THEVOICENATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCERS

brad rumblepresidentexecutive director

tom buschsecretary

jeff kurtzp.a. announcerkent state university

mark millsp.a. announcermissouri state high school activities association

gary williamsstadium announceroakland raiders

board of directors

With football season just around the corner, we thought it would be prudent to spend some time on the football spotter--how they can be used most effectively. Since expectations for spotters vary depending on the P.A. announcer, we obtained input from P.A. announcers who each announce at a different level to compare their

expectations for working with a spotter.

Participating are Jim Riebandt, Stadium Announcer for the Chicago Bears, Jim Finnen, Football P.A. Announcer for Lafayette College in Easton, PA, and David Ceule, P.A. Announcer, Blue Springs (MO) High School. Below is what they had to say.

James FinnenLafayette College How does a P.A. announcer and his or her spotter prepare for the upcoming game? Well, for the football season, that

preparation begins late in the summer, well before the opening game.

I’ll be entering my 48th season as the public address announcer for the Leopards of Lafayette College, and spotter Tom Golden has been at my side for almost all of those years.

Tom and I make an appointment to visit the Athletic Communications office in the late summer, and spend as much time as needed with the Sports Information Director. We like to get re-acquainted with the staff, meet new members of the SID office, the athletic communications people, and the Athletic Directors office.

working with your spotter

August 2012

continued on p. 2

Teamwork between the P.A, announcer and the spotter is important.

James Finnen

credit: LSU Tigers

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Then, we talk football. Review the list of coaches, trainers, everyone else connected to the sport, and, of course, the players. We carefully go over that lengthy roster of names, to get correct pronunciations, first and last names, so we’re ready for the opening game.

Before each contest, several hours before kickoff, one of the first duties is to sit with the visiting team’s SID, and get his pronunciations down pat. Let their SID know how we communicate during the game, that is, between the announcer’s booth and the press box. We also receive the list of officials’ names and make sure they are introduced correctly. Then, let the games begin.

We have limited space in our announcer’s booth, which we share with technical people running the scoreboard, matrix board and TV screen, so Tom and I do our thing. I generally pick up the ball carrier while Tom concentrates on the tacklers. We remind ourselves that we are not play-by-play men, and don’t get in the way of the play on the field. Substitutions are important, and we like to identify those players coming into the game, so the fans are informed of who’s in the game.

If you have the luxury of more than one spotter, that’s great. And if you have a statistician nearby, that can be of great benefit to the overall product, but, in the case of two senior Irish gentlemen who have been side-kicks for close to five decades, who have bonded prettywell over the years, it’s been a pleasure and a very gratifying career working the Leopards’ football games.

I’ll conclude with two important words to keep in mind for any P.A. announcer and spotter, and they both begin with “P”: Preparation and Punctuality.

Jim RiebandtChicago Bears

It is paramount that the public address announcer at a football game has a spotter to assist in identification of the players involved in the particular play

as well as keeping the drive chart. I have had the benefit of two spotters since I began as the Chicago Bears’ Public Address Announcer in 1982.

Before the game, I meet with my spotter who assists in identifying the players involved in a particular play and we review the pronunciations on the roster card. The system is set up such that I have a microphone connection to that spotter who talks to me as he sees the play unfold as far as ball carrier, tackler and the like. I have a second spotter who sits next to me and determines the yardage on each play and keeps the drive chart.

Once I receive and digest the information as to the play and players involved, I relay it to the crowd and in turn look at the drive chart and state the yards lost or gained on the particular play, followed by the announcement of the down and distance of the next play. In the National Football League, there are restrictions as to when the stadium announcer can describe the action, so timing is paramount. My one spotter has been with me over 10 years, and my second spotter who does the drive chart has worked with me seven years. Incidentally, she is my beautiful wife!

I can’t stress enough the key role spotters play in the overall process of the public address function at a football game.

