Say goodbye to my award-winning live blogging ….

… OK, maybe not an award-winning live blog segment, but fans who follow our local teams playing in championship games are never out of the loop with up-to-the-minute updates such as my live blogging from last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division V baseball championship game pitting Maranatha vs. Woodcrest Christian.

That night, CIF-SS spokesman Thom Simmons informed me the Southern Section would soon take action and restrict live blogging this upcoming season. This much I had already seen coming since other high school sports governing bodies were doing the same in other states, a ruiling that will affect the way we cover sports in this ever-evolving digital era.

So, say goodbye to our live blogging. The Southern Section office released this statement today:

Each Credential Holder (including television, Internet, new media, and print publications) has the privilege to blog during competition through the Credential Entity.

However, the blog may not produce in any form a “real-time” description of the event. Real-time is defined by the CIF-SS as a continuous play-by-play account or live, extended live/real-time statistics, or detailed description of an event. Live-video/digital images or live audio are not permitted.

Each of the aforementioned descriptions is exclusive to the CIF-SS Web site and/or any other Web site designated by the CIF-SS and its rights holders.
Periodic updates of scores, statistics or other brief descriptions of the competition throughout the event are acceptable.

Credential Holder agrees that the determination of whether a blog is posting a real-time description shall be in the CIF-SS’ sole discretion. If the CIF-SS deems that a Credential Holder is producing a real-time description of the contest, the CIF-SS reserves all actions against Credential Holder, including but not limited to the revocation of the credential.

If media intend to blog at a CIF-SS championship event, the media entity must indicate so through the credentialing process.

Any media entity posting a blog during a CIF-SS championship must submit a direct link to the blog to www.cifss.org. In return, all media entities entering a blog must post the CIF-SS logo/link on their site. All blogs must be free of charge to readers. All must adhere to the conditions and limitations of this CIF-SS Blogging Policy.

Video “blogging” of a CIF-SS event may not exceed more than 15 total minutes in duration and cannot include consecutive game action.

The CIF-SS and its designated championship personnel shall be the final authority on whether a Credential Holder or Credential Entity is following the CIF-SS Blogging Policy.

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