I'm hearing alot of crazy stuff coming from the PA announcer as we travel to different stadiums across western Kentucky, and so I wanted to ask if the rules concerning PA announcers has changed.

From the NFHS website:

“Announcer’s Responsibilities:

The announcer’s role does not include “cheering the home team on” or otherwise inciting the crowd. Doing so is common at other levels of athletic events. But high school athletics is different because sports are educationally based.

In a very real sense, the public address announcer at a high school event is a

“Champion of Character”.

He/she can influence the atmosphere of the contest by what is said and how it is said.

The announcer who performs professionally promotes good sportsmanship by what

he/she says and how he/she acts upon saying it.”

Does this still apply?  Some of our PA announcers have clearly taken over as THE cheerleader. Am I being a bit old fashioned about this?

My experience is overwhelmingly a NKY one. I’ve been to a lot of playoff games in the Lexington and Louisville areas over the years and I don’t recall a PA guy being a true cheerleader. I do agree it should be a basic gain by player A tackle by player B and then down and distance.

9 minutes ago, GBR said:

I'm hearing alot of crazy stuff coming from the PA announcer as we travel to different stadiums across western Kentucky, and so I wanted to ask if the rules concerning PA announcers has changed.

From the NFHS website:

 

“Announcer’s Responsibilities:

The announcer’s role does not include “cheering the home team on” or otherwise inciting the crowd. Doing so is common at other levels of athletic events. But high school athletics is different because sports are educationally based.

In a very real sense, the public address announcer at a high school event is a

“Champion of Character”.

He/she can influence the atmosphere of the contest by what is said and how it is said.

The announcer who performs professionally promotes good sportsmanship by what

he/she says and how he/she acts upon saying it.”

Does this still apply?  Some of our PA announcers have clearly taken over as THE cheerleader. Am I being a bit old fashioned about this?

No your not.

 

6 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

My experience is overwhelmingly a NKY one. I’ve been to a lot of playoff games in the Lexington and Louisville areas over the years and I don’t recall a PA guy being a true cheerleader. I do agree it should be a basic gain by player A tackle by player B and then down and distance.

You've never been to Male then. Biggest cheerleader announcer in the Commonwealth. Lol.

Certain schools have had Cheerleader 1 in the pressbox calling the PA.  I would say most I encounter don't however.

Correct, I have only seen Male play at St X in a regional final. Decent game won by X. Maybe 2017? My brother in law lives about a mile from St X.

There’s lots of homers the most stupid one is and that’s another so and so team and the fans all scream first down there’s a bunch that do it and it sounds stupid they even do it when they are getting blown out so stupid.

3 hours ago, Tkinslow said:

There’s lots of homers the most stupid one is and that’s another so and so team and the fans all scream first down there’s a bunch that do it and it sounds stupid they even do it when they are getting blown out so stupid.

Yep

I have definitely noticed announcers not showing much if any love to opposing teams. I get its hard for announcers to be familiar with the away teams roster but I have heard some announcers that don't have any drop off as far as being able to "call" the game. When an announcer can really call a good game it does a lot for the whole experience. I think in most cases it's a choice where the announcer doesn't have any vested interest in the away team. I really respect a great announcer it shows passion for the game as a whole.

I remember some years ago, an announcer was basically calling play by play during the play. I remember him blatantly saying, "It's a screen pass!" As the pass was on the way. I don't know how much the players on the field were paying attention but he tipped off every play the opponents ran, over the PA as soon as the play started.

I have no problem with a PA guy getting a little excited on a first down or touchdown by the home team, afterall they are most assuredly a volunteer and a fan of the home team.

I think nowadays you are getting a lot of community volunteers who are just helping the team out by announcing. Not as many seasoned PAs for sure. They likely think you are supposed to do the "its 3rd down, make some noise", as well as the first down call out. 

Side note here. I have wanted to be an announcer since I was a youngin. As a child I remember thinking " I want to be the older fella one day up in the box calling it out. " I think that comes from hearing some really good ones as a child and myself having an unbiased true love for the game.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with PA announcers being homers/being more excited for their team.  That's what home field advantage is.  There is a line, though, in that you don't want to ever disparage the other team, incite people to boo them, or call out the referees but I'm fine if the PA person is excited about their team and then is monotone for the away team.

At Taylor County last Friday, their announcer sounds like a soccer announcer after every score, screaming Touchdown and drawing out the pronunciation for 30 or more seconds. Crazy. 

21 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

I remember some years ago, an announcer was basically calling play by play during the play. I remember him blatantly saying, "It's a screen pass!" As the pass was on the way. I don't know how much the players on the field were paying attention but he tipped off every play the opponents ran, over the PA as soon as the play started.

I have no problem with a PA guy getting a little excited on a first down or touchdown by the home team, afterall they are most assuredly a volunteer and a fan of the home team.

I think the officials should do something if the PA announcer is doing play by play. Either stop the play by play announcing or remove the announcer if he won't stop.

An appropriate amount of excitement is good. Cheerleading is not.

The yelling on every first down is obnoxious.