The standards that keep every piece of PSC coverage consistent, professional, and worthy of the athletes and communities we serve.
Every story, photo, video, and credential that carries the Prep Sports Central name reflects on the entire network. These guidelines ensure that whether you're in Virginia or California, the PSC brand means the same thing: professional, accurate, community-first sports journalism.
All State Directors, photographers, freelancers, and media partners are required to follow these standards. Questions? Contact your State Director or reach corporate through the partner portal.
Prep Sports Central speaks with the authority of a professional sports outlet and the warmth of someone who actually went to the game. We're enthusiastic without being a fan. We're thorough without being dry. We respect the athletes, the coaches, and the communities we cover.
Write in plain, confident English. Avoid jargon, corporate-speak, and clichés. Lead with the action. Name the players. Give the score. Tell us why it matters.
Third person for game coverage and features — always. First-person plural ("we," "our") is acceptable for editorial notes or explicitly branded PSC commentary, but never in a game recap.
Use full name on first reference, last name only thereafter. Include grade level and school on first reference in game coverage. Do not editorialize about a player's future prospects without sourced information.
On social platforms, conversational language is appropriate. In published articles, game recaps, and features, keep the copy professional. Never mock opponents, officials, or coaches, regardless of platform.
Minimum 2,000 px on the longest edge. JPEG saved at 85–95% quality. RGB color space. No heavy vignettes, over-processing, or visible grain at web sizes.
Sharp focus on the primary subject. Anticipate the peak action — not the follow-through. Avoid clutter in the frame. Rule-of-thirds for portraits; fill the frame for action.
Every published photo needs a caption: athlete name, school, sport, date, and the photographer's name. No uncaptioned photos on the PSC main site.
Modern smartphones can meet our technical standards. The key is sharpness and composition — not the device. Photos must still meet the 2,000 px minimum and be clearly in focus on the subject.
PSC-credentialed photographers should not add personal watermarks to images published on PSC properties. The photo credit in the caption is sufficient attribution. Branded PSC watermarks may be applied by State Directors per the corporate template only.
No. All photographs published on PSC properties must be real images of real events, athletes, and games. AI-generated or heavily composited images are not permitted in editorial contexts.
The PSC logo may only be used in its official downloaded form. No modifications, color changes, effects, or distortions are permitted. For questions about co-branding or licensed usage, contact the corporate office.
The FLOWW logo appears only in the footer of PSC corporate properties and in explicitly approved FLOWW co-brand contexts. It is not interchangeable with the PSC logo.
The PSC logo should never appear at less than 80px wide in digital contexts or 0.75 inches wide in print. At smaller sizes, legibility is compromised.
Always preserve clear space equal to the cap-height of the "P" in "PSC" on all four sides of the logo mark.
A PSC credential is a professional responsibility. When you accept a credential, you agree to represent the network with the highest standards of conduct — on the field, in the press box, and in every interaction with athletes, coaches, officials, and school administrators.
Credentials are issued through Streamline and are non-transferable. Any misuse may result in permanent revocation and removal from the PSC network.
Do not create a confrontation. Document the interaction, leave promptly, and contact your State Director. The corporate team will follow up with the school's athletic department through the appropriate channels.
Your PSC credential covers assignments accepted through the PSC network. Using it for independent or competing publications is a violation of credential policy and grounds for revocation.
Run through every item before submitting or publishing any content on a PSC property.
Work through the PSC training modules to apply these standards in the field — from brand and editorial to shooting, editing, and growing your state.
Go to Training