David CeuleBlue Springs High School (MO)

When it comes to working with a spotter at the high school level, beggars can’t be choosers. In most schools, it’s a thankless

and payless task. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to work consistently with an individual who has a sound knowledge of the game (and an excellent set of binoculars). We have settled into a great routine over the years and working together has become second nature.

At kickoff, I will always locate the number and name of the kicker and my spotter will locate the numbers of the receivers who are back deep. From that point forward, I focus on the offense and my spotter focuses on the defense. I will watch for the ball carrier or receiver while the spotter gets the numbers of the tacklers and other key defensive contributors. My spotter knows to always wait to give me the defensive players until after I have announced the passer/receiver or ball carrier. I also prefer to just get jersey numbers from my spotter, and I will look at the roster I have taped to the window to get the names if necessary.

On long gains, my spotter will help me do the math on how many yards were gained. Sometimes the chain crew gets rushed down the field quickly, so my spotter will keep his eye on the original line of scrimmage while I determine where the ball is going to be spotted. We’ll determine the gain or loss on the play in yards and then proceed with announcing down and distance. Once you fall into a pattern, it becomes clockwork. A good spotter’s input becomes invaluable!

continued from p. 1

Jim Riebandt Dave Ceule

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High school football players must sit out one play next year if their helmet comes off while the ball is live.

In cases where the helmet comes completely off without it being directly attributable to a foul by the opponent, the player will have to leave the game for at least one down. This addition to Rule 3-5-10 was one of eight rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The committee made this rules change after reviewing data from multiple states regarding the frequency of helmets coming off during live-ball play,” said Julian Tackett, chair of the Football Rules Committee and commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. “It is the committee’s hope that this serves notice for schools to properly fit players with helmets to reduce the incidence of these situations and remind the players not to take steps that alter the fit.”

Another significant change next season will be a new interpretation of a legal catch. A receiver now will be required to establish possession of the ball and contact the ground inbounds while maintaining possession – regardless of the opponent’s action.

“In previous years, the covering official could have ruled that an airborne player attempting to catch the ball would have come down inbounds, but was prevented from doing so because of contact by the opponent,” said Bob Colgate, NFHS

director of sports and sports medicine and liaison to the Football Rules Committee. “Now, the player must establish possession and contact the ground inbounds for a legal catch.”

The Football Rules Committee also cleared the way for state associations and their member schools to place corporate advertising and/or commercial markings on the field of play. These types of markings previously were only allowed in the end zones and outside the field.

Rule 1-2-3l will state that while corporate advertising and/or commercial markings will be allowed, the markings may not obstruct the yard lines, hash marks or nine-yard marks.

A risk-minimization change was made to Rule 2-3-7 that changes an interpretation for blocking below the waist. “The previous

interpretation was that it was not a foul for a player to block below the waist if the hand(s) of the opponent was first contacted below the waist,” Colgate said.

“This revision changes that interpretation and stipulates that such action is a foul.”

After experimentation in Minnesota and Iowa, the committee revised Rule 9-3-8 to prohibit members of the kicking team from initiating contact (blocking) against members of the receiving team until the ball has broken the plane of the receiving team’s restraining line, or until the kicking team is eligible to recover the free kick.

The other three rules changes approved by the committee include Rule 1-5-3c(8), which expands the list of illegal equipment to include play cards that are not worn on the wrist or arm, as well as Rule 9-4-3h, which now states that grasping the tooth

high school football players must sit out one play when helmet comes off

continued on p. 4

credit: Michigan High School Athletic Association

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continued from p. 3

and mouth protector, as well as the face mask, is a foul. Also, to provide guidance to game officials, the committee clarified Rule 9-4-3k by adding the direction in which the opponent was pulled during a horse-collar.

Finally, the NFHS decided to extend the effective date of its new glove rule from 2012 to 2013. During the 2012 season, both gloves meeting the current standard and gloves meeting the new standard will be legal for play.

“The game of football at the high school level is in great shape, and the committee continues to review all available data to minimize the risk to participants,” Tackett said. “A hallmark to the NFHS playing rules is the constant emphasis on risk minimization, as well as historic tenets

regarding the balance between offense and defense and making the rules appropriate for the levels of the coaches, players and officials.”

