Assisting the P.A. announcer.

Of all our wonderful sports, basketball probably offers the best stage for the unique artistry of the public address announcer. He or she has a great deal more to say in basketball than in any other sport, and since the game moves so fast, the audience has greater need of the announcer's assistance. Very often the crowd won't be positive of what they've just seen until it is confirmed by the ever-vigilant, all-seeing, all-knowing announcer.

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In my own 12 seasons as a P.A. announcer for girls' high school basketball in Kentucky, it has been my privilege to see dozens of phenomenally entertaining games, to get to know many outstanding student-athletes, and to experience mind-boggling heights of personal fulfillment.

And it is within this spirit of Bill Walton-esque exaltation, if with slightly more humility, that I would like to submit these notes and suggestions to the functionaries in every school charged with assisting the P.A. announcer.

1. Provide the announcer with the best spot in which to do the job. Ideally, it should be next to either the scoreboard control panel or the official book.

2. Assist the announcer and the building custodial workers to correct any sound defects well before the introduction of the teams.

3. Provide the announcer with his or her own copy of both rosters with first names, last names, numbers, heights, and classes. Even though what the announcer does is unofficial, the crowd will depend on him or her.

The announcer should never be forced to scramble or play "beat-the-clock" while handwriting his or her own lineups. Even more helpful can be a lineup sheet that lists the players in numerical order.

4. Inform the announcer of what has to be said and/or not said; i.e., do you want every player introduced, or just the starters? Do the coaches want their names mentioned or not? Do you want the teams' won-loss records mentioned or not? Do you want to have "alternating" introductions? Inform the announcer about the national anthem sequence. Will the home or visiting band play it? If a singer, what's the singer's name? Will there be a color guard and when on the clock will they arrive? These may appear to be small items, but they have to be given thought and addressed before-hand, because once that clock has minutes on it, the announcer is at the mercy of the ball and whistles. Of course, in these items the announcer should help his or herself by arriving on time and asking these questions.

5. If words need to be placed in the announcer's mouth (by someone other than the announcer) once the game has begun, the athletic director should have an understanding with the announcer that only one person, who has been introduced beforehand to the announcer, will be allowed to bring the announcer messages once the game has commenced. I would suggest that only the A.D. and uniformed security (if you have them) should be permitted to put words in the announcer's mouth.

6. Whether your state association has a rule or not, instruct the band leader not to be playing in any situation in which the ball is live or the clock is moving. The band has to pay attention to the game.

By giving your humble (and we all should be) public address announcer a little care and feeding through these simple steps, your crowd will appreciate it and both teams will be inspired to greater performances.

BY CHRIS MONTGOMERY 

Mount Washington, KY

Chris Montgomery is the P.A. voice of the Bryan Station Traditional High School Lady Defenders in Lexington, KY.