How to Become a Sports Broadcaster

Sports broadcasting is a popular field that includes more than just hosting a show or asking questions to professional athletes. It entails knowing how to do game play-by-play announcements, often while the game is in progress, describing the action so that those watching or listening from home know what’s going on. Plus, there are new parts of the field, like podcasts, where these skills and the knowledge gained while working to become a sports broadcaster can become quite useful. If your high school student wants to get into the sports broadcasting field, here’s what they can do.

Attend a Pre-College Summer Program

It all starts with a sports broadcasting pre-college summer program. These programs, like the one here at Dean College, take place over the course of two weeks. Students get to live in dorms and eat on campus, giving them a taste of the real college experience. They also get to tour a stadium, put together a professional reel, and even do play-by-play for a professional sporting event. It really shows them what it’s like to work in the field, while giving them valuable experience at the same time.

Intern for a Station or a Stadium

In addition to pre-college summer programs, students can spend time interning for either a radio or TV station, or even a professional sports stadium. All of these internship opportunities can provide plenty of experience and knowledge. Working in the broadcast booth, even if you’re just pushing the buttons, teaches interested students how the equipment works. They might also get to join in on a show or two, or, if working for a stadium, spend time behind the scenes doing publicity or other important tasks. The more that they learn, the better.

Get Plenty of On-Air Experience

The more time that students spend on air, live, the better. This shows that they have what it takes to do things like play by plays or conducting interviews without stumbling or sounding unprofessional. Many colleges have radio stations and even television studios that are run by students. It’s often fairly easy to get a radio show, as in many cases, you just need to volunteer. While working for the student television studio may require a bit more time behind the scenes, at first anyway, it also provides the experience that hopefuls need in order to work in the sports broadcasting field.

Practice, Practice, Practice

For those who truly want to get into sports broadcasting, there’s one thing to keep in mind – practice is crucial and important. The key to getting a job in the field is to spend time on the air and behind the scenes, practicing the craft and making those important connections. After all, getting a job isn’t just about what you know. It’s also about who you know. If you can make those connections, while adding to your reel and your resume, then the chances of getting a job at a TV or radio station go up quite a bit.

Interested in learning more about our available pre-college summer programs? We’ve got you covered.