The announcer plays an important role in meet management and control. Under the direction of the Meet Referee and the Meet Director, the announcer controls the tempo of the meet. Under ideal conditions, the announcer should be an experienced individual familiar with the needs and philosophy of meet operations. To be effective, the announcer should be constantly alert and able to adapt quickly to meet conditions. The spectators, coaches and swimmers should be kept informed and their interest maintained throughout the meet. This can best be accomplished with timely announcements, information and enthusiastic descriptions of the races, where appropriate.

Sometimes there is a tendency to over announce. A few pertinent announcements are much more effective than too many. The announcer should be familiar with existing records and be prepared to call timely attention to swimmers who are likely to set new records or who have done so in events recently swum. This will add to the spectators' interest and afford proper recognition to the swimmer(s) involved. In summary, the announcer does much more than just call up the next heat and announce the results. The announcer plays an important role in maintaining the meet time line.

To be effective, announcer should constantly be alert and able to quickly adapt to meet conditions. The spectators’ and swimmers’ attention and interest should be maintained throughout the Meet. This can be accomplished with timely announcements, information or enthusiastic descriptions of the races.

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Duties

1.1. Check with the Referee and the Meet Director for time schedules (warm-up schedules, meet start time, etc.) and instructions for the desired timing and format of announcements. If possible, this should be done on a day prior to the meet, or at least, prior to the start of the warm-up period.

1.2. Arrive early at the meet – 1 ½ hrs prior to the start of the session.

1.3. Ensure that all of the equipment is in working order (microphone, speakers, volume adjusted properly, etc.).

1.4. Assist the meet management and officials in the opening of warm-ups, assignment of warm-up lanes and reminders of safety procedures. If there are multiple sessions during the warm-ups assist in clearing the pool and starting the next session and keep track of the time schedules for doing this.

1.5. If the National Anthem is to be played at the start of competition, make arrangements for this to be done promptly at the appropriate time.

1.6. If a Clerk of Course is being used to assemble the swimmers prior to their heats find out when the swimmers are to be called for their events.

1.7. If the scoreboard does not indicate the Event and Heat number, this must announced before each heat. Determine from the Referee, whether individual swimmers and lanes are to be announced and, if so, whether this is to be done between heats or while the previous heat is in the water. This may vary between Preliminaries and Finals.

1.8. Provide commentary during the competition as appropriate, including records set, notable swimmers present, etc.

1.9. Provide other information as required. Concession information, awards procedures/location, volunteer check-ins and other announcements as requested by officials or meet management

1.10. Announce results (top eight only), finals qualifiers, swim-offs, time trials, scratch and check-in deadlines. These announcements should be made so that they do not conflict with the start of another race. Stop talking if the Referee blows the whistle.

1.11. For preliminary sessions, finalists should be announced as soon as they are determined. The time of the announcement should be noted to ensure compliance with the scratch rules.

1.12. Announce deadlines for relay card pick-ups and when and where they are to be turned in.

1.13. Request Biography forms for final if applicable, and check to ensure proper pronunciation of finalists’ names.

1.14. Remind everyone of the time for start of warm-ups and competition for the next session.

1.15. If finals are swum, coordinate the parade of finalists with the appropriate management and introduce the finalists at the blocks using biographies, if applicable.

1.16. Provide appropriate information regarding awards. If appropriate announce team, individual and high point awards. Coordinate, as needed with awards personnel if an awards ceremony is held.

1.17. Close by recognizing the contribution of key personnel, officials, volunteers, etc. Thank everyone for coming and wish them a safe trip home.

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Guidelines

2.1. The Announcer should speak clearly, talk slowly and pronounce names correctly. Look over the heat sheets to determine if you know how to pronounce the names of swimmers and clubs properly. If necessary, coaches, officials, and parents can be consulted to learn the correct pronunciation.

2.2. For large or complicated meets, it may be desirable to have an assistant or relief announcer who can help to coordinate and manage some of the responsibilities of the announcer.

2.3. If there are separate announcers for meets which have two adjacent pools operating simultaneously, these announcers must coordinate announcements and be aware of the status of the races in both pools so as not to interfere.

2.4. For most meets, the time line is an important management tool. The announcer has the responsibility to assist the referee in maintaining the required flow of the meet by staying as close as practical to the published time line. The announcer should adjust as required in order to help accomplish this goal. If there is a lull or delay in the activity, use this opportunity to acknowledge sponsors, read results, advertise the concessions, etc.

2.5. The announcer should be prepared to help in case of emergencies. If evacuation of the facility should become necessary, the announcer should be prepared to give calm, precise instructions and should be familiar with the location of exits. If appropriate, an early announcement should ask those present to identify the exits nearest them.

2.6. The Announcer's job is to keep everyone informed of the meet's progress in a pleasing and timely manner. It is an important and difficult job, but vital to the operation of a good swimming meet.

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Sample Announcements

3.1. Welcome announcement

“The Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica welcomes you to the <NAME OF COMPETITION>. We are proud to be associated with <NAME OF SPONSORS> who have sponsored this competition. This morning we will see the <PRELIMINARIES/FINAL> of the <LIST SESSION EVENTS>”

CONTENTS

Announcer

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Duties

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Guidelines

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Sample Announcements

3.1. Welcome announcement

3.2. Introducing the officials

3.3. Swimmers parade (generally used for finals only)

3.4. Swimmers introduction