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Football · The voice of the stadium

How to Be the Football PA Announcer

You're the voice of Friday night — calling the action, welcoming families, and keeping the game moving. Clear, warm, and impartial beats loud and flashy every time.

Level
A little practice
Time
~3 hours · arrive 60 min before kickoff
You need
Both rosters + numbers
Your seat
Press box, by the spotter
Tone
Warm, clear, neutral
Golden rule
Inform, don't cheer

Quick start

  1. 1

    Get both team rosters and a spotter

    An hour before kickoff, print or pull up both rosters sorted by jersey number. A 'spotter' next to you watches the play and tells you who made the tackle — you announce it.

  2. 2

    Run the pre-game script

    Welcome, national anthem intro, starting lineups, sponsor reads, and the safety/restroom notes. Most schools have a script — ask the athletic director for theirs.

  3. 3

    Call each play simply

    Down & distance, who carried or threw, who caught, who made the tackle, and the result. 'Second and six… handoff to number 24, Jordan Reyes, gain of four. Tackle by number 55.' That's the whole craft.

  4. 4

    Stay neutral — you serve both sidelines

    Announce both teams' good plays with the same energy. Never argue a call, never editorialize. You're the host, not a fan.

Watch first

Announcing the Game — Football

From the PublicAddressAnnouncer.org series — pre-game prep and what/when to announce, specifically for football PA.

Football PA Announcing for Beginners

A beginner walkthrough by an experienced announcer: cadence, prep, and on-mic etiquette.

The announcer's job in one breath

You help everyone in the stands follow the game and feel welcome. That means clear identification of players, accurate down-and-distance, smooth sponsor and event reads, and a calm, friendly presence. You are not a color commentator — keep it factual and let the game be the star.

The anatomy of a play call

Set the situation
“Second and six at the 40.”
Who has the ball
“Handoff to number 24, Jordan Reyes…”
The result
“…gain of four.”
Who made the stop
“Tackle by number 55, Sam Lee.”

Things to read between plays (not during)

  • Sponsor thank-yous and reads (the AD will give you a list and timing).
  • Score and time updates at the end of each quarter.
  • Lost-child / found-item / car-lights announcements (calm, clear, repeat once).
  • Senior Night, Homecoming, or fundraiser callouts when scheduled.
  • Sportsmanship reminder before kickoff — most associations provide the wording.

Sources: NFHS sportsmanship & game-management guidance