I feel your pain Jim. I had a thread on this same thing a couple of years ago. Nothing drives me more batty than hearing "we" and "they" on the radio. However, I've also read many a game recap in the newspaper that never mentions one name from the other team. I've even seen stories that called the player "#84". I think both mediums need some work IMO

 

Heard it about 209740947238 times while covering the Meade County-Nelson County game last weekend.

 

Drove me up a wall, but what can you do?

Guys, I know it may be hard to believe, but not everyone who listens to your broadcasts is a diehard home team fan who has been listening to every second of the game. Some of us will scan the dial after leaving a game in hopes of checking out another game over the air, and maybe catching a thrilling ending.

 

As a result, we outside observers are coming in completely blind, and many of you announcers successfully keep us in the dark for several minutes at a time hoping to hear a score, the time left on the clock and what quarter it is, and the down and distance situations. Also, we don't know the players on a first-name basis, not being part of the "family" and all.

 

Announcers, you are the radio listener's eyes. Please give the score and time left more often than once every 10 minutes or so. Give first and last names, or at least the last name. Help us recreate in our heads the exciting action you are seeing live, rather than making us feel like uninvited guests to a homers-only party.

 

Some broadcasters paint the picture wonderfully, and I commend you for it. But with many others, it sometimes takes me 15 minutes just to figure out who's playing who and where.

I agree I hate checking a game out and not hearing a score or quarter until there is a time out. If I do not get info within five-ten minutes I put on another game.

Many good points. Here is what I tell football announcers.

 

Play-by-play: Down and distance and line of scrimmage every single play. Pick up the play when the huddle is broken and set the formation with the skill players in what positions. "First down and ten with the Tigers at their own 35 yard line. They come to the line in the power I formation, tight ends to both sides. Jones is on the back of the I. Smith goes under center......"

 

The PBP announcer is describing the action as it is happening. If he is always behind the action or trying to recap what just happened, then he is probably not doing a good job. He should not use phrases like "great play" or "beautiful run". He should be more descriptive by painting a picture of what is happening.

 

He should stop talking once the plays ends and the Color Commentator should pick it up to describe what just happened. Reminder: PBP Announcer describes what IS happening, Color Commentator describes what DID happen.

 

Try to work the time and score into the rhythm of every description of the formation and personnnel. Absolutley, positively give the score no less than every third play. Once the PBP announcer is sick of giving the score, the audience is just starting to notice that he is giving it.

 

The Play-By-Play announcer should always be the "straight man". While the Color Commentaror may be a colorful announcer with funny comments, the PBP announcer should play it straight.

 

Listen to recordings of your games. It will make a world of difference in your development.

 

Color Commentator

 

Number one rule: Do not talk while the Play-By-Play annoucner is talking. If both talk at the same time, neither will be heard/understood. He should start talking at the end of the play and stop talking when the offensive huddle is broken.

 

Do not use "we" or "us" or "they". I do have an exception to this rule (only because I can't fix it) with a former head coach who has a 20+ year relationship with the team. It is impossible for him to talk about the team in the third person so I quit trying to make him.

 

Do not criticize the coaching. Do explain what changes or decisions the coaches are making and let the audience decide whether it was a good choice.

 

Do not criticize the officials. Do explain what happened and if you saw it differently then you can say that. However, you should also be fair and explain that the official is on the field, with a better view and is trained to watch his area during the play.

 

Do not cirticize the players. Do explain what the player did and whether he had a different option on the play.

 

Do try to explain why a play worked or didn't work. Try to explain the strategies or options that a team has in certain situations. Try to add "color" to the broadcast by adding to the descriptions of the PBP announcer.

 

I really like to have the Color Commentator reset the action after a commercial break, "3:13 remaining in the game after the timeout by Bigsville, they will have it 4th down and 2 at the Goliath 44 yard line trailing 14-7. Here with the play-by-play is Curt Gowdy....."

 

There are many more do's and don'ts but just following these rules will make a world of difference.

^^^^Ladies and Gents...you just had your first crash course in sports radio broadcasting!! :lol::lol:

 

Seriously Mr. N....very true and well put!!! :thumb:

Mr. Network: Could you please run off several thousand copies of that and pass it out to every radio commentator on the planet?

 

Great advice! :thumb:

Well put, Mr. Network. :thumb:

I've known Mr. Network for quite a few years and the great thing about his words of advice is that he followed them. He was always one of the best in High School Sports I knew and always looking to make his broadcasts better from himself and others on the staff. :thumb:

 

(Of course you can only do so much with Nunnemaker! :lol:)

I've known Mr. Network for quite a few years and the great thing about his words of advice is that he followed them. He was always one of the best in High School Sports I knew and always looking to make his broadcasts better from himself and others on the staff.

