Question about announcing invitationals

[Ericles]

This weekend, I am announcing my school's invitational. This is only the 3rd time I have ever done it. The one thing I have trouble with is how to space out the calls (1st, 2nd, 3rd) for the running events. I especially have a little trouble with the distance races - 4x8, 4x4, 1600, 3200. For what it's worth, we no longer have preliminary races.

How far in advance of the start of these races should I be making the 3rd call, especially as it pertains to the 4x4/1600/3200? Last year, I felt rushed by officials and even coaches to the point I found myself making calls 4 and almost 5 events ahead, which seemed like a lot to me.

Any help I can get is appreciated.

 

[Mr. Slippery]

Is your invitational using a time schedule or a rolling schedule? It sounds like a rolling schedule was used last year.

 

[Ericles]

It's a rolling schedule. The only things that have specific times attached are the start of field events and the start of running events.

 

[yj_runfan]

I announced our team’s conference meet one year. I took my direction from the head referee at the meet and no one else.

 

[galesxc]

Here is an example of our "script":

Call Order with separate boys/girls 4x8, 3200M​

Field Events (Starting at 3:30PM)

• Boys & Girls Long Jump (open Pit)
• Boys & Girls Pole Vault (Combined, starting at ____)
• Boys & Girls High Jump
• Girls & Boys Discus

3:15PM 1st Call all Field Events

3:20PM 2nd Call all Field Events

3:25PM 3rd Call all Field Events

Track Events (Starting at 4:15PM)

3:50PM 1st Call Girls 4x800M Relay

4:00PM 2nd Call Girls 4x800M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x800M Relay

4:10PM 3rd Call Girls 4x800M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x800M Relay 1st Call Girls 100M Hurdles

Start of Girls 4x8 2nd Call Girls 100M Hurdles 1st Call Boys 110M Hurdles

Start of Boys 4x8 3rd Call Girls 100M Hurdles 2nd Call Boys 110M Hurdles 1st Call Girls 100M Dash

Start of Girls 100M Hurdles 3rd Call Boys 110M Hurdles 2nd Call Girls 100M Dash 1st Call Boys 100M Dash

Start of Boys 110M Hurdles 3rd Call Girls 100M Dash 2nd Call Boys 100M Dash 1st Call Girls 4x200M Relay

Start of Girls 100M Dash 3rd Call Boys 100M Dash 2nd Call Girls 4x200M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x200M Relay

Start of Boys 100M dash 3rd Call Girls 4x200M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x200M Relay 1st Call Girls 1600M Run

Start of Girls 4x200M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x200M Relay 2nd Call Girls 1600M Run 1st Call Boys 1600M Run

Start of Boys 4x200M Relay 3rd Call Girls 1600M Run 2nd Call Boys 1600M Run 1st Call Girls 4x100M Relay

Start of Girls 1600M 3rd Call Boys 1600M Run 2nd Call Girls 4x100M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x100M Relay

Start of Boys 1600M 3rd Call Girls 4x100M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x100M Relay 1st Call Girls 400M Dash

Start of Girls 4x100M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x100M Relay 2nd Call Girls 400M Dash 1st Call Boys 400M Dash

Start of Boys 4x100M Relay 3rd Call Girls 400M Dash 2nd Call Boys 400M Dash 1st Call Girls 300M Hurdles

Start of Girls 400M 3rd Call Boys 400M Dash 2nd Call Girls 300M Hurdles 1st Call Boys 300M Hurdles

Start of Boys 400M 3rd Call Girls 300M Hurdles 2nd Call Boys 300M Hurdles 1st Call Girls 800M Run

Start of Girls 300M Hurdles 3rd Call Boys 300M Hurdles 2nd Call Girls 800M Run 1st Call Boys 800M Run

Start of Boys 300M Hurdles 3rd Call Girls 800M Run 2nd Call Boys 800M Run 1st Call Girls 200M Dash

