Erskine College Athletics

The following policies and procedures are put in place to help serve the needs of the media while complying with NCAA rules and regulations regarding student-athlete privacy and access. The Sports Information Office and the Marketing and Communications Office coordinate all publicity and promotional needs of the Erskine College Department of Athletics. For more information, or if you have questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:  Ben Auten, Sports Information Director, auten@erskine.edu, 843-822-5340

Erskine Sports Information Policies and Media Services
 
Name Usage – Erskine College
For game stories and news items, please use “Erskine” or “Erskine College.”
Erskine’s nickname is “Flying Fleet,” or “Fleet” for all sports teams and should be referenced as such in all publications. Please do not use “Lady Flying Fleet” or “Lady Fleet.”
 
Interviews
All interviews with Erskine College student-athletes or coaches must be arranged through the Erskine Sports Information Office. Media should never contact a player or coach directly. Media may schedule interviews during the week if first arranged through the Erskine Sports Information Office. Interviews with student-athletes and coaches may be granted before or after practice only if arrangements have been made with the Erskine College Sports Information Office. Player interviews will not be permitted before contests on game days.
 
Postgame Interviews
Interviews with Fleet athletes after games, matches, and all other athletic events may be conducted in the preapproved designated areas following a minimum NCAA-mandated 10-minute cooling-off period. Fleet coaches can be interviewed following a brief postgame meeting with their respective teams. Opposing coach and player interviews will be granted in accordance with the policies of the visiting sports information staff and/or head coach.
 
Radio
Requests for radio broadcasts must be made at least one week (seven days) prior to the contest in order to reserve appropriate press box space. Media must display both radio station credentials and Erskine-issued credentials at all times. Please address interview requests, credential requests, and any other questions to Sports Information Director Ben Auten at 843-822-5340 or auten@erskine.edu
 
Television
Requests for television broadcasts must be made at least one week (seven days) prior to the contest in order to reserve appropriate press box space. Media must display television station credentials and Erskine-issued credentials at all times. Please address interview requests, credential requests, and any other questions to Sports Information Director Ben Auten at 843-822-5340 or auten@erskine.edu
 
Photographers/Videographers
All media must obtain a media credential through the Erskine Sports Information Office in order to shoot on game days. Photographers/videographers are asked to stay at least 10 feet from the playing surface and shoot from standard shooting positions. Photographers/videographers also must remain in the NCAA-designated areas to shoot. Flash photography is prohibited. Basketball and football photographers/videographers must have a pass for sideline access.
 
Attending practice
Practice policies vary per sport but are generally open to the media. Prior knowledge of attendance is required by the Sports Information Office and the requested sport’s head coach. Upon entering any practice facility, cell phones must be on silent. Guidelines for video, still photography, and social media during practice will vary depending on the sport. 
 
Game Day Coverage/Services
Media representatives covering any contest hosted by Erskine College are asked to inform the Sports Information Office of their attendance. For basketball and football, contact Andrew Preston for a press box or sideline pass. For other sports, press credentials are not provided; however, space at press row is very limited.
 
Pregame information, game notes, statistics, rosters, and game programs will be provided online at www.erskinesports.com, and limited materials will be available on-site for the working media prior to the contest. A contest statistical package will be available to press approximately 10 minutes following the conclusion of the game after computerized in-game statistics are compiled.
 
Prohibited Access
Being within the confines of the designated player and coaching areas at all venues during game day is prohibited. Off-limits areas include all locker rooms, coaches’ boxes at J.W. Babb Stadium (football), dugouts and foul territory (softball and baseball), sideline benches (soccer), and coaches’ boxes and benches (basketball and volleyball). Any and all playing surfaces at our facilities, including foul territory, is off limits until completion of the game and the designated 10-minute cooling off period.
 
Parking
Parking is free for all EC athletic events (with the exception of football) on a first-come, first-serve basis. Football parking passes at J.W. Babb Stadium are limited, and more information is available on Erskine’s website.
 
Credentials
All game day credentials for media must be obtained through the Erskine Sports Information Office. Credentials will only be issued to working media, and members of the media will be required to work in designated areas. All media must follow NCAA and Athletic Department rules and regulations.
 
Applications for working press credentials must be made at least three days in advance (at least five days in advance for football) of the game to be covered by emailing Ben Auten at auten@erskine.edu. Upon acceptance, appropriate credentials will be held for pick-up at the designated box office of each event.

Credential questions?
Ben Auten, Sports Information Director
843-822-5340
auten@erskine.edu

Erskine College has the right to deny or revoke credentials at any time at its own discretion. 
 
Press Box/Row
Members of the working media have priority to the press box at J.W. Babb Stadium (football), Huggins Field (soccer and lacrosse), Grier Field (baseball), and the Erskine softball complex as well as press row at Belk Arena (basketball and volleyball) once all game personnel needs are met. The J.W. Babb Stadium press box is located at the top of the home bleachers. Press row is located at the end of the scorer’s table in between the team bench areas.

• All media are advised to notify the Erskine College Sports Information Office at least three days in advance of the contest to request credentials which will either be mailed in advance or available for pickup at the ticket table at all admission contests.
• The press box and press row are a working facility, and cheering will not be permitted.
• No one will be permitted to enter these areas without appropriate credentials.
• Profanity is not permitted.
• Game notes, programs, and media guides (if applicable) will be available approximately one hour before the scheduled starting time of EC athletic events. Box scores will be available during halftime and at the conclusion of the game.
• Cell phone usage is not permitted in sports information/media areas, with the exception of emergencies or calls directly related to the event taking place.
• Food and drink are permitted, but please dispose of trash properly. Sunflower seeds are not permitted.
• Alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited at Erskine College athletic events.
• Violations of the policies above can result in dismissal from the sports information/media area or even from the event itself.