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How difficult is it to become a sportscaster if I am not a professional athlete?

I love to talk sports and would love even more to make money doing it. Is there a way to do this without being a famous athlete? #sports #career #sportscaster #communications

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Jeffrey’s Answer

It is not very hard if you have a passion for sports! You do not need to be a professional athlete. I would get to know the sport you want to sportscast as much as possible and learn the history behind it. Then work on that broadcasting voice!!! (Practice in front of the mirror)
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Ilka’s Answer

This is a competitive field, but nothing is impossible if you apply yourself. Work with your local park district or high school to volunteer as an umpire or Coach- these will jumpstart your resume for future opportunities. And don't forget to NETWORK! The more people you talk to about your goals, the closer you are to forming networks for an opportunity. Good Luck!
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Ken’s Answer

First it is important for you to get to know yourself better to determine how your personality traits match with those who are successful in sportscasting and then talk to those who have successfully entered that field to get their suggestions and advice on how to best proceed.


Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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Stuart’s Answer

You needn't be a professional athlete to know a lot about sports, and some of the best sportscasters on the air today haven't played a sport since college. You must be comfortable speaking in public (Toastmasters can help) and you have to put in the time because it's competitive, but here's an encouraging anecdote: recently, a "frequent caller" on a local sports talk show (SF bay area 95.7am) was so consistently funny, smart, well-spoken and knowledgeable that one of the radio personalities invited him to join the show on a regular basis.

Stuart recommends the following next steps:

Volunteer to observe (shadow) the announcers of local High School or College games - let them know you'd be glad to be a substitute, if the regular announcers become ill or go on vacation. Do 50 games and see if you still enjoy it.
This works in many fields: connect with your local sportscasters and ask if they would be willing to engage in a 15-20 minute "informational interview" about their career - best advice will come from people who are currently doing what you want to do.
Practice, practice, practice. Record yourself announcing a game at home, then listen to it. Once you work out the kinks, do your own podcast and ask friends to listen to it.
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Jace’s Answer

Sportscaster is such an amazing proffesion that has so much to offer and so much variety. You can do anything you put your mind too. Look at todays sportscaster most were not proffesional athletes. Some are but are limited to only their specifc sport. By not being a professional athlete it allows you the freedom to work on any sport. Also there are many levels of sports you can broadcast, youth sports to proffessional sport and everything in between so your opportunities are endless. Find out what sport or sports you are passionate about and focus on those. Do what makes you happy


Remember Umatter. Best of luck

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Andrew’s Answer

Hi McKay-

Sportscasting and communications in general is a very competitive field, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to earn the role you are looking for. I would try to learn as much as possible from others in the industry and identify a few mentors who may be able to help you in your quest, and also try to get as much experience as possible -- whether that's as an intern, or even in a different role with a TV station where you can be exposed to others who may be able to help you down the road. At the end of the day, if you have the passion you can achieve anything -- put the work in, get experience, be patient, and good things will come your way!
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