Start of Girls 800M 3rd Call Boys 800M Run 2nd Call Girls 200M Dash 1st Call Boys 200M Dash

Start of Boys 800M 3rd Call Girls 200M Dash 2nd Call Boys 200M Dash 1st Call Girls 3200M Run

Start of Girls 200M 3rd Call Boys 200M Dash 2nd Call Girls 3200M Run 1st Call Boys 3200M Run

Start of Boys 200M 3rd Call Girls 3200M Run 2nd Call Boys 3200M Run 1st Call Girls 4x400M Relay

Start of Girls 3200M 3rd Call Boys 3200M Run 2nd Call Girls 4x400M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x400M Relay

Start of Boys 3200M 3rd Call Girls 4x400M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x400M Relay

Start of Girls 4x400M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x400M Relay

 

[Ericles]

Rhis

Here is an example of our "script":

Call Order with separate boys/girls 4x8, 3200M​

Field Events (Starting at 3:30PM)

• Boys & Girls Long Jump (open Pit)
• Boys & Girls Pole Vault (Combined, starting at ____)
• Boys & Girls High Jump
• Girls & Boys Discus

3:15PM 1st Call all Field Events

3:20PM 2nd Call all Field Events

3:25PM 3rd Call all Field Events

Track Events (Starting at 4:15PM)

3:50PM 1st Call Girls 4x800M Relay

4:00PM 2nd Call Girls 4x800M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x800M Relay

4:10PM 3rd Call Girls 4x800M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x800M Relay 1st Call Girls 100M Hurdles

Start of Girls 4x8 2nd Call Girls 100M Hurdles 1st Call Boys 110M Hurdles

Start of Boys 4x8 3rd Call Girls 100M Hurdles 2nd Call Boys 110M Hurdles 1st Call Girls 100M Dash

Start of Girls 100M Hurdles 3rd Call Boys 110M Hurdles 2nd Call Girls 100M Dash 1st Call Boys 100M Dash

Start of Boys 110M Hurdles 3rd Call Girls 100M Dash 2nd Call Boys 100M Dash 1st Call Girls 4x200M Relay

Start of Girls 100M Dash 3rd Call Boys 100M Dash 2nd Call Girls 4x200M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x200M Relay

Start of Boys 100M dash 3rd Call Girls 4x200M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x200M Relay 1st Call Girls 1600M Run

Start of Girls 4x200M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x200M Relay 2nd Call Girls 1600M Run 1st Call Boys 1600M Run

Start of Boys 4x200M Relay 3rd Call Girls 1600M Run 2nd Call Boys 1600M Run 1st Call Girls 4x100M Relay

Start of Girls 1600M 3rd Call Boys 1600M Run 2nd Call Girls 4x100M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x100M Relay

Start of Boys 1600M 3rd Call Girls 4x100M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x100M Relay 1st Call Girls 400M Dash

Start of Girls 4x100M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x100M Relay 2nd Call Girls 400M Dash 1st Call Boys 400M Dash

Start of Boys 4x100M Relay 3rd Call Girls 400M Dash 2nd Call Boys 400M Dash 1st Call Girls 300M Hurdles

Start of Girls 400M 3rd Call Boys 400M Dash 2nd Call Girls 300M Hurdles 1st Call Boys 300M Hurdles

Start of Boys 400M 3rd Call Girls 300M Hurdles 2nd Call Boys 300M Hurdles 1st Call Girls 800M Run

Start of Girls 300M Hurdles 3rd Call Boys 300M Hurdles 2nd Call Girls 800M Run 1st Call Boys 800M Run

Start of Boys 300M Hurdles 3rd Call Girls 800M Run 2nd Call Boys 800M Run 1st Call Girls 200M Dash

Start of Girls 800M 3rd Call Boys 800M Run 2nd Call Girls 200M Dash 1st Call Boys 200M Dash

