College softball coverage

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Dec 11, 2010
4,713
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Let’s talk about college softball coverage! The good, the bad, the ugly.

First of all.... Every 16u travel ball game in the country is live streamed. Come on, colleges, figure it out. If dopey tb dads can figure out how to live stream, you can too.

If you aren’t going to allow visitors fans at games, STREAM THE GAME. Again, how hard is this?

If you are a college hosting more than one visiting team, why in the world are you only streaming home team games? Come on, you aren’t letting fans in and you aren’t streaming these games? GROW THE GAME, it benefits the sport and your schools sports!

One camera is better than none.... But it’s 2021.... You can do this, I know you can.

And now for the announcers:

If you have said a phrase a couple times, it’s time to find another way to say it.

Example: I don’t ever need to hear “free pass” or “issued a free pass” ever again.

Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass. Issued a free pass.

See how unpleasant that is?

Same with “She didn’t try to do too much with that pitch”. Same with “She takes her hands to the ball.” Never people. Especially not FOR EVERY DAMN HIT IN THE GAME. Thanks for your help with this.


Next... quit with the technique commentary on every move the players make. You played college softball. Quit sounding like a 12u rec league coach. You know interesting things. You see things those of us who didn’t play at that level don’t see. If you are going to talk technique or strategy, please don’t dumb it down. Elevate the viewers.

I would rather hear that if you ever come to Anytown to catch a game, the players favorite restaurant is Loco Tacos and you might see players there with families later tonight.

I would rather hear about game scores that may be of interest.

I would rather hear about what it was like when you played here.

I would rather get an update on the dude in the front row wearing a nacho hat.

If I wanted to hear an hour and a half of vapid technique critique I would go to a 10u softball practice.

Happy 2021, y’all! Let’s watch some softball!
 
Last edited:
Dec 2, 2013
3,409
113
Texas
Yes to all of this! Watching DD's games and the announcer says "lifted the ball" for every ball hit in the air. I would rather these commentators not just read what is on their online bio. How about send the players a questionnaire asking 10 questions about themselves, likes, dislikes, favorite whatever, most embarrassing, best place to hang out after practice, best thing about the school, what travel ball team did you play for, superstitions, other sports, etc?

What else should we add to this list?
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
I think at the college level it is less about broadcasting the came than it is about getting revenue for the broadcast.
How about schools with programs related to broadcasting or mass communications programs? What is their excuse? This is an opportunity not a burden.

Its short sighted for schools to say “not many people are interested in this.” The school that does a good job with sports publicity, college or high school, elevates the institution. It builds. It builds slowly, but it builds. Some one needs to give it effort.

RIGHT NOW, in this covid year, it is not only a unique opportunity to put out a positive product but they also have a bit of an obligation to make this available to parents and relatives who make the sport possible. Especially with 25+ player rosters where all but a few are paying for the student to attend. Few go to college for free, no matter what parents say behind the backstop of a local tb or hs game.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
Watching DD's games and the announcer says "lifted the ball" for every ball hit in the air.
Yes!

Couple years ago Abbey Cheek hit an absolute bomb. I scream YEAH!!! while the announcer gave a disinterested, “well she got under that one” as it soared out....


How about send the players a questionnaire asking 10 questions about themselves, likes, dislikes, favorite whatever, most embarrassing, best place to hang out after practice, best thing about the school, what travel ball team did you play for, superstitions, other sports, etc?

Yes! Even if they got a chance to chat with a few.... there is funny stuff going on with every team. These kids have personality and they will tell you stuff if you have a chance to talk to them.

I watched Alabama vs. LSU earlier. It was an Alabama crew. They did a good job and had some wild stats like “in games where this player reaches base, Alabama wins 90% of the time”

Superstitions- older dd played for a coach that never tied her left shoe during a game. She had superstitions about what she would say if you got on base, in the pre game etc etc.
 
Last edited:
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
On SEC network yesterday, they aired the Tennessee/Miami of Ohio game with NO commentary. Nothing. Just the game itself. WTF? Does the SEC spend SO much on football that softball doesn't even get announcers anymore? Or did the announcers get COVID and just not show up? And can we talk about how bad the camera angle is for many of these broadcasts? It's impossible to see what's going on behind the plate at the Alabama field because home plate is in the dark (literally). Can we please invest some money in softball if we're going to show it on TV?
 

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
How about schools with programs related to broadcasting or mass communications programs? What is their excuse? This is an opportunity not a burden.

Its short sighted for schools to say “not many people are interested in this.” The school that does a good job with sports publicity, college or high school, elevates the institution. It builds. It builds slowly, but it builds. Some one needs to give it effort.

RIGHT NOW, in this covid year, it is not only a unique opportunity to put out a positive product but they also have a bit of an obligation to make this available to parents and relatives who make the sport possible. Especially with 25+ player rosters where all but a few are paying for the student to attend. Few go to college for free, no matter what parents say behind the backstop of a local tb or hs game.

We have a lot of colleges as customers. And more often than not, it is the journalism department that have placed the orders over coaches and ADs. You are correct. It is a great opportunity for these folks to be perfecting their craft and providing a service at the same time. Win/win.
 
Jul 14, 2018
982
93
How about schools with programs related to broadcasting or mass communications programs? What is their excuse? This is an opportunity not a burden.

This is basically every college in America that has a sports program. They all have some combination of broadcasting or journalism or new media courses that should absolutely be live streaming every sporting event the school participates in.

Our local HS has started streaming every game!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
We have a lot of colleges as customers. And more often than not, it is the journalism department that have placed the orders over coaches and ADs. You are correct. It is a great opportunity for these folks to be perfecting their craft and providing a service at the same time. Win/win.

Yep! You can always tell when it’s a college kid doing the talking! I actually kind of appreciate that- great experience that some are ready for and some aren’t. It can be entertaining when a slapper comes up and they have no idea what is going on and try to describe it.

I love hearing these kids work at it, I always think “that’s someone’s kid doing his/her best, just like mine”
 

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