I've heard some of his broadcasts too; and they are definitely first rate. :thumb:

I've known Mr. Network for quite a few years and the great thing about his words of advice is that he followed them. He was always one of the best in High School Sports I knew and always looking to make his broadcasts better from himself and others on the staff. :thumb:

 

(Of course you can only do so much with Nunnemaker! :lol:)

 

Hatz was no slouch, himself! He just happened to find a higher calling. :thumb:

 

All these years later and I am still working on this stuff. It is 8:00 Thursday night and I am editing audio for tomorrow night's broadcast that has been sent to me.

 

Check out this starting lineup introduction from a Lincoln County game a few weeks ago.

 

I am working on this week's starting lineup file right now.

Believe it or not, some of us, even though we are amateurs putting on an amateuer broadcast, try to be as professional as possible, do hours of pre-game planning/homework, attempt to be as objective as possible and provide the listener all of the tangible information as often as possible.

 

I use the term "we" because we (Brossart) are not a professional radio station broadcasting our games to the public, but a school sponsored webcast providing a lasting memory for our players, fans, and alumni. I know that the game archive will be listened to for years following the game (if it is memorable) and do root very strongly for our team, without being prejudicial towards our opponents.

 

I am fortunate to have a color man who understands the game, is knowledgeable of all of the teams/players with whom we compete and provides great insight into what he has just viewed - oh! did I mention has a incredible baritone "radio" voice.

 

We do take pride in our production and try to do the best we can with our limited resources. In reviewing Mr. Network's very constructive guidelines, I think that we would receive passing grades on most of his major points. Yes, we do talk over each other on occasion, and yes I get caught up in the "great play" syndrome on occasion. Like the players, we have good broadcasts and some not-so-good ones. I listen to our replays religiously and always try to improve or make suttle changes in our presentation. I think our fans enjoy our productions and appreciate our volunteer efforts.

Check out this starting lineup introduction from a Lincoln County game a few weeks ago.

Great introductions! There is nothing like a player himself getting involved in your broadcast.

 

It shows me that you care very much about the team you are supporting and willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.

 

Very nice touch!

Well put, Mr. Network. :thumb:

 

:thumb: Couldn't agree more. My only other pet-peeve that hasn't been mentioned are the announcers who misuse "up" and "down" with regards to plays and field position.

 

Was always told to think of the field as a hill (with the 50 yard line being the crest). When you're on your side of midfield...with any positive play you were moving "up". (As in "Granger takes the pitch, turns the corner and gets all the way UP to the 42 before he's pushed out of bounds.") However, once you cross midfield (into your opponents territory)...any positive play moves you "down" the field.

 

Just a small thing I know...but still irks me when I hear it misused.

All these years later and I am still working on this stuff. It is 8:00 Thursday night and I am editing audio for tomorrow night's broadcast that has been sent to me.

 

Ahhhh...the days of working HOURS on a project that turns out to be MINUTES (if not SECONDS!!) in length...and only airs ONCE!!!! Gotta love your job and take pride in your work to do that.

 

Keep the faith! :thumb::thumb:

The guys on 107.9 out of Warsaw I believe do an excellent job in covering the games that they do and seem to be very impartial. I know Matt Buttelswerth and Aaron Stamm are 2 of the announcers but I also know there are one or 2 more who's names I can't remember.. Keep up the good work gentlemen.

 

Thanks HJ!!! Appreciate the props. We have "The Coach" Aaron Stamm and Adam Kiefaber as our main team. For two guys that have never worked together before, their chemistry is building with each game. They don't "walk" on each other during a play......much. I am very pleased with how the guys sound. The Coach and I will be at Dixie for the Colonels homecoming game tonight against Conner.....on tape delay.:madman:

 

I try to point out things that the guys can work on to improve their call. Some are the points in the posts above. We'll take the other things into account as well. We try to give the score and time remaining often. Sometimes we forget, but we get it on as much as possible.

 

We're just getting started with games, but we're going to be around for a long time. We're not just in Warsaw, but all over. Used to be Gallatin, but everywhere now. Football and then Boys and Girls Basketball this year too.

:thumb: Couldn't agree more. My only other pet-peeve that hasn't been mentioned are the announcers who misuse "up" and "down" with regards to plays and field position.

 

Was always told to think of the field as a hill (with the 50 yard line being the crest). When you're on your side of midfield...with any positive play you were moving "up". (As in "Granger takes the pitch, turns the corner and gets all the way UP to the 42 before he's pushed out of bounds.") However, once you cross midfield (into your opponents territory)...any positive play moves you "down" the field.

 

Just a small thing I know...but still irks me when I hear it misused.

 

It is the same thing with "inside" and "crossing". If you are moving downhill from the 50 yard line, then you go "inside" the 30 yard line, not "across" the 30 yard line. If you are moving uphill towards the 50 yard line, then the opposite is true:"across" the 30 yard line, not "inside" the 30 yard line.

 

Also, giving the time is not enough....you need to give the quarter, too. I get very frustrated when I hear "the score is tied with one minute to play." I am getting ready for last minute heroics and then find out that they are in the 3rd quarter when the time undramatically runs out.