Football is the No. 1 participatory sport for boys at the high school level with 1,134,377 participants in the 2010-11 school year, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS through its member state associations. In addition, the survey indicated there were 1,561 girls who played football in 2010-11.

Contact: Bob Colgate, NFHS Director of Sports and Sports Medicine and Liaison to the Football Rules Committee

The concepts, recommendations, and strategies offered by the NASPAA are for general instructional purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. While the information and recommendations offered have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, the NASPAA makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such concepts, recommendations or strategies. You are instructed to seek the advice of your school’s or organization’s legal counsel before incorporating any such concepts, recommendations or strategies into the management or conduct of your school’s or organization’s public address announcing program. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances of your school’s or organization’s athletic program.

THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. In no event will the NASPAA, its agents or employees be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information contained herein or for any consequential, incidental, special or similar damages.

naspaa disclaimer

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“soft red” eliminated in high school soccer

In a continued emphasis on improving sportsmanship, the “soft red” has been eliminated in high school soccer.

Effective with the 2012–13 season, a second yellow card not only will disqualify a player, but the team will not be permitted to substitute for the disqualified player. Previously, a team was permitted to replace a player who had received a second yellow card.

This significant change was one of three rules revisions passed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee at its January meeting in Indianapolis. These changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Another change in Rule 12-8-1f now will disqualify a player who deliberately handles a ball in his/her own penalty area to prevent it from going in the goal only when the attempt to deny the goal is successful. If a goal is scored, the penalty is now a caution. Previously, a player was disqualified for trying to stop a goal from being scored, whether the try was successful or not.

“Obviously, with two of our three changes this year in Rule 12 (Fouls and Misconduct), the Soccer Rules Committee continues to focus on improving the level of sportsmanship in high school soccer,” said Mark Koski, NFHS director of sports and events and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee.

The other change approved by the committee involves the taking of a penalty kick. If some unusual situation occurs after the penalty kick is properly taken and

before the ball is played or touched by another player, or before the ball hits the goalpost or crossbar, which necessitates a temporary suspension in play, the penalty kick shall be retaken. Previously, this would have resulted in a drop ball.

“As an example, if the ball deflated immediately after a penalty kick was taken and play was suspended, the player now will have the opportunity to attempt the penalty kick again,” Koski said.

Soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys and girls at the high school level. According to the 2010–11 High School Athletics Participation Survey, 398,351 boys are involved in soccer and 361,556 girls participate in the sport.

credit: NFHS

Sponsored by Clell Wade Coaches Directory

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new member feature

I hope my fellow public address announcers are able to say this: “I am blessed, unlike many other people; I actually get to do something I love to do.” That is how I look at my 14 seasons as Public Address announcer at Progressive Field for the Cleveland Indians.

My love of baseball was inherited from my father and grandfather; my hopes of playing baseball at a high level were dashed early – couldn’t hit. I loved listening to the various play-by-play announcers on the radio at night with hopes of a broadcasting career.

My introduction to public address announcing came in undergraduate school at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Mid-American Conference basketball in front of 15,000 was a great introduction and a

baptism under fire. Bobcat football in front of as many as 17,000 was the next step, which introduced me to the vital aspect of preparation. The spotter board, pronunciation sheet, penalty signals, and the ability to anticipate the next call were all part of the learning process.

Although my focus had been on play-by-play of high school and college games early in my professional radio career, I was always cognizant of P.A. announcers and their styles.

My return to public address announcing came well into my broadcast career. I had been working with the Cleveland Indians radio broadcast during my tenure as Program Director at Clear Channel, WWWE radio, now WTAM, the 50,000 watt voice of the Tribe. While consulting, the Indians were

auditioning for a new public address announcer. It was suggested that I try out; they liked what they heard, but my full-time job prevented me from announcing upwards of 75 games per season, so I settled as the back-up. In the middle of the 1999 season, the full-time announcer moved to a morning radio broadcast position so I took the post, ostensibly, to complete the ’99 season, but after that, I could not give it up and have been behind the Jacobs-now- Progressive Field mic since.

