THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Avery Barbee, 14, of Champaign, and others in the Sports Media Camp listen to his basketball play-by-play recording as part of this week’s Danville Area Community College “College for Kids” program.
DANVILLE — Just by midweek, participants in a Sports Media Camp that is part of Danville Area Community College’s College for Kids were already showing more confidence and showcasing what they learned so far.
“We’ve got some future broadcasters in the room,” said one of the instructors, Steve Brandy.
The DACC campus, including the Mary Miller Complex, was buzzing this week with the sounds of youth cheerleading, basketball and other camps in addition to play-by-play sports announcing. The annual College for Kids offers summer enrichment activities.
The weeklong Sports Media Camp had about a dozen sports enthusiasts ages 10-17. They met for three hours each afternoon, with the camp culminating in a broadcast at tonight’s Danville Dans game. Those who could attend were set to call the plays during a half-inning and also do some public-address announcing.
Participant Avery Barbee, 14, of Champaign said the camp has been fun.
“I like watching basketball,” he said about why he wanted to attend the camp and learn more about broadcasting.
For his practice play-by-play that he recorded at home and brought to camp this week for instructors and fellow campers to critique, he did play-by-play for a University of Illinois men’s basketball game versus Michigan State.
Brandy said Avery’s first time recording was impressive as he kept talking — about who was passing the ball, the score, the amount of time left, what was going on — and even gave background tidbits about the players.
“I follow Illinois pretty close,” Avery said.
Brandy told the campers as they get more practice working on their rhythm, they will get better and better.
Other students also shared their play-by-plays, some being embarrassed, hiding their faces with their hands or hoodies while their recordings played. Some gave play-by-plays of the start of a Phillies baseball game, riding to baseball practice or their brother making and eating a Hot Pocket.
Instructors this week from Central Illinois Multimedia Group were radio station veterans Brandy, RJ Crace and Eric Westfall.
They gave encouraging advice and tips to the campers.
“That was great,” Brandy said of one camper’s play-by-play, telling him that he kept talking and finding more things to talk about.
Brandy said broadcasters are entertaining the people who are listening. The campers need to be observant and believe in themselves.
Crace said in a baseball game, the broadcaster can’t say the score and inning enough for listeners.
Crace said once the campers get the hang of broadcasting, it will open their minds into all the aspects and possibilities of talking about the different sports.
The annual camp gives experience in being behind the sports desk, teleprompter work and editing video footage.
Avery said he’d like to be a broadcaster, as he likes to travel and it would be fun to head to new cities to call games.
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