SPORTS TRAINING GUIDE PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY This guide outlines the sequence of training sessions you must complete as a volunteer in the Sports department at Radio Western. It is recommended that you print this document off and to bring it to your training sessions so you, as a trainee, can make sure everything is covered by the senior volunteer or trainer. Once you complete Sports training, you will become a Radio Western Volunteer. Sports training can be done concurrently with the other departments (On-Air, Music & Promotions, News & Spoken Word, Radio Production and Music Production training) if you wish. To be able to perform in any of the departments, you MUST complete all Training Sessions from your chosen Department and other mandatory sessions (the 01 Sessions) as per the CHRW Training Flow Diagram below:
SPORTS SESSION DESCRIPTION AND CHECKLIST 501- INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS Setting: Newsroom, Small Group Length: 30 minutes - 1 hour Trainer: Sports Coordinator Purpose: Overview of opportunities in Sports Broadcasting This session is an overview of the history of Radio Western Sports, the different roles the Radio Western s Sports Department has to offer, a showcasing of the equipment used and a description of the preparation needed for a great broadcast. Introduction/History of Radio Western Sports When did Radio Western start covering sports? Who else has volunteered at Radio Western sports? What Championships has Radio Western sports covered? Where has Radio Western sports travelled? Live Sports On-Air positions Studio Coordinator Play-by-play Colour
Statistics Sideline Reporter Overview of Live Sports broadcast equipment Sports Mixer Headphones Wireless Microphone/Equipment Cell Phone Broadcasting Equipment Tieline Broadcasting Equipment Cases, Power Cords, Ethernet Cables etc. Preparation Where do I find information for my preparation? How much preparation is needed for a broadcast? When should I prepare for a broadcast? How to get an interview with coaches or athletes? What to worry about and what not to. Once this training session and checklist is completed the trainer will sign their initials on your Training Card for Session 501. 404C1 - ON-AIR SHOW OPERATOR/PRODUCER (Prerequisite for 502) Setting: On-Air Studio One on One Trainer: News, Sports or Spoken Word Coordinator Length: 1 Hour Purpose: Learn to operate studio console and produce spoken word shows. You got to know how everything works before you can use it. You will sit in with one of the News, Sports and Spoken Word Coordinators or a Senior Volunteer and learn to use the On-Air console. Overview of studio floor Plugging in mics and headphones Sound check and adjusting levels Communicating with studio floor Overview of On-Air console Choosing the correct channel and settings for each source (mics, CDs, Wavecart etc) Adjusting levels and mic technique CD players inserting/removing CD s, how to cue a CD and adjust levels How to fill out commercial logs correctly
Putting callers to air Fault Reports - how to fill them out Introduction to On-air Library maintenance Find and file CD s using computer/filing system/specialized books/in-studio coding system Producing a Spoken Word Program Re-cap of editing Structure Re-cap of Wavecart and archiving Once this training session and checklist is completed the trainer will sign their initials on your training card for Session 404C1. 502 - INTERVIEWS Setting: Newsroom One on One Length: Minimum 3 Interviews Trainer: Sports Coordinator Purpose: Get the volunteer used to conducting interviews. This session is about conducting interviews for Radio Western Sports. The volunteer will perform a minimum of three interviews; one athlete, one coach and one member of the community. These interviews can be used for Radio Western News, Mustangs Nation, Live Sports Broadcasts and/or Blogged on the website. Preparing and Connecting How do I prepare for these interviews? Who do I contact to set these interviews up? When/Where will these interviews take place? Equipment and Knowledge Headphones with adapter Microphones or recorders Knowledge of Adobe Audition Audio Levels In Studio Set Up
Over The Phone Set Up Remote Set Up Editing and Post-Production Editing in Adobe Audition Saving files properly Emailing files to necessary people Blogging Once this training session and checklist is completed the trainer will sign their initials on your Training Card for Session 502. 503 - SHADOW STUDIO COORDINATOR Setting: One on One or Small Group Newsroom and On-Air Studio Trainer: Studio Coordinator Length: Minimum 2 Broadcasts Purpose: Volunteer is education on studio operations during a live sports broadcast. For this session you will sit in with the Live Sports Studio Coordinator for a Live Sports broadcast. This will allow you to see what goes into a Radio Western Sports Broadcast from the inside out. During the in-studio shadow the volunteer will see the production side of the broadcast and help the In-Studio Coordinator with the production duties. Before The Broadcast Conduct interviews of interest to Mustang Sports listeners before games Using social media to promote the broadcasts pregame Testing and putting the Field Team to air using the Tieline or other means During The Broadcast Using social media to update listeners throughout the broadcasts Introducing the game to listeners. Create half-time report using timely pre-recorded and live interviews Use info from other relevant campus games and reporting scores