One requirement of my current position is that I edge into “performance” to a certain degree, such as punching out a player’s name at a dramatic moment or reading a commercial between innings where you need to interpret the copy to “sell” the product. While some organizations have become more entertainment driven, which often times requires their announcers to perform differently, I would hasten to add that I adhere to Bob Sheppard’s philosophy that the public address announcer should never become “bigger” than the game.

The announcer is there to augment what is happening on the field. The fans pay to see the players and the game. I once had a major league third base coach tell me, “We are the only two persons in the ballpark who people don’t really notice, until we make a mistake, and then 40,000 people are there to correct you.” I believe he is correct; the announcer, like the third base coach, is important to the game, but should do his job without taking attention away from the players.

allow me to introduce myself: bob tayek

Stadium Announcer, Cleveland Indians

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continued on p. 8

Highlights during my career include announcing playoff games, the occasional network television drop-in to hear the P.A. announcer during a broadcast, and the introduction of celebrities, whether they are singing the national anthem or throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.

Probably my most embarrassing moment came during a game with the California Angels. During my teenage years I played a lot of pick-up baseball and for some unexplained reason, we would choose a “journeyman” player, not a superstar, to call each other by name. My favorite was Ed Spezio, third baseman on the early San Diego Padres teams. When the Angels came into town, Scott Spezio was playing for them. As he was about to come to bat, I was distracted in the booth, had to jump on the mic before he got into the batter’s box, and announced, “Now batting for the Angels, Ed Spezio.” Luckily, Scott has a great sense of humor, looked up at me in the booth, and laughed.

My position encompasses more than just announcing. Major league baseball requires that we time each between-inning break. I must summon the lead-off batter at 1:40 into the break, two minutes if a reliever comes in, or MLB and the umpires will let us know about it. Specific to Progressive Field is the operation of the Progressive Insurance “IRV,” the Immediate Response Vehicle located above the seats in right-center field. I am responsible for its computerized, remote control operation; firing off tee-shirts after home runs, blinking headlights in time with a piece of music, firing off streamers after the last out of a victory and making sure it remains operational. It’s an important responsibility which offers a few more challenges to the job.

I continue to set goals for consistency in performance and strive to achieve accuracy and avoid mistakes game-in and game-out. The biggest challenge is to keep one’s concentration and offer your best

performance whether there are 7,000 or 43,000 in the seats. I always remember a story about Joe DiMaggio. It was the last game of a rare season when the Yankees were not going to the World Series and DiMaggio was not going to win a batting title. At one at-bat, he stroked what would have been an ordinary single into the outfield but turned on the jets and legged out a double. A reporter asked, “Why did you make such an effort on that play in such an insignificant game?” DiMaggio responded, “Because there might be someone in the stands who had never seen me play before.” I believe that is a professional standard to emulate.

I finish by saying I was really pleased to learn that the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers had been established. I believe an organization such at the NASPAA brings recognition to a profession, and I believe it is a profession, whether announcing at the high school, college, or professional level. I am glad there is a place where announcers are able to interact and learn from each other, and I am truly pleased that there is an organization where standards of performance are promulgated.

Here’s wishing all of you long and successful announcing careers.

continued from p. 6

It’s a proven fact that goals help promote greater efficiency and success. That same logic applies to P.A. announcing. Those individuals who set goals for themselves are

more likely to achieve at a higher level than those who do not. The NASPAA asked three members to identify their primary goal for the upcoming season in a couple of paragraphs. Here’s what they had to say.

My primary goal is to be concise. I think in terms of giving myself the nickname, “Cliff,” as in “Cliff’s Notes.” My role is not to be a radio or television play-by-play announcer, but rather to report what happened. It’s not a concert. It’s not a sermon. It’s only game. Nothing more. Quite simply, less is more.

