Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

Cookies help us understand how you use our website, remember your preferences, and improve your overall experience on The Hockey Directory.

2. How We Use Cookies

The Hockey Directory uses cookies and similar tracking technologies for the following purposes:

• Essential website functionality and security
• Remembering your preferences and settings
• Analyzing how visitors use our website
• Improving website performance and user experience
• Authenticating users and preventing fraud
• Measuring the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt out of these cookies.

• Authentication cookies: Keep you logged in as you navigate the site
• Security cookies: Protect against CSRF attacks and ensure secure connections
• Load balancing cookies: Distribute traffic across our servers

3.2 Performance Cookies

These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often and if users receive error messages. These cookies don't collect personally identifiable information.

• Analytics cookies: Help us understand user behavior and improve our website
• Error tracking cookies: Help us identify and fix technical issues

3.3 Functionality Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your location or language) and provide enhanced, personalized features.

• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Location cookies: Remember your location for distance-based search
• UI customization cookies: Remember your display preferences

3.4 Targeting/Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and your interests. They also help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

• Advertising cookies: Track your browsing habits to show relevant ads
• Social media cookies: Enable social sharing functionality
• Retargeting cookies: Show you ads for services you've viewed

4. Third-Party Cookies

We work with third-party service providers who may also set cookies on your device when you visit our website. These include:

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymous information such as:

• Number of visitors to the site
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Geographic location (country/region level)
• Device and browser information

Google Analytics Privacy Policy

4.2 Google OAuth

When you sign in with Google, Google sets cookies to manage your authentication session. This allows you to stay logged in across sessions.

4.3 Vercel Analytics

Our hosting provider, Vercel, uses analytics cookies to monitor website performance and user experience.

5. Cookie Duration

Cookies can be either session cookies or persistent cookies:

5.1 Session Cookies

These cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser. They help us track your movement from page to page so you don't have to re-enter information.

5.2 Persistent Cookies

These cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them. They help us remember your preferences for future visits.

• Authentication cookies: Up to 30 days
• Preference cookies: Up to 1 year
• Analytics cookies: Up to 26 months
• Advertising cookies: Up to 13 months

6. How to Control Cookies

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences through:

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner where you can accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer.

6.2 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
• Block all cookies from specific websites
• Block all third-party cookies
• Block all cookies from all websites
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser

Here's how to manage cookies in popular browsers:

• Chrome: Cookie settings for Chrome
• Firefox: Cookie settings for Firefox
• Safari: Cookie settings for Safari
• Edge: Cookie settings for Edge

6.3 Opt-Out Tools

You can also use these tools to opt out of certain types of tracking:

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out
• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out

7. Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you choose to disable cookies, some features of our website may not function properly:

• You may not be able to stay logged in
• Your preferences and settings may not be saved
• Some features may not work as intended
• You may have to re-enter information on each visit

Please note that disabling cookies will not prevent you from browsing our website, but it may impact your experience.

8. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that lets you tell websites you don't want your online activities tracked. We honor DNT signals and will not track your activity when a DNT signal is present.

9. Other Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, we may use other tracking technologies:

9.1 Web Beacons

Small graphic images (also known as pixel tags) that work with cookies to identify users and track behavior.

9.2 Local Storage

HTML5 local storage that allows us to store data locally in your browser for better performance and user experience.

9.3 Session Storage

Temporary storage that is cleared when you close your browser tab.

10. Cookie List

Here's a detailed list of cookies we use:

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Displaying a prominent notice on our website
• Sending you an email notification (if you have an account)

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or other tracking technologies, please contact us:

Email: privacy@thehockeydirectory.com

Website: https://thehockeydirectory.com