After The Broadcast Using social media to update listeners of final score of the broadcasts Create promotion for the next broadcast Update CHRWRadio.ca with score/audio of broadcast Once this training session and checklist is completed the Studio Coordinator will sign their initials on your Training card for Session 503. 504 STATS Setting: On Location at a Radio Western Sports Broadcast Trainer: Field Team Length: Minimum 2 Broadcasts Purpose: Introducing volunteers to live sports broadcasts and having them contribute. Statistics is a huge part of sports broadcasting. Having reliable and accurate stats brings huge credibility to the station for its listeners. Volunteers should have to sit in as the statistician for a minimum of two broadcasts. This will not only allow the volunteer to continue to shadow the on-air talent, but contribute as a vital part of the team. Stats in basketball and football are provided quarterly by the scorer s table and press box respectively. In hockey no real in depth statistic are provided every period such as; faceoffs, blocked shots, hits, shift times and individual player shot totals. Before The Broadcast Learn the statistics for the sport you will be covering Practice with a game on television Have a game plan with your broadcast partners Help set-up equipment During The Broadcast
Cover as much as you can (don t overdo it) Pass notes to play by play and colour with stats information Listen to PA Announcer for official scoring information Look for quarterly stats at football and basketball giving out at the scorer s table at the games (check the internet for hockey) After The Broadcast Help put away equipment and return it to the station Review stats with Sports Coordinator (Keep your stats) Produce a blog on the game you did stats for Once this training session and checklist is completed the Sports Coordinator will sign their initials on your Training Card for Session 504. 505 CHRWRADIO2 SPORTS STATS, SIDELINE REPORTER, COLOUR, PLAY-BY-PLAY Setting: On Location at a CHRW2 Sports Broadcast Trainer: Field Team Length: Minimum 1 Broadcast Purpose: Have the volunteer actually calling a Western Mustangs contest. During the regular season (besides football), CHRW does not broadcast sports content on Sundays. However, with CHRW2 we can cover these games and more to give new volunteers a real sports broadcast experience. We can broadcast any Mustangs Sports game not on the FM schedule and with CHRW2 we are always looking for new ideas on how to use it. Before The Broadcast Media accreditations (Informing Western of our presence at the game) Review of equipment set up (How to get the broadcast streaming) Learn to record broadcast for review from newsroom Using social media (facebook/twitter) to promote the broadcast Create pregame, intermission and outro audio for broadcast Have a game plan with your broadcast partners Help set-up equipment and check sounds levels During The Broadcast
Make sure pregame audio plays Calling the game play-by-play, colour, sideline reports and stats Make sure intermission audio plays Switch throughout broadcast so trainees get experience in all positions Make sure postgame audio plays After The Broadcast Help put away equipment and return it to the station Review broadcast with Sports Coordinator in a sit down critique Continue to use CHRW2 until confident and comfortable on-air Once this training session and checklist is completed the Sports Coordinator will sign their initials on your Training Card for Session 505. 506 SIDELINE REPORTER Setting: On Location at a Radio Western Sports Broadcast Trainer: Field Team Length: Minimum 1 Broadcast Purpose: Getting the volunteer to perform Sideline Reporting duties during live Sports Broadcast. Sideline Reporting is another key element to any good sports broadcast. Having someone to provide you reliable statistical or injury updates throughout a broadcast, along with short in-depth interviews with players and coaches is immeasurable. Volunteers should have to learn to get comfortable on a microphone when they re put on the spot. Before The Broadcast Prepare for the broadcast (study the teams) Get permission from coaches for intermission or postgame interviews Help set-up equipment and check sounds levels Have a game plan with your broadcast partners During The Broadcast Learn to identify players/coaches for possible interviews Pay attention to the game for possible stories to act upon for updates or interviews such as; injuries, milestones and turning points
Also have an eye in the crowd for potential stories to unfold such as; alumni, celebrities, great fans, events or celebrations Always stay in nonverbal communication with broadcast team Conduct interviews with players/coaches or perform updates. After The Broadcast Help put away equipment and return it to the station Review broadcast with Sports Coordinator in a sit down critique Once this training session and checklist is completed the Sports Coordinator will sign their initials on your Training Card for Session 506. CONGRATULATIONS YOU RE NOW A SPORTS VOLUNTEER IN GOOD STANDING AT RADIO WESTERN!