Tell The Truth Tuesday: Claire Geary

Claire Geary submitted a field hockey demo for this week’s Tell The Truth Tuesday, and I have to say, I was really excited to watch this video for a couple of reasons!

1. I know absolutely zilch about field hockey, and in fact, this was the first field hockey stream I’ve ever watched in my life! So it was a great exercise in thinking about broadcasting in its truest most basic fundamentals, and getting out of the framework I’ve come to expect when turning on football, basketball or baseball.

2. Claire didn’t just send the tape out and ask “what do you think?” Like Guy Haberman suggested in an earlier podcast, she prompted me for specific feedback, which helped me give what I think could be more helpful or instructive advice.

Thanks for this submission, Claire! Good job! Keep getting out there and calling as many games as you can. Remember to relax, have fun, settle into a comfortable delivery, and create a narrative for the audience as the game goes on.

Some basic critique etiquette:

• No fluffy false positives. When you say something positive, it must be sincere. Positive feedback implies that the announcer would be well served to replicate that performance as consistently as possible in the future.

• All criticism should be constructive. When something sounds like it misses the mark, the point is not to demean, but to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate ways to implement positive change.

• Critiques should aim at helping people identify ways to take the next step in their development. It makes no sense to compare a novice to national network announcers who are decades further along in their career.

• Be respectful. Make sure the statements you offer check all three boxes: is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

We are now taking submissions for our next critique! Send an email to playbyplayu@gmail.com with the subject “Critique” and include a link to 5-10 minutes of audio or video, and you might be next on Tell the Truth Tuesday. We will choose from subscribers first, so make sure you click the button below to get more content like this delivered straight to your inbox.