College basketball season is underway & basketball broadcasters across the country are trying to knock off the rust and get in rhythm as they call their first couple of games.
This is the time of the year when I listen to my games (and others) the most, trying to improve and sharpen my call. I get a good number of emails from young broadcasters asking me "how can I get better
on the air and what do I need to improve on." The best answer is get reps..the more you do it, the better you will be. But the deeper answer is to focus on certain areas. Below is a sample of my play-by-play from the SIUE/Missouri WBB game yesterday @ Mizzou Arena. Also below are a few things I always keep in mind when I'm doing a broadcast and listen for when I listen back on my calls.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
TIME AND SCORE: It sounds elementary, but time and score is what the listener needs. This is the point of emphasis in every sport, not just basketball. When I'm calling a basketball game, my goal is to give time and score every change of possession (doesn't always happen, but that's what I shoot for). The key is, don't say it the same way every time..mix it up and keep it fresh for the listener. For example, one
possession you may say, "Jones brings it across midcourt with the Tigers ahead by 13." Next possession you can say, "Williams sets up the Tigers offense between the circles..Tigers 37 Hawks 21 with under 4 to go in the opening half." Keep in mind you don't have to give time and score at the same time. If the offense is moving and you don't have time, mix it up and give one of them later in the possession if you get a chance. Just keep in mind, your listener NEEDS this. It's the most important thing in the broadcast. Also, ALWAYS give time AND score when heading into a break and coming out of a break. Don't leave the listener hanging.
WHICH TEAM HAS THE BALL?: Many of your listeners aren't familiar with all of the players on the floor, so do them a favor, and try to mention as often as possible which team has the ball. For example, "Evans from three..no good front of the rim..Duke's Randolph leaps high for the defensive rebound." Key words on a rebound are 'offensive/defensive'..lets the listener know if there is change of possession by saying defensive/offensive as often as possible. Also, NEVER just say "Williams gets the rebound". They 'snag, corral, leap high, weak side, front side, back side, ball side, strong side, right of the glass, in the lane, at the elbow, on the baseline.' How did they get the rebound and where did they get it?
TAKE DESCRIPTION TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL: What separates the good broadcasters from the great ones is description. Try to describe the action the best you can. The best descriptive basketball play-by-play guy I listen to is Randy Lee, the Radio Voice of Western Kentucky University. I started listening to Randy when I was in college, reached out to him then and now he's one of my mentors and we
stay in touch often. He sends me audio of his, I save it and listen to it to try and get better. The best way to become a more descriptive broadcaster is to listen to guys like Randy and also study descriptive terms. To the right is a sheet I put together that I study often, which helps me during my broadcasts.
STORYLINES: Something I started to do during the 2012 baseball season is write down 'storylines' on a note card prior to the game and reference that during the game. What's at stake? Why is this game important? Let the listeners know consistently during the game. For me, having that written down prior to the game is helpful. I use this during basketball season now as well.
WHERE IS THE ACTION AT? Remember, the listener CAN'T see what's going on. Therefore, help the listener visualize by giving indicators, relative to where you are sitting and seeing the action..how big is the arena, what color are the uniforms, where is the team's bench relative to where you are sitting, where are the home team fans sitting, is the conferences logo in the lane? Refer to it if so. "For example, Missouri is moving left to right." "Davis will shoot one more free throw to our right." "Pepperdine head coach Mike Jone screams out the orders from the far right bench." "Michaels zig-zags across midcourt in his home white uniform trimmed in red."
PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE? Finally, the key to everything is being prepared. Be ready to go when you head on the air. Don't ever head into a broadcast not ready to go. Spend hours on your spotting boards putting them together and studying them. You should head into the arena on gameday ready to go. The more comfortable you are, the better your call will be. I always know what the players look like before heading to the arena on gameday. Therefore, when the action begins I don't need to continuously look down at my spotting board to see who #12 is or who #20 is. By looking at them, I should be able to tell immediately who they are. In order to sound prepared, you need to be prepared.
Hope this is helpful. Feel free to email me for questions/advice (youngpbp@gmail.com). Have a great call!
-Adam Young
Thanks for visiting! My name is Adam Young and I'm a TV/Radio Sportscaster for New Mexico State University (Division I/WAC). Formerly called Professional Baseball & College Athletics in the St. Louis, MO area. Check out my personal website, www.AdamYoungOnTheAir.com!
Monday, November 11, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Grizzlies Release 2014 Schedule/Sign former N.C. State Star
Hello all! The 2014 schedule is out for the Gateway Grizzlies, highlighted by the league all-star game coming to GCS Ballpark on July 14th.
