There has been a lot of talk on the TPA list server recently about an issue that affects most newspapers — photographing high school sports.

Several photographers at different newspapers have said that referees have prevented them from using a flash during indoor games this year. The problem also occurred last year. In the worst case a Huntsville Item photographer was even arrested after a tussle with game officials in College Station.

After receiving complaints from members on this issue, the TPA staff researched it and in September ran an article in the Messenger explaining the University Interscholastic League’s rules on flash photography.

But here’s the crux — there are no “rules.” UIL prohibits the media from using flash photography, other than strobe, at state tournaments but says it has no jurisdiction over other events.

Discretion then is left up to the hosting school and the on-site game officials.

The article also quoted a spokesman with the Texas Association of Sports Officials who agreed that it’s totally an arbitrary system but said the media is a “non-factor.” Referees are there to officiate the game first and foremost, the spokesman said.

Even though there are no “rules” per se, UIL and TASO both agree that an official has the right to tell a photographer to stop using flash or stop photographing the event entirely if he or she feels it is affecting the game.

Apparently it’s a judgment call solely up to the referee or local school official.

So that means a photographer covering a game in South Texas could have a completely different experience than a Panhandle photographer. One might go the whole sports season without incident while the other is hassled by officials every time he or she tries to photograph a game.

So in the absence of clear, written guidelines from UIL we are on our own when it comes to covering sporting events.

Frankly, I think that’s a good thing.

While several TPA members have called for a “meeting of the minds” to address this issue on a state level, that’s a difficult bridge to cross and we may not like what we find on the other side.

If TPA were to ask UIL for a statewide rule, it might backfire into a prohibition and the newspapers that are not having problems now could be faced with turning off their flashes.

Several members who had problems with referees settled it easily after talking to their local school officials about the alternative — no flash, no coverage.

When faced with the prospect of no photos of its students the district will realize the importance the local newspaper plays in the community.

I encourage photographers to contact game officials prior to each contest. A little courtesy introduction and display of your TPA press card can go a long way toward improving relations.

We all want to do the best we can to cover our communities, and working these issues out locally is the best way to do that.