I called the city’s recreation office and spoke with some kind of a Supervisor, who initially was not aware of any policies on the issue but asked his Supervisor in turn. This time I was told that the city prefers that parents not enter the field anywhere (even if it’s at the very end, where no kid stands a chance of hitting the ball). So I asked why that was. His response was that if they allowed one parent, they would have to allow all parents to enter the field. I then tried to explain that I always have the coaches’ permission and stay out of everyone’s way. I politely offered to sign any kind of waiver (assuming that the city was concerned about my safety and their liability) that they wanted. But, the guy kept repeating that what his Supervisor said was law. So I asked him to point me to the official city policy if they had one. He then quickly assured me that that indeed there was one and he would send it to me. That was nearly a month ago and I have not heard back from him.
Now, I am not a fan of causing trouble for me or the city I live in, I just want to have some memories saved for later. But here the city’s response just does not make sense to me. If they are worried about liability in case I get hit with a ball, I offered to sign a waiver. If they are afraid that a herd of camera-wielding parents will overrun the ball field during a game then they’ve never seen a kid softball game here, plus, if that was ever to occur, the coach is “law” on the field.
So, I find myself a bit confused and – frankly – unpleasantly surprised by this turn of events. Before I storm the city carrying a righteously pissed-off parent flag, I would like to find out how this issue is addressed in other US cities. Any softball or baseball parents out there?
