This is a helpful article for anyone currently or preparing to announce Roller Derby bouts (or any other sport, really).
I am not naïve; bad announcing will always exist in roller derby. It exists in professional sports where announcers make thousands of dollars per year and thus it will naturally occur in an amateur sport as well. However, there are dozens of talented announcers out there who can help to spread the game to new fans and they should be used whenever possible. Competitive teams don’t start players because of how cool they are or who they are friends with, they play the athletes who are good at their job. Announcing roller derby should be the exact same way for the good of the sport as a whole.
Source: Tank’s Tirades 1.5 “Just Talk About The Damn Game!”, Roller Derby Inside Track
I think all derby announcers mean well and many have probably never announced anything before but it’s true that poor announcing can hinder rather then help the sport. Here, shared with nuthin’ but love, are one fans tips to pleasing your listeners:
1. Don’t try to be the evening’s entertainment, that’s what the bout is for. Leave the joke routines for half-time hijinks and the after party where they will be better appreciated.
2. Describe the bout action in as much detail as is possible. Remember that a lot of fans are new to derby and probably unfamiliar with its rules and strategies. Announcing play by play helps us better understand and enjoy the sport, jolly banter does not.
3. All spoken word should add to, rather than extract from, the experience. Keep the chatter all about the live action (especially if your bouts are shared on the net, via video or radio) and relevant happenings to that very night (like sponsor info, half-time events, the charity being highlighted that night, etc). Anything more than that becomes annoying white noise to those trying to figure out what’s going on on the track.
