Sports Broadcasting I and II elective Cougar Sports Network

Sports broadcasting I and II are 1/2 credit elective courses offered to students at Northeastern Clinton Central School on a rotational scheduling basis.

Objectives:  This class will introduce students to the world of radio and television broadcasting through the realm of sports.  Students will work on public speaking skills, interact with peers and members of the community through various projects, improve organization and writing skills and, most importantly, develop self-confidence.   Grading is on a pass / fail basis with students required to attain a pre-determined number of classroom points for passing credit.

Class units and topics covered in sports broadcasting I:

1.  The fundamentals of sports broadcasting:  examining broadcasting skills, putting broadcasting skills to use in the field, developing and improving broadcasting skills.  Project:  Participation in a weekly sports round-table panel discussion.

2.  Interviewing techniques:  how to prepare for the interview, what questions to ask the subject, developing your open and close, tips in interviewing a coach, player or authority, an introduction to sports reporting, putting together a sportscast, delivering the sportscast.  Projects:  Conduct a taped radio interview, conduct a television interview, presenting a radio sportscast.

3.  Preparation for the broadcast:  the importance of preparation, off-site preparation, on-site preparation, game-day preparation.  Project:  Assemble materials for a sports (game) broadcast using newspapers, television and the internet.

4.  Sports play-by-play:  the role of the play-by-play announcer, what to expect in a typical broadcast, working with an analyst, different sports and styles, handling difficult issues (controversy), broadcasting ethics, radio vs. television play-by-play, establishing an identity.  Projects:  tape a radio broadcast as a play-by-play and color analyst, cover a live Northeastern Clinton sports event as a play-by-play and color analyst (these events are later broadcast on cable public access television through Home Town Cable), and write a critical review of a live sports broadcast.

Topics covered in sports broadcasting II:

Sports broadcasting II is the practical aspect of the sports broadcasting I and II experience.  Students in sports broadcasting II will cover Northeastern Clinton Central School sporting events and must be available to cover these events either after school or during the evening.  Our focus is on the home sports events and, when possible, a select number of road contests.  Students are responsible for all aspects of the broadcast including: technical set-up, filming, announcing and editing.  There will be a classroom critique after each broadcast.