Can't wait for the all-star week festivities with the Grizzlies hosting for the first time since 2003. A lot of great things are planned with details coming out as the season gets closer.
Gateway opens up the regular season with their first six games at home. The Traverse City Beach Bums will be the first opponent for the Grizzlies, coming in for a three-game series May 16-18. Opening night is on a Friday night again and Sunday the 18th will be the always well-attended American Heart Association Day game. GREAT crowds should be @ GCS Ballpark for the opening weekend.
Travel is rather light in the first half of the season. The Grizzlies will make the Traverse City, MI, Avon,
OH and Washington, PA trips all in the second half. Gateway heads to Traverse City to open the second half and the series' @ Lake Erie & Washington will be late in the year in August.
Gateway will have every Monday off in June and only three off days in August. It appears that the schedule favors a good start to the season for the Grizzlies because of the amount of home games and little travel in the first half. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Gateway will also have four EXH games, including one on Saturday, May 10th against the Wichita Wingnuts from the American Association. Wichita's 2013 team featured former Grizzlies Ryan Khoury & Nick Walters. They also had former St. Louis Cardinal, John Rodriguez.
SIGNING NEWS:
The Grizzlies recently signed former North Carolina State outfielder Brett Williams to a contract for
the 2014 season.
Williams had a solid career offensively with the Wolfpack, but is more well-known for his spectacular defense.
He batted .268 with 9 HR & 67 RBI during his 2 years @ N.C. State (122 games).
Williams was drafted in the 25th round by the DBacks in 2011 but decided not to go. He was a 2013 Gold Glove recipient by the American Baseball Coaches Association & Rawlings. He only committed 4 errors in college & is known for this amazing catch in a 2013 game that became a Sportscenter Top Play & generated 4.4 million views on youtube.
Welcome to Gateway, Brett!
-Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young
Can't wait for the all-star week festivities with the Grizzlies hosting for the first time since 2003. A lot of great things are planned with details coming out as the season gets closer.
Gateway opens up the regular season with their first six games at home. The Traverse City Beach Bums will be the first opponent for the Grizzlies, coming in for a three-game series May 16-18. Opening night is on a Friday night again and Sunday the 18th will be the always well-attended American Heart Association Day game. GREAT crowds should be @ GCS Ballpark for the opening weekend.
Travel is rather light in the first half of the season. The Grizzlies will make the Traverse City, MI, Avon,
OH and Washington, PA trips all in the second half. Gateway heads to Traverse City to open the second half and the series' @ Lake Erie & Washington will be late in the year in August.
Gateway will have every Monday off in June and only three off days in August. It appears that the schedule favors a good start to the season for the Grizzlies because of the amount of home games and little travel in the first half. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Gateway will also have four EXH games, including one on Saturday, May 10th against the Wichita Wingnuts from the American Association. Wichita's 2013 team featured former Grizzlies Ryan Khoury & Nick Walters. They also had former St. Louis Cardinal, John Rodriguez.
SIGNING NEWS:
The Grizzlies recently signed former North Carolina State outfielder Brett Williams to a contract for
the 2014 season.
Williams had a solid career offensively with the Wolfpack, but is more well-known for his spectacular defense.
He batted .268 with 9 HR & 67 RBI during his 2 years @ N.C. State (122 games).
Williams was drafted in the 25th round by the DBacks in 2011 but decided not to go. He was a 2013 Gold Glove recipient by the American Baseball Coaches Association & Rawlings. He only committed 4 errors in college & is known for this amazing catch in a 2013 game that became a Sportscenter Top Play & generated 4.4 million views on youtube.
Welcome to Gateway, Brett!
-Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young
Sunday, November 3, 2013
First Post of the Offseason: Here Comes College Basketball
Hello all! This is my first blog post of the 2013-14 offseason. My fall broadcast schedule is wrapping up in the next couple of weeks and college basketball officially gets underway this coming week. Great time of the year!
Can't wait for college basketball to get into full swing. My college bball broadcast schedule started a couple weeks ago when I called the McKendree MBB EXH game @ Illinois. Always neat to call a game at a great venue like State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall) and catch up with a guy who has helped me out in my career & is always available for advice, U of I Voice Brian Barnhart.
McKendree battled hard the entire game and actually had a double-digit first half lead. I came away very impressed with the Bearcats and am looking forward to another year as McKendree Men's Basketball's PA Voice. Harry Statham begins his 48th year as the 'Cats Head Coach starting this Friday night. The all-time winningest coach in NCAA MBB history at the four year level. LEGEND.