Bob KennedyFootball P.A. AnnouncerThe Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH

My primary goal is to be able to communicate more effectively while not becoming stale and boring. To accomplish this I am going to reflect on what I did this past season that was not good. Did I use a particular phrase too much? We are all partial to certain words or phrases. Sometimes we get comfortable using those words and phrases. As a result, we get into a rut. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of pairs of ears each that may hear something entirely different than the person sitting next to them. By using different phrases and words, I should be able to keep everyone interested and informed.

pre-season goals are important

Bob Kennedy

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Steve CoonerP.A. AnnouncerMesquite High SchoolMesquite, TX

The goal that I set for myself each season is to be professional in everything I control. Especially during pre-season, there are many new names on the rosters, even for my team. I try to keep up with the latest news; who’s been signed, what impact are they expected to make? It’s

important for our fans that I recognize the new players and that means making sure I know their names and how to pronounce them. An NFL roster consists of 53 players, but not during pre-season! It is not unusual to see 90 players on the sidelines. I feel an obligation to make sure I am aware of even those that are long shots for the regular season roster. They are living a dream at this point and I want to help them have a great experience – at least in the small part I may play! To mix sports, I want to “pitch a perfect game” every time I sit behind the microphone. I must quickly point out that I have yet to achieve that ... sometimes taking a no-hitter into the ninth ... (sorry) but never quite having everything go as smoothly as I’d like. So my goal remains the same, keep my eye on the ball, and strive for perfection! Maybe this year!

Tim HancheyAtlanta Falcons

continued from p. 7

Steve Cooner

Tim Hanchey

Sportsmanship announcements should be read prior to the start of an athletic event and then at least one more time during the event. Just because a sportsmanship announcement is read does not automatically guarantee good sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is something that needs to be emphasized by coaches and administrators almost on a daily basis for the best results. It doesn’t start with hearing a sportsmanship announcement for the first time.

State associations and national associations can provide guidance concerning sportsmanship. For those of you who would like to do more to promote sportsmanship, you would be well served to contact the NAIA about its Champions of Character program. Information about Champions of Character may be obtained at www.naia.org

Here’s a link to a bench-clearing brawl between two Canadian youth indoor lacrosse teams. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/benches-clearing-youth-indoor-lacrosse-brawl-leads-15-150118092.html To be prepared should something like this happen at an event when you are announcing, you would be well served to discuss your role with your administrator prior to the season to determine what is expected of you and the announcements that you may need to make if a situation like this were to occur.

sportsmanship announcements help set the tone for events

Bruce Whitehead, NIAAA Executive

Director

It’s Time to Provide P.A. Announcers Access to Professional Development!

“The role P.A. announcers play in promoting good sportsmanship and a positive environment is critical to the safety and success of our athletic contests and events.”

“The NIAAA, which is an Affiliate Member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers (NASPAA), has negotiated a special school membership fee of $69 for NIAAA members.”

For membership information go to www.naspaa.net.

credit: Michigan High School Athletic Association

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batter up and next pitcher

The increasing use of walk-up music in baseball at the high school and college levels has affected procedures for the public address announcer to introduce the next batter or a new pitcher. It also requires coordination with the person in charge of the music, in case that is not the P.A. announcer’s responsibility.

In announcing a new batter, you should never wait for the music to start. Watch the on-deck batter and when he begins to walk to the plate, that is the time to announce him. You cannot wait on the music as it could make you late in making the announcement. If you are running the music, that should not be a problem. It is optional as to whether or not you announce the number of the player. A good short announcement should be: “Now batting for the Pirates, the shortstop, Dan Jones.” As for the music being played, no music or announcements are allowed once a batter is in the box and the pitcher has placed his foot on the pitching rubber. Any announcements or music at that point interrupts the game and you would be officially interfering with play. Remember, the umpire is in charge of field conditions once the game starts and this includes music or announcements over the sound system.

