1. Overview & Data Controller

ConferenceCentral Sports ("we," "our," or "us") is operated independently by John Emery. We are committed to transparency and respect for user privacy. This Privacy Policy details the types of information collected when you access our website, how that data is used, and how it is secured.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the minimal information required to provide core tournament and bracket functionality:

• Account Registration Data: When creating an account, you provide a username and password. We may also collect an optional contact email for account recovery. Passwords are immediately hashed using one-way cryptographic algorithms (PBKDF2-SHA256) and cannot be viewed by site administrators.
• Bracket Selections & Pick'em Entries: Team picks, simulated outcomes, tiebreaker scenario saves, and poll votes submitted to the platform.
• Ephemeral Guest Data: Temporary identifiers assigned to guest users to enable instant demo access. These sessions automatically expire after 2 hours.
• Technical & Server Logs: Standard HTTP server logs including IP addresses, browser user-agent, operating system, and request timestamps, used strictly for system security, anti-abuse monitoring, and diagnosing server errors.

3. Cookies & Local Storage

We use essential first-party cookies strictly necessary for application functionality:

• sessionid: Keeps you securely logged in to your account during your browsing session.
• csrftoken: Protects against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks when submitting picks or forms.
• Local Storage: Saves your selected school theme color (e.g., Kansas Crimson, Houston Scarlet, Baylor Green) locally on your device for consistent display.

No Third-Party Ad Cookies: ConferenceCentral Sports does not employ cross-site tracking cookies, invasive analytics pixels, or commercial data profiling networks.

4. How We Use Information

Information collected is used strictly for:

• Authenticating your user account and managing active sessions.
• Scoring your bracket challenges and compiling public leaderboards and digital trophies.
• Preventing spam, bot abuse, and unauthorized access attempts.

5. Zero Selling or Commercial Sharing

We do not sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information to third parties or marketing brokers. We will only disclose user data if required by law or a valid court subpoena issued by law enforcement authorities.

6. Data Retention & Account Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your account, brackets, and personal data at any time. To request complete removal from our database, email the webmaster with your registered username:
Email: john.p.emery@gmail.com

7. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

ConferenceCentral Sports is not directed toward children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us for immediate removal.

8. Contact & Webmaster

If you have any questions, privacy concerns, or feedback regarding this policy, please contact:
John Emery, Webmaster & Founder
Email: john.p.emery@gmail.com