User:Brookejeffrey/Sports commentator

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In sports broadcasting, a sports commentator (also known as sports announcer or sportscaster) provides a real- time commentary of a game or event, usually during a live broadcast, traditionally delivered in the historical present tense. They have to think quickly, be calm, and be ready for anything. Radio was the first medium for sports broadcasts, and radio commentators must describe all aspects of the action to listeners who cannot see it for themselves. In the case of televised sports coverage, commentators are usually presented as a voiceover, with images of the contest shown on viewers' screens and sounds of the action and spectators heard in the background. Television commentators are rarely shown on screen during an event, though some networks choose to feature their announcers on camera either before or after the contest or briefly during breaks in the action. Sports announcers have to know the teams, sport, players, and coaches. Not only do they have to have an understanding of the sport but also an understanding of how broadcasting works. Most importantly Sports commentators have to be entertaining and able to get along with other commentators.

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The main commentator also called the play-by-play announcer or commentator in North America, blow-by-blow in combat sports coverage, lap-by-lap for motorsports coverage, or ball-by-ball for cricket coverage is the primary speaker on the broadcast. Broadcasters in this role are adept at being articulate and carry an ability to describe each play or event of an often fast-moving sporting event. The play-by-play announcer is meant to convey the event as it is carried out. They have to be thorough in order for the audience to get a better understanding of the game. If they are not quick, descriptive, or calm, this will cause trouble in understanding the audience. All commentators need a high skill level when it comes to talent. Because of their skill level, commentators like Al Michaels in the U.S., David Coleman in the UK, and Bruce McAvaney in Australia may have careers that they call several different sports at one time or another. Other main commentators may, however, only call one sport (Mike Emrick, for example, is known almost exclusively as a hockey broadcaster). The vast majority of play-by-play announcers are male; female play-by-play announcers had not seen sustained employment until the 21st century.

Radio and television play-by-play techniques involve slightly different approaches; radio broadcasts typically require the play-by-play host to say more to verbally convey the on-field activity that the radio audience cannot see. It is unusual to have radio and television broadcasts share the same play-by-play commentator for the same event, except in cases of low production budgets or when a broadcaster is particularly renowned (Rick Jeanneret's hockey telecasts, for example, have been simulcast on radio and television since the late 1990s).

How To Become A Sports Commentator

Those who want to become a sports commentators should start the steps of obtaining their Bachelor’s Degree and getting experiences as soon as possible. These experiences can be sports writing for a student paper, work-study in the sports field, or creating a blog/podcast about sports. Internships are great ways to gain experience and create a path in the Sports Communication field. Studying broadcasters while they commentate will only help expand one’s knowledge in order to eventually apply it. Apply to local news and radio stations once you are ready to pursue your dream job in the Sports Communication field. This may mean starting behind the scenes before getting to the big stage. If the opportunity arises, expand to other industries in order to become the best you can be. All of these steps are ways to make it as a sports commentator.