Suggested Guidelines for SPA Announcers

I have had several conversations with my father regarding his philosophy and views on the announcers position and proper conduct to facilitate a competition.

I am paraphrasing and these are merely suggestions to improve the quality of our local announcing.

1. The competition is for the divers.

1. Any conversation or thought process that does not pertain to the diver on the board and that specific dive should be kept OFF Mic.
   1. The intoxicating use of power and amplification should not be abused.
   2. This includes ALL instructions to the table.
   3. This includes conversations with the head referee, unless asked to be on Mic, for example, if the head referee asks that a dive be repeated.
   
   
2. It is most common that we have simultaneous events. It is the announcers obligation to be aware of the other competition and to be as unobtrusive as possible in both competitions.

3. The rules are such that when a diver asks to change a specific dive, it is not the announcers job to inform the diver that that dive that the diver is asking to change is listed somewhere else on their list and are they sure that they want to change it at this time. If, when the change is made, the computer informs the announcer that that is an illegal change for some reason, the announcer should then inform the diver of this.

4. Commentary or personal asides should not exist on the announcers Microphone. Editorializing or proof of wit, knowledge and or humor should be reserved for Karaoke night, these asides are always at the divers’ expense.

5. Advertising for upcoming meets, future events and snack bar flashes should be reserved for warm up times in BOTH contests. If a snack bar announcement needs to be made, it should wait at least until the end of the round.

6. Calling for help over the mic should be done when there is not a diver on the board in the other competition that could be distracted by such an announcement.

7. Announcing the results should be done near the awards presentation whenever possible or at least in a manner fully aware that another competition is still going on, if that is the case, and again with the intent to not distract from whatever competition is still engaged.

8. Any trouble or question about pronunciation of a divers name should be taken care of when the diving order is stated. An invitation to correct the announcer should be made at that time and the announcer should do their best to make that correction by writing the phonetic pronunciation on the divers sheet so as not to forget the correction.

US Diving Insurance will provide 1 million dollars worth of general liability coverage and the change will be that there is no longer 4 million dollars in excess liability coverage.

Most of you are already aware that all insurance seems to be going up this year and this was necessary for US Diving to make this change in order to stay within their budget.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact Coral Minton or Todd Smith.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Curt Wilson