On announcing the name of a relief pitcher, the strict rules of baseball apply to your announcement. You should never announce the name of the new pitcher until the umpire has waved that pitcher into the game by pointing or indicating. If the umpire fails to do so, wait a reasonable time up to when the next batter steps in against the reliever. You can wait until the pitcher has thrown the first warm-up toss. Often, the reliever’s music begins when they run to the mound, but you should still use great patience to wait on the umpire since a premature announcement is a violation of a baseball rule.

On announcing a pinch hitter or a pinch runner, the same rule as for relief pitchers applies. The announcer should wait until the umpire waves or indicates that the replacement is actually in the game. If the umpire fails to do so, announce the pinch hitter or pinch runner as quickly as you can without interrupting the game or a pitch. You should wait until the batter is in the box or a pitch is thrown. Following these easy guidelines keeps you in line with the rules of baseball and makes for a better P.A. experience. The last thing you want to see is an umpire turning around and staring at the press box to cut music or an announcement. That is definitely not an enjoyable baseball moment!

Waddle has been announcing for 30 years at the high school, junior college, NAIA and NCAA ranks, in addition to announcing baseball and hockey at the professional level. He has announced more than 11 sports in his illustrious career. For Ole Miss, he announces football and baseball and fills in for volleyball, basketball and tennis. His NCAA announcing resume includes five NCAA Regional and Super Regional Baseball Tournaments and two NCAA Division 3 Regional Basketball Games. For the past 15 years, he has announced the Mississippi High School Basketball and Baseball State Championships, and has been Mississippi College’s P.A. basketball P.A. announcer for 17 years. He has also announced two American Southwest Conference Basketball Championships, and the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament. Since 1982, Waddle has been the P.A. announcer for the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Football and Basketball Games. He is the 2011 NASPAA NCAA P.A. Announcer of the Year.

By Glen Waddle, CPAAJackson, MS

credit: NFHS

credit: NAIA

Glen Waddle visits with Ole Miss Head Baseball Coach Mike Binco prior to a Rebel baseball game.

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Sponsored by

game operations

Having been a high school and college football P.A. announcer for many years, I have found that the best Announcer Sheet is one that is extremely simple and easily viewed. To make my job easier, I

made my own sheet the way I like it. My sheet evolved from including year, height, weight, position, number and first/last name to simply number and first/last name. While over the past few years this was seemingly working satisfactorily, I wanted to validate my form and to see it is used by other football P.A. announcers. So, I sent my Football Announcer Sheet to Brad Rumble, NASPAA Executive Director, to seek feedback. When I heard that Brad liked the form and was sending it to NASPAA member Gary Williams, Stadium Announcer of the Oakland Raiders, I was excited! Two days later I received a call from Gary.

During a 30-minute telephone conversation, Gary indicated that he liked the sheet and the fact that it had color designations. He also favored the two-sided sheet with Offense listed first on each side. Information such as year, height, weight, position, hometown, etc., of players was something that he did not recommend. Because the sheet is easy to identify a number (0-99), which would enable users to go straight to a number to find the name of a player, he thought that would be extremely beneficial to announcers.

We also talked about the importance of having a good spotter. He said that getting the number should be the first thing, then the corresponding name, and pronouncing it correctly. Next on the list is ball placement, down and yardage. Here are a couple of examples of how the announcements should be made.

“#32, Brian Thompson of the Lions on the carry, tackled by #54, Derrick Jones of Coronado. Gain of 6 yards on the play. Ball is on the (Lions’) 41 yard line, second down and four.”

“Hardin’s pass is incomplete, knocked down by #46, Bobby Clemens of the Badgers. Second down and 10 at the West Haven 20 yard line.” One of Gary’s tips that I hadn’t thought about concerned being consistent. He indicated that announcers need to be consistent with their delivery, because fans become accustomed to the P.A. announcer’s routine for calling the action. He also took time to discuss some preparation differences between high

Delbert Ault

just how serviceable is your football form?

By Delbert Ault

continued on p. 11

Example of a blank form.