SIUE MBB starts their EXH season Mon night at Vadalabene Center. Looking forward to working
alongside Cougar Voice Joe Pott for another year on radio. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see the Cougars yet this preseason (was @ U of I on the night of their Cougar Madness evening), but I LOVE their backcourt depth. A lot of transfers this year for HC Lennox Forrester, who enters his 7th season. They open up their season @ Arkansas Friday night.
By the way, the all-time leading scorer @ McKendree is Matt Laur, and he was promoted to Associate Head Coach @ SIUE in the offseason. MUCH DESERVED. I've seen Coach Laur work the last couple of years and his work ethic, passion and knowledge are impressive. Future head coach at a high-level. No question my favorite assistant to watch work.
SIUE WBB gets EXH play going on Tuesday night. I'm entering my 3rd year as the Voice of SIUE WBB this season. A lot of expectations for Paula Buscher's team with a talented group of FR coming in. Paula will have her team ready to go starting with the opener @ Mizzou this coming SUN.
I'll also continue doing work @ SLU in the winter. I've been doing SLU Volleyball in the fall & will fill-in doing WBB PA Friday night in their opener @ Chaifetz against Mizzou. I have some games at Washington U. in STL and will be adding some more work in the next couple of weeks to my schedule.
Here's an example of my schedule from this Saturday through next Sunday.
Saturday: McKendree Football vs. Quincy
Sunday: McKendree Volleyball vs. Missouri S & T
Monday: SIUE MBB vs. Greenville (EXH)
Tuesday: SIUE WBB vs. Lindenwood (EXH)
Wednesday: Doing the Maryville U. coaches show w/ Jim Powers @ Mike Duffy's in Chesterfield
Thursday: OFF
Friday: SLU WBB vs. Mizzou @ 4:30 & then SLU Volleyball vs. Rhode Island @ 7 (tight squeeze)
Saturday: SLU Volleyball vs. VCU
Sunday: SIUE WBB @ Mizzou
Go Cougars, Bearcats, Billikens & Bears!
-Adam Young
Can't wait for college basketball to get into full swing. My college bball broadcast schedule started a couple weeks ago when I called the McKendree MBB EXH game @ Illinois. Always neat to call a game at a great venue like State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall) and catch up with a guy who has helped me out in my career & is always available for advice, U of I Voice Brian Barnhart.
McKendree battled hard the entire game and actually had a double-digit first half lead. I came away very impressed with the Bearcats and am looking forward to another year as McKendree Men's Basketball's PA Voice. Harry Statham begins his 48th year as the 'Cats Head Coach starting this Friday night. The all-time winningest coach in NCAA MBB history at the four year level. LEGEND.
SIUE MBB starts their EXH season Mon night at Vadalabene Center. Looking forward to working
alongside Cougar Voice Joe Pott for another year on radio. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see the Cougars yet this preseason (was @ U of I on the night of their Cougar Madness evening), but I LOVE their backcourt depth. A lot of transfers this year for HC Lennox Forrester, who enters his 7th season. They open up their season @ Arkansas Friday night.
By the way, the all-time leading scorer @ McKendree is Matt Laur, and he was promoted to Associate Head Coach @ SIUE in the offseason. MUCH DESERVED. I've seen Coach Laur work the last couple of years and his work ethic, passion and knowledge are impressive. Future head coach at a high-level. No question my favorite assistant to watch work.
SIUE WBB gets EXH play going on Tuesday night. I'm entering my 3rd year as the Voice of SIUE WBB this season. A lot of expectations for Paula Buscher's team with a talented group of FR coming in. Paula will have her team ready to go starting with the opener @ Mizzou this coming SUN.
I'll also continue doing work @ SLU in the winter. I've been doing SLU Volleyball in the fall & will fill-in doing WBB PA Friday night in their opener @ Chaifetz against Mizzou. I have some games at Washington U. in STL and will be adding some more work in the next couple of weeks to my schedule.
Here's an example of my schedule from this Saturday through next Sunday.
Saturday: McKendree Football vs. Quincy
Sunday: McKendree Volleyball vs. Missouri S & T
Monday: SIUE MBB vs. Greenville (EXH)
Tuesday: SIUE WBB vs. Lindenwood (EXH)
Wednesday: Doing the Maryville U. coaches show w/ Jim Powers @ Mike Duffy's in Chesterfield
Thursday: OFF
Friday: SLU WBB vs. Mizzou @ 4:30 & then SLU Volleyball vs. Rhode Island @ 7 (tight squeeze)
Saturday: SLU Volleyball vs. VCU
Sunday: SIUE WBB @ Mizzou
Go Cougars, Bearcats, Billikens & Bears!
-Adam Young
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