Start of Boys 800M 3rd Call Girls 200M Dash 2nd Call Boys 200M Dash 1st Call Girls 3200M Run

Start of Girls 200M 3rd Call Boys 200M Dash 2nd Call Girls 3200M Run 1st Call Boys 3200M Run

Start of Boys 200M 3rd Call Girls 3200M Run 2nd Call Boys 3200M Run 1st Call Girls 4x400M Relay

Start of Girls 3200M 3rd Call Boys 3200M Run 2nd Call Girls 4x400M Relay 1st Call Boys 4x400M Relay

Start of Boys 3200M 3rd Call Girls 4x400M Relay 2nd Call Boys 4x400M Relay

Start of Girls 4x400M Relay 3rd Call Boys 4x400M Relay

This looks more like what I am used to when I announced in the past.

Could I stretch things out just a little bit more? Say, make the 3rd call for the Boys 4x8 as the handoff is being made between the 1st and 2nd leg of the Girls 4x8? Or is that cutting it too close?

 

[Mr. Slippery]

Rhis

This looks more like what I am used to when I announced in the past.

Could I stretch things out just a little bit more? Say, make the 3rd call for the Boys 4x8 as the handoff is being made between the 1st and 2nd leg of the Girls 4x8? Or is that cutting it too close?

If athletes are checking in for 4x8 anywhere other than the starting line, that's cutting it too close, IMHO. I'm assuming the boys need time to get hip/shoulder numbers and are going to be walked from the bullpen to the starting line while the girls 4x8 is in progress.

 

[galesxc]

If athletes are checking in for 4x8 anywhere other than the starting line, that's cutting it too close, IMHO. I'm assuming the boys need time to get hip/shoulder numbers and are going to be walked from the bullpen to the starting line while the girls 4x8 is in progress.

I agree.

 

[EuclidandViren]

I would not make calls for high school meets.
Middle school meets 100% yes at the beginning of the year.

At this point in the season, the students need to take responsibility independently.

Additionally, making the first, second, and third calls will be annoying to people in attendance and a lot of work for the announcer.

There are better items to clog people's brains with during a meet.

I would rather hear- Johnny attempting 15-00 feet at the pole vault. Rebecca is attempting 5-4 at the HJ. Or Jimmy just jumped 22-00 feet in the long jump for a new meet record. Have the meet manager with a walkie talkie radio you items happening that you may not be aware of during the meet.

Announce fast people, records, and cool stuff to raise the atmosphere of the crowd.

 

[Altor]

Keep it simple:
"Next event on the track is the Girls 1600. This the third call for the boys 1600, second call for the girls 4x100 relay, first call for the boys 4x100 relay."

It flows well and it assures you won't get ahead or behind. Yes, you'll make first call for the boys 4x400 as they are starting the girls 3200. It's not a big deal.

 

[limabean]

I would not make calls for high school meets.
Middle school meets 100% yes at the beginning of the year.

At this point in the season, the students need to take responsibility independently.

Additionally, making the first, second, and third calls will be annoying to people in attendance and a lot of work for the announcer.

There are better items to clog people's brains with during a meet.

I would rather hear- Johnny attempting 15-00 feet at the pole vault. Rebecca is attempting 5-4 at the HJ. Or Jimmy just jumped 22-00 feet in the long jump for a new meet record. Have the meet manager with a walkie talkie radio you items happening that you may not be aware of during the meet.

Announce fast people, records, and cool stuff to raise the atmosphere of the crowd.

We don't make calls for high school meets either except for when a field event is about to start

 

[mathking]

Keep it simple:
"Next event on the track is the Girls 1600. This the third call for the boys 1600, second call for the girls 4x100 relay, first call for the boys 4x100 relay."

It flows well and it assures you won't get ahead or behind. Yes, you'll make first call for the boys 4x400 as they are starting the girls 3200. It's not a big deal.

This is what we use for all our dual/tri/quad meets.