Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using IA HS Cross Country Ratings ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by the above, please do not use this Service.

2. Service Description

IA HS Cross Country Ratings provides performance analytics, rankings, and statistical information for Iowa high school cross country athletes. The Service includes:

• Athlete performance rankings and ratings
• Team performance analysis
• Statistical trends and forecasting
• Meet results compilation and organization
• User accounts for students, coaches, and general users

3. User Accounts and Eligibility

3.1 Age Requirements

The Service is intended for users who are at least 13 years old. Users registering as students must be in grades 8-12 (graduation years 2026-2030).

3.2 Account Types

• Students: Verified high school athletes with school email addresses
• Coaches: Verified school staff with appropriate credentials
• General Users: Public users with basic access

3.3 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to use the Service to:

• Violate any local, state, national, or international law
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Submit false or misleading information
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
• Use automated tools to access the Service without permission
• Interfere with the Service's operation or other users' enjoyment

5. Student Data and FERPA Compliance

5.1 Public Athletic Information

Athletic performance data displayed on the Service (race times, rankings, meet results) is derived from publicly available information from sanctioned athletic competitions. This information is considered "directory information" under applicable educational privacy laws.

5.2 School-Issued Email Addresses

The Service offers school-wide premium accounts that allow students to register using their school-issued email addresses (e.g., @schoolname.edu). By using a school-issued email address to create an account:

• You confirm that your school has authorized student use of this educational service
• You acknowledge that your school's purchase of a school-wide account constitutes consent for data collection
• Your email address is used solely to verify your school affiliation and enable access to premium features

5.3 Individual Premium Accounts

Individual premium accounts may be created using personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) and do not require school affiliation or consent.

5.4 Parental Rights and Opt-Out

Parents and eligible students have the right to:

• Request removal of their student's information from the Service
• Access and review data associated with their student account
• Request correction of inaccurate information

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected] within 7 business days.

5.5 Data Collection and Use

We comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and do not:

• Collect sensitive educational records (grades, disciplinary records, medical information)
• Share student information with third parties for commercial purposes
• Require students to provide unnecessary personal information

5.6 Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, secure password storage, and access controls to protect student information. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

6. Premium Subscriptions

6.1 Premium Account Types

The Service offers two types of premium subscriptions:

• Individual Premium: $19.99 per season for personal access with any email address
• School-Wide Premium: Bulk pricing for schools, enabling all students with school-issued email addresses to access premium features

6.2 School-Wide Account Terms

When a school purchases a school-wide premium account:

• All current students with the school's email domain automatically receive premium access
• Access is valid for the current cross country season only
• The school administrator responsible for the purchase confirms they have authority to authorize student participation
• Students must create individual accounts using their school email to access premium features

6.3 Payment and Billing

Premium subscriptions are processed through Stripe. All payments are subject to applicable sales tax. Prices are per-season and non-refundable except as required by law.

6.4 Tax Exemptions

Schools and educational institutions may be eligible for sales tax exemptions. Contact us at [email protected] with your tax-exempt certificate to request exemption status.

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its content, features, and functionality, is owned by IA HS Cross Country Ratings and is protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

8. Disclaimers

8.1 Service Availability

The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

8.2 Data Accuracy

While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all performance data, rankings, or statistics are error-free. Rankings and ratings are for informational purposes only.

8.3 Educational Purpose

The Service is intended for educational and informational purposes related to athletic performance analysis.

9. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall IA HS Cross Country Ratings be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service.

10. Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or engage in prohibited activities. Users may delete their accounts at any time through their account settings.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Users will be notified of material changes via email or through the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of new terms.

12. Governing Law

These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.