Music and commentator

[reddevil19]

As a HS/Juco PA announcer, I'll admit that in an exciting game, I might hang on my words a little bit more when my team scores (especially on a 3-pointer), but not for that long. I'm from the "less is more" school of PA announcing, and try to not let any announcements linger too long.

One of my pet peeves is announcers who keep on talking in a FT situation after the ball has been put at the disposal of the shooter. If the refs are moving the game along quickly, I'll just work in the foul announcement quickly after the FT's, or if I can't get the shooter's name out, oh well. But I've never heard of a ref admonishing or being concerned about a PA announcer for the things the OP brought up.

As a coach, I'd be livid too if the music started while a player was at the FT line (although I don't think I'd slobber all over you. ) In my area for HS, music is basically prohibited except at pre-game at halftime.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by reddevil19

But I've never heard of a ref admonishing or being concerned about a PA announcer for the things the OP brought up.

Last night, had a D3 game at a state school. Home team came out hyper-aggressive for the 2nd half and had 5 team fouls in the first 3:30 of the half. After one foul, the PA announcer said, "Another foul on State". My partner asked him to kindly refrain from editorializing.

[reddevil19]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Last night, had a D3 game at a state school. Home team came out hyper-aggressive for the 2nd half and had 5 team fouls in the first 3:30 of the half. After one foul, the PA announcer said, "Another foul on State". My partner asked him to kindly refrain from editorializing.

Yes, that would definitely be a no-no.

[dkmz17]

I was at a game the other night and the announcer would count down the time at the end of each quarter, I believe starting at ten seconds, such as, "ten seconds remaining...7..6..5..4..3..2..1" . Is this allowed under NFHS rules?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by texaspaul

Most of the time it's a simple "number 23, John Doe!" for the visitors, and home, but if it's a high tension play it's more of the " number 23 joooooooooooooooooohn Doooooooooeeeeeeeeeee........."

That's just public address announcing. As long as he's not doing commentary, nothing wrong with it.

Originally Posted by dkmz17

I was at a game the other night and the announcer would count down the time at the end of each quarter, I believe starting at ten seconds, such as, "ten seconds remaining...7..6..5..4..3..2..1" . Is this allowed under NFHS rules?

No written rule but that definitely crosses the line IMO.

[reddevil19]

Originally Posted by dkmz17

I was at a game the other night and the announcer would count down the time at the end of each quarter, I believe starting at ten seconds, such as, "ten seconds remaining...7..6..5..4..3..2..1" . Is this allowed under NFHS rules?

Unless the scoreboard clock had malfunctioned, why would it be necessary?

Last season, JC game, we had a clock malfunction at halftime and were unable to properly use the shot clock thereafter. I was charged with the responsibility for the remainder of the game of holding a stopwatch and announcing, 25, 15, 10 and 5 seconds remaining, and then counting down the last 5 (no I did not simulate a buzzer on the occasions we had a violation ). This was challenging for a few reasons, and I hope that I never have to do it again.

[BillyMac]

I hate it when the announcers say "The foul is on number twelve, it's his second, and the team's fourth", before I have reported the foul to the table. Happens all the time at two schools that we service.

[TiManGR]

I do the PA as a fill in at our school, and work the book the rest of the time - which is why I don't have time to officiate.

I'll play music during timeouts for about 5 sec after the first horn, with a fade 2.5 sec fade out. If the teams are out early, the music will be stopped before the player reaches the OOB location.

I will call out 1 min remaining if I notice it. This is to help both the players and the officials (they will usually give the hand signals after the announcment)

[Corndog89]

Announcers don't bother me as long as they call the action and get it right. I did a boys JV game at a small Christian school a couple weeks ago that used an announcer. He got carried away a few times but nothing bad........except for two:

1) He announced a 2-point basket as a 3-pointer. Not necessarily a big deal but he announced the "3" as the ball was entering the basket and before a 3-point signal was given (I guess he missed the lack of the 3-point preliminary signal as well). I mentioned it to him and he apologized.

2) Then, late in this close game, he announced an "Intentional" foul on a visiting player before my partner had even gotten into the box to report the foul. You guessed it, there was no intentional foul. True, B1 (visiting team) did put his arms around A1 (home team ball-handler) at mid-court, but my partner & I both had a personal foul on B1 for illegal contact while reaching for the ball before he wrapped up the offensive player. (And just to note, he released A1 quickly and didn't take any other actions that may have warranted a T). A1 goes to the foul line (double bonus) with the attendant rebounders on either side of the lane. Based on the "announcement", home coach loudly says "I thought that was an intentional foul". I stepped from the lane toward his bench and very loudly stated that there was NO intentional foul, that B1 had made a basketball move for the ball and that the announcer had erroneously announced an event that had never happened. I pointed to the table and again very loudly announced for the whole gym to hear (it was a small gym) that the officials, not the announcer, actually make the calls. The announcer was silent for the last minute or so of the game.

I warned the V officials to be ready for this guy.

[JoeTheRef]

I for one like the music during pregames and intermission. During timeouts, No. If played during timeouts, I would usually tell the table that the music has to be off at the first horn.

[inigo montoya]

What if the Visiting Coach informs you that the music is so loud that he can't communicate with his team during the time-out? Would you talk to game management about it?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by inigo montoya

What if the Visiting Coach informs you that the music is so loud that he can't communicate with his team during the time-out? Would you talk to game management about it?

I've got no problem instructing game management to turn down the music if it truly is too loud to communicate.