As a play-by-play broadcaster, your job is not just to describe a game, but to bring it to life. You have mere seconds to turn a pass, a shot, or a touchdown into a moment that listeners and viewers can feel. The difference between an average call and a great one often comes down to language—how you say something can have just as much impact as what you’re saying.

In this article, we’ll explore simple but effective language tweaks that can elevate your play-by-play delivery. From word efficiency to expanding your vocabulary, these small adjustments can help you sound more dynamic, engaging, and professional on air.

The Power of Word Economy: Less is More

As a broadcaster, you want to avoid over-explaining or over-describing. Word economy is key—sometimes less really is more.

For example, instead of saying, “He takes the ball and dribbles it up the court slowly, looking for an opening,” you could streamline it: “He brings it up court, searching for space.” Not only is it more concise, but it also keeps the action moving at the right pace. It can also prevent you from falling behind should the play speed up in an unexpected fashion, leaving you and your audience confused.

The reality is that play-by-play is a fast-paced job, and the more concise and impactful your language is, the better. You don’t need 10 words when five can do the job. Consider how you can cut excess and make every word count.

Expanding Your Vocabulary: Don’t Be Afraid to Mix it Up

A key part of great play-by-play is variety. If you’re always using the same verbs, adjectives, and phrases, your calls will start to feel repetitive. Don’t be afraid to expand your vocabulary. Think of it like a painter adding more colours to their palette—variety gives you more tools to create vivid pictures.

For example, rather than always saying “passes,” try mixing it up with “delivers,” “sends,” “zips,” or “slings.” Similarly, if you’re describing a player’s movements, switch it up: “sprints,” “charges,” “bolts,” and “dashes” all convey different speeds and intensities. Read, listen, expose yourself to new adjectives and terminology to vary your broadcast. While it’s never a good idea to go into a broadcast with a set of words you want to say, having several options at your disposal make you a better sportscaster.

The key is to keep your language fresh and avoid overusing certain words. Every game is different, and your vocabulary should reflect the unique energy and rhythm of each broadcast.

Embrace Alliteration and Rhythm When Appropriate

Alliteration isn’t just for catchy slogans; it can be a fun and memorable way to engage your audience during a play-by-play call. Done sparingly, alliteration can inject energy and excitement into your delivery.

For instance: “Smith sprints swiftly down the sideline” or “Jones jumps, juggles, and jams it home!” It’s fun, rhythmic, and helps paint a picture in the listener’s mind.

But be careful not to overdo it. A few well-placed alliterative phrases can energize the broadcast, but if you use them too frequently, they can start to feel forced or gimmicky. Use it as a tool, not a crutch.

Show, Don’t Just Tell: Descriptive Language That Creates Visuals

As a play-by-play announcer, it’s your job to make the action come alive for your audience. While it’s important to be concise, you should also provide vivid descriptions that allow listeners or viewers to imagine the scene.

Think about what makes the moment stand out. When calling a slam dunk, for example, it’s not enough to say, “He dunks the ball.” Give more context: “He soars through the air and slams it down with authority!” The added details make the play feel more dramatic and exciting.

Similarly, instead of simply saying “A great defensive play,” you could say, “A textbook block that stops the drive dead in its tracks.” This helps your audience visualize exactly what’s happening, and adds excitement to the call.

Keep Your Pacing in Check

In a high-energy game, it’s tempting to rush through your calls, but pacing is critical. Too fast, and your words might blur together; too slow, and you risk losing the audience’s attention. You want to strike a balance—speeding up during thrilling moments and slowing down when you need to provide context or build suspense.

Additionally, varying your tone and inflection can keep things engaging. Use your voice to create contrasts—become more intense when describing a big play, or ease off when reflecting on a quieter moment. Your pacing should match the rhythm of the game, and good pacing enhances your language choices.

Avoid Overuse of Clichés and Common Phrases

We’ve all heard them before: “And the crowd goes wild!” “It’s do or die!” “That’s a game-changer!” These overused phrases can make your broadcast feel lazy or predictable.

Instead, aim to use fresh and specific language. Rather than defaulting to the same phrases, take a moment to think about how you can describe the scene with more originality. For example, instead of saying “the crowd goes wild,” you could say, “The fans erupt, their cheers shaking the stadium.”

Breaking free from clichés allows you to develop a more distinctive style and keeps your audience engaged.

Practicing Precision with Timing

Finally, effective play-by-play is about timing. A few key words or phrases said at the right moment can amplify the impact of a play. Being precise with your language, like “Just in time!” or “With the clock winding down,” builds suspense and creates anticipation.

The great broadcasters know when to pause, when to speed up, and when to hit the perfect note in their language choices. Timing, paired with efficient and descriptive language, will leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Reflection: Your Language is Your Signature

What language tweaks could you implement in your next broadcast? How can you turn your vocabulary into a tool for creating even more dynamic play-by-play calls? Every small change you make will help you refine your delivery, making you stand out as a broadcaster who knows how to engage an audience with every word.

Key Takeaways:

  • Word economy: Get straight to the point, without over-explaining.
  • Expand your vocabulary: Use varied verbs and adjectives to keep your language fresh.
  • Alliteration and rhythm: Use sparingly for added energy.
  • Descriptive language: Paint vivid pictures with your words.
  • Avoid clichés: Strive for originality to keep your calls exciting.