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school, college and professional events. At the high school level, contacting schools in advance for rosters and pronunciations can make game-day for

P.A. announcers much easier and less hectic. Reviewing Sports Information Director (SID) or Communication/Media Director reports during the week prior to a college or professional game is important. If possible, he recommended trying to obtain pre-game, in-game, and post-game announcements in advance of the event. The athletic directors and/or SIDs should provide P.A. announcers with a game-day schedule of announcements and scripts. Finally, he pointed out that additional team, player and coach information is needed for pre-game introductions and other announcements, but a simple, clean Football Announcer Sheet is great for stadium announcing.

It goes without saying how much I appreciate the NASPAA providing the opportunity for me to have Gary review my Announcer Sheet. Being able to actually talk to him was a bonus!

Anyone who would like to obtain my Football Form may e-mail me at delbert.ault@uky.edu.

Gary Williams

continued from p. 10

Front and back of form filled out.

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continued on p. 13

The worst thing to hear at a high school soccer game is editorializing or play commentating by the stadium announcer. It is disrespectful, biased, often incorrect and amateurish.

“What an awesome tackle by our captain #8, Jill Bontrager!” “A weak shot by #17, Melissa (insert bungled pronunciation of her last name because you didn’t bother to ask the visiting coach for pronunciations).

It’s information the fans already know, and you should never announce anything about the run of play. If you know soccer, you know there are hundreds of tackles, throw ins, and free kicks. Let the beauty of the game speak for itself.

When you talk it up, you disrespect the game and the fans and sound like a hack. Announcing as a booster for the home team won’t allow you to be taken very seriously. As a former high school girls soccer coach, when playing away from home, I remember clearly how frustrated we were when an announcer didn’t know his/her role.

Don’t get me wrong. Enthusiasm in your presentation is appropriate. It helps to

make the match fun and exciting. Just keep it respectful and non-biased ... and never cross the line. Plus, it’s good practice for when you have the opportunity to do college games and an NCAA tournament. There, an NCAA official may speak with you directly regarding this very topic.

Jim GreulichP.A. Announcer, Men’s and Women’s Soccer University of Notre DameSouth Bend, IN

announcing soccer does not include editorializing

Jim Greulich

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naspaa affiliate members

College Sports

Information Directors of

America

Kansas State High School

Activities Association

Georgia High

School Association

Tennessee Secondary

School Athletic

Association

Mississippi High School

Activities Association

Mississippi Association of Coaches

Missouri State High

School Activities

Association

National Interscholastic

Athletic Administrators

Association

Ohio High School

Athletic Association

Pennsylvania Interscholastic

Athletic Association

Florida High School

Athletic Association

National Junior

College Athletic

Association

National Federation

of State High School Associations

National Association of Intercollegiate

Athletics

Indiana High School

Athletic Association

Louisiana High School

Athletic Association

Oregon School

Activities Association

Washington Interscholastic

Activities Association

Michigan High School

Athletic Association

University Interscholastic

League

American Legion

Baseball

continued from p. 12

As high school public address announcers, I believe we have two primary responsibilities. The first is to provide relevant and objective information for the spectators. Our job is to “fill in the holes” in the

spectator experience. Families and friends want to know who made the tackle, scored the basket or spiked the volleyball. We are information providers – no more, no less. As tempting as it is, we need to avoid doing anything that might create a competitive

advantage. We’re all fans, but our unique position behind the microphone requires us to put the “fan hat” away for awhile

Secondly, we need to contribute to a “welcoming experience” for the guests of the visiting school. The high school P.A. announcer has a great opportunity to contribute positively to the image and reputation of the host school. Beyond providing safety and logistical information to our guests, we can create tremendous goodwill for our schools. Fans talk between games, particularly fans of visiting schools within a close geographic area. We want them to talk glowingly about how well they were treated and how much they enjoyed the event, win or lose.

I would suggest that providing editorial comment not only fails to contribute to either of the two aforementioned responsibilities, but it also provides unnecessary distraction from both. By being clear, concise and neutral, we most effectively support all those involved in the event.

Tom ParkerP.A. AnnouncerKernersville, NCTom Parker