Game Announcers ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

That's not the role of the PA announcer.

I don't think so either. We agree. But without guidelines from a state interscholastic sports governing body, how can we back up our decision to prohibit this type of (not unsporting) announcing?

Foul shots? OK. Field goals? OK. Assists? OK. Personal fouls? OK. Team fouls? OK. One minute warning? OK. Personal point totals, and fouls at halftime? OK. Most of us that have been around the block a few times can agree on that, I'm sure.

Now let's have some fun. Steals? Rebounds? Blocked shots? Nice screens? "Assist" before an assist? Scores from other conference, or league, games going on at the same time? Do you see where this is going? Who says what can, or can't, be announced?

If you want to leave it up to me, as the referee, in that game, that night, fine. I'll do my best. But what's to keep this from becoming one of those issues like the "Fashion Police"? "The official the other night let her play with that on."

[SCalScoreKeeper]

At my school we only announce the starting five for the teams and play ball.There are a couple of announcers in our league who do play by play but stay far away from giving commentary like this guy.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Who says what can, or can't, be announced?

To some degree, we can.

If you find the announcer to engage in unsportsmanlike conduct, deal with it. IMO, distracting players with opinions, as opposed to mere facts, is unsportsmanlike.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

To some degree, we can. If you find the announcer to engage in unsportsmanlike conduct, deal with it.

Unsporting makes it easy to deal with. Anything left, or maybe right, of that, along the "announcing spectrum" can present problems of interpretation.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Foul shots? OK. Field goals? OK. Assists? OK. Personal fouls? OK. Team fouls? OK. One minute warning? OK. Personal point totals, and fouls at halftime? OK. Most of us that have been around the block a few times can agree on that, I'm sure.

Now let's have some fun. Steals? Rebounds? Blocked shots? Nice screens? "Assist" before an assist? Scores from other conference, or league, games going on at the same time? Do you see where this is going?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Unsporting makes it easy to deal with. Anything left, or maybe right, of that, along the "announcing spectrum" can present problems of interpretation.

The list of announcing options you provide look fine to me, provided that they stick with the facts, and lay off opinions and editorials. I think it's really as simple as judging sporting/unsporting behavior, nothing more.

[Rufus]

This same thing happened in a MS game for me a couple of years ago. My partner and I were doing the last 2 games of a 4-game set and the PA lady was doing play-by-play over the sound system (and I thought Dick Vitale was tough to listen to). I informed the crew at half-time of the second game (they were new officials looking for feedback) that she needs to stick to points/fouls/etc. only. They informed her and she ceased the play-by-play.