Announcers Anyone?

[Rich Wong]

Play-by-play announcing is one of the hardest jobs I know in FIRST.
Announcers got to have stamina, wit, personality, and a good altitude. Small mistakes are embarrassing and can be costly. When you are tired, it becomes immediately obvious to everyone unless you have good articulation control.
A job I can’t do if my life depends on it!
This year our rookie announcer Mike start announcing at the Thursday practice rounds in 2003. He got the chance because he just asked us.
In 2004 Mike was co-announcer at our State FLL Tournament and co-announced the 2004 NYC Regional. Fortunately, we also got lucky when Andy Grady volunteered to help on Saturday. Mike was losing his voice by then.
I only can speak for our regional; we are always looking for new volunteers for the pit, practice rounds, elimination rounds and final rounds announcer.
So just ask the volunteer coordinator or director of the regionals, you never know where the opportunities are. How do you get to know them? Volunteer and corner them at the volunteer cafeteria!